Category Archives: Medieval history

5th – 15th Century events and social change in the Touraine.

Image of St Martin of Tours, 1407

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Jim McNeill

This image from a Book of Hours, dated 1407, shows St Martin of Tours. A Book of Hours was a devotional book popular in the Middle Ages. It was a kind of prayer book alongside which were rich illustrations from … Continue reading →

Posted in 15th Century, Catholicism, Medieval history, Tours, Women's History | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The town of Descartes and the “gabelle” tax on salt

Posted on July 21, 2012 by Jim McNeill

In France the word “gabelle” originally referred to general taxation, but from the 15th century onwards it was associated with the tax on salt. For administrative tax collection purposes the country was divided up into about 30 regions. Royalist officials … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, Creuse, Descartes/La Haye, French Revolution, Medieval history, Salt | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Maillé and Luynes in the Touraine ~ C17th images by Louis Boudan

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Jim McNeill

The commune of Maillé in the Touraine is burned into the minds of many as the place of the Second World War massacre. But, of course, the small town and its surrounding district has more history than that single tragic … Continue reading →

Posted in 13th Century, 14th Century, 15th Century, 16th Century, 17th Century, 18th Century, 19th Century Touraine, 20th Century, architecture, Artists, Bronze Age, French Revolution, Louis Boudan, Louis XIII, Luynes, Maillé, Maps, Medieval history, Pre-History, Protestantism + Huguenots, Silk Industry, Tours, Transport ~ roal. rail, water, Vineyards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Marmoutier Abbey of Tours, Loire Valley: wars, popes, wine and women

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Jim McNeill

Marmoutier Abbey was founded by Saint Martin of Tours (316-397), circa 372, after he had been made Bishop of Tours in 371. In 853 the original abbey was pillaged and destroyed by the Normans. Shortly after 1000 AD, the abbey … Continue reading →

Posted in 4th Century, architecture, Catholicism, French Revolution, Medieval history, Protestantism + Huguenots, Tours, Wars of Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Keep the British £? Je ne le crois pas. It’s French don’t you know! Read on and the penny may drop.

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Jim McNeill

The silver coin of the Early Middle Ages pictured on the left is known as the “Tornesel  of Tours”  (also referred to as the “denier Tournois”, “Tournesion “, “Tornsol” or “Tornese”). It  was minted, or struck, at Tours from 1266 … Continue reading →

Posted in 13th Century, 14th Century, Coinage, French Revolution, Medieval history, Metric System, Tours | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Langeais in the Touraine ~ a history timeline

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Jim McNeill

Langeais is one of the oldest towns in the Touraine Region and lies on the border with Anjou in the small valley of the Roumer River. Historically speaking, its people have suffered from being in the frontline of various battles … Continue reading →

Posted in French Revolution, Jewish History, Langeais, Medieval history, Roumer, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Plessis-les-Tours ~ some interesting facts

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Jim McNeill

The château of Plessis-les Tours is to the west of Tours. It was built in middle of the 15th Century under instructions from Louis XI. The above image is from, Visages de la Touraine in my collection. Here are some … Continue reading →

Posted in French Revolution, Medieval history, Mulberry Plantations, Plessis-les-Tours, Silk Industry, Tours | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Ligueil ~ a story about its church, St Martin’s

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Jim McNeill

Today, Sandra and I visited our nearby market town of Ligueil in the South Touraine. Our visit inspired me to write a little about its parish church. The first record of the town was in 775 when it was called … Continue reading →

Posted in 4th Century, Ligueil, Medieval history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Descartes ~ The Conty-Freson Resistance Network and the Pont Henri IV

Posted on January 2, 2011 by Jim McNeill

Anyone who visits the town of Descartes in the South Touraine surly can not help but be impressed by the sight of the majestic River Creuse with its ten-arched bridge and the remarkable memorial on the Descartes side dedicated to … Continue reading →

Posted in Creuse, Descartes/La Haye, Medieval history, Resistance in the Touraine Region, Transport ~ roal. rail, water, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Jewish History in the Touraine ~ a timeline

Posted on January 1, 2011 by Jim McNeill

A Timeline of Jewish History in the Touraine Region of France The Touraine Region hosts one of the oldest Jewish communities in France. 6th Century Touraine From the first half of the sixth century Jews lived either in the city … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th Century Touraine, Amboise, Chinon, Jewish History, Ligueil, Loches, Medieval history, Monts, Pontlevoy, Resistance in the Touraine Region, Tours | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments