Hi If you wish to find blog entries on a particular topic (e.g. a town, person, industry, local French resistance) then just visit the ‘TOPICS’ drop down menu on the right-hand side of the page, scroll down and select the topic that interests you.
I also recommend that you explore the ‘LINKS’ section at the bottom right-hand side of this page to discover the wealth of writing on the Touraine area.
I want this site to be as interactive as possible with a view to developing a place of interest for the casual, interested reader but also as a resource for schools and colleges and a gateway to information for individual research. As well as appreciating comments and feedback on the contents I post, I encourage visitors to send me old images, maps or text on aspects of local history so I can post them on this site to share with others who have an interest in the Touraine.
Well that’s about it, do keep your comments coming, enjoy exploring this site and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
Warm regards,
Jim
Social history in the Touraine ~ Central France 
Gosh! What a wonderful site! Bravo! Have signed up. Am supposed to be writing a booklet Leonardo da Vinci: The Amboise Connection but spent the day on the site following all the links! Moved to Amboise a year ago. Am obsessed with French History. Know anything about Amboise during WWII?
Good wishes
Pamela and Mark
http://www.pamela-shields.co.uk
http://www.photographfrance.com
http://www.roytrs.com
Hi Pamela and Mark
Glad you’re enjoying Amboise….what a great place to live. I don’t have information specificc to Amboise re WWII, but will be interested to see what you unearth. Re my blog: I am currently talking with a woman in the Touraine whose parents were both communists and were killed by the Nazis during the occupation; she was brought up by her grandparents. But my life is sooo hectic at the moment that my work in this area has been somewhat limited. Do keep in touch and if you are ever down my way then feel free to drop in. 🙂
HI Jim My name’s Marie. do you live in Tours ? I lived there for a while. It would be a pleasure to help you.
Hi Marie
So, when did you live in the Touraine?
JIm
Hi Jim,
A renovated ‘salt tax office’? That’s interesting. I’m writing some short stories that take place prior to the French Revolution, and I know that the gabelle was a contributing factor to the uprising. I’m having trouble finding specific towns where the gabelle was vastly different, and therefore, the region perfect for smuggling. I’ve read it could be 31 sous in one town and 591 in another. Alas, my characters are not rich and have to walk between them.
Any info you might know of would be greatly appreciated.
Merci!
debra
What a wonderful blog, Jim. Have you written anythig about the gabelle and salt production during the 18th Century?
HI Debra
Thanks for your kindly comments.
No, I’ve not written about salt and the hated tax on salt in France/the Touraine Region. I know there is a renovated ‘salt tax office’ in Loches but, apart from that I’ve no info. Do write and let me know your interest in this area.
Many thanks,
Jim