Tag Archives: French Revolution

St Anthony’s church in Loches, Touraine, Central France

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Jim McNeill

Well, the church of St Anthony in Loches has had a renovation of late. By the entrance there has also appeared a 15th Century crucifix and a couple of information boards from which is gleaned the following: 1. “St Anthony’s … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, Catholicism, French Revolution, Loches | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 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

The Vendée War of 1773-1799 ~ the Loire valley during the French Revolution

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Jim McNeill

Following the French Revolution of 1789 one part of the Loire population became pitted against another. Basically, while the inhabitants of towns quickly saw the benefits accruing from the Revolution, rural peasants were inclined to oppose change (1). This led … Continue reading →

Posted in 18th Century, Angers, Catholicism, French Revolution, Loire River and Loire Basin, Orléans, Saumur | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Animated Maps of French and World History

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Jim McNeill

Here’s a site that I’ve only just discovered: The Map as History ~ animated and narrated maps (in English and French) for a better understanding of history.  It claims to be: The largest on-line collection of animated historical maps For … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th Century Touraine, 20th Century, Maps | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Restaurant – funny word that – what’s its origins?

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Jim McNeill

The word ‘Restaurant’ derives from the French verb restaurer,  meaning to restore. It was first used in France in the 16th century, to describe the thick and cheap  soups sold by street vendors that were advertised to restore your health. … Continue reading →

Posted in French Revolution, Restaurants | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

The Polish population in France and the Touraine (1800-2000)

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Jim McNeill

Until August 28, 2011 at the National Museum of the History of Immigration, Paris is hosting an exhibition;  POLONIA: Poles in France since 1830.  It features materials from the archives of the Indre-et-Loire (the Touraine). The aim of the Paris … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th Century Touraine, 20th Century, Agricultural labour, Polish population, Women's History, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 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

Tours Chapel ~ Daughters of the Christian Union

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Jim McNeill

On the rue de la Préfecture in central Tours there is a curious 17th Century Chaple; Église Réformée de France. The information plaque (below) gives a brief history of the chapel and its earlier life as the Chapel for the … Continue reading →

Posted in 17th Century, Protestantism + Huguenots, Religion + Philosophy, Tours, Wars of Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Traditional woman’s bonnet of the Touraine

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Jim McNeill

In the book I recently purchased, Visage de la Touraine (published 1948), there is this sketch by a G. Royvan of a traditional bonnet as worn by women of the Touraine (see end of this blog). I know that I … Continue reading →

Posted in French Revolution, Women's History | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Map of Ligueil c.1800

Posted on December 18, 2010 by Jim McNeill

The book La Vie a Ligueil Pendant La Revolution 1789-1795 includes an interesting map c.1800 of the small town of Ligueil in the South Touraine. I have reproduced it below:

Posted in French Revolution, Ligueil, Maps | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment