Tag Archives: Loire

The trams are coming! The trams are coming!

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Jim McNeill

So, the first stage of the tram system has opened in Tours (August, 2014) and how gorgeous it looks; stylish, futuristic, silent and dreamy car-free sweeps of open roadways…..yes, I love them trams! Here are some pics Sandra and I … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, Tours, Transport ~ roal. rail, water | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Weekend Watercolour Painting workshop, Ferrière Larçon

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Jim McNeill

Weekend Watercolour Workshop based at the Petit Théâtre des Balcons, 6 rue des Perrets 37350 Ferrière Larçon, South Touraine. 11, 12, July 13, 2012. 3 days led by local artist and wonderful musician, Patrice Arnold. € 45 day € 120 … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, Artists, Ferrière Larçon, Larcon, Le Brignon, Patrice Arnould, Tourism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beautiful images of the Touraine ~ from Dawn Lincoln

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Jim McNeill

Hi all There are some marvelous images of the Touraine Region on the blog of photographer, Dawn Lincoln. Do visit; Jardins de Villandry, Rocamadour/Tours/Toulouse and Touraine en Automne I know that Dawn’s a visitor to my blog, so, a big … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, Agricultural labour, architecture, Loire River and Loire Basin, Tours, Villandry, Vineyards | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

C17th Clermont Château or should that be Chasteau? What’s in a circumflex?

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Jim McNeill

At the end of this blog are two C17th images of the southern aspect of Clermont Château in the Loire Valley. One is by an unknown artist while the other is attributed to Louis Bourdan whose work appears in a … Continue reading →

Posted in 17th Century, Clermont | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Scenes of the Loire c1906 ~ and a little detective work by yours truly

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Jim McNeill

Project Gutenberg is the source of the book “Castles and Chateaux of Old Touraine” written by Francis Miltoun and illustrated by Blanche McManus, published  in 1906 – it is  downloadable here. Now, just as I was writing the above, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists, Cé, La Charité, Loire River and Loire Basin, Meung | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

C17th Marmoustier Abbey at Tours and C17th maps of the Loire at Marmoustier and Montlouis

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Jim McNeill

For further images and the history of Marmoustier Abbey visit my earlier post. For further C17th images of maps of the Loire at Tours just click here to visit an older posting.

Posted in 17th Century, architecture, Loire River and Loire Basin, Marmoustier Abbey, Montlouis, Tours | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Sketches of the chateaux, churches and street scenes along the Loire, c1910

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Jim McNeill

The images below, mostly vignettes based on paintings done during research for the book, come from the book The Castles and Chateaux of Old Touraine and the Loire Valley. This guide to the region is Francis Miltoun and was published … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Century, Amboise, Angers, architecture, Azay-le-Rideau, Chambord, Chavigny, Chenonceau, Chinon, Cinq-Mars-la-Pile, Fontevrault, Langeais, Langeais, Loches, Luynes, Maps, Montrichard, Plessis-les-Tours, Saumur, Tours, Ussé, Valençay | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tanneries of the Touraine

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Jim McNeill

The word for tanning comes from medieval Latin tannāre, a derivitive of tannum (meaning oak bark). This refers to use of the bark of oaks (the original source of tannin) in hide preservation. The presence of abundant quantities of oak, … Continue reading →

Posted in Loire River and Loire Basin, Tanneries | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mosnes on the Loire ~ 18th century maps

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Jim McNeill

This 18th century map is of the town of Mosnes which lies on the River Loire, halfway between Tours and Blois. The map is another in the series from the digital collection of the French Ministry of Culture’s web site. … Continue reading →

Posted in 18th Century, Loire River and Loire Basin, Maps, Mosnes | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment