Mikeinlagardette's photos with the keyword: allier

The old town has many interesting buildings, mostly built with an oak framework, infilled with brick or plaster covered wood laths, and it's nice to see them still in commercial use, centuries after they were first built. 1983 Nikon L35AF, f2.8/35mm Nikon lens, x2 yellow filter. Kodak TMY400 in PC-Glycol, 9 mins @21C. Scanned @2400dpi on Epson V500

Montluçon 03100 Fr. It's quite a stiff climb up to the château, but once arrived, there is a good view over the old town, and a chance to look at some historic roofing at close quarters. I guess most of these buildings were built at least three hundred years ago, if not more, so they have been well cared for, but because they are so close to each other, repair work on the roofs must represent a real challenge. Nonetheless, they all have fairly modern clay tiles which have replaced the original "bardeaux" - wooden tiles made from split chestnut or oak, and because the clay tiles are much heavier than the original, they have probably had the rafters and battens replaced also, so much respect for the roofers of Montluçon !! 1983 Nikon L35AF, f2.8/35mm Nikon lens, x2 yellow filter. Kodak TMY400 in PC-Glycol, 9 mins @21C. Scanned @2400dpi on Epson V500

This is the château in the previous photo, but seen from the "parade ground", and although not completely original, it is still an impressive secular building from 1370. The clock is a more recent addition, but it looks good on the tower. The building is now a museum and cultural centre. 1983 Nikon L35AF, f2.8/35mm Nikon lens, x2 yellow filter. Kodak TMY400 in PC-Glycol, 9 mins @21C. Scanned @2400dpi on Epson V500

It seems a long time ago that we had lunch in Montluçon on Janty's birthday in March, and I've only just developed the film! This is the frontal facade of the château, first built as a fortress in the 11thC. The present building mostly dates from 1370, but there are signs of much subsequent restoration. Although not a huge building, it sits on a promontory above the old town, and is it's most visible landmark. 1983 Nikon L35AF, f2.8/35mm Nikon lens, x2 yellow filter. Kodak TMax400 in PC-Glycol, 9 mins @21C. Scanned @2400dpi on Epson V500

This was the end of the last stage of this little steam excursion, up into the western slopes of the Massif Central, to the town of Commentry, and the train was hauled from Montluçon by two of these American built locomotives, one at each end. It's a steep gradient from Montluçon, and the sound of the exhaust of the two locomotives reverberating off the rock faces as they climbed was truly spectacular! Over a thousand of these locos were built in America and Canada at the end of WW2, to replace French locomotives destroyed during the war, this one was built by Alco in Schenectady, NewYork in 1945, and is one of only four still serviceable. 1952 Welmy Six, f4.5/75mm Terionar lens, X2 yellow filter. Fomapan Ultra 200 in Caffenol C, 10 mins @21C. Scanned @1200dpi on Epson V500

Another from the Tourist archives! Montluçon is considered to be "The Gateway to the Auvergne", although it is in the department of Allier - it is quite a classy place, so it is not a surprise to see high quality building here, but this is definitely in a league of it's own! I have no idea of the original purpose, - hotel, bank, insurance office, could be any of them, - nor when it was built, but what is certain is that it is one of the most accomplished examples of brickwork that I have seen! The diamond pattern is worked in a darker brick, and would be a challenge in a flat panel, but to have achieved this on the surface of a circular building, is indeed, a class act. Viewing the image at original size will show what I mean, and also demonstrate that the old Kodak is no slouch either! Taken with a 1948 Kodak Tourist 620, converted to 120 film. f4.5/105mm hard coated Kodak Anaston, X2 yellow filter, on Shanghai GP3 @200, developed in Thornton's Two Bath 5+5 mins @21C, and scanned @ 1200dpi on an Epson V500.