Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Blois

Finally, after many months, I could return to Blois in spring 2015 and continue, the walk, that I had started in Paris a year ago. For the first days the "Via Turonensis" followed the Loire. The small blue/yellow sticker with the shell made clear, that the direction was right.

I had limped into Blois and I limped out of Blois some days later. No sudden miracle had healed my broken toe. The weather was bad, my spririts were low. Two hours after I took this photo - I gave up. But - I did return to Blois in 2015!

A small stair leads down to a large crypt, that was discovered in 1927. It was part of a 10th century Carolingian church, that was followed by a Romanesque one about 200 years later. The church was dedicated to Saint Solenne, bishop of Chartres within the 5th century, whose relics were venerated here.

A small stair leads down to a large crypt, that was discovered in 1927. It was part of a 10th century Carolingian church, that was followed by a Romanesque one about 200 years later. The church was dedicated to Saint Solenne, bishop of Chartres within the 5th century, whose relics were venerated here.

A chapel, dedicated to Saint Peter, was here already during Merovingian times. In the 12th century a large church, dedicated to Saint Solenne, had replaced the chapel. Of this Romanesque church only the large crypt still exists. The façade and the belltower, seen here, were built in 1544. The nave was destroyed by a hurricane in 1678. The reconstruction took place between 1680 and 1700, and as Louis XIV of France sponsored the organ loft in 1704, the cathedral now is dedicated to Saint Louis.

Blois was a really wealthy city during time of the Renaissance. Many wonderful buildings in the inner city date back to this time. This one is now used as a lingerie-shop. The two gentlemen in the medallions on the wall have seen a lot over the last centuries. Now they keep an eye on the lingerie below and so discourage potential shoplifters.

Blois was a really wealthy city during time of the Renaissance. Many wonderful, often half-timbered buildings in the inner city date back to this time. The ground floor of this one, including the former patio from which a wooden spiral stair leads up, is now used as a lingerie-shop. I could not find out, what is upstairs.

I could not continue my walk with due to the broken toe. So I spent some days in Blois, hoping for a miracle or at least a significant improvement. Seen here is the Loire crossed by the Pont Jacques-Gabriel. Saint Nicholas on the left, the château in the center and the cathedral on the right.

Charles of Orléans, the medieval poet, lived here. He had inherited the château from his mother Valentina Visconti, widow of Louis de Valois, the brother of King Charles VI of France. In 1407 Louis had been assassinated on order of (his cousin) John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy. John the Fearless then was stabbed in 1419 by Tanneguy du Chastel. I had just found the grave of Tanneguy´s son some days ago in Cléry-Saint-André. Everything is connected.. Charles of Orléans, the poet, tried to revenge his father´s assasination. In 1415 he was taken prisoner at the Battle of Agincourt and spent 25 (twenty-five!) years as a hostage in England, before returning to Blois. This château became the favourite royal residence and the political capital of the kingdom under Charles' son, King Louis XII. Note the crowned porcupines (a large over the small door, a smaller one over the arch of the large). The porcupine stands as a symbol of King Louis XII. www.chateaudeblois.fr/?lang=en

Benedictine monks, escaping the Norman raids in the Normandie, settled here in 924 and founded the monastery. The large church was erected within the 12th and 13th century. As the monks had brought the valuable relics of Saint Laumer, Saint Lubin, Saint Mary of Egypt and a fragment of the True Cross this was a place of medieval pilgrimage. The church was dedicated to Saint Laumer, the convent existed up to the French Revolution. Since then it serves the parish, dedicated now to Saint Nicholas, remembering a nearby church, that got demolished after the Revolution. This small mermaid lives under Saint Nicholas´ roof.

Benedictine monks, escaping the Norman raids in the Normandie, settled here in 924 and founded the monastery. The large church was erected within the 12th and 13th century. As the monks had brought the valuable relics of Saint Laumer, Saint Lubin, Saint Mary of Egypt and a fragment of the True Cross this was a place of medieval pilgrimage. The church was dedicated to Saint Laumer, the convent existed up to the French Revolution. Since then it serves the parish, dedicated now to Saint Nicholas, remembering a nearby church, that got demolished after the Revolution. Not all the carvings here are that sophisticated as that one on the previous upload. Neither from the style, not for the theme. Here is a rough carving depicting a pub brawl. As both drunkards hold knives, this fight may end in tragedy.

Benedictine monks, escaping the Norman raids in the Normandie, settled here in 924 and founded the monastery. The large church was erected within the 12th and 13th century. As the monks had brought the valuable relics of Saint Laumer, Saint Lubin, Saint Mary of Egypt and a fragment of the True Cross this was a place of medieval pilgrimage. The church was dedicated to Saint Laumer, the convent existed up to the French Revolution. Since then it serves the parish, dedicated now to Saint Nicholas, remembering a nearby church, that got demolished after the Revolution. Some really experienced masters carved the capitals near the crossing. Here a gentleman pulls his beard, contemplating about a complex problem. Or is he a dreaming star gazer.

Benedictine monks, escaping the Norman raids in the Normandie, settled here in 924 and founded the monastery. The large church was erected within the 12th and 13th century. As the monks had brought the valuable relics of Saint Laumer, Saint Lubin, Saint Mary of Egypt and a fragment of the True Cross this was a place of medieval pilgrimage. The church was dedicated to Saint Laumer, the convent existed up to the French Revolution. Since then it serves the parish, dedicated now to Saint Nicholas, remembering a nearby church, that got demolished after the Revolution. There are some renovation works under way in the vaultings of the nave. A large net protects the parishioners from falling debris.

Benedictine monks, escaping the Norman raids in the Normandie, settled here in 924 and founded the monastery. The large church was erected within the 12th and 13th century. As the monks had brought the valuable relics of Saint Laumer, Saint Lubin, Saint Mary of Egypt and a fragment of the True Cross this was a place of medieval pilgrimage. The church was dedicated to Saint Laumer, the convent existed up to the French Revolution. Since then it serves the parish, dedicated now to Saint Nicholas, remembering a nearby church, that got demolished after the Revolution. A grotesque, medieval smiley greets the pilgrim from above.

Benedictine monks, escaping the Norman raids in the Normandie, settled here in 924 and founded the monastery. The large church was erected within the 12th and 13th century. As the monks had brought the valuable relics of Saint Laumer, Saint Lubin, Saint Mary of Egypt and a fragment of the True Cross this was a place of medieval pilgrimage. The church was dedicated to Saint Laumer, the convent existed up to the French Revolution. Since then it serves the parish, dedicated now to Saint Nicholas, remembering a nearby church, that got demolished after the Revolution.

Finally approaching Blois. In the distant to the left is Saint-Nicholas, erected as an abbey church in the 12th/13th century and at that time dedicated to Saint Laumer by the Benedictian monks. It was a center of pilgrimage, as beside some other valuable relics a part of the "True Cross" was kept here. To the right is Blois Cathedral ("Cathédrale Saint-Louis de Blois").