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Amboise
Le Chateau d'Amboise
29-Oct-1974
The chateau chapel. The chapel of St. Hubert is built in a
flamboyant gothic style. In the foreground is a rather cold and bored Sue. We had had just about enough chateaux for one day.
The chateau at Amboise overlooks the Loire with towering
walls. It was originally a mediaeval fortress and was 'modernised' in 1490 by Charles VIII. There are two major
points of interest:
The Chapel of St. Hubert: In this small chapel lie the remains of the most famous artist of the renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci, who died in Amboise in 1519.
The Kings Tower: Forms the nucleus of the current building and has a spiral roadway within the tower up which a horse and cart can climb from the level of the river below to the castle courtyard above. (The queens tower was destroyed some time ago.)
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Amboise
Le Chateau d'Amboise
29-Oct-1974
Detail Of the chapel. Shows part of the roof including a rather ugly gargoyle silhouetted against the darkening skyline.
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Amboise
Le Chateau d'Amboise
29-Oct-1974
The suit of armour of a guardsman. This dates from the end of the 15th century and weighs about 40 kilos.
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Amboise
Le Chateau d'Amboise
29-Oct-1974
River Loire and part of the chateau side from the terrace of the chateau.
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Blois
The steps of Dennis Papin
30-Oct-1974
The steps of Dennis Papin from the street below. We spent Wednesday morning going round Blois on our own without the services of the Cosmos guide!
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Orléans
Statue of Joan of Arc
30-Oct-1974
On Wednesday afternoon, we traveled from Blois to Paris, stopping briefly in Orléans, during which time we were able to get to a bank and see the status of Joan of Arc and the cathedral. This statue depicts Joan as she entered Orléans in 1429 when relieving the British siege.
Joan of Arc was summoned by the voices of saints to take arms and save France from England. Although she has no prior military experience, she unified France with a series of victories. She became known as the "Maid of Orléans" when she broke the British siege of that country. She entered the city on 29th April 1429.
She was burned at the stake in Rouen on May 30th 1431 for heresy; was declared innocent in 1465 and canonized in 1920.
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Orléans
Orléans Cathedral
30-Oct-1974
Seen from the front, showing clearly the two towers of the façade.
Orléans is on the River Loire and in the early 1970s has a population of about 85000. The site was first occupied by the Romans in the 1st century BC and names Aurelanum. It was conquered by the Franks in the 5th centry AD.
From the beginnings of the French Kingdon, Orléans formed part of the French royal domain. In the 100 years war, the city was beseiged by the English between 1428 and 1429.
Orléans Cathedral is gothic in style and was built between 1601 and 1829. The structure includes parts of an earlier cathedral built between the 13th and 16th centuries which was largely destroyed in 1568.
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Orléans
Orléans Cathedral
30-Oct-1974
The spire of Orléans cathedral, taken from the side through some trees.
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Paris
Sue at the Hotel Geronde
30-Oct-1974
Sue lying on the bed in our hotel in Paris. The Hotel Geronde clearly came into the tourist category, but was nicely situated near the Sacre Coeur Basilica in Montmatre and 1 stop away from Pigalle on the metro.
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Paris
Hotel Geronde
30-Oct-1974
A beautiful shot of Sue and Sue .. All done with mirrors.
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Paris
Hotel Geronde
30-Oct-1974
Reflection of Sue and Mike in the mirror. Unfortunately not quite lined up right and only the tops of our heads are visible at the bottom of the mirror.
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Paris
La Basilique de Montmatre
30-Oct-1974
On arrival in Paris we walked to Montrnatre, which was near the hotel. This photo shows the Sacre Coeur lit up at night. (Unfortunately when we first saw it, it was not illuminated.) The Basilica of the Sacre-Coeuron Montmatre is probably the most beatiful building in Paris.
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