March Wanderings - Chateau de Beaulieu and other discoveries

Just upriver of Saumur, on the Loire River's left bank, the Chateau de Beaulieu (literally, "beautiful location') graces the gentle slope leading down to the water. It is privately owned and I wasn't sure whether I'd be able to see it. But I rode up on my bike and was pleased to see the sign indicating it functions as a Bed&Breakfast. (Here's their website.) So I got my nerve up, strode in, and was greeted by a great big Irishman, who had at least 6 inches on me in height as well as plenty of pounds, and maybe 2 decades in age. He was the chatelain, the proud owner, and has lived there for the last 13 years with his wife. He is also a retired physicist and his business card had a lot of impressive initials after his name. To top it off, he is a great story teller and all around tremendously friendly guy.

A few guests were leaving as I arrived. Once they were on their way he took me back to the dining room, his wife brought us coffee and cookies and we chatted for an hour. The experience was a great surprise and a real treat. I'm definitely staying there next time I go back to the area.

Scattered around the countryside are all sorts of "lesser" chateaux, some of which don't even show up on maps. This is one reason I wanted to be on a bicycle, to be able to explore and see a little deeper into the shadows.
The first of the pictures below is the Manoir de Launay, NOT one of the "lesser", it is of great historical importance. But it is privately owned and open to the public only at limited times during the summer. So unfortunately I was not able to go in.

Manoir de Launay

Just a few minutes away, this nameless gem peeks over its boundary walls. Again, it being privately owned, I was not able to go in. It was surrounded by working farm buildings and appeared to be lived in as part of the farm.

Last, another nameless gem, hidden behind some hedges.

March Wandering - Saumur, Notre Dame des Ardilliers

On the outskirts of Saumur is a remarkable church built on a circular plan, something that was proposed by Renaissance and Classical architects much more often than it was actually built. The church is right by the side of the river and the dome provides a delightful and unexpected landmark as you approach the town from the East, in other words, flowing downstream.

Two views of La Loire nearby

 

March Wanderings - Saumur

The chateau of Saumur crowns a small plateau adjacent to the Loire. It was recorded in set of exquisite paintings in the early 1400s. These were part of the most famous Medieval French manuscript surviving today, Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. Originally it was surrounded by vineyards, some of which still exist. The village at its base has grown into one of the most picturesque towns along the Loire river.

As it was in 1412

And here it is today

 

Playing with my new telephoto lens

A view across La Loire from the chateau

On market day several squares fill with vendors. The Eglise St. Pierre is in the background.

The market at Place de la Bilange

Inside Eglise St. Pierre

 The church grew as the town grew.

12th century stonework at right, 14th century in the middle and 17th century at left

Random details from around the town

March Wanderings - Snapshots of Rennes

I needed to take care of a bit of government bureaucracy stuff that warranted going to Rennes. That put me about half way to the Loire Valley. So I took the opportunity to set aside a few days and wander.

Here are a few photos of Rennes. It's not particularly quaint. But it has its moments. And I understand it has been voted one of France's most livable cities. It's not big but very lively, due in part to the presence of several colleges and universities.

The Parliament of Brittany

a market square - this day all the stalls had books

Church of St. Augustine

town ramparts

quirky Victorian Gothic house on the market square

Church of St. Germain

 This is kind of interesting. One of the things you see a lot around town are these exposed side wall. The street fronts are usually lined with nice, clean finish materials. But on the sides you see the rough stone that is behind it all. And then, since that stone isn't suitable for the construction of chimneys, you see clay brick incorporated into it, tracing the lines of the chimney flues as they make their way to the roof. It's all so exposed and the dichotomy of presentable front with utilitarian sides and back is so open. Somehow it feels very French. It's like mothers and wives of all ages who may choose to go topless at the beach. We all know what's there. We've all seen it since we were suckling babies. So what's the big fuss? Still, when you leave the beach and go into town, you put on your stylish outfit and heels and a bit of makeup.

Pictures of People Taking Pictures

... and a few pictures of people taking pictures of people.

Adding a few more pictures, taken near Tower Bridge and on a boat on the Thames. This was in the beginning of August.

These were taken in London, mostly around St. Paul's Cathedral on July 25, 2016. It was around the lunch hour and there was a pleasant mix of tourists and young bankers strolling around. Altogether a lovely day.

The following don't strictly belong in this set but I feel like sharing them nonetheless.

Young banker wearing an elegant blue suit and fine English shoes, subtly accented with LGBT inspired rainbow socks.

A perfect spot to enjoy lunch outdoors on a beautiful summer day in London, the steps at north portico of St. Paul's Cathedral, copious seating, thoughtfully provided with backrests by Sir Christopher Wren, inspired architect. (I'll be doing another post with photos of some of his other London churches.)