Road trip #4 – the final instalment

Hi again

This is our last blog post about our road trip. After we left Provence we started the journey north in the direction of Cherbourg. We stopped for a couple of days at Vichy, which has two big claims to fame.

Most recently, it became the seat for the French Government in 1940 because Paris was part of the German military occupation zone. Vichy was in the “Free Zone” and chosen because there was a direct train line from Paris, there was a telephone system already in place, and also there were many hotels and substantial buildings that were converted to government offices. The reason why there were so many suitable buildings was because of the other reason….

As far back as 52 BC, there was a Roman settlement at Vichy after hot mineral springs were found and thought to have supposed medicinal value. Word spread, and by the end of 16th century, the mineral baths had obtained the reputation for having quasi-miraculous curing powers and attracted patients from the noble and wealthy classes.

The rich and famous liked the finer things in life, and the money started pouring in to build first class hotels, along with newly laid-out boulevards, parks, a casino and an opera house. At its peak just before WW1, there were nearly 100,000 people visiting Vichy each year. There are some beautiful buildings and public spaces, particularly in the Art Deco style.

This is inside one of the public spaces where you can tap into the mineral springs. It’s free if you bring your own cup and we both agreed it tastes just like Alka Seltzer.

Entrance to a restaurant. If you zoom in you can see the tiling around the doorway. Amazing!

Check out the brick work and metal work around this doorway. Wonder if they still teach that at TAFE.

Inside the Opera House. Opened in 1903 and very much still in constant use . If you enjoyed the light show from the last blog post then you will like the next bit. Through summer there a light show each evening that is projected on to the front of the Opera House.

https://youtu.be/HWjBAv1JdZk

And last but not least, we then headed off to Blois in the Loire Valley. Here are some of the highlights….

This is Joan of Arc, who stopped by Blois in 1429 and visited the castle in order to be blessed before she defeated the English at Orleans.

*Rue Saint-Lubin* is one of the oldest streets in Blois and they say it has been there since as early as 1278. The timbered houses in the street were built in the days when local people were allowed by the king to use timber from the local forests.

You can’t go to Blois without visiting the Chateau Royal. It has a very long and colourful history (don’t they all?) and here is a selection of some of the amazing detail inside and out

One of the more recent touristy additions to Blois is the Escalier Denis Papin. This is a staircase of 120 steps, named after Denis Papin, an inventor from Blois who designed the steam engine. The staircase links the upper town with the lower town and, since 2013, the risers have been “dressed” in giant artwork responding to what’s happening in town. The Mona Lisa was a previous display and the other photos below is what is looks like now.