This is Saumur !!!

Posted in Europe, France

On my road warrior rounds came to Saumur, and wrote this introductory post as have many newer posts and pictures in my blog. This was a nice visit with the family as others and we like it. We were on our way back from Tours, see post. Let me give you some walks into this is Saumur !!! Hope you enjoy it as I.

And we came to Saumur, we have passed by it but always overlook in the multitude of choices of my belle France. This time we had an idea of going to Tours but we made the effort to stop in Saumur this time. Saumur is in the Maine-et-Loire department 49 of the région Pays de la Loire. It is right by the rivers, on the left bank the majestic Loire and on the right bank its tributary the Thouet river.

Here we have a wonderful castle of Saumur, the very famous, prestigious school of cavalry the Cadre Noir, and the Church of St Pierre. The Chapelle St Jean, the Grand Théatre, a wonderful hotel de ville, the halles St Pierre covered market, the pont Cessart ,and the tour Granitiére as some of the things to see here. See them on individual posts of Saumur!  We got back in our car and went to city center/downtown city finding a perfect parking right in front of the Hôtel de Ville or city hall, facing the Loire river and the back of the Grand Théatre! Just a superb entry into Saumur.  We had our lunch while marveling at the Grand Théâtre or theater at Place Bilange.  The current covered market Halles Saint Pierre is from the 1980’s however, there has been one here for 800 years! It is right in the place St Pierre and overlooking the Church of Saint Pierre. There is ,also, a market here on Sundays morning.

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The Chapelle Saint Jean , this was a commandery done to help visitors and passerbys as a hospital in the 12C, all that is left is the nice Chapel built in the 13C.

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The Hôtel de ville or city hall; it was here since 1508; with buildings from the 16-19-20C and the main house is from the 16C. The new façade facing the Loire river is from around 1860 with a neo gothic architecture and taste of the 19C.

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You have a nice tower or tour Granitiére from the 15C, at rue des paiens, and wonderful streets such as rue beaurepaire, rue puits neufs, rue Franklin Roosevelt, rue du fort, and place Bilange. We went by the tourist office and the maison des vins de la loire on quai Carnot facing the Loire river and all the wines from the region as well as products. You can have Loire river cruises right off Place Bilange as well as the bridge or pont Cessart.  Several names over time from Grand pont de pierre and Pont Neuf, while been built between  1756 to 1770 ; Pont Daniel Trudaine, from a decision of the Assambly of Nobles in 1772 ; Pont de l’Egalité during the French revolution, Grand pont, aka pont de Cessart from a police ordonnance of 1826 ;and as of now Pont Cessart from official proclamation in 1838.  The Pont Cessart bridge has retained its original elegance, although it is half rebuilt. Only stacks 1 and 7 to 11, as well as arches 1 and 8 to 12, were not redone. On the left, the first arch retains the structure put in place by Cessart and by Lecreulx. The Champigny stone blocks have a large module at the bottom and smaller dimensions at the top. At the keystone, on the left, at the level of the current lighting, you will also notice the gargoyle intended to spit out rainwater. During WWII it was badly damaged and the work of restoration finally finished at the end of October 1958. There was ,also, a market day on Saturday at Pl Bilange. The reformist temple on rue des paiens, and the place Saint Pierre.

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And finally, a great place to find info on Saumur but in French, too long to write on the blog but if you can read you will have all the info you need, this is Jadis. By just clicking on the labels of monuments it will take you to the information. webpage: http://saumur-jadis.pagesperso-orange.fr/lieux/lieux.htm

The city of Saumur on its heritage: https://www.ville-saumur.fr/patrimoine-architectural

The Saumur tourist office in English: https://www.ot-saumur.fr/SAUMUR-INVITATION-TO-TRAVEL_r56.html

the local Anjou tourist board on Saumur: https://www.anjou-tourisme.com/fr/voir-faire/que-visiter/tous-les-sites-visiter/lieu/saumur

Enjoy Saumur a wonderful town, we like very much, and we will be back ,and we did. Again ,hope you enjoy this post on this is Saumur !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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