Curiosities of Saumur, part II !!!

I will like to show you a bit more of Saumur and its impressive collection of monuments often overlook in visits of my belle France, The City has plenty of things to see right in the old valley of the kings, For reference, Saumur in the dept 49 of the Maine-et-Loire, in the region of Pays de la Loire,and in my belle France, I, again, found me new older pictures in my vault that should be in my blog.  Therefore, here are my curiosities of Saumur, part II !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I. The wonderful central pretty Place de la Bilange. A large vacant lot that has hosted the weekly Saturday market since the 12C. The name appears between 1150 and 1200, in a charter where Marie de Maillé gives a house located “in bislenchia salmuriensi” The word becomes “Bislengia” in 1218 The French form “la Billenge” is attested in 1268. Without a doubt, the name comes from the word Bilanx, which becomes Bilancia in popular Latin and which designates a large balance characterized by a plague carrying two trays. Balance as in weights for merchants taxes. From 1794 to 1808 it was called the Place du Salut Public, when the guillotine is installed at the location of the pillory. From 1808 to 1818: Napoleon Ier gives it his name since he came to spend an hour in the Blancler Hotel. Since 1818 it returns back to the primitive name, which, according to the law of the least effort…, the local Saumurois often abbreviate in place Bilange. SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES 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. SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES The Reformist Temple is an emblematic building of a part of the history of the city of Saumur. Of Greek inspiration, it was built at the beginning of the 19C, Saumur was considered at the beginning of the 17C as the political capital of Protestantism, the city became an international university, cultural and economic pole thanks to the Protestant Academy. If the city of Saumur became from 1589 a strong place in Protestantism following the rapprochement between King Henri III and Henri de Navarre, the place dedicated to worship experienced many torments. First celebrated almost confidentially in the house of the city governor, Philippe Duplessis-Mornay, the cult is then practiced in a building near the priory of Saint-Florent-du-Château. In 1590, this building was destroyed during the development of the citadel. A temple is then built with the personal funds of the Duplessis-Mornay couple, on land near the city center. Inaugurated in March 1593 by King Henri IV, he was demolished in 1685 following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. In 1802, the Concordat again authorized Protestant worship in France. The facade adjoins the place William Penn, a student at the Protestant Academy of Saumur in 1662 and 1663, whose acts and the pacifist ideal will inspire all modern democracies and in particular in France the Declaration of Human and Citizen’s Rights. Since 2012, the United Protestant Church of France has brought together the Reformed Church of France and the Lutheran Evangelical Church in France. These two churches were born in the 16C in the movement of reform. They are founding members of the Protestant Federation of France (1905). SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES The City of Saumur on its heritage: https://www.ville-saumur.fr/ville-du-cheval/culture-et-patrimoine The Saumur tourist office on its heritage : https://www.ot-saumur.fr/en/arts-and-history/towns-and-villages/Saumur/ There you go folks, a short and sassy additional info on nice Saumur and its main monuments, Do fully enjoy these marvels of the off the beaten path routine, and spread out your horizons of my belle France. Again, hope you enjoy the post on curiosities of Saumur, part II as I. And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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