We have driven in the area and stop by finally, and a great surprise indeed, This is the nice City of Vendôme in the Loir et Cher dept 41 of the Centre Val de Loire region of my belle France, There is so much to see , and did see more for you and me, So close by it many times and finally in ,a great surprise, nice town indeed! Therefore, here is my take on curiosities of Vendôme, part I !!! Hope you enjoy it as I
The City of Vendôme is located 36 km from Blois from where we were coming on the road D957,around City on the N10 to City center following signs for Rochembeau parking, The City is 89 km from Loches where we were first, and 359 km from our current home on the D357 short on the A28/A11 then on the A81 to N157 dir Rennes and past the rocade on the N24 going home on the D768.
The Saint-Martin tower of the former church Saint-Martin is the old bell tower which occupied almost the entire space in the current Place Saint Martin square. After the French revolution, many transformations weakened the structure of the building and the vault collapsed in 1854. The church was ultimately demolished and its bell tower of the late 15C was converted into belfry. The chime of the Saint-Martin tower evokes the only cities held in the 15C by the Dauphin Charles VII: Orléans, Beaugency, Notre-Dame de Cléry, Vendôme .etc. The clock of the tower gives the time to the city and rings the hours and half hours.
The Porte Saint-Georges gate, the only one still in place among the four which controlled access to the city. The door is decorated with a medallions decor in the 16C. The meetings of the municipal council and the marriages took place there again since its restoration in 1959 following the fire linked to the bombing of 1940. The wooden houses sides, several medieval houses in the center of Vendôme are in wooden sides, a mode of economic construction still used in the 18-19C. Dated to the end of the 15C, Maison Saint-Martin consists of an assembly of wooden posts based on sand pits. On the ground floor, four sculptures represent, from left to right: Saint Martin, Saint Jacques, Saint Jean-Baptiste and Saint Louis. The other houses are remarkable wooden house at nos, 4, 6, rue de la Renarderie; also 8, rue de la Renarderie and nos 10, 12, rue de la Renarderie, no, 16, rue des Quatre-Huyes, with a companion lounge. Maison Fisseau, next to the Porte Saint-Georges, which dates from 1947.
The rue du Change, pretty shopping street is pedestrianized. The street owes its name to the Exchange office from the 14C, beginning on the corner of the Abbey gate. This belonged to the lords of the Châtelet de la Galoche de Sainte-Anne. The latter disappeared probably in the 16C but the street kept its name. The current central post office was set up in 1956 in the former department store “Les Nouvelles Galeries” built at the beginning of the 20C. The street today goes from Place Saint-Martin to the Pont Chartrain bridge. Before, it began from Rue de l’Abbaye, ran along the chevet of the Saint-Martin church and ended at Rue Notre-Dame. It was followed by Rue du Pont-Perrin and Rue Porte-Chartraine. On either side of the street, the houses belonged to many different fiefs: Saint-Martin, Chapeau-Rouge, des Perles, du Paradis… poetic names that in no way prevented the payment of rents and the existence of a quitrent. The presence of a mill at Pont-Perrin and a communal oven only increased the importance of money in these places. It became “Sans-Culottes” in 1793, then “des Hommes-Libres” in 1798, but returned to its age-old name.
The place de la République goes from the Rue Saint Bie passing the place Saint Martin and continues to Rue du Change, One interesting building is at no 8 house from the 16C, opens with a Renaissance portal with a frame decorated with sculpted pilasters with also sculpted capitals. At the top, a band decorated with arabesques with, on each side, sculpted heads. Above, a semi-circular pediment with decorative motif of angels or cupids holding a shield. The whole is topped with a garland or cornucopia. Fleurons crown the whole. The street is full of shops, restos a very central quant place for walks and daily life in the city.
The City of Vendôme on its heritage : https://www.vendome.eu/dynamique/patrimoine/
The Vendôme tourist office on its heritage : https://www.vendome-tourisme.fr/en/what-to-see-what-to-do/visits-and-patrimony/chateaux-and-other-jewels-to-visit/
The local Val de Loire dept 41 tourist office on Vendôme : https://www.val-de-loire-41.com/sit/visite-de-la-ville-de-vendome-pcu41aasor100210/
There you go folks, a dandy area to explore and enjoy with the family, Memorable moments in my belle France, going all over in my road warrior trails brings out sublime awesome spots with nice memorable family visits of yesteryear always remember and always looking forward to be back, eventually. Again hope you enjoy the post on curiosities of Vendôme, part I !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 