Mick and I spent a few hours wandering around one of the last surviving examples of medieval military architecture in the Île-de-France.

Well that’s what the brochure said anyway.

Château Blandy-les-Tours has undergone a very thorough renovation which includes a small museum showing the different stages in the life of these buildings. There even was a timeline of the different families who had lived here. These were some old photos showing how run-down the buildings were before the renovations. We could understand why we had to pay €7 each to  visit the château. The restorers had done a great job.

It was during the Hundred Years’ War in the 14th Century that the major fortifications were added, and later in the 16th Century the château served as the home for a regal family. The daughter of that family, Princess Cleves was married here in front of the future King Henry IV.

 

We were surprised that we were the only visitors there, apart from two small school excursions. One of primary-aged children and the other of pre-schoolers who looked so cute as they wandered the grounds in their little red caps.

Mick and I wandered up and down all the towers and got some great views across the countryside and down into the central courtyard.

 

That is a stage in the courtyard. It was being set up as we arrived. Each Sunday afternoon during summer, concerts and performances of all sorts are held here. The performers for this Sunday are a group of very athletic young men – check out the link to see what we missed.

Just outside the fortified château was the church of Saint Maurice, another new saint for our records. He was an Egyptian soldier who was martyred defending christians I found out.

The church was a very large impressive building from the outside, while the inside was very simply decorated. Mick was able to check out this church with me because we left the dog at home as they were not allowed into the château (or the church)!

Before we left, Mick spotted this large mill in a park opposite the church and the château and he left wondering what it was used for.

Apart from the château and the church, the only other attractions in the village of Blandy-les-Tours were two restaurants, which were both doing a very good trade when we arrived at 1.30pm. Most of the diners had been bused in on a large coach. Must have been good! Made us a bit sorry we’d had lunch before we left.