En France

[laprade]

LIBOURNE PART TWO: Municipal clock.

The commercial life of Libourne is based on the Bordeaux Region Wine trade: Libourne is the main export centre for Bordeaux wines. The négociant’s “chais” are along the “right bank” of the river.

Libourne is also “ Bastide”, a “new town”, built during the 100 years war. This war was between the English (called that because the Dukes of Normandy and Aquitaine were kings of England: Richard the Lion Heart, could not speak English, and only ever spent a few months on the island!) The so-called 100 years war was a series of scattered battles spread over a period of 130 years, in fact. Came to an end with King John, John Lackland. He lost the lot, to the French!

Bastides were built both by the French and the English, and in some cases, were often only a few miles a part! One main feature is a central market square with arches under all the square’s buildings. (I can’t show a shot of the arches, because the market stalls (Sunday market) obscured the view!)

The clock in this post is in a 19th c Gothic revival building, which faces onto the square.

Pictures: 1 Mairie (town hall), 2 clock tower, 3 clock close up, 4 Maire’s balcony, 5 Gargoyles, 6 Bastide arches, 7 bridge over the river Dordogne, 8 négociate’s plate, 9 wine chais (warehouses)

[RobertG]

Thank you. I love looking at the clocks in France and other countries. So far, we have only been to Paris and Versailles in France.

Keep the photos coming, please.

RobertG

[tsmith]

Great pictures of the dial and structure. Who make the clock or what movement did they use on either the original or the restoration?

Tom

[laprade]

Tom, last weekend was the national patrimoine weekend, where most places were open to the public.

It was the week before that, that I went to Libourne, and being a normal Sunday, the mairie was closed. Oddly enough, the church was also closed!

The best time for you to do your trip, would be during the patrimoine weekend.

I will try and find out about the Libourne clocks.

[tsmith]

Laprade, is national patrimoine weekend the same every year (like the last weekend in September)? That sounds like the weekend I need to make the trip to get the most bang for my buck. I would like to make the trip during the most comfortable time of the year for the scenery, but I would also like to visit as many clocks as possible.

Thanks,

Tom

[laprade]

Tom,

if you google "journées du patrimoine" you will get all the info. The September weather here is OK, 32 in the shade yeaterday! Though I suppose it would be different in the east up near the mountains: I haven't been there, so I can't say.
(That is celsius, not farenheit temperature) HB

[laprade]

Well spotted Harold, 32 might be a just a bit cold!

[laprade]

JONZAC 1

This Halloween, I was invited to stay over on the coast, was duly collected. My host decided to go via the town of Jonzac in the Charente-Maritime (17).

I had been there before, but had missed seeing a fine château in the town's centre. The light was just perfect, and as we approached Jonzac, I mentioned, that a friend had told me of this château, and we got a glimpse of it through some trees.
I was given half an hour to photograph it, and lo and behold, it had a public clock.

The clock is set into the roof, and surrounded by fine renaissance carving. It is a later addition, but the circular aperture looks as if it is of the renaissance. The bell is housed in the top of the left-hand tower.

The château is classed as a “château fort” (chatau for), meaning a fortified castle. The building is much earlier, and was tarted up during the renaissance. (this is quite common)

There is a fine “sally porte” flanked by two lovely “fat” towers. To the left is a renaissance wing connecting another tower, where the bell is housed. To the right of the sally porte, is a 19th cent wing and another tower. (The difference in quality between the two wings is very obvious) These two wings have replaced sections of curtain wall.
As you enter the sally-porte, there are two carved heads either side of the arch. They look to be replacements, as the other carvings in the courtyard are more worn looking.

Opposite the château, is a café in a fine building in the belle époque style (1900)

There is a second clock and it will get a separate post, along with pictures of the courtyard.

Pictures ; Sally-Porte; draw bridge slots: pictures of the clock: the two wings, and towers. Bell housing, “gargoyle-rain spout”/ one of the faces and the belle-époque café.

[harold bain]

laprade, the tower clock looks to be a bad fitting replacement of the original. Any info on its origins?

[laprade]

Harold, L'office de tourisme was shut, and I googled Jonzac chateau, but no info or mention of the clock. As you say, not a good fit. If there was an early clock there before, it would’ve been hard to read at such a height, if he likes of Wells and such are anything to go by. White dials were a fairly late innovation, and could be placed in odd places.

The present housing is in the "Renaissance Gothic" style, which combines the square with points. It can look quite strange: Venice is a great place to see some. . When part 2 is posted, an example of this square Gothic will be shown.
The stone work is period, and its purpose is masked by the roof configuration. It all depends on when the roof was changed to join both towers. The circular aperture is a mystery: was it some sort of window or what? Maybe a medaloin. The roofs would originally have been clad in terra cotta tiles, as the area has no history of slate, or any sources of slate. A lot of châteaux were slated in the 18th and 19th cs. as a sign of wealth. No one would really know if the roof extension was done when still tiled, as a lot of records were lost in the revolution.
The stonework around the clock would have been leaded and not tiled or slated, but I doubt if any traces of that would be available to be inspected.

The castle has a very interesting history. Oh, I almost forgot: plenty of gargoyles, Harold!