Amongst the many restoration and Val de Loire urban heritage projects, those in Chinon and Blois stand out this summer.
CHINON
On the
12 July 2008
, Chinon celebrated the opening of
the new the elevator that now links the old town and the new town.
This creation, of upmost importance to the town centre, is part of
a wider project for urban development kicked off in1989 which aims
to revitalise all aspects of the town, most notably commercial and
touristic elements.
The predicted increase in the
number of visitors to the Chinon Royal fortress after its
renovation is a fantastic opportunity to attract new visitors to
the historic and commercial centre. This renovation, supported by
the Conseil Général of Indre-et-Loire, aims to return
the fortress to its original aspect.
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BLOIS
The new council in place in Blois
has decided to re-plant33 horse-chestnut trees on the
Évéché terraces, which have been bare since the
trees were cut down in autumn 1997 for safety reasons. The trees
were an integral part of site, listed as a Historic Monument
since 1930. The new layout will leave space for the
guinguette, an open air dance-café, which is usually
set up there during the
Tous sur le Pont festival.
Preparatory work undertaken this
summer (the trees were supposed to be planted this winter)
uncovered graves containing thirty bodies. A team from the INRAP
(National Institute for preventative archaeology research) has
analysed the remains, specialists believe they date back to the
Middle Ages. The plantation works have been suspended.
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