Slate roofs and clay chimneys.I really like the detail in the slate roofing tiles on the turret, the way the sizes and shapes change from top to bottom, the subtle slanting design close to the top of the cone. And the weather vane is a nice touch.
The terra-cotta chimney pots are called mitres in French. We found that out when we had our wood stove installed. The fireplace guy told us we needed to add a mitre to the chimney to lift it higher from the roof line. Building codes and all.
LOVE this pic!!!!
ReplyDeleteI always wanted a house with a turret. Or even just a turret by itself, standing in the garden - I have see a few of those around.
ReplyDeleteHave you been to l'Abbaye de Fontevraud ? There are some fabulous roof tile patterns on some of the turrets there.
Jean, I believe that I have seen a post by Walt of Fontevraud... it must be there somewhere in his archives. I'd love to go there!
ReplyDeleteWalt, did you Photoshop this to get that great contrast between the silver-greys and the terra cotta? Great photo.
Do you, by any chance, have a Brownies recipe that is already converted, and tested? A French friend of mine would like one, but whenever I convert from French to American measurements, things take a turn for the worse :))
Judy
BEeautiful picture Walt!
ReplyDeleteMakes me wonder if, in the 19th century, having turrets and other extra architectural features was a way to say "I've made it."
ReplyDeleteThat was the case with Victorian/Queen Anne architecture in the States. The more elaborate, the more successful the owner...
SUPER COOL picture! Seriously, great and amazing in so many many ways. Wow.
ReplyDeleteI should also say that I remember staying in a corner turret room at a hotel in downtown Innsbruck, Austria.....you can see the room barely just behind the stone gate....
ReplyDeletehttp://www.goldene-krone.at/
Really great shot of the turret.
ReplyDeleteOne of the first thing we learned in scenic design classes was to identify the great cities by their roof and chimney lines. Now that international style is spread out all over the world it's harder.
ReplyDeleteDiogenes has it right--I even thought of some Victorian turrets that alternate various shingle shapes over the entire house, let alone the turrets.
Jean
ReplyDeleteWalt did a whole series on l'Abbaye de Fontevraud starting on November 14 2008. It is a very informtive and interesting one
Judy and the Beaver - thanks, I will look it up.
ReplyDeleteIn November 2008 I had no idea what a blog was - must catch up on some "back issues" while I have the chance !
leesa, merci!
ReplyDeletejean, yes, more than once. You can read about it on this very blog!
judy, yes, Photoshop. I took most of the color out of everything except the chimney pots. The slate roofs are actually very blue-looking in the original.
jim, thank you!
diogenes, probably true. Also, at some point property owners were taxed on the footprint of their building. A turret could be corbeled out of an upper floor, providing more space without occupying any more ground.
alewis, thanks. That looks like a very nice hotel!
starman, merci!
will, you're right, I see cities on tv that I don't recognize at all any more.
beaver, thanks for looking that up!