I went into Villeréal, yesterday, to take photos of their amazing covered market building, but I'd forgotten that Saturday has been their market day since about 1265.
Anyway this is the best I could do. There were simply too many people about to take decent photos.
The covered market 'Halle' is unusual as it has two levels; hence the staircase. I hope you can get some idea of its splendour.
There were also some rather nice old shop fronts in town.
I'll go again and take some better snaps another day. This (below) is what I was hoping to photograph.
It's nice to see the market stalls - lovely shop fronts as well.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful town all round. Quite 'chic' for around here.
DeleteAnother magnificent construction.
ReplyDeleteBut the staircase looks like a more recent addition?
I don't suppose many exterior staircases last for more than a couple of hundred years. It's probably the fourth or fifth.
DeleteIt is nicer Cro, that you've pictured it being used for purpose....there is enough of the woodwork showing to appreciate the complexity and beauty....but pictured like this, when most brochures tend to show empty squares is, to my eye, much more realistic!
ReplyDeleteIf anyone would like to see what the whole building looks like, just look-up Villeréal on Google.
DeleteBeautiful place to shop. Full of character.
ReplyDeleteIt was much more animated than my photos suggest. I was trying to avoid the stall holders.
DeleteI like it with the market stalls because it gives a scale of how big the pillars are.
ReplyDeleteThe staircase is a beauty. I imagine the place in summer, with geraniums.
Greetings Maria x
It's a remarkable piece of carpentry. Very complicated, with an eye for beauty.
DeleteThe visit there also means the grandchildren have left. They will be back soon, Cro; summer is round the corner :)
DeleteX
They're off to Australia for a few weeks at Easter, but might snatch a long weekend with us during the Summer; we'll see.
DeleteI've now added someone else's picture so you can see the whole building. You will have to enlarge.
ReplyDeleteIncredible to think how many market days there have been in that same place over the centuries.
ReplyDeleteYes, and it took me just a few seconds to forget.
DeleteI cant get my head around these beautiful medieval towns as to whether they are places to live (and therefore real) or whether they are more or less dead.
ReplyDeleteVilleréal is very much alive and well, unlike our nearby Bastide town which is like a graveyard at this time of year. When I was there yesterday I rather fancied the idea of a small medieval house with garden (not that I'm thinking of moving).
DeleteThere are so many beautiful places around you.Here is a very sunny day and the world looks much better if i don't think too much.
ReplyDeleteLovely day here too; I'm even thinking of mowing the lawn.
DeleteThere was a big medieval market hall outside here until the Georgians destroyed it. It didn't fit in with their civic plans.
ReplyDeleteThese Bastide Halls are essential to the civic plan. And very nice too!
DeleteI love the unspoilt nature of this part of France.
ReplyDeleteSo much to see.
Deleteabsolutely stunning.
ReplyDeleteStunning is the right word, the carpentry work is amazing. What skilled people they were.
DeleteBeautiful. I like your photo better as it shows the shops and all the colors.
ReplyDeletecheers, parsnip
It's all a bit crammed in. Not easy to take single photos that show it all at once.
DeleteQuite spectacular isn't it? Love these old buildings.
ReplyDeleteSuperb. I'll stop by again on a non-market day.
DeleteI look forward to reading about your home area in SW France; something about old stone buildings speaks to my heart. I like the old doors of the shops in your photos. Hello from California.
ReplyDeleteHow informative. And I can see why there is a set of stairs when I look at the last photo.
ReplyDeleteThank you
Alphie