Today's spotlight: the upper gable of 57 rue du Grand-Marché in the historic heart of Tours , a 15th-century timber-framed house officially a 'Monument Historique' (protected for its facades and roof).
The star is the arched dormer window crowning the steep gable—framed by black slate tiles laid in a classic fish-scale pattern, with half-timbered (pans de bois) stripes in dark tones. Red curtains glow softly behind the small-paned glass, adding warmth to the weathered slate cladding. This style is signature Touraine medieval architecture: slate (often from nearby quarries) for fire resistance and longevity, combined with overhanging timber framing for extra space in narrow streets.
Preserved in the protected sector around Place Plumereau, this house exemplifies how Tours windows and roofs blend practicality with quiet elegance, protruding upper stories, small openings for light, and that dramatic gable silhouette against the sky.
- Right in the lively rue du Grand-Marché, steps from Place Plumereau cafés and the old market square.
- Nearby gems: Cathédrale Saint-Gatien (Gothic masterpiece), Basilique Saint-Martin crypt, or Rue Colbert's half-timbered row.
- Easy access: Tours train station or tram A (Hôtel de Ville stop).
Paris may have its Haussmann grandeur, but Tours windows whisper older, more intimate secrets, textured, protected, full of character. What's your favorite historic facade detail in the Loire?
Bon mercredi ! 🇫🇷
“Through every window, the Loire breathes — calm, patient, and quietly luminous.”
Part of the “Windows of the Loire” Series
Each Wednesday, we share a glimpse of the Loire Valley through its windows — small frames of everyday beauty and quiet reflection.
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