When I was working, before retiring in 2017, I used FrenchKate as my metric of life balance. I figured if I could do my job and still post daily on FrenchKate, my life was sufficiently in balance. Work was not all-consuming; I still had time to learn about French history and culture (one site at a time.)
...and yet, since July, 2021, I have posted just twice. Life balance has been definitely off! Family responsibilities--a memorial for my mother, cleaning her house for sale, visiting with my extended family, supporting my son on several 100-mile runs--have demanded all my attention. It has been a longer, more labor intensive period than I remember Psy 1001 ever being. But I am hopeful that all these responsibilities have been fulfilled, and that I can once again study French history and culture.
Strange to think that it has been nearly two years--the pandemic years-- since my husband and I travelled to France. We do not know when we will return. We don't even know when we will know that we can travel again. Perhaps in Spring of 2022? Perhaps Fall of 2022? We just don't know.
So this is just a little post on French stair architecture to get back into practice. I haven't established a focus yet.
Image 1: From a medieval building in Pérouges, a spiral stair in the tower.
Image 2: An "Italian" staircase in the 18th century grain market in Vienne, France. Two flights of stair straight up--a huge innovation--with a landing dividing them.
Image 3: An upscale staircase in the 18th century monastery at Cluny with its beautiful wrought iron handrail.
Image 4: An early 19th century winding staircase in the 19th century wing of the château de Cormatin in Burgundy.
Image 5: The grand staircase--dating to 1624--in the château de Cormatin. This is the largest surviving example of a square staircase around a central well, and a fine example of 17th century conspicuous consumption. It was modeled on the staircase in the Luxembourg Palace in Paris.