This photo (115 x 172 cm) is located at the corner of rue du château and rue Sainte Anne.
Festival de cyclamens
Éric Chabot, septembre 2023
Come September, the natural lawns are covered with a pink carpet. Cyclamen are part of the autumn decor of the chateau park. They are most often combined with crocuses which add a touch of yellow. The variety present at the chateau until the first winter frosts is the Naples cyclamen or ivy leaf cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium). It appreciates shaded areas, particularly the space between rows of chestnut trees. The leaves only appear at the end of flowering. Be careful though, the bulb of this pretty little flower is particularly toxic.
Located on rue du château, this panel shows four photos (60 x 60 cm).
Chevreuil dans la plaine
Éric Chabot, mars 2024
Formerly, the park of the Château d’Oiron was an immense forest estate. Deer are part of the site’s history. In the 1830s, stags and roe deer were even introduced into the dry moats for the sole pleasure of the owners. It still happens that deer pass the fence to cross the park. This deer was photographed on March 4, 2024 in the plain, very close to the chateau.
600mm – f/6,3 – 1/2000 s – 10000 ISO
Poivre des murailles
Mathieu Boullant, novembre 2023
Stonecrop (Sedum acre) grows even in the hollows of the walls and in the joints of the stones of the moat of the Château d'Oiron. Up close, you can see its small yellow starry flowers with their five-petaled corolla. A drop of water on a delicate flower of Stonecrop is poetic.
A drop placed on a petal, Like a floral tear, A summer regret in short, Offered in view of the autumn…
100 mm macro – f 2,8 – 1/250 s – 800 ISO
Élanion blanc
Éric Chabot, mars 2024
This small raptor, originally from Africa, gradually returned after colonizing the Iberian Peninsula. Attracted by the increase in cereal land, the Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) arrived in Deux-Sèvres in 2012 where a first nesting was observed. Since then, observations have multiplied. At the time of this photo taken on March 4 2024 near the Château d'Oiron, two couples were present on the plain.
600 mm – f/6,3 – 1/1250 s – 1000 ISO
Lézard des murailles
Maryvonne Boudreault, avril 2023
The common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) is a protected species in France. It favors dry environments, and its favourite habitiats are old walls, rocky scree or even parapets. It loves spiders, flying insects, beetles and gastropods. This one found its home in the stone walls of the Oiron chateau. There, it can feed on insects and benefit from exposure to the sun to increase its body temperature. But it is shy and evasive. You have to be discreet to capture its portrait.
Located on rue du château, this panel shows four photos (60 x 60 cm).
Champignon solitaire
Susan Burgess, novembre 2023
The upkeep of the Château d’Oiron’s park without resorting to chemical methods, and respecting the environment, helps to maintain a rich biodiversity. This particularly favours the appearance of different species of mushrooms, such as this small specimen which could be a Parasola galericuliformis.
105mm – f/4,5 – 1/125 s – 200 ISO
Abeille charpentière
Michèle Lepeintre, juillet 2023
The carpenter bee or black bumblebee is observed in sunny places rich in flowers. Solitary or living in a small colony, it found, in the dead wood of the chateauchateau’s park, the substrate necessary for its eggs. It digs long galleries and generally remains faithful to its place of birth. It fulfills its role of pollinator wonderfully.
100 mm – f/5 – 1/2000 s – 500 ISO
Trichie du rosiersur une scabieuse
Gaëtan Alexandre, mai 2023
This Bee Beetle (Trichius rosaceus) is far too busy gathering nectar on this field scabious flower, preserved thanks to the unmown areas of the chateau lawns, to notice the presence of intruders. From the Cetoniinae family, this very hairy beetle loves flower petals.
100mm macro – f/11 – 1/80 s – 100 ISO
Fleur d’églantier
Marie Whitead, mai 2023
This dog Rose looks delicate and fragile. The Dog Rose (Rosa canina) nevertheless has astonishing virtues. The flowers have a slightly laxative effect and preparations based on rosehip, the false fruit of the Dog Rose, are used in particular to prevent flu and colds. Which is enough to hold out when the cold season arrives, and even beyond.
Located on rue du château, this panel shows four photos (60 x 60 cm).
Abeille charpentière
Michèle Lepeintre, juillet 2023
I am considered the largest species of wild bee: they call me the carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea). My colors catch the eye. Depending on the light, my wings can turn a deep blue. My size and my buzz are impressive, yet I am not aggressive. Leave some dead wood in your gardens and parks to encourage me to nest.
100 mm – f/3.5 – 1/2000 s – 800 ISO
Piéride du navet
Michel Boudreault, juillet 2023
Among the many species of butterflies that inhabit the chateau grounds is the Green-veined White (Pieris napi). Away from the large cultivated plains, ithas found a favourable biotope within the walls of the park. It appears all year round in three generations, but the most numerous flights are seen in spring and early September. The specimen photographed on a thistle flower is a female.
400 mm – f/9 – 1/640 s – 400 ISO
Tircis
Gaëtan Alexandre, juillet 2023
In this month of July, this Speckled Wood, also called wood argus or even muse (Pararge aegeria) seems to appreciate the fragrant flowers of lavender present in abundance around the chateau. Very widespread in Deux-Sèvres, this butterfly can be confused with the Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) which has, among other differences, orange bands on the top of the wings instead of orange spots on a brown background .
100 mm macro – f/20 – 1/80 s – 640 ISO
Érigeron
Maryvonne Boudreault, novembre 2023
Originally from North America, this erigeron which grows between the stones of the moat walls is not like any other daisy. It is distinguished by its large yellow heart surrounded by pinkish stripes. Charming and easy to grow, it is nonetheless considered invasive.
Located on rue du château, this panel shows four photos (60 x 60 cm).
Azuré commun
Michel Boudreault, juillet 2023
The common cerulean or blue argus (Polyommatus icarus) adapts to all kinds of environments, from city gardens to agricultural land. In the park of the Château d’Oiron, he seems to appreciate the small flowers of the yarrow, also called “soldier’s grass”.
400 mm – f/11 – 1/2500 s – 2000 ISO
Robert le Diable
Marie-Claude Cogny, juillet 2023
With its cut out wings, it is impossible to miss the Comma (Polygonia c-album) known as ‘Robert le Diable’ in French. This butterfly is known for its particular silhouette with its folded rear wings which evoke the hooked nose of a Middle Ages devil. It likes hedges, forest edges, but also parks and gardens. On the other hand, it avoids large areas of plains.
105 mm macro – f/8 – 1/200 s – 100 ISO
Nymphe au corps de feu
Maryvonne Boudreault, mai 2023
Photo taken at the “Sources et Fontaines de Bilazais” whose sulfurous waters, in the town of Plaine-et-Vallées, were renowned for their therapeutic virtues. Madame de Montespan, owner of the Château d’Oiron and the hospice of the Holy Family, had full barrels delivered on the back of a donkey. Dragonflies have taken over the place. After a ballet above the pool, this Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) lands on a small herbaceous plant.
105 mm macro – f/4,5 – 1/250 s – 200 ISO
Écaille fermière
Jean-Jacques Fouquet, mai 2023
The old cemetery, nestled alongside the collegiate church, remains a secret place behind its large walls. For security reasons, the place cannot be visited. The funerary monuments tell a part of the history of the town. Life bustles around tall acanthus and old roses. Among the foraging insects, a Cream-spot Tiger Moth (Arctia villica) shows its shimmering colors.
Dernière ligne droite ... Il reste à placer les supports et les châssis prévus pour la place des marronniers et alentours. Ce sera chose faite ce mardi 4 juin 2024.
Après récupération des supports au local de l'association, le châssis est fixé en haut et en bas.
Ce travail effectué, le support devant recevoir deux châssis, on effectue le même travail de l'autre côté.
Les quatre supports étant dûment revêtus de leurs photos respectives, il reste à les disposer de façon harmonieuse autour de la fontaine de la place des marronniers.
Une fois en place, les supports sont lestés de blocs de béton ... et c'est fini pour la place !
Et une photo pour la place des badauds.
Pour la photo place René Cassin, après un premier essai non satisfaisant devant la salle de la Halle, il a été décidé de revenir à l'idée initiale : devant la Conviviale ... ce qui nécessite moult cales.
Toutes les photos sont en place !!!
Le fléchage pour guider les visiteurs tout au long du tracé a été fait dans la foulée.
Après avoir pris connaissance, de la signalétique, près de l'entrée du château, longeons le mur ...
... et découvrons les deux premiers panneaux ...
... puis les deux suivants.
A l'embranchement, après avoir admiré les cyclamens, ... à gauche toute pour prendre la rue Sainte Anne.
Continuons dans la rue Sainte Anne, où attendent les trois panneaux suivants.
Dernier tronçon de la rue Sainte Anne ... On arrive à la place des Gouffier.
Longeons, près de la collégiale, le mur de l'ancien cimetière.
Après avoir pris la petite venelle, arrivée dans la cour des badauds ...
... puis, en continuant, on débouche sur la place René Cassin.
A gauche, impasse de la grillère au bout de laquelle trône le dyptique encadrant l'entrée du "Chemin de verre".
Après avoir emprunté ce chemin ...
... on arrive rue Madame de Montespan, puis place des marronniers.
Là nous attendent quatre chevalets double face. Recto ...
... puis verso.
Petite incursion dans la rue des Quénards, puis demi-tour pour emprunter la rue des Quinconces où se termine le circuit de l'exposition.
Retour au parking du château ....
Au bout de la rue des Quinconces, on retrouve la rue Sainte Anne.
Remontons la rue Sainte Anne et à l'embranchement ...
... à droite, pour retrouver le mur du Château.
... que l'on longe de nouveau.
A la fin du périple : on retrouve la signalétique.
Les photos entourant la photo centrale sont des "bonus" fournis par les photographes. Ce sont les "Poulidor" de l'étape. Elles n'ont pas démérité mais elles sont arrivées ... deuxième dans le choix. Elles méritent donc toute notre attention.
Vous pouvez télécharger cette signalétique (au format pdf) en cliquant ici.
Après ce parcours, peut-être verra-t-on le parc du château d'un autre oeil ? Car comme l'a dit Victor Hugo, dans ses Carnets, en 1870 :
"C'est une triste chose de songer que la nature parle et que le genre humain n'écoute pas."
ou bien, comme le rappelle, le philosophe canadien Herbert Marshall McLuhan (21 juillet 1911 - 31 décembre 1980) :
"Il n'y a pas de passagers sur le vaisseau spatial Terre. Nous sommes tous des membres de l'équipage."
ou enfin, comme le précise le philosophe, écrivain et conférencier anglo-américain Alan Watts l(6 janvier 1915 - 16 novembre 1973) :
Nous ne venons pas "dans" ce monde ; nous en sortons telles les feuilles d’un arbre. Comme l’océan “ondule”, l’univers “peuple”. Chaque individu est une expression du royaume tout entier de la nature, une action unique de l’univers.
