This delightful door knocker in the shape of a lady's hand was seen all over the parts of France I traveled in from South to North, this one is in Toulouse.
In Normandy there are still some thatched roofs to be seen and lots of window boxes just overflowing with red geraniums.
This wonderful church door was around the side of the imposing church in Mirepoix. It seems to be a little more humble giving on to the herb garden as it does.
Ah, the door of Charlick and Yolanda. Their home, auberge, guest house was a family farm that was stunning in its age, amazing ambience and beauty. You had to duck your head to get in this little door which lead to the guest dining room and the best breakfast in France.
My favorite French door. Looks Spanish doesn't it?

The beautiful blue window was in Mirepoix, an
old 14th century walled city. Most of the doors
and windows there were tans, beiges, and wood. The houses were painted in muted colors and the streets were narrow and cobbled. This vivid blue window was such a delightful exception.



And then I walked around the corner and found this wonderful postcard of a place which even had a perfect blue bicycle outside the door!

The little lady painted green is in actuality only about 1.5" tall. I saw her all over France so she must have been pretty common at one time. This is a shutter holder. When the shutters are open they fit behind the woman's head. Just one more wonderfufl detail.

Doors and Windows, the view from here

I am in love with doors and windows, this came home to me when found I had shot innumerable French doors and windows. My paintings of interiors always seem to feature a view out a window so this was new, because French doors and windows are very closed to the outside world.

There are no screens in France but almost every window has a set of shutters that either roll up or pull closed. There are exquisite and very old shutter holders on the walls in some places, my favorites looked like little ladies heads. Curls and a tipped forward bonnet and only about 1.5 inches tall. At dark, or when the family decides--the shutters on the street side are closed. Where we stayed with friends in Pamiers, at dark the shutters were all closed. The house became a cosy cave.

The doors in most cases are on the street, there are no front porches and you step directly onto the street. Of course, this is in the case where there are multi-family dwellings--houses are fenced thoroughly and well. And in most cases in the cities the fences have sheets of metal that are tall enough to prevent seeing over or through to the family's private garden.