J. H. Holdsworth - Memoranda on Tours and Touraine

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Aside from the correction of obvious typographical errors, the text has not been modernized; the original (some archaic) spellings have been retained (Maderia for Madiera; marjorem for marjoram; Marsilles for Marsailles; horison for horizon). [Note of etext transcriber.]

MEMORANDA

ON

TOURS, TOURAINE

AND

CENTRAL FRANCE.

Tours.Printed by A. Mame and Co.

MEMORANDA
ON
TOURS AND TOURAINE
INCLUDING
REMARKS ON THE CLIMATE
with a sketch
OF THE
BOTANY AND GEOLOGY OF THE PROVINCE
ALSO ON THE
WINES
AND
MINERAL WATERS
OF
FRANCE

The maladies to which they are applicable, and their effects upon the constitution.
To which is added an appendix containing a variety of useful information to
THE TOURIST
BY

J. H. HOLDSWORTH, M. D.

TOURS,
A. AIGRE, rue Royale.

Messrs. CALIGNANIS, No 18, rue Vivienne, Paris ;
Henry RENSHAW, No 356, Strand, London ;
And all other Booksellers.

1842

Thou, nature, art my Goddess; to thy law my services are bound.

Shakspeare.

TO
LAWSON CAPE, M. D.
Lecturer at Saint-Thomas's Hospital
THIS SMALL VOLUME
IS INSCRIBED
As a slight testimony of friendship and esteem
BY THE
AUTHOR.

PREFACE.

The author of the present little volume in offering it to the public is sensible how crude and imperfect is its form. The haste with which from unavoidable circumstances, it has been composed and the difficulties he has had to contend with in printing it in a foreign country will, he trusts, be considered an excuse, however insufficient, for errors which would otherwise be unpardonable.

His object has been to convey information on subjects new to the generality of those who resort to France for the restoration of their health. In England, independent of the valetudinarian, not only the man of wealth and fashion, but the economist of time and means,in these days of locomotive mania,deem a visit to the continent almost indispensable; and in the majority of cases, after the resolution to take a trip abroad is formed the resolvent with a perfect indifference as to route or locality, becomes anxious to obtain information concerning such places as may in reality be most calculated to conduce to his health, pleasure, instruction or amusement,either en route, or as a temporary place of residence.

Under a due consideration of these circumstances the author trusts having endeavoured to blend information with utility and amusement in so unpretending and general a form; he may be deemed to have accomplished the ends to which he has humbly aspired. And should his professional occupations at some future period, permit him to revise his work, he will render its style more worthy of the reader.

Tours, september 1842.

---

CONTENTS.

Page

Description of the scenery of Touraine

Remarks on the climate of Touraine

Beneficial effects of the climate considered

Directions for invalid travellers

Hydropathic treatment

Wines of France

Description of various routes to Tours

Notices respecting Tours and its neighbourhood

Sporting

Ancient Chteaux of Touraine

Mettray Colony

Remarks on society at Tours

Botany of Touraine

Information respecting the growth and varieties of the vine

Geology of Touraine

Spas of France

Spas of central France, their respective localities, medicinal virtues, diseases to which they are applicable, etc.

Classification of French wines, places where grown, character, comparative qualities, etc., etc.

Alcoholic strength of various wines and liquors

Meteorological Register for Tours

Reaumur's Thermometric scale turned into Fahrenheit's

Appendix.Passports, Cash, Coinage

Useful information for travellers, etc., etc.

Expense of living in France, etc.

Lith. CLAREY-MARTINEAU.	r de la harpe 16, TOURS.
VUE DE TOURS

---

MEMORANDA

OF

TOURS, TOURAINE,

AND

CENTRAL FRANCE.

---

CHARACTER OF THE SCENERY OF TOURAINE.

Although there is little that can be denominated bold, or strikingly romantic, in the general aspect of the country around Tours, it nevertheless, possesses charms of a peculiar and novel nature, alike calculated to gratify a lover of the picturesque, tranquillize the mind, and renovate the enfeebled energies of the valetudinarian.

Hence it has long been famed as a favourite resort, more especially, of these classes of British Tourists, etc.; many adopting it as a temporary place of residence, whilst others have permanently established themselves in some of the beautiful sylvan retreats which characterize the more immediate vicinity of the city.

Throughout a vast area, the surface of the surrounding country is pleasingly diversified by gentle undulations, considerable tracts of which are adorned by dense masses of foliage, occasionally presenting deeply indented vistas, embosoming some modern country house or ancient Chteau, with its spacious, but somewhat formal pleasure grounds. Many picturesque vales with their meandering streams, verdant meadows, and towering poplars, also present themselves to the eye of the traveller, but the characteristic rural features of this portion of France are its wide spread vineyards, which may almost be said to occupy every slope, and crown every upland.

As throughout nearly the whole of these extensive tracts of fluttering verdure, the walnut, the apple, and in many instances the peach, apricot, cherry and almond, with innumerable elms, oaks, and gigantic specimens of the Lombardy poplar are thickly and pretty uniformly interspersed, the whole country assumes a remarkably foreign and sylvan character; the peaceful beauty of which is much heightened by the sequestered and vine clad abodes of the rural population, of the majority of which, it may almost literally be said, that they are surrounded by a terrestrial paradise, teeming with the most luscious and grateful productions of all bounteous nature.

Although such is the agreeable aspect of much of what may be termed the table lands of Touraine, the picturesque character of the landscape is much enhanced as we gradually descend into the capacious valley of the Loire.

On approaching the Barrire de la Tranche, the ancient and handsome city of Tours, with the dome capped towers of its magnificent cathedral, and other churches, presents itself full in view, occupying a considerable area on the opposite banks of the river, and being encircled by a girdle of luxuriant foliage formed by its celebrated Mall (le Mail), a spacious avenue of fine elms; beyond which, a fertile plain of about two miles broad extends to the Cher; which is immediately succeeded by the richly wooded southern slopes of the vale, thickly bespangled with the handsome white residences of the French noblesse.

The broad and voluminous waters of the Loire, are here, as in many other localities, adorned by two rather large and well planted islands, between which the noble bridge with its fifteen elliptic arches stretches across the stream; opening a direct communication with the spacious Rue Royale, said to be one of the handsomest streets in Europe.

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