Three wise men?, a photo from Pays-de-la-Loire, West

Photographer's Note

Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department (Pays de la Loire region) and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Its inhabitants are called Manceaux and Mancelles. It has been host to the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car race since 1923.

First mentioned by Ptolemy, the Roman city Vindinium was the capital of the Aulerci, a sub tribe of the Aedui. Le Mans is also known as Civitas Cenomanorum (City of the Cenomani). Their city, seized by the Romans in 47 BC, lies in the ancient Roman province of Gallia Lugdunensis. An amphitheatre built in the third century AD is still visible, but the thermae were demolished during the crisis of the third century to build the city's walls, which remain some of the most complete circuit of Gallo-Roman city walling that survives.

As the principal city of Maine, Le Mans was the stage for struggles in the eleventh century between the counts of Anjou and the dukes of Normandy. When the Normans had control of Maine, William the Conqueror was able to invade England successfully; however in 1069 the citizens revolted and expelled the Normans, which led to Hugh being proclaimed count of Maine. Geoffrey V of Anjou married Mathilde in the cathedral, where Henry II Plantagenet, king of England, was baptised.

The city retains a well-preserved old town dating from the medieval period (known as the Cité Plantagenêt or Vieux Mans), where the cobbled streets and half-timbered house fronts provided the setting for Gérard Depardieu in the 1989 film of Cyrano de Bergerac. Most of the pictures in this series were taken in Vieux Mans in rather dreary weather unfortunately.

The above information was extracted from a fairly lengthy article on Wikipedia that can be accessed by clicking here.

carper, besnard, RhodieIke, jlbrthnn, Cricri, pierrefonds, delpeoples has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

carper (96) 2011-12-24 0:40

looks me a nice place Stephen,
a well composed shot, nice composition, fine colors and very nice to look at, Merry Xmas.
regard jaap

serp2000 (29242) 2011-12-24 1:01

Hi, Stephen,
Amazing title, an interesting composition and very informative note.
Good presentation of Le Mans. Nice old architecture.
Merry Christmas!
Best wishes,
Serghei

besnard (48813) 2011-12-24 1:35

Bonjour Stephen
Bien présentées ces maisons à colombages, une architecture intéressante et variée.
Je te souhaite un joyeux noël ainsi qu'à tes proches.
Nicole

siudzi (23959) 2011-12-24 2:08

Hi Stephen,

All these houses have an outstanding facades with amazing design, colors and decorations. Very well seen and captured.

Happy Christmas!

Regards,
Malgorzata

Nicou (97811) 2011-12-24 3:18

JOYEUX NOEL mon ami,
$super image quelle belle facades colorées avec cet architecture en colombages et ces tons différents, grandisoe captage comme d'habitude, merci mpour le cadeau.

Belle journée
Nicou

lakshmip1949 (19110) 2011-12-24 3:49

Hello Stephen,

A beautiful shot with fantastic architecture and superb colors. Well lit and the men are nice addition. Merry Christmas.

Lakshmi

rodgerg (55767) 2011-12-24 4:05

Hello Stephen,

Cadrage réussi sur ce bel alignement de façades à la fois harmonieuses et différentes. Une belle brochette de façades à colombrages très joliment et très diversément colorées.
Merry Christmas,
Roger

RhodieIke (9207) 2011-12-24 4:05

Hi Stephen, I like your thinking Three wise men, they do seem a bit puzzled some what, ho ho, fantastic Architecture in the Bg, great colours and note,Wishing you and your a fantastic and merry Christmas and new year, Cheers Iain.
Ps, Thanks for your support to improve my photography.

digbymerry (3998) 2011-12-24 4:48

Happy Christmas Stephen

Fascinating architecture, beautiful soft colours and excellent detail throughout. A seasonal title but of course in Spain on 12th night we celebrate the 3 Kings who come bearing gifts.

npecanhuk (53919) 2011-12-24 4:52

Hi Stephen!
Beautiful façades!
Attractive picture!
Sharpness, exposure, colors, chosen pov, horizontla format and composition really pleased me!
Maybe you only should have avoided the top of that lamplight in the bottom part of this picture. Nothing serious, though, of course!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

Fis2 (73146) 2011-12-24 5:13

Witaj Stephen!
A very interesting buidings.
Good frame and colors.
Persons add savor of photo.
Merry Christmas!
Krzysztof

jlbrthnn (79773) 2011-12-24 6:08

Bonjour Stephen,
Ces trois sages doivent regarder quelque chose de captivant. La ville du Mans semble conserver encore de nombreux témoignages médiévaux. Une belle photo réaliste, avec d'appréciables lumière et couleurs authentiques. Bravo.
Bonne journée, et Merry Christmas!
Amicalement
Joël

Cricri (86535) 2011-12-24 6:10

Hi Stephen
Sorry pour le retard
Belle présentation de ces vielles maisons en colombages et aux couleurs variés
Joyeux Noel
cricri

pierrefonds (48387) 2011-12-24 8:00

Hi Stephen,

The presence of the three wise men has an effect of scale. The point of view is showing the details and colors of the architecture of the buildings. The afternoon light is bringing out the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

dkmurphys (36857) 2011-12-24 9:16

Hi Stephen,
Very fine street scene. The background with old details is very specatcular.
Merry Christmas!

Silvio1953 (98259) 2011-12-25 2:40

Ciao Stephen, great parade of fantastic facades, beautiful composition with lovely trio, splendid light and colors, very well done, my friend, Merry Christmas to you and your family, ciao Silvio

Graal (88982) 2011-12-26 0:08

HI Stephen,
an interesting old architecture. Nice tenement houses in Le Mans. Good colours and composition. Photo I like.
Have a nice week.
Aleksander

delpeoples (45018) 2011-12-26 3:19

Hello dear Stephen

And a very Merry Christmas to you and yours. I hope by now that you've eaten and drunk too much and are now enjoying another feast for Boxing Day. Also, I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. I love your title, very funn, it reminds me of the Three Wise Monkeys, hearing, seeing and speaking no evil. Beautiful colours, fantastic architecture and a very amusing decisive moment.

Bonne amities
Lisa

Charo (51174) 2011-12-26 13:44

Bonsoir Stephen,
Un bon exemple de l'architecture populaire, avec ses façades différentes. J'aime les villes de préserver l'architecture ancienne.
Excellente perspective en diagonale et en profondeur.
Feliz Año 2012!
Amitiés,
Charo