In Blois, a shopping center project at the foot of the castle, despite archaeological discoveries

It has been two years since the Carré Saint-Vincent should have seen the light of day, a shopping center in front of the facade of the lodges of the Château de Blois, favorite residence of the kings of the Renaissance, where 350,000 visitors converged in 2019, before the Covid-19 does not freeze international tourism. But this 7,000 m2 project of sales area intended for “revitalizing downtown commerce” and to “ restore attractiveness to the heart of the agglomeration”, according to the mayor, Marc Gricourt (Socialist Party), with a market garden and large locations for H&M type signs, has accumulated appeals, criticisms, modifications, and has not been able to free itself from the organization of an archaeological dig started in October 2021.

Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers In Blois, the trees that hid the forest of commercial signs

“This is the finest excavation out of the seven that currently exist in the Centre-Val de Loire region”, comments Marie-Christiane Casala, interregional director Centre-Ile-de-France at the Regional Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap). And for good reason, two royal tennis courts – and remains of plaster – have been unearthed: the first dates back to the beginning of the 16the century, under Louis XII, with a playing area of ​​6 meters by 26, covered with floor tiles and bordered by a gallery reserved for spectators. The second room results from the expansion of this building, with an area of ​​9 meters by 30. Archaeologists have also unearthed coins dating from the royal periods and the French Revolution. And even a skeleton, thrown there without burial: “It could be a news item or a victim of the wars of religion”, believes Didier Josset, operations manager at Inrap.

Destroyed remains

“It is always exciting to discover the traces of history, wherever you are in this city, says David Hameau, director of the tourist office. If there are solutions to show them, I’m bound to be interested. » But it is indeed an underground car park with 120 spaces that is planned under the shops to come. Thus, the remains will not simply be buried, but methodically destroyed. A few solutions exist to limit the damage. Mme Casala notes that in Chartres the first level of an underground car park houses a 16th century raveline century, left intact to recall the importance of the fortifications at the time.

During a punctual opening of the Blois excavations to the public, a visitor praised the example of Nîmes, where a square of open-air discoveries had been preserved. “But if it’s to keep three pieces of wall behind a Plexi wall, that’s of no interest. You don’t have to keep to keep”, tempers Elisabeth Latrémolière, curator of the castle, who nevertheless recognizes the importance of archaeological work: “We had a statement from 1576 describing these gaming rooms. Scientifically, the remains provide essential information that will enrich a possible exhibition on court sport in the run-up to the 2024 Games.”

You have 19.14% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.

source site-30