James Caird reflects on the history of French architecture and the tussle between attracting visitors while maintaining heritage sites.
In his Chairman’s column in Context No.147, Caird ponders on the ebb and flow of tourists at Mont Saint-Michel and the tension in Carcassonne between the opposing philosophies of Viollet le Duc and Ruskin.
He also discusses the impact of depopulation in places such as Loudun and the need to regenerate and enhance their historic urban environments – but how a national resource of thousands of measured drawings of historic architectural details available in heritage bookshops (Les Albums du Centre de Recherches sur les Monuments Historiques) has helped public understanding of the right way to do things.
His journey through France also took him to the recent restoration of La Porte Martray and its complete re-facing, the restoration at Le Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, the Baptistière Saint-Jean in Poitiers and Fontevraud abbey with its reconstructive restoration.
Read the full Context article
