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Patricia Sands

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An addiction to the doors of France

January 6, 2012 by Patricia Sands Leave a Comment

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

I love the front doors of people’s homes in France. Every time I visit that magnificent country I take endless numbers of photos of doors (okay, and windows too … but that’s another post). The wood, the trim, the left-over remnants of ancient locks, from simple and rustic to extravagant, they all speak to me. I want to know their stories.

Living in Antibes this past summer for four and a half months …  *excuse me while I hyperventilate for a few moments at the memory* …  okay, okay, I’ll be fine … back on track. Practically every single morning I walked various routes through the old town for an hour, my trusty camera in hand, before I stopped in at the daily market. There were few days that I didn’t pause to drink in the beauty of yet another door that oozed history or mystery or charm so visceral I could hardly stand it.

What amazes me is the fact that rarely do you find a new door on any old residence, from a tiny village house to an elegant manor. Checking with one of the town historians, most are at least a few hundred years old. I’ll share a few with you today.

Trust me, this could go on for hours! I hope you received as much pleasure out of these photos as I do sharing them with you. Imagine the tales they might tell. Any one of these doors could present a great starter for a story. Do you share my curiosity and attraction to them? Do you ever use photos as inspiration for your writing?

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Filed Under: Blog, France, If it is France..., Photo blogs Tagged With: 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist, Antibes, antique doors, Cote D'Azur, follow your dreams, ForeWord 2010 Book Of The Year Finalist, living in the south of France, Patricia Sands, photography, The Bridge Club, the power of friendship

About Patricia Sands

Family, writing and travel are my passions ... okay, and chocolate ... and I'm seldom without a camera. I write women's fiction and keep in touch with readers by a monthly newsletter that also has giveaways and contests. Come and join us by signing up on the right. See you there!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Danlrene ©2011 says

    January 6, 2012 at 6:10 am

    I have nominated you for the versatile blog award. You can find information on what to do at this link: http://workthedream.wordpress.com/2012/01/05/3898/
    I really enjoy the blog…:)

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      January 7, 2012 at 4:10 am

      Wow! Thanks so much!I’m delighted to know you are stopping by the blog.

      Reply
  2. Lena Corazon says

    January 6, 2012 at 6:37 am

    Patricia, these are all exquisitely beautiful! I was lucky enough to spend three days in Paris when I was wrapping up my study abroad trip as an undergrad, and I’ll never forget the moment I peeked past a wall, only to discover a beautifully enclosed courtyard, and the ancient-looking facade of someone’s home just beyond. It was like stumbling onto a secret garden, with one of those wonderful old doors nestled among the vines and greenery. Thank you so much for bringing those memories back!

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      January 7, 2012 at 4:09 am

      Oh Lena, you are SO right … “stumbling onto a secret garden” … that’s exactly what happens so often in Europe, isn’t it? How wonderful you had a study abroad trip to give you special memories that will last forever! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  3. Nicky Wells says

    January 6, 2012 at 2:12 pm

    What a collection of grand entrances! Wish I had one of those for myself. Our front door is bog-standard 1950s semi cracked wood and in need of replacement! Thanks for bringing us such inspiring pictures. Hope you get to go back to Antibes some time… you seem to have had such a great stay! XX All the best….

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      January 7, 2012 at 4:04 am

      Haha! I’m afraid our modern doors just don’t cut it! Thanks for stopping by Nicky!

      Reply
  4. suefortin says

    January 6, 2012 at 2:14 pm

    Our door to our French cottage has been in perfect working order for at least 50 years, we wouldn’t dream of changing it. It’s not nearly as beautiful as those on your post though but we love it.

    Thanks for sharing your photos – really enjoyed looking at them.

    Sue

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      January 7, 2012 at 4:03 am

      Often the really simple doors evoke the most curiosity! Where is your cottage? (Lucky you!)

      Reply
  5. Anne K. Albert says

    January 6, 2012 at 2:35 pm

    Gorgeous. Thank you for the virtual tour!

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      January 7, 2012 at 4:02 am

      Thanks for dropping by. I’m so glad you enjoyed the doors.

      Reply
  6. Marcia says

    January 6, 2012 at 2:53 pm

    Isn’t it interesting that none of them have door knobs like we do? The elegant grill work covering the transom glass on one of the doors leads me to believe there were no door knobs for security’s sake. It’s incredible how many different ones you’ve found. I wonder what the history is behind the fact that they are all carved and unique in design?
    Stories come rushing at you when you look at these, for sure!
    More! More! Thanks for these, though, Patricia. They’re wonderful!

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      January 7, 2012 at 4:02 am

      They are just so fascinating and unique and that’s merely a small sample. You know, even the modern doors in France rarely have door knobs that turn like ours in North America. Just imagine, the size of the keys for those old locks! You can find them at the flea markets and they are enormous. I’m so glad you enjoyed the doors as much as I do.

      Reply
  7. Carrie says

    January 6, 2012 at 3:20 pm

    beautiful photos Patricia. I love the blue ones…set off so pretty with all the flowers….very lush. =)

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      January 7, 2012 at 3:59 am

      Thanks Carrie. I can see Woodie sitting in those flowerboxes …

      Reply
  8. Natalie Hartford says

    January 6, 2012 at 3:28 pm

    Stunning. They all look like they could be out of a fairy tale. I can’t imagine how it felt to be surrounded by such beauty and history. To think that people have been swinging some of those very doors open and closed for 100 years. Ahhh…the stories…how incredible!
    LOVE these post Patricia – fahhhbulous!

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      January 7, 2012 at 3:58 am

      Thanks Natalie! Imagine the stories …

      Reply
  9. Melinda says

    January 6, 2012 at 7:42 pm

    These pics are awesome! Thanks for sharing them with me. I’m always fascinated by doors, especially the ones that are more than just the average steel door. These are so cool. I want to go to France now.

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      January 7, 2012 at 3:57 am

      Well Melinda, save your pennies and get over there! Those doors are just teasers … so many more!

      Reply
  10. Angela Orlowski-Peart says

    January 6, 2012 at 7:50 pm

    OMG, I wanna knock on each and everyone of them, walk through and see what’s behind. This is such a feast for the Europe-hungry eye 🙂 Thank you, Patricia!

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      January 7, 2012 at 3:56 am

      I know, I know! It’s just so tempting …

      Reply
  11. ClaireMcA says

    January 6, 2012 at 8:35 pm

    Home sweet home 🙂 chez nous

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      January 7, 2012 at 3:55 am

      Lucky you, Claire!

      Reply
  12. Julie Farrar says

    January 6, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    Oh, the doors of France. I’m obsessed, too. Any time you want to get together and share a few hundred photos of them let me know. Friends and family drift away after looking at 2 or 3 of my pictures. I still haven’t figured out the mystery behind those hand door knockers. They are everywhere and always look exactly the same so I figure they must have a story. Maybe I should make that a goal when I’m over there this summer. And I can’t count all the doors, shutters, and gates in that “French” blue I’ve photographed.

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      January 7, 2012 at 3:54 am

      Julie, I just went to check out your blog. You sound like the main character in the novel I’m currently writing! It would be great fun to compare our French photos. Where are you going to be this summer?

      Reply
  13. beverlydiehl says

    January 6, 2012 at 11:58 pm

    Oh, these are truly gorgeous. Compared to these, our modern American doors with their little faux stained glass panels are without a soul.

    If they could only talk, what stories they could tell!

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      January 7, 2012 at 3:51 am

      Wouldn’t we love to hear their stories!

      Reply
  14. Karen McFarland says

    January 7, 2012 at 12:05 am

    Oh Patricia, four months? How lovely. My husband and I have had the privilege of traveling to France a few times and Loved it! From Normandy to Nice and in-between, it is just one of the most fabulous countries to visit. And let’s not talk about the food. Yum.

    My husband is a carpenter and so those doors represent someone who is or was very crafty and talented. And why don’t we see anything like this in the US. It’s sad, but then that is what makes France/Europe so fascinating to us.

    Miss it. Please do share more. I picked a good day for a visit! 🙂

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      January 7, 2012 at 3:50 am

      I’m so glad you dropped by for this post then! It’s these kind of details that make such a difference when we visit Europe. I can imagine how much your husband appreciates the craftsmanship!

      Reply
  15. Pat O'Dea Rosen says

    January 7, 2012 at 12:11 am

    Yes, share more, s’il vous plait. Your photos are wonderful.

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      January 7, 2012 at 3:46 am

      Another door-lover! Thanks very much for your comments. It’s great fun sharing the photos with you.

      Reply
  16. Stephanie Keyes says

    January 7, 2012 at 6:15 am

    Patricia, what a great post! I think I’m addicted now as well!

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      January 7, 2012 at 3:42 pm

      If you’re going to have an addiction, this is a great one to have!

      Reply
  17. Ivana says

    January 7, 2012 at 2:28 pm

    Beautiful photos! In theory, a photo could be an inspiration for a story, but it haven’t happened to me yet.

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      January 7, 2012 at 3:43 pm

      Keep working on it! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  18. Bridgette Booth says

    January 7, 2012 at 4:12 pm

    Patricia, I love, love, love doors. (And front porches!) I’m drawn to them in a way that I’ve never completely understood. Kind of like staring at a beautiful painting, but then even deeper than that. When I saw your post title I starred it in my Reader and was so excited that I would get to read it.

    Your pictures are fabulous and I’ll be back to look at them again. And again.

    This post just makes me happy!!! lol!

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      January 7, 2012 at 8:57 pm

      And that makes me happy, Bridgette! Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  19. August McLaughlin says

    January 7, 2012 at 11:21 pm

    Gorgeous, Patricia. I lived in Paris for a bit. Thanks for the dose of nostalgia!

    Reply
  20. Tameri Etherton says

    January 8, 2012 at 8:35 pm

    What a lovely look at a small piece of history. All those doors hold so many stories! I want to know what the rooms look like beyond those doors. Thank you so much for sharing these with us! More, please.

    Reply

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