A tile glazed in history
There are many styles of architecture present in Burgundy.
Amongst the most distinctive are the colourful roofing tiles that can be seen on a number of major buldings scattered around the region.
Probably the best known of them, and the most photographed, are in the courtyard of the Hospice de Beaune. Coloured red, brown, yellow and green and laid in an interlaced pattern they have caught the eye of many a tourist, and indeed local residents.
One report suggests these glazed tiles may have originated in Central Europe, possibly from ceramics master Miklos Zsolnay of Hungary. But Zsolnay’s work occurred in the mid 19 th century and one suspects these attractive tiles were being installed in Burgundy well before that time.
A more common view is that the tiles orignated from Flanders at a time when the Dukes of Burgundy were in their prime with their Dukedom stretching well beyond the borders of France into present day Belgium and the Netherlands.
One could imagine that such artistic roofing tiles were part of the dowry when Marguerite of Flanders married Philip I, Duke of Burgundy.
Marguerite herself is a colourful historical figure. Actually Marguerite III, she was the only grand-daughter of Marguerite I, Countess of Flanders.
In 1357 at the age of 7, Maggie III married her second cousin Philip I, (beats me how that worked) but was widowed just 4 years later on his premature death at the very tender age of 15.
In 1369, Marguerite III, then 19 years old, married the celebrated Duke of Burgundy, Philip the Bold. Marguerite III lived to the age of 55 dying a year after her husband in 1505.
I’m not sure what all of that has to do with roofing tiles, but interesting to reflect on how lives were lived in those days. How on earth did they manage without the internet, facebook and twitter?!!
Another building with the Burgundy tiles worth checking out is the imposing Mairie in the wine village of Meursault.
And even here, in our small commune of Chaudenay, our 12th c church steeple is adorned by these attractive tiles.
A Bientot, Bruce.