The Royal Château of Blois in the Loire valley served as the residence of several French kings; it is also the place where Joan of Arc was blessed by the Archbishop of Reims before leaving for Orléans with her army to drive the English from the city.

This is the view of the château’s renaissance wing, as it can be observed through a stained glass window depicting the royal emblem. According to legend, Louis I, the Duke of Orléans chose the porcupine symbol to serve as a reminder of his readiness to exact revenge on his enemies who braved him, as the porcupine points his quills to its enemies.

This post is in response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: Frame.
For more pictures visit my gallery here.