CENTRAL FOLDER
*Translator's note: Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754-1838), French statesman and diplomat, bought the château at Valencay in 1803. He was at the time Napoleon's Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The name Valençay brings to mind Talleyrand*, the town's chateau, a protected destination of origin for wine and cheese and the BlancArgent line, not forgetting the Châteauroux – Valençay line of the Tramways de l'Indre. The latter's history is told in Bernard Moreau's book (volume 2). The joint BA-TI station was located a little outside the town, and the on-demand stop was close to the centre, but had no building when the line first opened. As the number of passengers using it was growing, the town asked in 1904 that a shelter be built, offering to bear a part of the cost. 22 years of arguing ensued, between the local authorities, the TI and the regulatory entity. Finally, the shelter was built… in the rue Nationale, not at the Champ de Foire location! But at least, passengers were protected from the elements. The building is really simple: a base made of cement congomerate supports a wooden structure with brick infill, and a slate roof with edge scallops. Note that just like the water tank at the Valencay BA station, the bricks in question are from Burgundy: supplied). Despite the fact that there were plenty of local tile and brickworks!
