Hounds

The castle of Cheverny has a kennel where they breed hounds. The name of the owner of the castle is Vibraye, that's why the big letter "V" is on the side of the dog. Not tattooed or burnt but cut with scissors, says the information board.



Every detail of the kennels life is in conformity with the rules and the area that dogs occupy varies according to their number. The place looks small, but can't be bigger. The dogs start running around wildly, get nervous and show signs of aggressive behaviour.



Many of the castles were built and visited because their owners were passionate hunters. Trophy hall and tapestries of Chambord castle:



Lots of tapestries show hunting scenes, some of the dogs look like the hounds of Cheverny

Rik Wouters in Mechelen

Rik Wouters, born and bred in Mechelen (Malin),got his permanent place in his native town. His paintings and sculptures are exhibited in the beautiful medieval building that is sympathetically renovated and is very Flemish like Rik Wouters himself. Till 1911 he was more a sculptor, than a painter, but his passion for colour won and during the last years of his short life he painted a lot. Among Rik's sketches I found a drawing of this bridge.  While drawing he he could clearly see the bridge, this beautiful house (below) and the tower of this very peculiar cathedral.





The name of Rik Wouters is not very well known outside Belgium. He looked like this







He was crazy about his wife Nel








He died when he was 34.