July

In the rich land around the Chateau de Poitiers, which was built in the shape of a triangle where the Clain and the Boivre rivers meet, the duke's farmers are shearing sheep and reaping the July wheat with its scattering of wild poppies. Built in the twelfth century, Poitiers was remodeled for the duke by a famous medieval castle architect named Guy de Dammartin. After the Duc de Berry's death, King Charles VII moved to Poitiers. The chateau served as this fainthearted French king's court until Joan of Arc prevailed on him to engage the English at the siege of Orleans.