"BLOIS EST EN PENTE COMME ORLÉANS, (...) LES TOITS DES MAISONS Y SONT DISPOSÉS, EN BEAUCOUP D’ENDROITS, DE TELLE MANIÈRE QU’ILS RESSEMBLENT AUX DEGRÉS D’UN AMPHITHÉÂTRE; CELA ME PARUT TRÈS BEAU ET JE CROIS QUE DIFFICILEMENT ON POURRAIT TROUVER UN ASPECT PLUS RIANT ET PLUS AGRÉABLE"
JEAN DE LA FONTAINE

"LA BONTÉ DE L’AIR, LA PURETE DE LA LANGUE, L’AGRÉMENT DE LA PROMENADE, LA DOUCEUR DE L’ENTRETIEN, LA DELICATESSE DES VIANDES ET DU VIN ET L’EXCELLENCE DE TOUTES SORTES D’EXERCICES, SOIT POUR L’ESPRIT SOIT POUR LE CORPS. ARRÊTENT BEAUCOUP D’ÉTRANGERS QUI ONT BIEN DE LA PEINE DE QUITTER BLOIS APRÈS QU’ILS ONT GOÛTÉ LES CHARMES"
ROBERT ALCIDE DE SAINT-MAURICE

In this tree grate, Jean de la Fontaine (1621-1685) whose proverbs are known all over the world, and Robert Alcide de Saint-maurice, who also lived in the 17th century, are quoted. Both quotes are about the city of Blois.

A tree grate is used to protect the tree, so that the soil in which the tree is planted will not be too compacted, and also water and oxygen will reach the roots of the tree more easily.

Translation of the text on the sign:
"BLOIS IS ON A SLOPE LIKE ORLEANS, (...) THE ROOFS OF THE HOUSES ARE ARRANGED THERE, IN MANY PLACES, IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY RESEMBLE THE STEPS OF AN AMPHITHEATRE; IT APPEARS VERY BEAUTIFUL TO ME AND I BELIEVE THAT WE COULD HARDLY FIND A LAUGHIER AND MORE PLEASANT ASPECT"
JEAN DE LA FONTAINE

"THE GOODNESS OF THE AIR, THE PURITY OF THE LANGUAGE, THE PLEASURE OF THE WALK, THE GENTLENESS OF THE MAINTENANCE, THE DELICACY OF MEAT AND WINE AND THE EXCELLENCE OF ALL KINDS OF EXERCISES, EITHER FOR THE SPIRIT BE FOR BODY. STOPS MANY FOREIGNERS WHO HAVE TROUBLE TO LEAVE BLOIS AFTER THEY HAVE TASTED THE CHARMS"
ROBERT ALCIDE DE SAINT-MAURICE