Paris Nouvelle Athènes Fascinating History & Lovely Doors to Photograph
Paris Nouvelle Athènes captured my attention because of the lovely doors I discovered during a morning walk. These ornate doors just begged to be photographed. So, what do you do while waiting for the hubby to get his pre-flight COVID-19 test? I headed north from our hotel, in the same direction as his pharmacy, to ...
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Breaking – Favorite Travel Apps for your next Paris Visit
This list of favorite travel apps (most of which are free) come from a variety of sources. Some are those that I use consistently while others were recommended by frequent travelers to Paris and the rest of France. I belong to a group of fellow France-loving travelers and asked them to share their favorite travel apps. To ...
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Vintage Paris Pharmacy Makes for a Fascinating Accidental Discovery
This vintage Paris pharmacy experience shared by Pamela Rogers is a wonderful insight into the enthusiasm and excitement that travel inspires in all of us. Pam is part of the community of France-Travel-Info followers who loves to travel and clearly loves France. When she commented on a post on Facebook about a vintage ...
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Five Prominent Paris Casinos in the Growing Industry
A Guide to Paris Casinos Compared to the rest of the world, the modern Parisian casino scene is quite young. While France has had very strict gambling and casino laws during the last century, authorities have opened Paris to casinos during the last couple of years, which means that it’s competing with Europe’s currently ...
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What Awaits You at The Oldest Chocolate Shop in Paris
Read my story in French » Come with me and discover what awaits you at the oldest chocolate shop in Paris. À La Mère de Famille is, without a doubt, my favorite confiserie in Paris. If you love chocolate then this is the place to be. There are multiple locations around Paris but my favorite is the original store at 35 ...
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8 Most Instagrammable Places in Paris
Geraldine Mills from Geraldine Walks is sharing her 8 most Instagrammable places in Paris with us today. I love her motto: "I live to let go, I live to travel far and wide. I live to imprint my feet in different places, in different spaces." Thanks for sharing this with us, Geraldine! [caption id="attachment_8008" ...
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Passage Jouffroy – Escape to the Charm of Hidden Paris
Passage Jouffroy serves as my go-to shopping destination. Light floods this 19th century passage-way from the expansive glass roof. To me, it has a completely different ambience to Galerie Vivienne. The cute little shops always have the perfect souvenir to remind me of my trip to Paris. I also easily find gifts to take home ...
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Day Tripping from Paris – Maximize Your Time
Day tripping from Paris - my hints and suggestions for how to be your own travel agent. Day tripping is a wonderful way to broaden your exposure to French culture and history. However, structuring these trips to maximize time and remain budget friendly requires advance planning. And, I've got a few hints to help. Hint 1: ...
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Favorite Day trips under 90 minutes from Paris
Here are my favorite day trips under 90 minutes from Paris that I promised at the end of the post Under an Hour from Paris. My recommendation is to maximize your time at the destination by taking an early train (before rush hour) from Paris. You may arrive before shops or museums open but it gives you a chance to explore ...
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Favorite Day trips Under an Hour from Paris
My Favorite Day trips under an hour from Paris are a great way to experience more of France. I find our vacation to be much more enjoyable if we are not changing hotels or B&Bs every couple of days. Picking one location as our base and then taking day trips is one way we do this. With that idea in mind, here are my ...
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Vintage Paris Photos Souvenir from VE Day
When were these vintage Paris photos taken? That’s a question I can’t answer definitively. What I know is my uncle who fought in France during World War II dated the packet 1945. In addition, he was in Bar-le-duc during the liberation in August 1944. May 1945 he was in Paris for VE Day and purchased this little ...
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8 Cathedrals in France to Enjoy Besides Notre-Dame de Paris
Cathedrals in France - I've got 8 suggestions for what to see after you've seen Notre-Dame de Paris or in case you can't see the grand cathedral in Paris. When we all heard that Notre-Dame de Paris was on fire, we assumed the worst. And, of course, we were heart-broken that there was a possibility of losing such a magnificent ...
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Meaux – 10 Reasons to Choose Meaux for a Paris Day-Trip
Read my story in French » Meaux Brie - you went to Meaux? What/Where is that? What made you choose Meaux for a Paris day-trip? Those are just a few of the question directed to me when I told people my plans to take a day-trip from Paris to Meaux. Why go just for Meaux brie was another question ? Why not? But I have ...
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Saint-Germain-des-Prés: My Little Corner of Paris
Read my story in French » Saint-Germain-des-Prés was my little corner of Paris for this spring visit. I've always wanted to see Paris in April! To my delight, I found a place through AirBnb and its location was just perfect. I loved being near the hidden Square Roger-Stéphane. Just follow rue Récamier off of rue de ...
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7000 Animals March Through the Gallery of Evolution in Paris
The Gallery of Evolution (Grande Galerie de l’Evolution) is one of several museums that are part of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. All are located within the Jardins des Plantes. The National Museum of Natural History has 14 sites scattered across France. A Peek Inside the Gallery We found it to be a ...
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Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois – The Former Royal Parish Church When the Louvre Was the Royal Residence
Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois appears to be a massive church, flanking the majestic bell tower on both sides. At least that was what we first thought! However, that bell tower and its lovely clock, are actually part of the town hall (mairie) for the first arrondissement. [caption id="attachment_5481" align="aligncenter" ...
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Parc des Buttes Chaumont Is My Favorite Park in Paris
The Parc des Buttes Chaumont is my favorite, at least for now, park in Paris. It is both similar and dissimilar to Parc Montsouris which is another favorite park of mine. Buttes Chaumont is in the north of Paris (19th arrondissement) whereas Montsouris is in the south of Paris (14th arrondissement). Both parks are English in ...
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Pont Bir-Hakeim is one of Paris’ Newer Bridges and Lovely to Behold
Pont Bir-Hakeim is definitely not one of Paris’ older bridges but if you want an elevated view of the Eiffel Tower, then your trajectory will take you right across it!. I boarded the Metro Line 6 at Montparnasse traveling in the direction of the Passy Metro stop. I was so taken with the views that I totally forgot to put ...
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Human Zoo- A Haunting Past in Paris’ Bois de Vincennes
The disturbing idea of a human zoo really changed my viewpoint of this forgotten garden of the Colonial Exposition. The epitome of racism, the garden hides its sordid history in the corner of the Bois de Vincennes. French Colonialism This place of public exhibition promoted French colonialism. Le jardin d’agronomie ...
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Paris Bike Rental – Vélib’ Rental Scheme – Vélos in Paris
Paris Bike rental scheme is called Vélib' (velos libre or free bikes)and you'll find these bikes stations everywhere now. Where would you rather be.... enjoying the beauty of Paris above ground, or down in the depths of the metro. The first 30 minutes of your bike rental is free. These bikes are available round the clock and ...
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Château de Vincennes – You Don’t Have to Leave Paris to Visit a Château !
Château de Vincennes is easily accessed via the Paris metro – just take the metro line 1 to the end of the line and you will arrive at the Château. After exploring the Château, Bois de Vincennes awaits exploration either on foot or by bike. [caption id="attachment_1183" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Tour du ...
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Pep’s Umbrellas is a True Paris Treasure Tucked Away in Passage de l’Ancre
Pep’s Umbrellas was the treasure I found when I explored Passage de l’Ancre (Passage of the Anchor)! From the outside, this particular passage looked industrial and bland. But the door was open- who could resist? I'm glad my curiosity got the best of me. If you’ve ever read Alice in Wonderland, then you know how I ...
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Les Papilles is our Favorite Paris Restaurant
Without a doubt, our favorite Paris restaurant is Les Papilles. Although we like to think of ourselves as budget travelers, we always save money for a visit to Les Papilles. This is, after all, Paris that we are talking about! We love the neighborhood bistro feel to Les Papilles and that we are lunching with ...
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Parc Monceau – a bit of England in Paris
Read my story in French » Parc Monceau is a lovely little park in the 8th arrondissement. Slightly more than one-third the size of Luxembourg Gardens which was built to resemble the Florence gardens of Catherine de Médicis' childhood, Parc Monceau is an English style garden. Less structured than the Luxembourg Gardens and ...
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Art Nouveau – Avenue Rapp in Paris’ 7th Arrondissement
When did Paris Art Nouveau turn into a passion for me? It had to be when I saw this door on an internet post. Isn’t it the most amazing piece of architecture you have ever seen? This incredible architecture on Avenue Rapp is close to the Eiffel Tower. It is definitely some of my most favorite Art Nouveau in ...
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Paris Metro
Tickets, which are good for the Metro, bus and RER, can be purchased at a tabac or newsstand, when boarding the bus (you need exact change), and at the ticket machine when you enter the metro. Buying Paris Metro Tickets The ticket machine can be changed to the language of your choice. I recommend having change for the ...
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Vestiges of Vanishing Vespasiennes in Paris
The Vanishing Vespasiennes certainly has a catching ring to it, doesn’t it? Whether it be a boîte à sable, or a Vespasienne, when something is on the verge of disappearing, I just have to document it. Hence, my search for the last Vespasienne in Paris. Curiosity alone was enough to intrigue my husband so we arranged our ...
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Near Gare St-Lazare in Paris there are two of Beautiful Churches with Vastly Differently Architectural Styles
Waiting for a train departure at Gare St-Lazare doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice valuable sight-seeing opportunities. There's more to Paris than listening to impromtu piano players in the train station. The quartiers around train stations often provide intriguing architectural finds. Near Gare St-Lazare in Paris there ...
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Quaint Streets in Paris
The lovely quaint streets in Paris that I discovered on our last visit will, I think, surprise you. Yes, Paris is filled with Haussmannian style buildings lining grand rues (streets) thanks to a public works program commissioned by Napoleon III. You truly get to appreciate the Haussmannian restructuring of Paris when viewed ...
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Alixe Fu’s Exhibition in Paris
I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered Alixe Fu's exhibition in Paris as I had actually been headed for the neighborhood outdoor market! I love Paris! You never know what you are going to discover from one day to the next. Having just left Damman Frères Tea shop in Place Vosges, I remembered that I had seen a ...
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Paris Markets
I love the street markets in France, particularly those in small villages! Paris neighborhoods reflect that same atmosphere with their Paris markets. Paris has a multitude of market streets as well as open-air markets. Markets are a great place to people-watch and also good shopping stops filled with unique treasures that ...
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Stravinsky Fountain in Paris Exceeds His Gold Star on the Walk of Fame
Read my story in French » He may have a star on the Hollywood walk of Fame, but if you’ve ever seen the Stravinsky Fountain in Paris, you know that this monument to Igor Stravinsky is much more impressive than a brass star in the sidewalk! However, if you’re in Los Angeles, you can find Stravinsky’s star at 6340 ...
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My Curious Finds in Paris
Curious finds in Paris can be found around nearly every corner. However, as tourists, we often miss these wondrous, unusual and curious finds in Paris. If you have more than a day or two for your visit you will be surprised at all the curious finds in Paris you can discover by walking to your destination instead of going ...
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Senlis France Day Tripping from Paris to Get Lost for the Day
Read my story in French » Even in our sleep deprived condition from the overseas flight it was so easy to get to Senlis France from Charles de Gaulle Airport. We rented a car and in less than 30 minutes we were in the Picardy Region literally halfway between Chantilly and Senlis. Half-way is really walking distance as it ...
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Best Baguettes in Paris 2014
This is the 20th year that Paris has ranked its bakers (boulangers) (Grand Prix de la Baguette de Tradition Française de la Ville de Paris). I wanted to map the best baguettes in Paris 2014 so that we can try some of these wonderful breads . Wouldn’t I love to have the job of evaluating all those baguettes! Of ...
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The Drunken Boat – Le Bateau Ivre, Paris
Read my story in French » Near Saint Sulpice Church in Paris there’s a Drunken Boat or Bateau Ivre on the wall! Yes, Le Bateau Ivre by Arthur Rimbaud has been immortalized for all who pass by to see. The first time I had ever seen “wall poems” was in Leiden, Netherlands and they seemed to be everywhere ...
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Paris Botanical Gardens
The Paris Botanical Gardens, Jardin des Plantes, is almost 375 years old. I have to just stand in awe of it because of its age alone. I do well to get my lavender to live from one year to the next. However, plants in the Paris Botanical Gardens have been around for centuries. I came in search of Jardin des Plantes ...
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Saint-Sulpice – Paris’ Second Largest Church
Read my story in French » It was the Fontaine des Quatre Évêques (Four Bishops Fountain) that drew me in search of the Church of Saint-Sulpice. Located in the Latin Quarter of the 6th arrondissement, it was the lions that intrigued me. The photo of the fountain I had seen with its four lions languidly draped over the ...
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Chantilly is an Easy Day Trip From Paris
Chantilly is an easy day trip (26-45 minutes) from Paris by train and has something to offer for everyone in the family. From the tourist information center you can access a path through the forest that leads you to the Château de Chantilly. The park around the Château is open daily til 8pm (20h) in the summer. Behind ...
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Day-tripping from Paris to Beauvais
A Paris to Beauvais day-trip is a wonderful way to see more of France when visiting Paris. It is a short hour and 15 minute train journey from Paris Gare du Nord. The train arrives in the city center and the Beauvais Cathedral is only a 15 minute walk. Although our ultimate destination was Rouen with its amazing cathedral, ...
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Chartres is a Great Day Trip from Paris
Chartres medieval Gothic cathedral dominates the horizon as it stretches towards the heavens. This amazing church has been here in one form or the other since the Druids occupied the mound on which it sets 100 years before the time of Christ. The medieval Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady, Cathédrale Notre-Dame, ...
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Paris Bread Festival
Bread Festival - Fête du pain Don’t miss the Fête du pain or Bread Festival! This food festival begins on the Monday preceding May 16, the day of Saint-Honoré the patron saint of bakers, and ends the following Sunday. This local event is not your standard local tourism destination. However, as a bread connoisseur I ...
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Paris Walks 6th
Paris Walk in the 6th focuses on the beautiful window gardens to be found in Paris. Included are great shops and other points of interest beneath those window gardens. It is an unorthodox approach to a walk but I want to draw your attention to details of window gardens and architectural features as you walk, allowing you to ...
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Paris Walks
Take one of our self-guided Paris walks, if you have the time, and get to know this beautiful city. My approach to walks is to be a flaneur - someone who walks for the pure enjoyment of the walk, absorbing all the sights and sounds as they go. As defined by Baudelaire, a flaneur is " a person who walks the city in order to ...
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Paris Walks Marais
Paris Walks Marais 4th Arrondissment: Châtelet to Picasso for Tea Lovers Paris Walks Marais begins our self-guided walk with a view of the 17th century at the historic Châtelet Metro stop and we will finish our walk at the Picasso Museum. Along the way we will stop for dejeuner (our mid-day meal) at a famous tea ...
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Paris Cloisters
Paris cloisters provide an opportunity for a close examination of French architecture. What a peaceful, quiet setting. Merriam Webster defines a cloister as an enclosed space within a monastery or convent . A covered passage bounding a courtyard usually with walled side and the other side an open arcade or colonnade would ...
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Paris Walks Latin Quarter West
This self-guided Latin Quarter Walk explores the area to the west of Boulevard Saint Michel. Length: 2.3 km (1.4 miles) Duration: 31 minutes (allow extra time to visit the churches, museum and Panthéon) Map at the bottom of page of Paris Walks Latin Quarter West Paris Walks Latin Quarter West is divided ...
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Paris Walks in the Latin Quarter
Walking Tour Interactive Map -East of Blvd Saint Michel Paris Walks Latin Quarter: This self-guided walking tour shows you the location of former homes of well-known Paris authors, Oscar Wilde, Jean Racine, Balzac, Jean-Paul Sarte & Simone de Beuvoir and Gertrude Stein. In addition you have the opportunity to ...
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Latin Quarter Paris
The Latin Quarter Paris (5th/6th arrondissements) earns its name because at one time the university in this district customarily taught in Latin. Robert de Sorbon founded the Collège Sorbonne in 1257. It was a theological college of the University of Paris. The name Sorbonne has, in recent times, become synonymous with the ...
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Paris Marais
Two neighborhoods comprise the Paris Marais, the 3rd and 4th arrondissements . Rue Saint Martin, the river and Boulevard Richard Lenoir border this triangular neighborhood. In French, marais means marsh or swamp which is exactly what the Paris Marais was once upon a time. Although I have walked around the Marais many ...
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Paris Candy
Le Bonbon au Palais is my favorite Paris candy shop. If I have only the time to visit Paris, I know that here I can find all of my favorite candies from all over France. [caption id="attachment_156" align="aligncenter" width="429"] Le Bonbon Paris Candy Shop[/caption] Georges, the owner of this Paris candy shop, has ...
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Paris Shopping
My Favorite Department Stores for Paris Shopping There are several excellent department stores in Paris from which to choose. Galeries Lafayette and Les Printemps are located adjacent to one another so you can easily spend the day shopping without having to walk far or get on the metro. Les Printemps Paris is noted for ...
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Paris Squares
Here are a few of my favorite secluded (and some not so secluded!) Paris Squares - where you can enjoy the scenery while you ponder on what to do in Paris. In French, a square will be called 'place'. The well-known squares such as Place de la Concord, Place de la Bastille or Place de Charles de Gaulle are found on all the ...
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Paris Palais Royal
The Paris Palais Royal, built in 1629, is a peaceful haven of elegant architecture. The Palais Royal Gardens are an oasis amid the summer heat. The Palais Royal was built for Cardinal Richelieu who bequeathed it to Louis XIII. The Sun-King Louis XIV spent his youth here. Later, the father of the future King Louis-Philipe, ...
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Paris Gardens
There are over 400 parks and gardens in Paris! Come with us to some of the Paris Gardens that are a bit on the secluded side (and some that are not)! Arènes de Lutèce (Arena of Lutèce) This Paris garden is actually the site of Paris’ oldest Gallo-Roman ruin from the second century A.D. According to the sign ...
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Paris Parks and Gardens
Paris parks and gardens abound and prove a big city does not have to always mean noise and confusion. Let’s get away from the noise of urban reality and find the peaceful havens that Paris gardens can offer. For a glimpse at the lovely calm you can find, e will look at cloisters, squares (also called a ‘place’), ...
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Saint-Julien le Pauvre – One of Paris’ Oldest Churches
Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre is one of the oldest churches in Paris. Twice it has been on the list of churches to be razed but thankfully this has not happened. Saint Gregory of Tours (538-594) first mentions St-Julien as a place of respite for himself and refers to it as a basilica which usually was a term used for abbey churches. ...
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Paris Churches Share a Collective Memory
Paris churches share the collective memory and history of Paris. Here we find biographies of each neighborhood (arrondissement) of the city, collections of art, miraculous objects and tombs. Architectural designs, similarities and differences, and the stories told by the stained glass are two of the factors that draw me into ...
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Rue Cler Paris- Clearly my Absolute Favorite Little Market Street
Rue Cler Paris is my absolute favorite street! I love the shops, the market and the multitude of wonderful little hotels both on this street and on neighboring streets. Staying on rue Cler gives you a neighborhood feeling instead of a big city feeling. Yet, you are mere blocks from the Eiffel Tower which I thought was ...
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Paris Promenade Plantée or Coulée Verte is a Beautiful Greenway in the Heart of Paris
Read my story in French » Whether you know the Paris Promenade as “La coulée verte” (green stream) or “La promenade plantée”, this beautiful greenway provides you with elevated views of Paris away from the bustle of street traffic. Located in the 12th arrondissement, the walkway is 2.9 miles of greenway oasis ...
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Budget Paris
Budget Paris tourism opportunities abound, particularly when viewed individually. However, if you accumulate several days of these seemingly inexpensive activities you may have a dwindling cash flow. If you budget Paris activities by interspersing those free things to do in Paris you will find that Paris on a budget is not an ...
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Paris Catacombs and Ossuary
The Paris Catacombe are located in the underground tunnels that were once part of the quarries from which stone was mined for Notre Dame and other major building projects during medieval times. The word catacombe (French), which is usually used in the plural form, defines as an underground cemetery connected by tunnels. ...
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Historic Paris Cafés to Enhance Your Visit
Read my story in French » Historic Paris Cafés needs to be an integral part of any visit to Paris. These cafés in Paris are rich in history so I've shared just a bit of the history of each one. Through the decades Parisians and non-Parisians alike have used cafés as an extension of their home, writing treatises, ...
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Paris Places Paris Cafes
This page has moved. Please click HISTORIC PARIS CAFES to reach the page you want. Thanks for reading ...
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A Photographic Journey through Paris Passages and Galeries
I love these old Paris Passages and Galeries, truly predecessors to our modern malls to a small extent. If, after looking at these photos, you are intrigued and want to visit them when you are in Paris, take a look at my detailed page on the Passages and Galeries in Paris where you can enjoy historical architecture, shop, or ...
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Charming Passages and Galeries in Paris
Paris passages and galeries are a hidden aspect of Paris. These beautiful covered passages provide an escape from the elements and a glimpse into a different aspect of Paris shopping. To compare the covered Passages and Galeries to an American mall would be a grave injustice. The atmosphere provides is an intimate escape from ...
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Useful Info About Flights to Paris
Although airline flights to Paris are not the only port of entry, it is most likely the top airline flight destination. If arrive by train, via this link you can book with Rail Europe. To find cheap flights to Paris, you have to be aware of your travel options as well as having a few money saving tricks up your sleeve. ...
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Paris Activities for Children
Paris activities for children – Fun activities from parks to zoos to science museums abound and I will share a few of them with you here. These activities are either free or relatively inexpensive and will provide fun for all ages in your family. Paris is relatively flat, making it easy to navigate with a stroller if you ...
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Louvre Paris
The Louvre Paris France, is a magnificent museum housed in what was once 12th century fortress and later a 14th century castle. The Louvre’s collections range from ancient civilizations to mid- nineteenth century. Get the map of the various rooms (in multiple languages) before you go so you are ready when you arrive. ...
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Paris Museums
Paris Museums - please note that opening times were accurate at the time of the post so please verify with the museum before you go. The Louvre is one of the best known Paris museums (and can be found here) but there are many other options for visitors. What is listed below is a select few. There are around 130 museums ...
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Accommodations in Paris
Both friends and followers have asked for recommendations for hotel accommodations in Paris so what I'm offering you here is my take on finding accommodations as well as a few of my "go to" places that I keep returning to time after time. When searching for accommodations in Paris whether it is a hotel or B&B, I look ...
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Paris Canal St Martin
One of our trips to Paris found us wandering the Paris Canal-St Martin on a Sunday afternoon. After a relaxing morning at one of our favorite places (and one that you don't particularly associate with tourism), the Hammam Spa where we enjoyed the pool, stone spa, massages and steam bath we were ready to continue our ...
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Paris Boat Cruises
Paris boat cruises can offer you and your family great cruise-deals and a different perspective of Paris. Whether you are searching for a dinner cruise or a batobus that allows you to hop on and off, our list is sure to please. The offerings of these cruise companies are diverse. Choose cheap cruise deals, good for family ...
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Notre Dame de Paris – the Grand Lady of Paris
Notre Dame de Paris is located on the eastern end of Île de la Cité (an island in the middle of the Seine River) as shown on the map. The Île de la Cité is the part of Paris where the Kings once resided. Notre Dame de Paris was built between 1164 and 1375. This Gothic cathedral suffered from vandalism during the 1789 ...
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Exploration of the Gargoyles and Chimeras of Paris Notre-Dame
Read my story in French » Gargoyles and chimeras, sometimes called grotesques, date back to approximately the 12th century. On this page are specifically the gargoyles and chimeras of Notre Dame in Paris are the focus. However, you will find gargoyles on buildings all over Europe. However, some of what we think of as ...
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Paris Overview
Paris Overview is a designed to provide you with a generalized view of the city of light. This page will help you to orient yourself in Paris as you plan your special vacation. After reading this page, return to the Paris-City of Light for more details. Paris consists of approximately 1052 square miles. Of the estimated ...
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Paris – Jumpstart Your Visit to the City of Light
Hi there! Since this post was first written I've written over 150 posts about Paris! Too many to link to from this page. It you don't find what you are looking for, just search for Paris at the top of the page. Getting Started If this will be your first visit to Paris or if you will be in the city of light for only a ...
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Kir – We Love the Aperitif as much as its Fascinating History
Read my story in French » {updated November 2022} A Kir apéritif or a Kir Royal is perfect if you want to enjoy a traditional French apéritif. The difference is found in the alcohol used. A Kir has a base of dry white wine, served in a wine glass while a Kir Royal is made with champagne and served in a champagne ...
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Castel Béranger Launched the Fame of Young Hector Guimard
Read my story in French » Castel Béranger has long been on my list of places in Paris to explore. It finally made its way to the top of the list this year and I set out to explore the 16th arrondissement. Nestled between the Seine and the Bois de Boulogne, Castel Béranger, the first Art Nouveau building in Paris, is ...
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10 reasons to visit Tours France-Why we Came Back
10 reasons to visit Tours France and discovering all of its delights was something we failed to do on our first visit many years ago. At that point in time, Tours served us as a jumping off point for exploring the châteaux of the Loire Valley. As I revisited our travel photos during the 2020 pandemic when travel was not ...
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10 Entertaining Spots to Visit in Nantes
We discovered an abundance of entertaining spots to visit in Nantes and I'm sure we will return to discover more! Visiting in early April meant some attractions on my list were not yet open for the season. Disappointing, but a very good reason to come back and increase our list beyond 10 Entertaining Spots to Visit in ...
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9 Favorite Places I Found in Vannes France
Read my story in French » The Roman ramparts of Vannes as well as its cobbled streets are just two aspects that make this a charming town to explore. We stayed in the Patern neighborhood, not far from Saint-Patern church. This neighborhood and its church are first in my list of favorite places in Vannes ...
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La Samaritaine: 6 Interesting Things I Love About this Building
Read my story in French » First, I fell in love with La Samaritaine the first time I shopped there. (and……I can’t wait to share my photos of the newly renovated building !) La Samaritaine of this époque occupied 4 buildings. Although on a much grander scale, at the time it reminded me of a department store from my ...
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Rue des Martyrs -My Exploration to Delight the Tastebuds
Read my story in French » I must admit when I planned my exploration of Paris' rue des Martyrs, I made the conscious decision to skip breakfast and lunch.... and maybe even dinner. My decadent pleasure here on rue des Martyrs would be to sample and taste at will. What I found did not disappoint but it did leave me ...
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How Travel Photography Inspiration Found its Beginnings in History For Me
Read my story in French » Eugène Atget inspires my travel photography Eugène Atget is one of my favorite photographers who just happens to also be French. Born in 1857, 18 years after the invention of the camera, he gained his notoriety through his photos of Paris at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th ...
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The Most Mystical Tomb in Père Lachaise Cemetery
Read my story in French » The most mystical tomb in Père Lachaise cemetery piqued my interest after a virtual tour conducted by Paris Vivre on Facebook. Buried in the tomb are the remains of the Baroness Elisabeth Alexandrovna Strogonoff de Demidoff. It is truly enormous in size! Location of the Most Mystical Tomb of ...
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9 Insanely Beautiful French National Parks to See
Not being able to experience French National Parks in person at this point in the pandemic, I am happy to re-welcome Geraldine who has written a guest post before. Her love of travel shines through in her writing. From pristine beaches to the stunning Alps and quaint countryside, France has a wide array of natural ...
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10 Statues in Montparnasse Cemetery that Fascinated Me
In search of interesting statues in Montparnasse Cemetery but first a bit of history: Montparnasse Cemetery was opened on July 24, 1824. Reading the Histoire de Paris sign, I learned it comprises the land which at one time belonged to the Hôtel-Dieu and the religious members of the Charity Hospital.The mill which was ...
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Rue Daguerre -A Lively Market Street Longing to be Explored
Read my story in French » Rue Daguerre market street is a delightful little street in Paris’ 14th arrondissement. The pedestrianized section of the street exudes both a liveliness and tranquility, leaving you with a neighborhood feel here in the heart of Paris. What Fun Awaits Near Rue Daguerre ? Even if you are just ...
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The Seine – 10 Views that Will Capture Your Heart
The Seine river meanders through Paris designing the perfect walking tour. As it winds along its way, it passes many iconic views I love and possibly some that are your favorites as well. Not being able to make the planned trip to France because of the COVID-19 restrictions finds me perusing photos from past trips and walking ...
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Vibrant Galerie Vivienne – Why It’s My Favorite
Galerie Vivienne delights your eye at every turn. The mosaic tile floors first captured my attention. The design detail draws the eye inward to the passage and beckons you to enter. [caption id="attachment_7933" align="aligncenter" width="398"] This vaulted galerie is 42 meters long (137.8 ...
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Spotlight on More Fascinating Art Nouveau
Fascinating Art Nouveau architecture abounds in the 16th and 7th arrondissements. Images of the door at 29 avenue Rapp are abundant on Facebook and Instagram....And with just reason! The door is spectacular. However, I will focus on a few of the Art Nouveau buildings found in the 6th and 14th arrondissements in this ...
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Hiking Adventures in France: How to Pack Light
Packing light for your hiking adventures is today's guest post. I want to extend a warm welcome to hiking enthusiast and guest blogger Robert Baker. He loves hiking along remote trails in wilderness areas and appreciating the beauty of Creation. He has traveled extensively across Europe, China, and the United States. When he ...
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Coronavirus – Healthy travel after a Pandemic
Healthy travel after a pandemic - the hot topic of discussion. Many of us cancelled or cut short our travel adventures this spring. As we see restrictions loosen, the question arises - When will it be safe to travel again? While still "sheltering in place", I want to consider some of the France travel advice recently ...
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Corniche d’Or Amazed me With all its Sights
What a delight to have discovered Alexandra and her travel videos! I’ve asked her to join in here and share some highlights of one of her recent excursions to Corniche d’Or. Alexandra is a 33 years old Austrian with a teaching degree in English and Psychology from the University of Vienna. When asked to tell me a bit ...
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My Peaceful Sunday Morning Walk in the 6th
This was my last day in Paris and a peaceful walk or wander was in order. I wanted to be able to soak up all the ambience I could before leaving. No rushing about, no agenda, just purely being in the moment and enjoying every little thing Paris has to offer on a peaceful walk. I was up and out early and as I was just a 5 ...
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France Travel Tips for Summer
I enjoy welcoming guest posts to my blog and today I want to welcome Jack. He is an accomplished cybersecurity expert with years of experience under his belt at TechWarn, a trusted digital agency to world-class cybersecurity companies. A passionate digital safety advocate himself, Jack frequently contributes to tech blogs and ...
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Medieval or Modern – What you see is not what you think
Medieval or modern, I thought I could tell the difference! What do you think of when someone says medieval? I immediately think of massive doors with heavy iron parts such as knobs, knockers, and hinges set in stone walls that often have a lintel with majestic carvings. So exactly what period in time is defined as medieval? ...
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More Than 10 Reasons Why I Love Amiens
Read my story in French » I love Amiens and I can give at least 10 reasons to visit Amiens in addition the magnificent Cathedral ! With four days to explore in Amiens, I loved every minute of my visit. There should be no doubt from the two earlier posts that I love the Cathedral here. But there are an abundance of ...
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How to learn French if you are an Introvert
It's hard to believe that Llyane has my French coach for 6 years. I've grown so much in confidence during that time and her post about introverts definitely spoke to me. As an introvert, I find it hard enough to initiate conversation in my native language much less have the courage to initiate it in a target language. Just ...
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Bouquinistes- Memorable Treasures in the Bookstalls Along the Seine
Bouquinistes along the Seine offer everything from used books to tourist trinkets. One thing is certain is that they provide a memorable way to while away a Sunday morning! Some vendors have treasures that interest tourists looking for a souvenir: Eiffel Tower posters, drink coasters with iconic images, etc. However, ...
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Boulogne’s Notre-Dame Basilica and Crypt are Fascinating
Boulogne’s Notre-Dame Basilica certainly evokes memories of my prior visits to Invalides and the Panthéon in Paris as well as Saint Peter’s in Rome and Saint Paul’s in London! All of those gave inspiration to its builder here in Boulogne. I spent one whole afternoon exploring Boulogne's Notre-Dame Basilica and ...
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Eiffel Tower- In Search of the Perfect Photo
Wandering the Seine River in Paris is a photographer's dream. Besides the Eiffel Tower, there are wonderful views of the bridges. Follow the river in the direction of the Eiffel to be rewarded with many photographic opportunities which, of course, include the Eiffel Tower. Pick a direction and allow a couple of hours to just ...
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Beautiful Boulogne Absolutely Stole my Heart
Read my story in French » Boulogne, also known as Boulogne-sur-Mer, is one of several walled or fortified cities in France. Unlike Saint-Malo and Guérande, Boulogne-sur-Mer is quite hilly. Arriving at the Tintelleries train station meant I was about half way between the walled old-town and the coastal attractions. Walk ...
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Giverny Surprised me with a Beautiful Explosion of Tulips
Giverny, Claude Monet's garden and home, is just a mere 70 km from Paris. It's an easy day-trip from Paris. A half-day visit allows exploration of the gardens but the little village is delightful as is Vernon where the train arrives. Allow the whole day so as to not miss anything! Tips to Help You Prepare As I traveled ...
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Hard to have conversations in French? 3 techniques that will help
Llyane has been my French coach since 2013. Her approach to learning is unique and as English is not her native language, she understands the difficulties to be faced as I've worked to improve my French language skills. Her organic approach to language learning has improved my pronunciation as well as my comprehension of ...
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Notre-Dame d’Amiens – Exploring the Exterior Details
Notre-Dame d'Amiens is a magnificent cathedral. It is the largest cathedral in France and although definitely 13th century Gothic in style, a place of worship has rested on this site since the fifth century. When you consider the timeline of wars that took place in France since the present-day Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Amiens ...
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Amiens Cathedral – Exploring the Wonders of the Interior
Amiens’ cathedral, Notre Dame, soared above the horizon as I walked toward her along Port d’Amont. I’m not sure why this surprised me as she is considered the largest church in France. In fact, Amiens’ cathedral exceeds in size Notre Dame of Paris. The Roman style cathedral which stood here before the Notre Dame of ...
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Sainte-Etienne Cathedral in Meaux France
Sainte-Etienne Cathedral (Cathédrale Sainte-Etienne de Meaux) was one of my two primary reasons for choosing Meaux as a day-trip destination from Paris. My interest in medieval architecture began when I wrote a research paper on the cathedral in Chartres for a French history class. With each church that I visit, I always ...
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Waddesdon Manor – A Delightful French Château in Buckinghamshire
Waddesdon Manor Estate was merely farm land in 1874 when the land was purchased by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild (1839-1898). De Rothschild was born in Paris of a French mother and English father. His mother died when he was just 19 and in 1860 he moved to England to be close to his mother’s relatives. [caption ...
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Dogs in France – Cafés, Shops, Metro, Museums, etc
Dogs in France – cafés, metro, museums, monuments... First of all, let me say that this post is not going to address the legalities of getting your dog into France nor what type of breeds are acceptable to bring into France. That is something that each person needs to research individually so they are in compliance with ...
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Holocaust Memorial Tucked Away in a Quiet Garden of the Marais
Read my story in French » Sometimes a surprising find presents itself in the most unlikely of places. I would not have wandered down rue Eginhard had someone not made the suggestion. I certainly would not have expected to find a holocaust memorial in this hidden lovely setting. As you can see from the photo, there does ...
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Gobelins – Historic Tapestries in an Historic Manufactory
Gobelins tapestries first captured my attention when we spent one Christmas holiday in Bruges. I wanted a memorable and useful souvenir of our visit and decided on a crossbody purse with an historic weave design. Every time I carry it the memories of that snowy Christmas holiday return, so it is truly a treasure. However, ...
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Charité – A Mother’s Love in Action
Charité, the bas-relief found on the side of the Hôtel de Carnavelet, has long captivated my attention. As it occupies an otherwise empty wall at 48 rue de Sévigné, I wondered why it was there. Was it part of the original building? The more times I passed by the more curious I became as to it history. I definitely love ...
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Strolling on rue des Thermopyles
When I discovered, or rather stumbled upon, rue des Thermopyles, I was surprised to find myself escaping from the bustle and noise of streets leading from Gare Montparnasse. What a pleasant discovery as I was only on my way to the local Monoprix store for yogurt! We re-visited this lovely street again this summer and I've ...
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Molière Fountain – Fontaine Molière – 1st Arrondissement
Fontaine Molière (Molière Fountain) is a grand bronze fountain in the first arrondissement. We found it where rue Molière and rue de Richelieu meet. I love how these two streets seemingly form a wedge and the fountain dominates the point. This image gives you an idea of the size of this fountain! It appears to be about 6 ...
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Le Tour de France 2018 – What a Day to Remember!
Read my story in French » We arrived at the Tuileries garden for Le Tour de France mid-afternoon after spending our morning on the Bassin de la Villette. A mid-summer fun fair was in full swing in the Tuileries. Knowing that the cyclists ride up Avenue du Général Lemmonier which passes between the Tuileries gardens and ...
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Sunday Flaneurs on the Bassin de la Villette
We spent the first part of our last Sunday in July being flaneurs (one who wanders and observes) along the Bassin de la Villette. We finished our day by heading over to the Tuileries garden on rue de Rivoli to watch the final laps of the Tour de France. It was a beautiful sunny day, just perfect for wandering aimlessly. A ...
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My Favorite Ramble Through the Historic Streets of Montmartre
Montmartre is a lovely place for an early morning walk. I love the cobbled streets and historic old buildings. They all work together to contribute to its village feeling rather than a busy city. So different from the rest of Paris as it is untouched by the Haussmannian changes that occurred at the turn of the 20th century, ...
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Sous le Chapeau (Under the Hat) Near l’Allée du Seminaire
Read my story in French » Sous le Chapeau (Under the Hat) is a life-size bronze statue in front of the Hungarian Cultural Center (Institut Hongrois) in Paris. It is very close to the Luxembourg Gardens so not difficult to find at 92 rue Bonaparte. As she perches on her bench she appears to be watching the ...
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Parc de Bercy and the former Château de Bercy
Parc de Bercy was our picnic destination this summer before touring the Musée des Arts Forains. This park in the 12th arrondissement is one of Paris’ newer parks but the area itself has a super interesting history. But first, a little clarification. This area called Parc de Bercy is not the same park land that was part ...
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Musée des Arts Forains – A 19th Century Interactive Fairground Museum
The Musée des Arts Forains (Fairground Museum) is the amazing personal collection of Jean Paul Favand. It's one Paris museum you won't want to miss.An old wine warehouse is the home for this amazing spectacle. Have you ever visited a museum where you could play with the displays? We hadn't and we had so much fun ...
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Best Baguette 2018 – Just Call me a Bread Snob!
The Best Baguette 2018 competition was held in early April and everyone who is anyone on the internet has written about the winner and those boulangeries listed in the top 10. Here I am, almost 4 months out from the competition, and I'm just now thinking about it. I am a bread aficiondo and love baking it but there was a ...
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Street Art Discoveries in Angers – Summer 2018
The new street art in Angers was such a lovely surprise this year! I have always seen the occasional work such as this beautiful blue rose and what I believe to be an opossum. However, their origins are unknown to me. After writing this post, I discovered another piece of street art while walking along the river Maine on the ...
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My Favorite French Books – the List Continues
Here's a list of more of my favorite French books just because my bookshelves are overflowing! The last post of my favorite French books was so much fun to write. It was almost like rereading each of the books and who’s to say that I won’t end up doing that at some point. If you have some favorite French books, be sure ...
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My 14 Favorite Books About France
My favorite books about France is such a long list, not to mention limiting myself to only 10! When I decided to write a blog that would share my favorite books, the list quickly got out of hand. I decided I had to limit the list to 10. No doubt, there will be other blogs to follow this one that will focus on books but each ...
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Château de Brissac is a Picturesque Giant of the Loire Valley
Château de Brissac, originally a medieval fortress, bears the name le géant du Val de Loire as it is the highest château in the Loire Valley. It is the current residence of the Duc du Brissac, the 13th duke! The Cossé-Brissac family is one of the oldest in France. [caption id="attachment_5381" ...
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Medical Travel Insurance Exploring Options
Medical Travel Insurance – just exactly what does this type of insurance cover? I made some interesting discoveries. Insurance programs often provide just trip insurance. They cover trip cancellation, loss of baggage, early termination of trip, etc. In addition, I needed medical insurance comparable to my health insurance ...
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Montmorillon Has it All: Books, Macarons, Photographic Vistas
Read my story in French » I first discovered Montmorillon when searching for book events in France. Montmorillon carries the moniker the “city of books and writing” . For an avid reader, that was all the enticement I needed. Another the name for Montmorillon is the “Town of Art and History”. It is definitely all ...
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We Toured Versailles by Bike and Had a Wonderful Time!
A guided tour of Versailles was not something I ever thought we’d consider. In years past, watching tour groups being rushed here and there with no time to enjoy the sights just didn’t seem appealing to us. But, we love cycling so when we found a guided tour of Versailles by bike, we decided that it might be time to have ...
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An Emotional Visit to the French Deportation Memorial – a Holocaust Memorial
As I approached the French Deportation Memorial on Ile de la Cité, I felt myself becoming tense. Over the years, I’ve read many books on the holocaust. From my first encounter of the deportation and holocaust atrocities through the Diary of Anne Frank, I will never forget my mother’s admonishment. We must never forget ...
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Le Passe-Muraille
Read my story in French » The History behind Le Passe-Muraille Le Passe-Muraille is a short story by Marcel Aymé (1902-1967) which is forever immortalized in a small square on rue Norvins in Paris. Le Passe-Muraille loosely translates as “walk through walls”. The statue in Place Marcel Aymé, which passes through the ...
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A Family Vacation- One Reader’s Trip
What an enchanting French family vacation this sweet couple has shared with me and I, in turn, am delighted to share it with you! Facebook brought us together and I'm delighted to be able to share some highlights from their vacation in France. After messaging me for ideas for a "non-touristy" vacation around Paris, they were ...
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C’est Le 14 Juillet
Not being in France for Le 14 Juillet celebration fills me with nostalgia. Our first July 14th celebration in France is such a wonderful memory for me. This French holiday, referred to sometimes as Bastille Day, provides some of my favorite memories of our summer visits to France. Our first Bastille Day experience was quite ...
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Offline Map APPS to Keep Your Trip Organized
Maps or APPS or APPS with Maps: Does anyone still use paper maps or is everyone using APPS ? The answer is Yes! to both. There are still those persons who prefer that paper map over the offline map apps on their phone. As for moi? I like to look at the paper map before I hit the road so I have a general idea in my head as ...
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France Regions Explained
France Regions have been consolidated. The former 22 administrative regions are now just 13 regions. This finalization came January 1, 2016 to continental France and 5 overseas regions. Taking a closer look at this consolidation will help you as new guidebooks are published. You can plan your vacation within these 13 new ...
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Travel Guide Resources and Interesting Links
Are you ready to plan that trip abroad but you are not quite sure where to get started. On this page you'll find travel guide resources for VISAs and passports, travel insurance, and even a great source for the serious budget traveler. My website focuses on France but there are other tourism destinations you may want to ...
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Fear and Hope
Let's talk about fear and hope. What are your fears as a non-French speaking traveler? What’s it like to be a non- French speaking tourist in France? Once upon a not too long ago time, I was that non-French speaking tourist. How did I survive? I arrived with both fear and hope: fear that I would get lost and ...
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Exploring Moët and Chandon in Épernay
Who doesn’t love Champagne? Whether it is just a glass of Champagne or when it is part of an aperitif called a Kir Royal in the Burgundy Region, champagne is lovely. Our first tour included both history and a final tasting at Moët and Chandon Champagne House in Épernay. Both the tour and the champagne tasting proved quite ...
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Châteaudun – Explorations of the Town and Château
Châteaudun slept quietly after lunch on the Sunday afternoon we arrived to visit the Château. As you can see the streets were deserted. We had just come from church in Bonneval where the street was filled with people chatting with one another and/or standing in line at the boulangerie for baguettes for the noon meal. Here, ...
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Boîtes à Sable are another Vestige from the Past
When I discovered that there were so few boîtes à sable (boxes with sand) remaining in Paris, I had to find them……. Or at least one of them! These boîtes à sable are remnants of Paris’ past, dating from the nineteenth century. Beautiful cast iron boxes, boîtes, were used at one time to hold the sand, sable, ...
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Art Nouveau Style in the 10th
Finding Art Nouveau style architecture in Paris is one of my favorite past-times. Just a short stroll from Gare du Nord, I found some lovely Art Nouveau style buildings in the 10th arrondissement. So even if you are short on time, you can experience this very special aspect of Paris. Probably the most well-known Art ...
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Cirque d’Hiver
Approaching the Cirque d’Hiver (Winter Circus) after dark is a breath-taking experience! The building dates to 1852 and is the world’s oldest circus building still in use. It was built so that the Cirque d’Été (Summer Circus) which took place every summer under a canvas tent in Paris would have a winter home. If ...
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Montrésor and Her Collegiate Church
Montrésor - what a beautiful village to visit! In fact, it boasts the title of one the"plus beaux villages de France “ which translates to one of the most beautiful villages in France. There are 157 villages which have received this designation and Michelin provides a map of them. Stop in at a local “Librairie” ...
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Château de Montrésor
The village of Montrésor is perched on a cliff in the Loire Valley with the Château de Montrésor at the highest point. This is a beautiful little château in an idyllic setting and I had lots of fun trying to capture that "perfect photo" of "my treasure" (mon-trésor). Perched high on a cliff ...
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Flame of Liberty
Read my story in French » What do Princess Diana and the Flame of Liberty have in common? In this post, I'll share what I discovered. Beneath Pont de l’Alma, Paris, in the tunnel, Princess Diana died in 1997 from injuries received in a car crash. Not far from this tunnel is Place de l’Alma where the Flame of Liberty ...
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Wall for Peace – Mur de la Paix
Read my story in French » Is it possible that the Paris Peace monument, the Wall for Peace, is the city’s most overlooked monument? Being so close to the Eiffel Tower, I expected to find more people, possibly even crowds but both times I visited the Wall for Peace there were only an handful of people exploring this unique ...
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Parc Montsouris
If you are looking for an English garden in Paris, look no farther than Parc Montsouris. Just hop on the RER B metro line, we started at Luxembourg Gardens, and go south to the Cité Universitaire stop. Exit the metro station, don’t follow the stream of people across the street just yet but instead, turn right. Walk down ...
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Board Game Cafés
Board game cafés seem to be growing in popularity everywhere you go! When we first discovered there were board games cafés in Paris we found three or four of these cafés cum bars listed in various guide books. They were scattered around the city but all were within the boundaries of the peripherique, the large ring road ...
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Bourgueil
Located equi-distant from Villandry, Saumur and Chinon many wonderful little villages surrounded our gite. Bourgueil was one of these towns that captivated my heart. [caption id="attachment_3472" align="alignleft" width="399"] Home of La Galette Bourgueilloise[/caption] Our first few trips to Bourgueil took ...
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Luxembourg Palace
Luxembourg Palace, built for Marie de Médicis, houses the French Sentate. As I marveled at the opulence here, I had difficulty remembering that this palace is now a place of business – one which is tasked with the serious business of running a country! Situated in the 24 acre Luxembourg Gardens, the Palace has been ...
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2015 Bucket List
Happy New Year everyone! Bonne Année à tous! I decided to celebrate the start of the new year by sharing my 2015 bucket list with you. 2014 started with lots of unexpected renovations/reparations at our house due to water seeping into our basement - quelle horreur! Our plan is for 2015 to be much improved experience! I've ...
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Menton
Menton France has been calling me ever since I first saw photos of their annual Lemon Festival which takes place the end of February every year. If you are in Menton in the summer, they also have a music festival every August that has been going on since 1950: the French Chamber Opera Festival. [caption ...
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Château de Villandry
Château de Villandry is famous for its gardens - described by many as works of living art. However, because we were visiting in October, I resigned myself to the idea that the gardens would be past their prime. I believed that the true beauty would be found inside the Château. [caption id="attachment_3360" ...
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Hôtels Particuliers du Marais
The first goal on this trip to Paris was to see and hopefully photograph as many more Hôtels Particuliers du Marais (old Paris mansions in the Marais neighborhood) as I could find. My first encounter with these old mansions in Paris intrigued me, so after reading a bit of their history, I wanted to try to locate as many as ...
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La Chambre aux Confitures Delights the Tastebuds
Step into La Chambre aux Confitures in Paris and prepare to be overwhelmed by the selection of confitures, honeys and spreads. Small jars of artisinal jams and jellies abound here and you can taste test each and every one of them. Sometimes the best things you experience are not planned. This wonderful little shop was ...
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Climbing the Tower John without Fear
Climbing the Tower John without Fear (Tour Jean sans Peur) in Paris was one of my more interesting "museum experiences". No, there is nothing "fearful" about climbing the tower despite the title of the post. The staircase is winding but not difficult and each level of the tower yields a bit of history, thus making each ...
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Fountain of Innocents – Place Joachim-du-Bellay
What a beautiful square and what a beautiful fountain… the Fountain of Innocents (La Fontaine des Innocents). The square is huge and shaded and a wonderful gathering place. The breeze on this hot summer day blows a spray of fountain water. Refreshed by the mist, you are quickly cooled and encouraged to sit and enjoy this ...
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Why Royaumont Abbey is a Great Side Trip
With Chantilly slipping away behind us and the cathedral at Beauvais on our minds, Royaumont Abbey wasn't even a considered destination point. In fact, we didn't even realize it existed but when we saw its quaint sign pointing down a small road that made its way through a tunnel of trees, I had to turn the car ...
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Square de la Roquette Souvenirs
The Paris Square de la Roquette has a varied and interesting past. Three families have owned this square. The Rocquet de la Tribouille familly, Henry III, the Comte de Cheverny and Germain Teste all have been owners. The Sisters of the Hospital of Notre Dame had both a convent and convalescent home here between 1690 and ...
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Rouen Cathedral : Cathédrale de Notre-Dame
Did you know that Monet captured the Rouen Cathedral on canvas in a series of 28 paintings! Each painting shows the facade at a different time of day and although the paintings are scattered all over the world, you can see them online at the Rouen Parish website. The Cathedrale de Notre Dame is the tallest cathedral in ...
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Normandy France
The Normandy Region of France (Normandie in French) is divided into two parts: Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy) which consists of the Eure and Seine-Maritime departments and Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy) which consists of the Orne, Calvados (home to Calvados apple brandy) and Manche departments. Every part of France ...
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Marne Dormans Memorial
Constructed in 1921 to commemorate the two Battles of the Marne from World War I, the Marne Dormans Memorial is located between Paris and Reims on the D980. The First Battle of the Marne 1914 was a strategic victory, saving Paris from capture by the Germans, but saw a loss of 250,000 French (a comparable number of ...
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World War I
World War I and Other War Memorials War memorials, World War I and later, of all shapes and sizes scan be found everywhere you look in France. From the small memorials in villages, to the memorials found in the countryside at the intersection of two roads to the Arc du Triomphe in Paris which bears the names of all ...
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Pays de la Loire
The Pays de la Loire Region has a sweeping variety of scenery and activities ranging from beach to forest, ocean to river and hiking to the Le Mans race. Located on the western edge of France, it is comprised of four departments, the Loire Atlantique, Maine et Loire, Vendée, Sarthe and the Mayenne. [caption ...
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Entranced by Lovely River Views Charming Chalon-sur-Saone Did Not Disappoint
Read my story in French » Chalon-sur-Saône (Chalon on the Saône) is a located on the River Saône in the southern Burgundy Region. This area of the wine region is famous for wines such as Givry, Mercurey, Montagny and our favorite, Rully. I arrived in Chalon-sur-Saône jet lagged and hungry as the breakfast croissant ...
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French Riviera
To many people, the French Riviera conjures up images of sophisticated socialites, millionaires’ yachts, Ernest Hemingway, Picasso, casinos and even James Bond. Its miles of beautiful beaches, wonderful climate and rich Mediterranean colours have attracted artists and aristocrats. This natural beauty is still there to ...
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Angers Historic Architecture of Half-Timbered Houses
Half-timbered Houses and their Architectural Carvings Angers historic architecture found in the half-timbered houses dates from the Middle Ages. These half-timbered houses represent a chief form of housing architecture in northern Europe. This type of architecture shows up as early as the twelfth century and by the ...
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Surrounded by the Maid of Orléans
We found ourselves surrounded by the Maid of Orléans in Orléans France . Joan of Arc is the patron saint of France and Place de Martroi, one of the main squares in Orléans, has a statue commemorating her. The Maid of Orléans , Joan of Arc, can be found in 11 statues around the city! One of the largest churches in ...
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Sainte-Croix Gothic Cathedral in Orléans
Sainte-Croix Gothic Cathedral in Orléans France has a pair of intricate "wedding cake" towers. A church has been located on this site since 375 A.D. The stained glass inside tells the story of Joan of Arc's life. ( Orléans is located on the opposite end of the Loire from Tours in the Centre Region, just where the Loire ...
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No Car Needed to Explore French Castles via Train
Visiting French Castles via train helps avoid what we termed “châteaux overload”. We definitely experienced this overload the first time we visited the Loire Valley. If you go by car it is so easy to try to "do too much" so pace yourself. Visiting one or possibly two châteaux (their interiors and grounds) per day ...
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Château de Chantilly is a Magnificent Marvel
The original Château de Chantilly (10th -14th centuries) belonged to the Lords of Senlis (Senlis is only 11km from Chantilly ). Nothing remains of that château nor of the one that followed. The Château you see today dates from around 1560. [caption id="attachment_230" align="aligncenter" width="428"] Château de ...
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Picardy
Picardie-Picardy: The Picardie Region (Picardy in English) of France stretches from the coast (between Berck and Le Tréport) to just north of Reims and then dips south across the A4/E50 (main highway between Paris and Reims) to include Chateau-Thierry. The three departments found here are the Oise, Somme and the Aisne. In ...
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Beauvais Cathedral
Read my story in French » Beauvais Cathedral, Cathèdral de Saint-Pierre de Beauvais, built between the tenth and eleventh centuries, progressed from almost the point of destruction to being used as a facility for wood storage in the late 1700s to its present state of restoration as a place of worship. [caption ...
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Rochemenier a Fascinating History of French Cave Dwellings
Read my story in French » Rochemenier Troglodyte type dwellings, houses carved in rock, are not rare in France. In fact, our first encounter with them was in the Vouvray when we took a tour through one of the wineries. Situated in natural cliffs, this network of caves served as the perfect place to store wine. It was not ...
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Cheese fondue Exudes warm thoughts and happy memories
Cheese fondue fills me with all sorts of warm thoughts and memories of the first time we ate it in France. I remember how warm the day was - not really a day for fondue. However, the restaurant was small and it specialized in fondue. This little restaurant, located in the Montmarte neighborhood of Paris, serves delicious ...
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Château de Chinon – French Castles of the Loire Valley
Read my story in French » Château de Chinon is perched majestically above the Vienne River and if you want a truly spectacular view then I suggest visiting the little park just across the river from the Château before you cross the main bridge into town. Late afternoon with the sun shining on the Château is truly ...
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Rouen-the Town of 100 Bell Towers
Victor Hugo described Rouen as “the town of a hundred bell towers” but this beautiful city which dates back to Roman times suffered during World War II and today only about a third of these bell towers remain. Located on the eastern edge of Normandy on the Seine River, Rouen serves as the port for Paris. It is the leading ...
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Dijon Was So Much Fun We Went Back a Second Time
Let’s go to Dijon in the Burgundy Region of France. I love Dijon, its covered market, churches, beautiful parks, the wines and the food. Everything is centrally located which makes it easy to walk to anything you want to see. This map will help you locate the attractions I suggest. View Dijon France in a larger ...
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Gothic Cathedral Chartres Rises Majestically Above the Beauce Plain
Chartres Cathedral is a short 1 1/4 hour journey from Paris. That's quick enough for a Paris day trip. However, with so much to see you might decide to allow more than just a day. France lays claim to over 80 cathedrals. The construction occurred between 1050 and 1350, including Chartres. In addition to the 80 cathedrals, ...
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Exploring the Alsace Lorraine and Metz
Metz, France has often been found under Alsace Lorraine Metz in guide books. However, since the administrative regions have been consolidated from 22 down 13, Metz now lies in the Grand-Est region. This includes the Alsace, Lorraine and Champagne-Ardenne regions. Metz was the capitol of the Lorraine before the ...
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Lovely Nancy France is Known for its World Heritage Sites
Read my story in French » Nancy France is one of more than 20 sites in France that has been designated a world heritage center by UNESCO. Place Stanislav and its 18th century buildings was the highlight of our visit to this Art Nouveau decorated city. Storm clouds rolled through the skies the whole day be we stayed fairly ...
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France Travel Info City Guide
France is my passion and I want to help you make vacation memories in France like we have! How will we do this? To start with, I will share our travels to give you ideas of places you might want to explore. In addition, I will help you with the logistics of the metro, hotel ideas and flight information. We've even got ideas ...
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Festivals in France
Festivals in France take all forms and shapes, dating from recent to ancient in origins. The music festival calendar is enormous. In 1982 the Minister for Culture founded the Fête de la Musique which now boasts approximately 10,000 free concerts across France on June 21 with both amateurs and professionals. Regardless of ...
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Hôtels Particuliers
Hôtels Particuliers are private mansions that were once city houses for nobles. Ordinary maisons or houses shared walls to the adjacent houses whereas the mansions were built free standing. There are many of these beautiful hôtel particuliers located in the Marais of Paris (click here to read about them). Don’t be ...
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Arc de Triomphe
Arc de Triomphe d’Étoile Did you know that Paris has more than one Arc de Triomphe. Possibly the most well-known is the Arc de Triomphe d’Étoile, located in the center of Place Charles de Gaulle. This arc honors those who fought and died for France during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. Beneath it lies the ...
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Saint-Pierre-de-Montmartre
Saint-Pierre-de-Montmartre, one of Paris’ oldest churches, is tucked behind Sacré Coeur high up on Montmartre. There are those that would argue the point of it being one of Paris’ oldest churches because at that time, the Montmartre area was not actually a part of Paris. [caption id="attachment_1062" ...
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Saint-Gervais et Saint-Protais
Saint-Gervais et Saint-Protais Church in the Marais neighborhood of Paris, constructed in 1212, is built on a site that has been a location of worship since the 4th century. Generally referred to as Saint-Gervais (for short), the church is dedicated to twin martyrs who were murdered in Milan during Nero’s ...
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Saint-Etienne-du-Mont
Saint-Etienne-du-Mont is located across the street from the Panthéon in the Latin Quarter. The church's origins lie with the abbey of Sainte-Geneviève. Clovis, King of the Francks, founded the abbey in the sixth century. The church was later enlarged (1492) and the name changed to Saint-Etienne. Progress was slow as the ...
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Sainte-Chapelle
Sainte-Chapelle is modeled after Charlemagne’s Palatine Chapel at Aachen Germany and that church is modeled after The Holy Sepulchre Church in Jerusalem. This crystal marvel of light is breath-taking! There are 1113 scenes (panels) depicted in the 15 floor to ceiling panels of stained glass. Nearly two-thirds of these ...
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Panthéon
The Panthéon Paris, built on the site where King Clovis in 507 AD constructed a basilica. He planned that it would eventually hold his remains. In the 1750s an abbey church dedicated to Saint Genevieve was built but was not completed until 1789. In 1791 the basilica became a temple to house the ashes of the great men of ...
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Saint-Eustache
Saint-Eustache, built upon the foundations of a chapel consecrated to Saint Agnes in the 1200s, was more than a century in construction due to lack of funding and religious wars. Construction of the present day church began in 1532 and consecration took place in 1637. Being located close to the Louvre and the Palais Royale, ...
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Saint-Denis Basilica – The Royal Necropolis
The Basilica of Saint-Denis was originally an Abbey church and later became a cathedral. It is commemorated to Saint Denis, the first bishop of Paris. A monastery has been at this location since the 7th century. In the crypt you can see what survived of the 7th century Carolingian church (Carolingian Dynasty ...
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Sacre Coeur
Sacre-Coeur-Paris is located at the top of a hill of Montmartre and the five white marble domes and campanile can be seen from all over Paris. Inspired by churches in Constantinople and Venice, Sacre-Coeur has a Byzantine-Romanesque façade. The 40 year construction began in 1875. Because of the limestone quarries ...
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Père Lachaise Cemetery Has Beautiful Vistas
Come with me as we wander Paris’ Père Lachaise Cemetery. The 4 hours spent in Père Lachaise gave us a peaceful respite from the site-seeing. The beautiful paths and shady trees encourage you to meander and refresh yourself. It is the most beautiful place and so different from traditional cemeteries where we live. Some ...
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Montmartre
Montmartre is a unique part of Paris that is untouched by the Haussmannian street reforms that you find in the city center. Here there are no wide sweeping boulevards. Instead there are the delightful climbing cobblestone streets of an urban village that are a delight to wander. Around Metro Abbesses Arriving at Abbesses ...
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Cycling in France
Cycling France can be an amazing experience whether you are a serious enthusiast or a novice. You have the option to rent a bike in the city or to cycle France in the beautiful country-side. If you plan to cycle in the country, taking day trips, I would suggest investing in a pair of cycle shorts. They will really improve ...
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Travel Tips for Stress-free Traveling in France
There are a multitude of travel tips so I have tried to be broad and general. If you have tips you would like to add to the list, I would love to hear from you! Just remember as you travel, a smile and the use of please and thank you will go a long way. Always say Bonjour when you enter a shop and Au revoir when you ...
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Climate in France
What's the weather like? Is my hair going to frizz because of the climate in France? Check out the climate in France before you go so you can pack accordingly. On the west coast of France the climate is one of cool summers and warm winters. The Mediterranean coast, on the other hand, has dry, hot summers and humid, mild ...
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Indispensable Maps of France
Click on each of the maps of France to open in a separate window. The France Departments map will be indispensable when searching for a gite as your accommodation. Website list rural gites by departments. I've got a whole post on the newly formed Regions of France that gives more detail. Even if you have a smart phone to ...
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Work Abroad
Whether you are looking for seasonal work abroad, wanting to volunteer abroad or seeking an overseas job permanent position, the search will be easiest if you are a member of the European Union. Movement between EU countries is fairly unrestricted just as movement between states is in the US. If you are an American wanting to ...
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Booking Hints for Cheap Flights
Cheap Flights - Although it seems that airlines are raising their prices on an almost daily basis, Paris and France can be within your grasp if you invest a little time on the internet and are flexible with your plans. 1. Before booking a flight, first educate yourself on the available airlines that have flights to ...
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Hotel Accommodations that We Enjoyed
Hotels-Accommodations choices can sometimes be over-whelming when searching for hotels or gites in France. I will post some of our favorite gites in France and hotels where we have stayed. Our favorites in Paris will be posted on the Paris accommodations link. if you have a favorite place to stay, I hope you will share it ...
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Authentic French Quiche Lorraine Everyone Will Love
Authentic Quiche Lorraine A quiche is a savory tart with a custard-like filling usually made with eggs and cheese. This authentic Quiche Lorraine is a quiche which also has bacon or ham. German in origin, this quiche is popular in the Lorraine Region of France. It is good hot or at room temperature and makes a tasty ...
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Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower - Who can have a visit to Paris on their agenda and not think of visiting the Eiffel! I remember the first time I saw the Eiffel looming on the horizon and the thrill I felt as I walked under this incredible landmark which was built for the 1889 Universal Exhibition, marking the centenary of the French ...
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Travel Links Asia
Visiting another country opens the door to a multitude of experiences. There are many places to explore beyond France. Although France is one of my top destinations, I endeavor to provide my readers with a variety of ideas. Travel links and guides for other countries takes you beyond France. Traveling in Asia Tibet ...
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Destinations Beyond France
What better way to extend your vacation in France than by visiting some of the neighboring countries. Let's get started! Getting around Trainline is my personal choice for planning journeys and booking train tickets. "Trainline is Europe’s leading train and coach app. We work with 270 rail and coach companies to offer ...
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