MENTON
Is Menton French, Monegasque or Italian? Even if the Italian influence is evident in this pretty French city Continue reading “MENTON”
Is Menton French, Monegasque or Italian? Even if the Italian influence is evident in this pretty French city Continue reading “MENTON”
The Matisse Museum located in Nice, dedicated Continue reading “MATISSE MUSEUM – NICE”
Malmaison castle may have entered the History of France in 1799 Continue reading “MALMAISON CASTLE”
Even if the history of the city of Saint-Germain-en-Laye dates Continue reading “SAINT-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE”
The Chantilly castle as we can admire it today is a reconstruction dating from the 19th century Continue reading “CHANTILLY CASTLE”
Talking about Villa Kerylos, located on the French Riviera in Beaulieu-sur-Mer requires a small detour Continue reading “VILLA KERYLOS”
Here is a place out of time, out of space, out of everything: Villa Ephrussi. Continue reading “VILLA EPHRUSSI”
I have been maintaining this website for six years and it’s now time to tell you about the castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye Continue reading “SAINT-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE CASTLE”
Born in 1887 in Russia and naturalized French in 1937 Continue reading “CHAGALL MUSEUM – NICE”
The term “Côte d’Azur” (“Riviera” in English) was coined in 1887 by a lawyer Continue reading “FRENCH RIVIERA”
Annecy, “The Venice of the French Alps”. Annecy, “The Pearl of the French Alps”. Continue reading “ANNECY”
Giverny would probably not exist if Claude Monet had not had an affair with a married woman. Continue reading “GIVERNY”
Here is a wonder nestled on one of the hills of Port-Marly, about 20 kilometers from Paris Continue reading “MONTE-CRISTO CASTLE”
The French Aix island is located in front of the estuary of the Charente river Continue reading “AIX ISLAND”
Every Saturday evening during Summer, Versailles displays a fairytale show Continue reading “VERSAILLES BY NIGHT”
In the heart of Lyons forest lies Mortemer Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery. Continue reading “MORTEMER ABBEY”
Nicknamed the Queen of Beaches, Trouville is the oldest seaside resort in Normandy. Continue reading “TROUVILLE BOARDWALK”
Stopover in Etretat, on the breathtaking Alabaster Coast Continue reading “ETRETAT & MAURICE LEBLANC”
A stopover in one of the most beautiful villages in Normandy: Veules-les-Roses. Continue reading “VEULES-LES-ROSES”
Marie-Antoinette’s domain has always been my favorite part of Versailles royal domain. Continue reading “TRIANON”
Chaalis is an ancestral domain on which you will find the ruins of a royal abbey Continue reading “CHAALIS”
50 kilometers Southeast of Paris is the matrix of every classic European castle: Vaux-le-Vicomte. Continue reading “VAUX-LE-VICOMTE”
And here I am, a little provocative, in my vintage Old England cape, visiting a medieval French castlewhich was the subject of bitter battles between France and England: the castle of Langeais. Continue reading “LANGEAIS”
The name Megève is very much associated with the Rothschild, and for a simple reason: the skiing station was created by them after the First World war, as they refused to cohabitate with the Germans during their stays in Swiss stations. Continue reading “MEGEVE”
The island of Ré is full of treasures: the beach and farniente, the architecture, the history, an ancestral and yet diversified local life. The whole place is still rather wild and authentic thanks to the action of the local political actors (and to a 16€ toll on the road that gives one access to the island during high season). Continue reading “RÉ ISLAND”
I’ll quickly paraphrase Balzac because I find his formulation very accurate: Azay-le-Rideau is a “multi-cut/faceted diamond crimped by the Indre river”.
Azay is a true Renaissance gem, its finesse makes it look like a little ornament floating on the water. Continue reading “AZAY-LE-RIDEAU”
This may seem strange but the castle of Chenonceau left me with mixed feelings of amazement and sadness. The place is utterly gorgeous but something (other than the hoards of tourists) creates an atmosphere of utter melancholy, which might have something to do with its history. Continue reading “CHENONCEAU”
Deauville is first and foremost the crazy story of a financial coup.
In only four years, thanks to the funds of powerful Second Empire businessmen, who had seen the juicy potential of the project, Deauville sea resort emerged from the swamps and from 1864 to this day, the rich Parisian society enjoys spending time in the « town of pleasures ». Continue reading “DEAUVILLE”
Guédelon is a crazy story: in northern Burgundy, a team of experts have taken on an extraordinary challenge: building a castle using medieval techniques and materials.
This explains why Guédelon celebrates in 2017 its 20th birthday. Continue reading “GUEDELON”
I have a certain tenderness for La Rochelle.
There, I find the remanents of the beautiful protestant citadel it once was, besieged and isolated. Bled dry because it was protestant but also resiliant, dignified, noble, commercial and flourishing because it was protestant. Nowadays remains a magnificent historical center, simply majestic and quite impenetrable. Continue reading “LA ROCHELLE”
There is simply everything in Courchevel. It is the only place 1850 meters high where you can find luxury, skiing, classified architectural heritage and an active nightlife. The International Festival of Pyrotechnic Arts is even held there. That’s something.