EXHIBITION – THE CLEOPATRA MYSTERY
The exhibition presented by the Parisian Arab World Institute until January 11, 2026, titled Continue reading “EXHIBITION – THE CLEOPATRA MYSTERY”
GRAND HOTEL AMRÂTH – AMSTERDAM
The astonishing building which today houses the Grand Hotel Amrâth is originally the Amsterdam maritime house (“Scheepvaarthuis”) which welcomed the head office and offices of six maritime transport companies. Continue reading “GRAND HOTEL AMRÂTH – AMSTERDAM”
VERSAILLES CASTLE
After several articles dedicated to Trianon and the gardens, it was about time to evoke the flagship of the royal domain of Versailles Continue reading “VERSAILLES CASTLE”
CLOS LUCÉ
Clos Lucé, known to be the final home of Leonardo da Vinci, is a very pretty brick and white stone castle located in Amboise Continue reading “CLOS LUCÉ”
GUSTAVE MOREAU MUSEUM – PARIS
The Gustave Moreau Museum, located in the New Athens district of Paris, is unique Continue reading “GUSTAVE MOREAU MUSEUM – PARIS”
LA CONTESSA
Since I’m in Piedmont, let’s talk about “La Contessa” the biography by Benedetta Craveri, which retraces the destiny Continue reading “LA CONTESSA”
MENTON
Is Menton French, Monegasque or Italian? Even if the Italian influence is evident in this pretty French city Continue reading “MENTON”
THAT WOMAN
The biography “That Woman, the life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor” Continue reading “THAT WOMAN”
SAINT-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE
Even if the history of the city of Saint-Germain-en-Laye dates Continue reading “SAINT-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE”
LE MARAIS – PARIS
The Marais area, which is today one of the most appreciated historic districts Continue reading “LE MARAIS – PARIS”
MAHJ MUSEUM – PARIS
One of the most beautiful mansions in Paris – the Saint-Aignan mansion – has housed the immense collections Continue reading “MAHJ MUSEUM – PARIS”
GUIMET MUSEUM – PARIS
We owe the creation of the Parisian Guimet museum, otherwise known as the National Museum Continue reading “GUIMET MUSEUM – PARIS”
MARMOTTAN MONET MUSEUM – PARIS
If you like the Impressionists Continue reading “MARMOTTAN MONET MUSEUM – PARIS”
HÔTEL DE LA MARINE – PARIS
The “hôtel de la Marine” rises Continue reading “HÔTEL DE LA MARINE – PARIS”
QUEEN MARGOT
Without “Queen Margot”, directed by Patrice Chéreau, “GOT” wouldn’t have existed. Continue reading “QUEEN MARGOT”
AIX ISLAND
The French Aix island is located in front of the estuary of the Charente river Continue reading “AIX ISLAND”
A SECRET
Here is a mesmerizing autobiographical novel: “A Secret” by Philippe Grimbert Continue reading “A SECRET”
MONCEAU PARK – PARIS
Here is the final article of my series dedicated to Haussmannian Parisian parks Continue reading “MONCEAU PARK – PARIS”
VERSAILLES BY NIGHT
Every Saturday evening during Summer, Versailles displays a fairytale show Continue reading “VERSAILLES BY NIGHT”
TROUVILLE BOARDWALK
Nicknamed the Queen of Beaches, Trouville is one of the oldest seaside resorts in Normandy. Continue reading “TROUVILLE BOARDWALK”
TRIANON – VERSAILLES
Marie-Antoinette’s domain has always been my favorite part of Versailles royal domain. Continue reading “TRIANON – VERSAILLES”
CHAALIS
Chaalis is an ancestral domain on which you will find the ruins of a royal abbey Continue reading “CHAALIS”
FAUST & LIANE DE POUGY
“Liane de Pougy sold her body, and for quite a sum, but she never sold her heart or her soul”. Continue reading “FAUST & LIANE DE POUGY”
VAUX-LE-VICOMTE
50 kilometers Southeast of Paris is the matrix of every classic European castle: Vaux-le-Vicomte. Continue reading “VAUX-LE-VICOMTE”
EXPIATORY CHAPEL – PARIS
I would like to talk to you about a monument only few people know about, although it is truly worth the visit: the “Expiatory Chapel” dedicated to French King Louis XVI and Queen Marie-Antoinette. Continue reading “EXPIATORY CHAPEL – PARIS”
LANGEAIS
And here I am, a little provocative, in my vintage Old England cape, visiting a medieval French castle which was the subject of bitter battles between France and England: the castle of Langeais. Continue reading “LANGEAIS”
PALAIS ROYAL – PARIS
You often see me wearing these pants with these shoes. There are two reasons for this.
I like these pants. And I like these shoes.
I’m kidding.
Well, kind of. Continue reading “PALAIS ROYAL – PARIS”
AZAY-LE-RIDEAU
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”
CHENONCEAU
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”
GUEDELON
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”
LA PARISIENNE
I wanted to begin this text by declaring my love for Paris and by claiming that I feel like a true Parisienne… but, beyond simply being born in Paris, how is one Parisian?
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was asking himself the same question as early as 1761, when he declared that “fashion dominates provincials but Parisians dominate fashion”. Continue reading “LA PARISIENNE”
POMPEII
If there is one place where time froze for eternity, that place is Pompeii (no bad pun intended).
The town was destroyed during the eruption of the terribly close Vesuvio volcano in 79 CE, under the Roman Empire. It was burried in over 7 meters of volcanic sediments for 15 centuries. Continue reading “POMPEII”
JACQUEMART-ANDRE MUSEUM – PARIS
I absolutely love the Jacquemart-André museum, which I have already talked about. The fact that it was an actual place of life before being turned into a museum always moves me in a special way. Continue reading “JACQUEMART-ANDRE MUSEUM – PARIS”
RODIN MUSEUM – PARIS
To be totally honest, what I prefer at the Rodin Museum is Camille Claudel.
Although I admire the great sculptor’s art, I have always been more moved by Camille Claudel’s work, that is full of delicacy and fragility. Continue reading “RODIN MUSEUM – PARIS”