RIVIERA DEI FIORI
The Riviera dei Fiori (the Riviera of Flowers) occupies the Western part of the Italian Riviera which runs along the Gulf of Genoa Continue reading “RIVIERA DEI FIORI”
THE INVENTION OF NORMANDY
The invention of Normandy is the result of the combination of the development of means of transport Continue reading “THE INVENTION OF NORMANDY”
BIENASSIS CASTLE – BRITTANY
The Bienassis castle presents a very complete set of stately buildings, transformed over the centuries Continue reading “BIENASSIS CASTLE – BRITTANY”
FORT LA LATTE – BRITTANY
Fort La Latte, also called De La Roche Goyon castle, is a fortified castle located on the rocky tip of La Latte, near Cap Fréhel. Continue reading “FORT LA LATTE – BRITTANY”
VAL-ANDRÉ – BRITTANY
Val-André is a pretty little seaside resort in Brittany, born in the 1880s at the instigation of the then mayor Arthur de La Goublaye Continue reading “VAL-ANDRÉ – BRITTANY”
NOUVELLE-ATHÈNES – PARIS
The Nouvelle-Athènes district, birthplace of Parisian Romanticism, was born in 1820 Continue reading “NOUVELLE-ATHÈNES – PARIS”
THE BOUQUINISTES – PARIS
I realize little by little that I am reporting here on a world that may no longer exist in a few decades. Continue reading “THE BOUQUINISTES – PARIS”
LE MARAIS – PARIS
The Marais area, which is today one of the most appreciated historic districts Continue reading “LE MARAIS – PARIS”
LONDON
London. How many times have I been to London? How many times have I walked up and down Continue reading “LONDON”
THE KILL – ÉMILE ZOLA
Re-reading your literary classics at 48 is quite good. Especially when it comes to French writer Continue reading “THE KILL – ÉMILE ZOLA”
SAINT SAVA – BELGRADE
Sava, son of a Serbian king, born in 1169 or 1174 and died in 1236, is the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Continue reading “SAINT SAVA – BELGRADE”
PARIS BY NIGHT
Built in two years by fifty engineers, adorned with two million five hundred thousand rivets Continue reading “PARIS BY NIGHT”
HOLY CHAPEL – PARIS
I have already spoken here of the chapel of the Saint-Germain-en-Laye castle, which prefigures the Parisian Holy Chapel. Continue reading “HOLY CHAPEL – PARIS”
ALFRED SOMMIER HOTEL
Let’s talk about Alfred Sommier, this beautiful hotel in the heart of the 8th district of Paris. Continue reading “ALFRED SOMMIER HOTEL”
GRAND MOSQUE – PARIS
In order to pay tribute to the tens of thousands of Muslim who fought and died for France Continue reading “GRAND MOSQUE – PARIS”
IMPERIA – LIGURIA
Principality for many centuries, Imperia is a charming coastal town in Liguria, formed in 1923 Continue reading “IMPERIA – LIGURIA”
CERVO – LIGURIA
Elected among the “most beautiful villages in Italy”, Cervo is a small medieval town Continue reading “CERVO – LIGURIA”
BALZAC MUSEUM – PARIS
Of the many Parisian residences inhabited by the great French writer Continue reading “BALZAC MUSEUM – PARIS”
SAINT-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE CASTLE
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”
LA RUCHE – PARIS
La Ruche is an absolutely confidential, totally bucolic Continue reading “LA RUCHE – PARIS”
HÔTEL DE LA MARINE – PARIS
The “hôtel de la Marine” rises Continue reading “HÔTEL DE LA MARINE – PARIS”
GIVERNY
Giverny would probably not exist if Claude Monet had not had an affair with a married woman. Continue reading “GIVERNY”
MONTE-CRISTO CASTLE
Here is a wonder nestled on one of the hills of Port-Marly, about 20 kilometers from Paris Continue reading “MONTE-CRISTO CASTLE”
JARDIN DES PLANTES – PARIS
The Royal Garden of Medicinal Plants was created in 1635 Continue reading “JARDIN DES PLANTES – PARIS”
AIX ISLAND
The French Aix island is located in front of the estuary of the Charente river Continue reading “AIX ISLAND”
LA BUTTE-AUX-CAILLES – PARIS
The Butte-aux-Cailles has preserved its village atmosphere Continue reading “LA BUTTE-AUX-CAILLES – PARIS”
MORTEMER ABBEY
In the heart of Lyons forest lies Mortemer Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery. Continue reading “MORTEMER ABBEY”
VEULES-LES-ROSES
A stopover in one of the most beautiful villages in Normandy: Veules-les-Roses. Continue reading “VEULES-LES-ROSES”
TRIANON – VERSAILLES
Marie-Antoinette’s domain has always been my favorite part of Versailles royal domain. Continue reading “TRIANON – VERSAILLES”
LES INVALIDES – PARIS
Les Invalides complex dominates the Parisian skyline and encapsulates two major moments of French history: Louis XIV and Napoleon’s reigns, my favorite French dictators (kind of). Continue reading “LES INVALIDES – PARIS”
GALLIERA – PARIS
How could I be a decent parisienne who loves the history of fashion and not talk about the Galliera Palace? Well, I couldn’t, because it’s Paris fashion museum.
I couldn’t for several reasons. Continue reading “GALLIERA – PARIS”
LANCASTER HOTEL
Let’s talk about the Lancaster Hotel. This beautiful haussmannien hotel, located right off the Champs-Elysées, is a historical marvel.
The place’s intense calmness creates a stark contrast with the bustling Champs-Elysées. Continue reading “LANCASTER HOTEL”
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”
MEGÈVE
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 “MEGÈVE”
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”
RÉ ISLAND
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”
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”
DEAUVILLE
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”
NISSIM DE CAMONDO MUSEUM – PARIS
This museum is an early 20th century mansion, built and decorated by a banker who loved the Age of French Enlightenment.
It’s my favorite museum in Paris. I have been visiting it regularly for the past twenty years, like I would an old friend, just to make sure it hasn’t changed and everything is fine. It is a place outside of time, both magnificent and tragic. Continue reading “NISSIM DE CAMONDO MUSEUM – PARIS”
ON THE WATERFRONT – PARIS
Those who know Paris are aware that its docks are full of life. Full of life first of all… because people live there, on barges, which are often charming and graceful.
Full of life also because, depending on the spot, you’ll find either an astonishing number of bars and restaurants, or simply a welcome solitude. Continue reading “ON THE WATERFRONT – PARIS”
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”
LA ROCHELLE
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”
COURCHEVEL
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.
IRELAND – COUNTY KERRY
“If there were no clouds, we should not enjoy the sun”. No surprise for those who know the country, this is an Irish saying.
Indeed, Irish clouds have a certain way of playing with the sun, a thousand different lights pour down on the land which is at once arid and generous. Continue reading “IRELAND – COUNTY KERRY”
MITTELEUROPA – A TALE OF THREE CITIES
To achieve a beautiful journey through time, a historical immersion in Vienna, Prague and Budapest is highly recommended.
The tour of these three Central European jewels enables to travel through time in a few days only from medieval period to Art Nouveau, by going through the baroque era. Continue reading “MITTELEUROPA – A TALE OF THREE CITIES”
NEW YORK CITY
Beyond the skyscrapers, the yellow cabs and urban frenzy which are the soul features of this city, one can find a more subdued New York, where you will spot numerous architectural beauties, provided that you raise your eyes. Continue reading “NEW YORK CITY”
CAPRI
If Paradise exists on Earth, it is in Capri, for me at least.
In just a few square kilometers, far from the continental frenzy, Capri conciliates and magnifies History (both big and small), splendid Mother Nature, urban pleasures, local handicraft, culinary arts and absolute kindness, basically the dolce vita you dream of. Because Capri is a sweet dream. Continue reading “CAPRI”
MILAN
Let’s admit it, Northern Italy and Southern Italy are – under certain circumstances, including business – two different countries, in view of their respective functioning, mentality or in the explicit (and especially) implicit rules governing them. Continue reading “MILAN”