As you can see from the map below, 122 rue de Provence is not far at all from several of the tourist sights in Paris. But if you happen to pass the building today, although it now houses offices, here’s a fascinating story you can tell your companions.Back in...
Abandoned anythings are spooky. Abandoned places that were once the scenes of fun and frolics are somehow even spookier. I’m thinking here about derelict funfairs or holiday camps. I get a bit weird and tend to imagine the ghostly sounds of laughing children....
Local authorities and tourism organisations are having to serious;y rethink about the people whose entertainment and leisure they are responsible for. So on July 18th, 2020, in the midst of the COVID epidemic, the city of Paris held its first Le Cinéma Sur L’eau....
A modern castle – that’s what it was called when it was built. And remarkably, that was seventy years ago. It was seen as being astonishingly modern, nested as it was in the countryside of the somewhat traditional Northern France. It was created as the...
The abbey was founded in 1148 – which by anyone’s standards is a very long time ago. Little has changed since that time. To this day. the monks gather, seven times every day, to pray within the chapel. And just as they have for hundreds of years, in order...
They are an icon of Paris, without a doubt. The Morris Columns, developed in the nineteenth century specifically to support advertising posters are seen in other European towns too but yet they somehow seem to be so typical of Paris. When Gabriel Morris, a Parisien...
If you love to drive then I imagine that photograph made you wonder where that is. And can you drive along that road? And actually, it’s even more exciting than it looks in that photograph – see the video below.So you might be surprised to hear that you...
Have you seen the 1962 movie, The Longest Day? It’s a docudrama (as these things are now called) about the World War Two Normandy landings. D-Day in other words. If you’ve seen the film you might remember the part played by Red Buttons. He played a...
When you’re travelling in the Mediterranean area, it may be that you have a good – or reasonably good – grasp of the languages you hear. Travelling through the South of France, into Monaco, over to northern Italy … those languages you hear are...
For me, I don’t know about you, one of the pleasures of travelling is eating authentic food it the location of its origin. I’m sure that you’ve found too that a Pizza Napoletana in Naples is nothing like the one from your local pizza place. Just one...
It started life in 1929. Piscine Molitor, probably one of the most stunning man-made vistas in Europe – has a history that travels from Johnny Weissmuller (who found Hollywood fame as Tarzan of the Apes) through the decades to Pi Patel (whose tiger Richard...
It must be one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. And if you’ve been there, I’m willing to bet that you remember that smell, that special aroma of sage, juniper and myrtle blending together in the sun. Marseille is the second largest cities in...
Totally spooky. I can’t imagine what it would be like to see Fort Boyard in the twilight or in a ghostly mist. It’s actually a fort but has the look of a stone ship – pretty forbidding, I think. Work began to create this creepiness in 1801 under...
Travelling by train overnight is – to me – one of the most luxurious and romantic ways to get from point A to point B. Someone else has to worry about the driving, the navigating … you’re in a proper bed and not trying to sleep in a cramped...
Incredible Irish designer Eileen Gray designed the house that I – and plenty of other people too I’m sure – would describe as a dream home. Completed in 1929, the house overlooks the sparkling blue sea. It was a labour of love – more about...
Did you learn the song at school too? All the time I was singing it, totally learned by rote of course – it never occurred to me that there really was a ‘pont’ at Avignon. But there is and look at that photograph – rather gorgeous, isn’t...
The town of Millau dates back over three thousand years. And yet look again at that photograph above. The silver structure you see towering over this tiny town is the Millau Viaduct that majestically spans the valley. It is part of the autoroute system from Paris...
When I was a kid, every year our family used to go in the car to Italy. This was a fantastic journey and a lot of the driving was through France. For us three kids, especially the younger ones, this could get a bit boring so we used to play those dreadful spot-the...
Writers, artists, politicians, entertainers … even a well-known fertility symbol are all together in 110 acres in Paris. From Jim Morrison to Oscar Wilde, from Edith Piaf to Maria Callas you can visit them all, or their graves, at any rate, completely free of...
I’m pretty much in love with France and if I had to live somewhere other than my favourite Florida, then France it would be. Especially the south. Especially Marseilles. In fact, here’s a quote from Vincent Van Gogh: I am working with the enthusiasm of a...
The Hotel Negresco in Nice is located on the Promenade des Anglais. Eccentric dancer, Isadora Duncan, died on the promenade in 1927, – by many accounts right outside the hotel. She was wearing a long silk scarf, as was the fashion in the 1920s, when she and a...
This quirky bookstore, which seems to be so very French, was opened in Paris in 1951 — by an American, George Whitman. Although it’s a legitimate commercial concern and sells new and secondhand books it’s also a sort of literary drop-in centre and...
When I was a kid, we often spent our family holidays travelling around the area you see below on the map. Favourites were Monaco, Nice, Cannes and Northern Italy. So it’s quite likely that I’ve been to Villefranche-sur-Mer but I really want to go there now...
Château de Candé is situated in Monts, Indre-et-Loire and, although it isn’t one of the grandest chateaux in France, it has an interesting historical significance. It was here in June 1937 that the abdicated king, now retitled the Duke of Windsor, married his...
In the late nineteenth century, Claude Monet – the painter who was known as the Father of Impressionism – was travelling on a train in northern France. He spotted a very small but very attractive village called Giverny. He decided that this was where he...
It was June 10th, 1944 – at the height of World War Two. The village of Oradour-sur-Glane in Nazi-occupied France was destroyed by the Germans. The inhabitants, over 600 men, women and children, were massacred. In the entire village, there were only six...
Even though French iconic singer Edith Piaf died as long ago as 1963, most people would recognise her voice today. Even those who aren’t old enough to remember her will probably know this: And there is a private museum dedicated to her in Paris. It can be...
If you’re flying to Paris and are just about to land at the airport, the chances are that you’ll be flying over the ghost village of Goussainville-Vieux Pays . When you’re read the story that led to this village being abandoned, you’ll be sure...
There are many incredibly picturesque villages in France and Pont-en-Royans is an excellent example. You can see from the photographs how the brightly-coloured houses cling to the craggy cliff sides with the river running peacefully below. As you can see from the map...
It’s one of those debates that crops up from time to time – which do you prefer to drink, still water or fizzy water? Whichever you prefer, the fact remains that the bottled water industry is enormous (and regarded by some as something of a con.) I...
Just over two hours away from Paris, you’ll find the Terra Botanica – the first theme park in Europe that is dedicated to plants. Yet this special place has someone for every member of the family. Because Terra Botanica offers so much more than a mere...
Imagine – you’re on vacation on Paris and you wake up in your own luxurious apartment. You can see the Eiffel Tower from your comfortable bed. A few small steps take you out onto your balcony where you and your partner enjoy local croissants,...
Take a walking tour of many of the famous locations where films have been made in the fabulous city of Paris. Probably one of the most iconic movies made in Paris is Charade starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn and yes, you’ll see those locations and many...
For a generation (or two or three) of women, Serge Gainsbourg was the epitome of French debauched sexiness. For musicians and music lovers, he was highly-acclaimed, especially in his own country. He died in 1991 but the house that he lived in from the late nineteen...
What do you think? Which country is the most popular tourist destination in the world? Well, it’s not the United States although many people think that’s the answer to this question. In fact, the USA is in second place. But in first place — is...
I don’t know about you but one of the joys of travelling – for me – is finding bars and cool places to eat. And this is particularly the case when those places have a history. Harry’s New York Bar in Paris is an excellent example. The...
If you ever have a money-is-no-object moment, then for the height of luxury look no further than the Hôtel Ritz Paris. You’ll be following in the footsteps of the rich and famous – and the infamous. This luxury hotel first opened its doors in 1898 and...
If you understand basic French then don’t worry, I’m not suggesting that you visit a swimming pool. Well, not quite. La Piscine (meaning the swimming pool) used to be just that, having been built in the northern French city of Roubaix for the benefit of...
What could be more relaxing than drifting down a French canal in a luxury barge – through wine country? An eight-day cruise from G Adventures allows you to do just that. The luxurious modern barge accommodates twenty two people and features stylish cabins and an...
Mont Saint Michel is an almost magical place and if you’re in France it’s a must. It’s also an easy trip from Paris and can be budget friendly too. It’s a truly astonishing place. It’s capped by a monastery, which almost seems to defy...
It’s no secret that I love to travel by train and if you’re on a trip through France, did you know about the low-cost service offered by Ouigo? It’s an excellent budget option that leaves you with more money to spend on wonderful French cheese and...
If you’re visiting Paris then it’s an excellent idea to check out the services offered to you by the Paris Pass. You’ll discover ways to save money on visits to attractions, bargain transport within the city, make tours much kinder on your wallet...
