The names of the streets, the monuments, the statues, everything in Ajaccio, Corsica evokes the memory of Napoleon Bonaparte. Furthermore, a few kilometers outside of Ajaccio, you may discover sites where Napoleon lived or passed by. One of the best ways to explore them is by car. Napoleonic Sights in Ajaccio La Chapelle des Grecs On your way …
If Paris is the capital of French fashion, Les Galeries Lafayette Boulevard Haussmann is its window displays, many Parisians say. In fact, Les Galeries stands for a lot more than that. Founded over one hundred years ago, the department store serves as a reference for ‘made in France,’ goods. Therefore, when you walk through the glass doors on 40 …
When in Marseille, you can’t miss her: Notre Dame de La Garde. Whether you are emerging from St. Charles train station, heading toward the Pharo beaches, or taking an evening stroll around the harbor, she is there. Notre-Dame de La Garde, the Roman-Byzantine Basilica built in 1854, watches incessantly over the city and its inhabitants. Located on the city’s …
Unlike its big sisters – Nimes or Narbonne, Sète doesn’t have a Roman past to brag about. In fact, this Mediterranean city is a relative youngster in historical terms. It was built three centuries ago — yesterday, by French standards. In the XVIIth century, to improve the economic situation of his kingdom, Louis XIV decided to develop …
If there is one street that epitomizes Parisian chic, la Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, in the 8th arrondissement, is it. Curiously, the 2km-long rue did not integrate the French capital until 1860, after the city’s limits were redefined. Back in the 18th century, it was known as a mere country road outside the capital’s gates. An extension …
Between the Mediterranean Sea and the Thau Lagoon, lies Sète, an exquisite little French fishing port. Hardly known outside France, Sète likes to keep a low profile and its inhabitants don’t go out of their way to call attention to their home. In fact, they have no time for it. Sète is a busy place where …
Marseille, the second most populated city in France after Paris, was founded in 600 BC by Greek sailors. They named it Massalia. Under Roman rule, Massalia became Marsala, which, eventually turned into Marseille. With such a rich legacy, it should not come as a surprise that Marseille has been elected the European Capital of Culture …
France is surrounded by dozens of small islands where life has remained simple. From the aptly named Belle-Ile-en-Mer to the barefoot chic of Poquerolles, we invite you to discover two of France’s sweetest destinations. Now that France has become my second home, I can finally afford to take vacations. Before, when I was merely a visitor in …
Venice, the island jewel of the Renaissance, offers visitors more than high culture, a combative history and exquisite art. A brief trip on a vaporetto (passenger boat) or a ferry from Italy’s mainland can lead to one of the freestanding islands within the Venetian Lagoon. Despite the tourist trade, many of these islands have …
France’s Southern Alps Snow Train Touristic trains are a great way to discover non-mainstream France. During the ski season, they take you to relatively lesser-known ski destinations—which means shorter lines at the ski lift. Every week-end from mid-January to mid-March the Train des Neiges, Alpes-Sud proposes to take skiers to 24 different resorts. The train …