Although the Notre-Dame is by far the most internationally well-known French church, it is not, however, the only one to house both artistic and architectural delights. Both in Paris and in the surrounding countryside, visitors will find themselves overwhelmed by the delights offered in the country’s historic churches.

Historic Paris Churches worth a visit:

Saint-Étienne-du-Mont next to the Panthéon may appear standard from the outside, but upon entrance, visitors will be delighted to find that it houses a rare example of a Medieval rood screen. Incidentally, those of literary bent would be should note that the church also houses the remains of French writers Racine and Pascal.

Saint-Gervais Saint-Protais on Rue des Barres is famous not only for its stunning Gothic architecture but also for containing a glorious 17th century pipe organ built by Francois-Henri Clicquot.

Amiens Cathedral, located in the heart of Picardy, is noted for its three-tier elevation and its fine collection of sculptures. Practically untouched by the French Revolution, its current edifice dates from the fourteenth century.

Churches accessible via a day trip from Paris include the following:

The Basilica of Saint Denis boasts, in addition to the requisite Gothic basilica, some rather astounding statuary and a well-preserved crypt with the royal remnants of some of France’s monarchs and their family members.

The Chartres Cathedral, although a full fifty miles outside Paris, is well worth the time and expense to reach. Housing the relic of the Sancta Camisa (garments purportedly worn by the Virgin Mary upon the birth of the Christ) and boasting some intricately-carved front doors and beautifully-worked stained glass windows, the cathedral has long drawn both religious pilgrims and secular visitors alike.

A visit to Le Corbusier’s Notre Dame du Haut near Belfort in eastern France will most likely require hiring a car from Paris, since the trip could take anywhere from 3-6 hours via public transit. However, for those interested in modern architecture, the trip will be worthwhile. Built in 1954, the chapel is considered by many to be one of the most important examples of modern religious architecture in France.

For more information on planning visits to historic French churches on during your upcoming trip to France, please feel free to contact us.

Paris and fine dining have long been associated with one another:

Snails, frogs legs, goose liver… it can be daunting. [Y]ou don’t have to try all the crazy things the French eat. But if you are going to try it, well, Paris is the place to do so. (Huffington Post)

Because of this association, people planning their France vacations invariably put out calls for aid in structuring collaborative lists of their friends’ favorite recommendations for brasseries, the traditional French eateries.

According to travel correspondent Ramona Flume in her blog entry “Ten Things You’d Never Guess about Paris,” however, if you’re more interested in excellent wine, good food, and friendly service than in checking a box off of your tourist checklist, you may want to consider avoiding the traditional brasseries in favor of local wine bars:

[T]he brasseries–the old restaurants–are all pretty much terrible now. They’ve been bought out by corporations, and they’re just looking at the bottom line. It’d be great if they just went back to serving really great French food again, source good ingredients, and be known for food–not for the name. (Fox News)

Flume further cites that at wine bars in local neighborhoods, diners can enjoy a dynamic, “happening” atmosphere paired with friendly service and culinary expertise. She especially recommends that visitors “go out to the 12th arrondissement, up to the Rue des Martyrs in the 9th arrondissement, the 15th has some interesting places.”

In an article covering the Top 10 wine bars in Paris, Alexander Lobrano sings the praises of new, trendy new wine bars in which innovative young chefs provide quality cuisine to match the fine wines for which Paris has long been famous. He goes on to provide a list of his top ten picks – a list that you would find very helpful should you choose to expand your Paris experience to include wine bars.

For more information on traditional brasseries, wine bars, or our wine tours, and planning your next visit to Paris, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to serving you.

If your travels ever take you to the beautiful and bustling city of Aix-en-Provence, in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, be sure to spend some time getting to know the surrounding countryside. With its lavender fields, ancient farm houses and hidden towns, the area is a joy to explore by car, by bicycle, or on foot.

About 60 miles North of Aix-en-Provence, off the beaten track, you’ll discover Simiane-la-Rotonde, a small village perched high up at 2,100 feet above a plain. Some of the streets in this picturesque little town are so narrow that they can only be accessed by foot. There are some ancient buildings, like the imposing 17th century portal of the “Ostau Montiallard”, that speak of the wealth and financial success of past inhabitants. There is also a covered market with a fine 16th century colonnade. The unusual bell tower of St. Jean, partially destroyed by a thunderbolt in 1897, still chimes the hours.

The Rotonde referred to in the town’s name is a beautiful room in the local Castle, which once belonged to the Simiane-Agoult family. This great space has a magnificent ribbed cupola opening into an occulus with a sculpted wreath of flowers. A concert of early music – Les Riches Heures Musicales de la Rotonde – is held here every summer. With its Romanesque architecture, its sculpted ornamentation and its excellent acoustics, the Rotonde provides an exceptional setting for this event whose musical quality and original programs account for its success and reputation.

The first floor of the castle is dedicated to the intriguing world of aromatic and medicinal plants. Demonstrations of distillation, conferences and workshops are open to the public.

Accommodations right in town can be found at a couple of very lovely B&Bs, and there are hotels nearby. Several small restaurants feature local food and friendly service.

For trips that feature well traveled places as well as out-of-the-way hidden gems, please contact us or visit our website. We’ll be happy to help you plan an unforgettable itinerary.

Mont Blanc, Chamonix, part of the Rhone-Alpes region of France

Ah, France: the country of exquisite dining, luxury hotels, historical sites, fine wines, extravagant shopping, and… adventure sports?

If you can’t imagine France topping the list of must-visit locations for outdoorsy types, then you’re forgetting one of the country’s main outdoor attractions: The Alps.

Although no visit to the Alps would be complete without a little bit of skiing (or, in some cases, little bit of hot chocolate sipped in the lodge while contemplating skiing), the Alps offers a much broader range of activities than skiing alone.

• Paragliding – Offering tandem glides, solo glides, and instructional courses, local paragliding schools such as Ailes du Mont Blanc employ fully-qualified, experienced pilots to guide you on your high-flying adventure. “How does anyone have time for skiing when there’s so much more to do in the Alps?” asks reporter Dixie Wills, after a recent Alpine paragliding experience.  Indeed. Prenez de l’altitude!
• Snowshoeing – Offering expertise in what it names as “the fastest-growing activity in the Alps,” local guides at Tracks and Trails will lead you across virgin snow to picturesque Alpine villages normally cut off from visitors during the winter. Admittedly, one of snowshoeing’s main attractions, is that unlike skiing, little to no experience is necessary. Says Tamsin Omond of The Guardian: “The landscape [of the Alps] has been reshaped for the few who do winter sports rather than the many who can, well, walk on a snowshoe. If you haven’t put in the time and money then it’s near impossible to enjoy winter sports. But within twenty minutes I had the hang of snowshoeing.”
• Ice Climbing and Glacial Trekking – For the more determined adventurers, both short and long course climbs are available to test both will and endurance. Although facing hard going, requiring specialty equipment and (in most cases) paid guides, ice climbers are rewarded with thrilling overlooks and glimpses of spectacular icefalls. According to the Daily Mail, “Chamonix may be famous as a ski destination, but it is first and foremost a mountaineering centre and an excellent place to find climbing workshops, courses and lessons at all levels for both rock and ice-climbing.” Local companies such as Prestige Outdoor Specialists offer ice-climbing packages guaranteed to give you a sense of accomplishment as you conquer the rugged terrain in style.

Whether you’re an adventurous outdoorsman (or just interested in meeting one!), you could do worse next time you travel to France than to plan a stay in Chamonix. Already recognized as one of the oldest ski resorts in France and known as the “Gateway to the European Cascades,” this staggeringly beautiful French commune may soon be recognized as the “Gateway to Adventure.”

If you have questions regarding French travel, please feel free to contact us.

Historical Cafe Procope. It is the oldest restaurant of Paris in continuous operation – it was opened in 1686 by Sicilian Francesco Procopio

Some of the best places to eat in the world are located in Paris.  It is a city that is filled with fabulous cafes, brasseries and more.  Paris is also a place that can provide the adventurous diner with a unique experience.

Dark Dining

Dans le noir is a restaurant located near the Pompidou Center.  Dinners who eat here enter a dark world where they will be dining without light.  Upon entering the restaurant they won’t be able to see and are led to their tables by the blind staff.  It’s a sensory dining experience where people eat with their hands and can only identify their food with touch and smell.  Instructions are given on how to properly pour wine into a glass in the dark.  Initially some people are apprehensive but once the dark dining experience begins everyone ha

s a good time.

Train Dinning

La Gare is located in the 16th district of Paris and is a former railway station.  It even provides a stunning patio area along old railway tracks.  It has high ceilings and red brick walls.  Le Wagon Bleu is a restaurant located in a restored 1930s train carriage once used on the Orient Express.  It provides fine dining in a setting of cherry wood paneled walls and tables covered with white table cloths.

Dutch Barge

Once Upon a Table is a restaurant set on a Dutch barge that sits in the Seine River.  It is located in the Latin Quarter of Paris and enables its visitors to witness a stunning view of Notre Dame.  It provides fine dining as well as an interesting Powerpoint presentation after each course.  The presentation describes the history and cultural significance of each dish that’s just been eaten.

Ultimate Parisian Cafe

Le Procope started doing business in 1686 and is recognized as the oldest café located in Paris.  It is a three-story townhouse that is designated as a historic monument.  The walls are hundreds of years old and have been painstakingly preserved as well as carefully painted.  It provides visitors with a place to experience a good coffee break or a traditional French meal.

To learn more about the many unique experiences that await those who travel to France contact us today.

Palais ideal du Facteur Cheval

France is blessed with many attractions that visitors from around the world line up to see. Sometimes it happens that within a few miles of a major monument, museum or chateau there are hidden pearls. All it takes is a little detour from your main itinerary to discover these amazing, out of the way places.

Let’s go on the road and visit three most unusual sites. Their display of fantasy, imagination and whimsy will leave you spellbound.

If you happen to be in Lyon, take the time to visit the Palais Ideal du Facteur Cheval, located fifty miles south of the city, in the village of Hauterives. Built over thirty-three years by a humble postal worker, this building, when seen from a distance, looks like a sand castle. Closer inspection reveals that it’s made out of thousands of stones of different sizes. The result is a weird world of fantasy that contains elements from different places and borrows from different styles: a Hindu temple, an Egyptian mummy, a grotto with a statue of Mary.

When visiting Chartres, mosaic aficionados will delight at the sight of the Maison Picassiette, a forty-minute walk from the famous cathedral. Built by graveyard sweeper Raymond Isidore, the monument is a feast for the eyes. Bits of crockery, shards of glass, tea spouts, perfume bottles, and broken ashtrays cover every surface of this house and meld together to create shapes and images about religion, death, the feminine and the exotic.

In the eastern part of the country, about 22 miles from Besançon, a rather grandiose building stands which was used as a factory for the manufacture of salt in the 18th century. Architecture and history buffs will find la

a fascinating site with its early Enlightment-style buildings and museums. The creator of this vision of a salt workers’ paradise was architect Claude Nicolas Ledoux, who was hired by King Louie XVI to execute the project.

If you are planning a trip to France, contact us. We will be happy to answer your questions and help you put together an unforgettable journey.

Nice with its beautiful beaches and large assortment of activities is viewed as the jewel of the French Riviera. Next to Paris it’s the second most favored tourist attraction in all of France. Nice has history, art, and beautiful scenery to fascinate tourist any time of the year. Taking a Nice City Tour will provide a look into the past of this great city with its many attractions.

Castle Hill – The palace (Castle Hill) is in disrepair but travelers suggest climbing the 300 feet of stairs in order to view the city of Nice and the Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels). At the top you will find plenty of room for a picnic and a playground for children. There is a lift available that will take you about 75 percent of the way up the hill.

Promenade des Anglais – This is a prominent part of Nice with its boardwalk area referred to as the Promenade or La Prom. This walkway runs for several miles along the Bay of Angels. The Promenade has been in existence since the 1800’s when the English noblemen visited the city. Today it is a successful Riviera city with miles of beaches, home to spectacle hotels and dozens of cafes. It extends from the airport on the west to old Nice on the eastern side. Flower shows, carnival festivities and other events take place along this seafront area. A substitute to walking the Promenade is skateboarding, rollerblading or bicycling.

The Russian Church – The Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Nicolas is one of many attractions in Nice. It is the largest Orthodox Church built outside of Russia which is a national monument. The cathedral was built in the early 20th century and consecrated in 1912 by order of Tsar Nicholas II to maintain the growing Russian neighborhood in Nice. The elegant exterior of the onion domed dwelling is a clear mark of the Russian architectural style. The inside has a wide collection of icons, attractive woodwork and various items of huge historical worth. These items were moved from Russia to Nice during the unsettled times of the Civil War.

Cimiez Musee Chagall or Matissse – These are Queen Victoria winter Palace, the Franciscan Monastery and Roman ruins located in Mediterranean gardens. The Musee Matisee is a museum that contains the works of famous artist Henri Matisse. You will find a variety of art, paintings and drawings which is the majority of his work. The Musee Chagall holds a large collection of paintings, sculptures, and drawings of artist Marc Chagall. These museums are popular with tourists who visits Nice.

There are many more things to do in Nice and you will find that many are free. Visit anytime of the year and enjoy the beautiful weather with about 300 days of sunshine. Contact us for more information about our tours and we will be happy to assist in planning a trip to the France.