Photo of the Week: Papal Palace of Avignon On the Rhône River in Southern France is the small city of Avignon. The city is home of the famous bridge from the French children’s song (or what’s left of it). More significantly, Avignon is awash in Papal history. One of the only French cities with intact …
Introducing: Provence Villages in Winter Olive trees, lavender fields, stone towns atop hills, and of course, rosé. Provence, in the south of France, is one of those regions that almost inevitably provokes a sigh of longing when mentioned. Summer is definitely the high season here. Hot and dry, with sun and more sun all day …
Megève, France: A Winter Wonderland Deep in the French Alps, up winding roads, across freezing surging streams and through pine trees is the town of Megève. In the Haute-Savoie département wedged between modern-day France, Switzerland, and Italy, and at nearly 4,000 feet up, Megève was for centuries overlooked by the history books. Cows and mountain goats …
Aiguille du Midi, France The Aiguille du Midi (12,605 feet – 3,842 meters) is a mountain near Mont Blanc in the French Alps, in the département of Haute-Savoie. In winter, it’s the starting point for the famed Vallée Blanche (“White Valley”), a 12.5-mile long off-piste ski run. It offers experienced skiers amazing views and a …
See the first of this 2-part post: The French Riviera, Part I: Best Coastal Towns Best Hilltop Villages in the French Riviera To many, the French Riviera connotes beaches and seaside chic. But some of the least explored places here are stone hilltop villages, just inland above the tourist-clogged beach towns on the coast. These …
The French Riviera, Part II: Best Hilltop Villages in the French Riviera Read More »
The French Riviera, Part I: Best Coastal Towns The French Riviera—the southeastern coast of France—attracts backpackers and budget-busters year-round to its best coastal towns for good reason. This part of the world boasts some of the finest cuisine, climate, and culture anywhere, which together produce a whirling je ne sais quoi so sought after by …
Strolling the cobblestone streets of Dinan, France just after sunrise, before anyone else is up, is an enchanting experience. With difficulty I try to imagine this quiet north-western French town as a focal point of the tumultuous Medieval struggle between the Duchy of Brittany and the King of France. But the tall stone fortifications as …
Photo of the Week: Early Morning in Dinan, France Read More »
Slave Village of Martinique (La Savane des Esclaves, Martinique) Growing out of Gilbert Larose’s passion for his people’s history and culture, he recreated a slave village (La Savane des Esclaves ) to represent what it might have been like where escaped slaves settled. These communities were usually up in the forest-clad hills. Martinique’s rough geography …
Photo of the Week: La Savane des Esclaves, Martinique Read More »
As cliche as it may sound, there really is something indefinably special about walking through the heart of Paris at night. Stripped of all the touts and tourists and scammy sidewalk gamers, the normally crowded area surrounding the Eiffel Tower can feel downright deserted. Here, on some small street just between L’Hôtel des Invalides and the Eiffel …
As a non-European, the Pyrenees are definitely off-the-beaten track Europe. Even after years of visiting the continent, this was my first time really exploring the region. A few years back, I started the Camino de Santiago in the Spanish Pyrenees, but within a day, I had walked out of them. This time around, I planned …
Photo of the Week: High in the French Pyrenees at Can Rigall Read More »
