REDISCOVERING THE PICTURESQUE IN PARIS
Foie Gras, France’s Favorite Holiday Delicacy
News, News, News, News, News, News
France takes its gastronomy extremely seriously, and this is especially true when it comes to the end-of-year holidays. Of all the holiday delicacies that might feature on the festive menus in French homes and restaurants, foie gras…
Surprising Stories: Les Champs-Elysées, from Allée to Avenue
Architecture, Architecture, History, History, History, History
This year the city of Paris will be ready for the holiday season: the colored lights will illuminate one of the most beautiful avenues of the world, adding a special allure inviting strollers (albeit safely distanced and masked) along…
Les Potirons, France's History and Love of Pumpkins
cuisine, cuisine, Versailles, Versailles While pumpkins are generally associated with the Americas, and rightfully so, the French have a particularly strong affection for this New World vegetable. Although you will never find a pumpkin pie served for dessert in a French home, in autumn…
Vaux-le-Vicomte and the Famous Fête which Sparked Versailles
Of the dozens of castles around Paris, the château de Vaux-le-Vicomte holds a very special place in French history, not only because of its innovative design, but also for the legendary palace it inspired: Versailles. Commissioned by Nicolas…
Surprising Stories: Marie-Antoinette at the Hameau de la Reine
Gardens, Gardens, Gardens, Gardens, Surprising Stories, Versailles
One of the most unexpected visits when touring the gardens of Versailles is the discovery of the Domaine de la Reine where queen Marie-Antoinette commissioned a fake village, called le hameau or the hamlet. Built to resemble vernacular architecture…