Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for france
Body and Soul Unite at Castle Chaumont
By Linda Tancs
The international garden festival in France is once again gracing the landscape of Castle Chaumont in the Loire Valley, just 185 km from Paris. This year’s theme, Body and Soul, suggests the restorative properties of gardens and gardening, both spiritually and physically. The jury has selected 20 gardens from over 300 proposals, representing works from Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands. Opening on 29 April, a general entrance ticket covers the festival, castle, stables and the landscaped parkgrounds, all for 15 euros. Take a train to Onzain, and beat a path to the door.
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Da Vinci Slept Here
By Linda Tancs
Amboise Castle (Château d’Amboise) is a stout fortress in France’s Loire valley. Its magnificent trappings and gardens no doubt merit a World Heritage designation, but its biggest claim to fame may be for what is–or isn’t–buried in the palace grounds; namely, the remains of Leonardo da Vinci. The great Renaissance master moved to France in what would be his last years during the reign of King Francis I, accepting a post as “first painter to the king.” His creative genius is undisputed (a rare occurrence). What is less certain, however, is his final resting place, reputed to be Saint-Hubert’s chapel on the palace grounds. According to a story by the Associated Press, his remains were originally buried at the palace church of Saint Florentine but required removal after destruction of the site during the French Revolution. The identity of the remains removed to Saint-Hubert remains subject to much speculation. Amboise holds fast to its status as eternal host to one of the world’s finest artists; a simple stone slab on the floor of the church bears his name. Regardless what you believe, there are plenty of other reasons to visit the palace, like the sweeping views of the town and valley from the castle ramparts. The intricate Late Gothic carvings on the chapel’s exterior and its interior stained glass windows are worth the visit, too.
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Imelda’s Paradise
By Linda Tancs
Last summer the famously opulent Parisian department store Galeries Lafayette opened a shoe department. Big deal, you say? Well, how many shoe departments have you seen that span almost 35,000 square feet? As you would imagine, there’s something for every budget, from flip-flops to Ferragamos. Imelda Marcos, the shoe-happy former First Lady of the Philippines, would no doubt find it heavenly.
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The Spectacle of the Everyday
By Linda Tancs
Pablo Picasso famously observed that art washes the dust of everyday life from the soul. Imagine what he’d think of the 10th edition of the Biennale de Lyon, carrying the theme “The Spectacle of the Everyday.” The exhibition, running through 3 January 2010, encourages visitors to contemplate art’s place in a world defined by consumption. Through sculptures, paintings, videos, photographs or installations by around 50 international artists, the complexity and diversity of simple human existence–the dust, as Picasso would see it–is celebrated. While you’re in the city, why not experience the rest of the culture and heritage of this region in east-central France? Get a city card for 1, 2 or 3 days, which includes free access to the Biennale.
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The Cognac of Napoleon
By Linda Tancs
In the vineyard-embellished countryside of Jarnac in western France stands the house that Courvoisier built. That is, Maison Courvoisier, a refurbished warehouse of brandy barrels overlooking the Charente River. The story goes that Napoleon sailed away to oblivion with several barrels of Courvoisier’s doubly distilled elixir. Enough to forget one’s troubles, I suppose. No wonder this house markets its drink as the cognac of Napoleon. Just a three hour train ride from Paris, this region is the homeland of cognac. Nearby you’ll find Hennessy, Martel and Rémy Martin.
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The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.
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Art and Life
By Linda Tancs
You’ve heard the expression: which came first, the chicken or the egg? In a similar vein, does art imitate life or does life imitate art? Well, at Monet’s home and gardens at Giverny in France, the line between art and life is more like a blur. In fact, when you view the master impressionist’s abode in this village northwest of Paris, you’re likely to feel like you stumbled into one of his paintings. You won’t find any of his originals on the premises; you’ll need to visit d’Orsay, Marmottan or de l’Orangerie to see those. But you will find in his garden oasis the blooming water lillies he made so famous. The house will reopen in April for tours. From then until November 1 you can observe the changing cascade of color–from springlike pastels to the deep brilliant hues of autumn–that makes his artwork come to life. Less than an hour away from Paris, buy a packaged tour, drive or take the train to Vernon and then a bus or taxi ride will have you there in 10 minutes or so. No doubt the still beauty of the place will leave a lasting impression on you.
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Jurassic Park in France
By Linda Tancs
High in the Jura Mountains of eastern France the sauropod reigned supreme. Just when you think its star would have faded, however, comes news of a discovery there of one of the largest dinosaur footprints (at almost five feet in diameter). Dated from the Late Jurassic period (the era taking its name from the Jura due to some prehistoric rocks there), the well-preserved prints are likely not the last we’re going to hear about the long-necked vegetarian that weighed anywhere from 33 to 44 tons. Perhaps this scientific discovery will invigorate tourism in the area–namely, the Jura Mountains Regional Natural Park, southwest of the mountain range on the French/Swiss border. Filled with a wide variety of flora and fauna, mountain forests, high altitude grassland, wooded meadows, peat bogs, lakes and deep valleys, you can traverse the area by hiking, mountain biking or even Nordic skiing. Who knows, you might even stumble upon some really big feet.
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1300 Years in Normandy
By Linda Tancs
The motto of WASPs (Women Air Force Service Pilots) was “We live in the wind and the sand, and our eyes are on the stars.” That could equally apply to France’s Mont Saint Michel (Saint Michael’s Mount), a hauntingly beautiful rocky expanse between Normandy and Brittany whose granite apex hosts the Benedictine abbey started there in the 10th century. The worship of Saint Michael there, however, dates back to the year 708, making this holy site more than 1300 years old. As if that weren’t enough to distinguish it, the Mount is also one of the first locales to obtain a UNESCO World Heritage listing. The village lying beneath the abbey, ringed by a fortress, is built on sand but can withstand the constant assault of the highest tides in Europe. Its ebb and flow, described by Victor Hugo as being “à la vitesse d’un cheval au galop” (“as swift as a galloping horse”) is striking and quite a tourist draw. Take it all in at the North Tower of these medieval ramparts.
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Picasso’s Castle Opens to Public
By Linda Tancs
Opening to the public for the first time this summer is Château de Vauvenargues, Picasso’s château near the Provençal town of Aix-en-Provence in the south of France. Nestled in the foothills of Mont Sainte-Victoire, the grand estate was purchased by Picasso in 1958–a fitting acquisition, given that the mountain playing host to this dwelling has been often depicted in paintings by Paul Cézanne, Picasso’s idol. Among the sites to be seen are the guardroom where Picasso’s body lay in state and five interior rooms, including the ground floor dining room and the master bedroom upstairs. The property will be open until 27 September, and tickets must be purchased in advance.
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Beaune Uncorked
By Linda Tancs
Winemaking is an ancient custom. In Beaune, the heart of France’s Burgundy wine industry, they’ve been at it since 300 AD. Practice makes perfect, as the saying goes. Will you agree? There are lots of places to taste the fruits of their vines to find out. At Patriarche Père et Fils, there are miles of cellars to peruse and a tasting of 13 or so wines. History buffs won’t want to miss Musée de la Vigne et du Vin (Burgundy Wine Museum), housed in the former private residence of the Dukes of Burgundy. The museum balances both past and present. You’ll see giant wine presses and a collection of traditional winemaking equipment as well as learn about the history of the Burgundy vineyards and wine. Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson said, “Wine is bottled poetry.” Surely the vintners in this little medieval French town would agree.
If you enjoyed this post, please share it on sites such as StumbleUpon, vote for it, or bookmark it. Thanks for your support! Travelrific® was featured as Blog of the Day on NJ.com!
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