The cute city of Troyes (pronounced in French like “trois”) has been on my bucket list for a while. Since it looked small enough to explore in a few hours, I decided on taking a day trip there from Paris and it was a lovely small city. We had a lovely day and Troyes was, indeed, a good choice of location to spend a leisurely few hours.

A Brief History of Troyes

The history of Troyes goes back millennia and it was first a Roman city. Of course a glance at it today would easily tell you that it was … Continue reading

I went to Colmar many years ago and loved it, and for my second visit, added Eguisheim to my visit. It’s just a hop and a skip away from Colmar and it’s one of the many villages in Alsace that still preserves its magical atmosphere. It’s one of the villages said to inspire the setting for “Beauty and the Beast.”

It’s an absolutely charming village that I fell head over heels for.

A Short History of Eguisheim

A small place like Eguisheim has a small – but interesting – history. It is said that there was a Neanderthal skull found … Continue reading

I went to Giverny many years ago, when I was 14, on my first international trip. At 29, now armed with a better and more profound appreciation for art and history, I returned. It was absolutely lovely and an absolute must-visit for Monet fans.

Here’s what you can expect to see if you visit, and what the gardens may look like if you visit in July.

Claude Monet at Giverny

Claude Monet reportedly saw the town of Giverny from a train window and quickly rented a home there in 1883. Monet called his small home “House of the Cider-Press.” In … Continue reading

I was lucky enough to study abroad in Paris, the city of love and light. Over several months, I got to explore the city and acquainted myself with it on a more intimate basis. I got to visit every section, visit a lot of museums, and eventually this place dug a hole in my heart. I’ve returned quite a few times since my term there. So I’d like to share with you my recommendations for Paris, from the obvious to the more obscure.

The Essential Sights of Paris

Of course you can’t go to Paris and miss out on the … Continue reading

There are so many beautiful cities and towns in France that it’s hard to keep track of them all. I lived in France for 5 months and it’s undoubtedly the country I know the best besides my own. That being said, there’s still a lot I’d like to see and do in France, so this list is nowhere near complete. However, I’ve compiled a list of beautiful small cities and towns in France that are absolutely worth visiting on your trip to France.

A star ★ marks my absolute favorites!

Aix-en-Provence ★

Aix is one of the most charming and … Continue reading

Strasbourg is the largest city in Alsace, and the entire region is incredibly cute with old timber-frame buildings and splashes of colour – a marriage of French and German cultures. It’s a great day trip from Paris that’s only 1h45m away by train, but also a visit in its own right.

Strasbourg’s History

Strasbourg has been inhabited since prehistoric times and became a Roman settlement, like many modern-day French cities. In medieval times, it became part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was a “Free City” for centuries and became the city where Johannes Gutenberg first invented the moveable type … Continue reading

Rouen is such a charming city in Normandy with a fantastic history, and it makes an excellent day trip from Paris. It’s definitely worth seeing if you have time to spend in France. I’ve been twice and have enjoyed both trips to this lovely Norman city.

The History of Rouen

Rouen has a very long and impressive history. The city of Rouen dates back to the Roman days and became a Viking city in 841. It was actually so important that it served as the capital of Normandy until about 1060, when William the Conquerer moved the capital to Caen … Continue reading

If you’ve any interest in French history, you may have heard of the castles Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte. Both are located not in the Loire Valley but the Île-de-France region and have a lot of history behind them, Fontainebleau in particular. On my return to Paris, the urge to see such monuments brought me on a day trip.

Fontainebleau

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fontainebleau has a history that goes back almost one thousand years. A keep (castle tower) was built there in 1137 and a monastery hospital was built there a century later. King Philip IV of France (1268-1314) … Continue reading

When my mom came to visit me in France, I thought a great way to spend the day would be to take a day trip to the Loire Valley, known for its Renaissance castles. We booked a tour as my mother prefers planned tours and then we set off to three castles: Chenonceau, Cheverny and Chambord.

Chateau de Chenonceau

Chenonceau Castle is one of the most famous in the Loire Valley, and France, because of its location atop a small river. There’s no need to tell you that the architecture is absolutely stunning and definitely worthy of a visit. However … Continue reading

Colmar is one of the well-known gems of Alsace, the region of France that borders Germany and combines the history and culture of the two. It’s rumoured to have inspired the setting for Beauty and the Beast but whether or not it was Colmar or another Alsacian village, Colmar is definitely a town out of a faerytale.

The History of Colmar

Colmar has been around for over 1,000 years but its history has been relatively quiet. The town of Colmar grew from the era of Charlemagne to 1226, when it was made an Imperial City. What I find most interesting … Continue reading