Carcassonne A Restored, Fortified Medieval French City Carcassonne is a city situated in the Aude department in the South-West of France. Its hilltop has been inhabited since the Neolithic period and is perfectly situated along routes linking the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea as well as Central Europe with the Pyrenées. Throughout the centuries, Carcassonne’s strategic location has been … Read More
French Food
French Food France. Just saying the word to most people brings up images of snails, frog’s legs, cheese, croissants and baguettes eaten by men wearing black-and-white striped shirts and berets sporting curly moustaches. Of course we can’t forget the beauty and history of Paris and Versailles, the picturesque vineyards of Champagne and Burgundy, the clifftop villages in The Lot or … Read More
Beautiful Beaune
A Day in Beautiful Beaune The city of Beaune is situated in the mid-east of France, roughly halfway between Geneva and Paris. It is one of the two most famous cities in Burgundy, the other being Dijon. Unlike Dijon however, Beaune is smaller and has a wonderful ‘village feel’ about it. Much of the city’s tourism centres around Burgundy’s wine industry, its World Heritage acknowledgement … Read More
Monet’s House and Garden in Autumn
Monet’s House and Garden in Autumn Giverny, France The French painter Claude Monet, most famous for his Impressionist style of painting, lived from 1840-1926. Claude Monet ~1899 Painting; “Woman in White, in the Garden” In 1883 Monet moved to Giverny, a small village in Normandy in the north of France where he and his … Read More
The Ouche Valley
Country Living in the Ouche Valley, Burgundy I spent 3 blissful weeks housesitting in the small town of Bligny-sur-Ouche in Le Val D’Ouche (Ouche Valley) in Burgundy in October 2016. I was without a car but certainly didn’t feel isolated. I spent most of my days exploring Bligny and neighbouring villages by foot or bike, hiking in the expansive countryside and … Read More
A Day in Dijon
A Day in Dijon The city of Dijon is situated in the mid-east of France, roughly halfway between Geneva and Paris. It is one of the two most famous cities in Burgundy, the other being Beaune. In my opinion, any city where you can find traditional Maille Mustard on pump (ie. like a beer tap/pump) is somewhere definitely worth a visit. I spent a … Read More
Grape Picking and Stomping in Burgundy
Pinot Noir Vendange (grape picking) and Pigeage (grape stomping) 2016 Domaine Frederic Mazeau, Burgundy Burgundy (Bourgogne) in France is world-renowned for its wines. Wine has been produced in the region for over 2000 years. Its Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) was awarded in 1936 and describes the regions or climats that produce Grand Crus wines, Premier Crus wines, Villages wines and … Read More
Nature, Food and History in The Lot, France
France. What comes to mind when you think of France? Perhaps Paris, The Eiffel Tower, Champagne, wine, brie, camembert, baguettes, crepes and croissants? Paris, Marseille and Bordeaux attract millions of tourists each year, as do the wine regions of Champagne, The Loire and Bordeaux. A lesser known region, but just as beautiful, delicious and fascinating is the region of The … Read More