We’ve already shown you the wonderful Basilica, but there are many more churches in Lyon. The Lyon dioceses is one of the oldest in France, so it’s no surprise to see many churches, a cathedral, convents and many chapels. Anywhere you go in Lyon, you’ll stumble upon a church, some of them ruins with no information. …
Transport Getting There Lyon is a major transportation hub in France, second only to Paris. It is easy to get there in almost any kind of transportation. Air: Lyon has a major international airport with flights from many European and French cities. Click here for list of all direct destinations served by the Lyon airport. Within …
The Chateau d’If, a French equivalent of Alcatraz, is a prison island close to Marseilles and the setting of the famous book The Count of Monte Cristo. A visit to marseilles is never complete without a visit to this island.
Marseille is France’s 2nd largest city in population (over 800,000 inhabitants in the city), and France’s biggest harbour. It is also one of the oldest dwellings in France, with cave painting found dating back 30,000 years BC. It doesn’t get any older than that. NOTE: Below you’ll find an impression of Marseille, but it’s far …
Transport Getting There Air: From both Paris airports, many flights per day, direct to Marseille, 1 hour 15. The airport also as many international flights daily. Within Marseille There is a very good transportation system in Marseille, with a very good and encompassing bus route and two metro lines. Prices are cheap. Restaurants Marseille, particularly …
The Mont St. Michel is France’s second most visited monument, second only after the Eiffel Tower in Paris. With over 3 million visitors each year, it is no wonder United Nation’s UNESCO put it on their World Heritage Sites. And there are several good reasons for this. Mont St. Michel has not been changed over …
Transport Getting There By car, the A84/E3 motorway (autoroute) comes about 10 kilometres away and it’s well sign posted. TIP: If you reserve a hotel (or restaurant) make sure you get the access code for the barriers into the area. If not you will be forced to park in the parking areas (paid) and walk …
Built: 10th centuryStatus: PublicVisitable?: Yes (grounds for free, the castle including a tour guide for a fee)Notable: –Web: – Montbard is a small city of some 5500 inhabitants, a river and a big canal flowing through it and an incredible abbey close-by. It also has a castle perched high on the hill overlooking the city. The small …
Dieppe is a city that was exposed early on to the WWII invasion when the Canadians attempted an invasion called the “Dieppe Raid“, also known as “Operation Jubilee“. It was a sort of “test case” to see if it could be done, and unfortunately, it cost a lot of lives; 1400 died and1946 were captured. …
Normandy – World War II Memorials – The Dieppe Raid Read More »
If there is one place in France where you are automatically silenced, it’s the Omaha beach cemetery. This is the place where US soldiers who died during the World War II D-Day are buried (not all of them, “just” 10,000). After the Allies liberated France (and the rest of Europe), the French government donated the …
Transport Getting There Getting there is quite complicated unless you have a car or are on a tour. The closest motorway is the A13/E46 which brings you into Caen from Paris. From there you will need to take the secondary roads. You can drive up to Bayeux on a good road and from there …
If there was one essential and strategic point during the invasion of Normandy, also known as D-Day, by the Allied troops, it would have been the capture of the two bridges in Benouville and the neighbouring Ranville. The two bridges were essential for the liberation of France and the rest of Europe. The operation was called …
Built: 1400Status: PrivateVisitable?: Yes, castle and gardensNotable: –Web: Chateau Kergrist Sometimes taking a wrong turn on the country roads brings you deep inland, and to some very surprising scenery. One of them, after having taken a wrong turn in Brittany was this amazing castle; the Chateau Kergrist. Hidden away from big roads, this is a …
The “Memorial aux Marins Morts pour la France” (Monument for the Sailors who Died for France) is an impressive memorial located in the Pointe Saint-Mathieu in Brittany.
A lighthouse, a church, ruins of an abbey, a French Navy Observation post and a WWII Memorial museum at Pointe Saint-Mathieu in Brittany. Quite a place to visit.
Rouen has a lot going for it, and a few things that are not so nice. But after a visit to Rouen, you will leave with two impressions in your mind: the sheer number of churches & cathedrals and Joan of Arc (in French “Jeanne d’Arc”). Because this is the city where Joan of Arc was …
As stated in the Introduction article of Rouen, there are some 35 churches, abbeys, monasteries, and ruins scattered around Rouen and most of them are from the Middle Ages, so medieval. When you see the construction, you’ll be amazed they were constructed 4-500 years ago. Here are some of the religious buildings to be seen …
Transport Getting There Air: Rouen has an airport, but it’s used mostly for charters. Sometimes, there is a scheduled service to Lyon from where you can change to other international flights. Ferry: Closest ferry is Le Havre, about a 1 hour drive or train ride from Rouen. Within Rouen There is a good public transportation system …
St. Malo in Brittany is one of those cities (population around 50,000) that shows very well why France is the #1 tourist destination in the world. It’s a medieval city, well maintained with an enormous walled city, enormous fortress towers, a big harbour, many old and majestic houses and cobblestone streets lined with restaurants. Definitely …
Transport Getting There Ferry: from the UK: Daily ferries from Portsmouth, Jersey, Guernsey, Weymouth and Poole. Air: The airport, close to Dinard, is shared with Saint-Malo and offers international flights, particularly those of Ryanair. Other international destinations will require changing in London. Click here to access the airport’s website. Restaurants More than you can handle. …
Normally speaking the village of Sainte-Mere-Eglise should mean nothing to most people. Unless you are a WWII buff or a movie buff. The movie in question is “The Longest Day” starring none other than John Wayne trying to get to Sainte-Mere-Eglise during D-Day. The village itself nowadays consists of some 2,500 inhabitants (that is, after …
Tours, in the centre of France, is an old city created by the Roman Emperor Augustus. The inner city is pedestrian surrounded by old houses.
The Utah Beach was one of the D-Day landing beaches, this one mostly staffed with US Army soldiers. It was on the Western edge of the D-Day beaches, and the beach consisted of deep sand and dunes. 3200 soldiers died on the beach that day. To commemorate this occasion, a museum was erected to display and …
Veules-Les-Roses in Upper Normandy is one of the best kept secrets for most tourists, especially the foreign ones, but as a place to visit, it is most interesting and rewarding. It’s a very small village (some 600 inhabitants) that is foremost a beautiful, scenic and very photogenic village. Although notable visitors like Victor Hugo stayed here, you really …
