Marseille – Chateau d’If
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.
Medieval
Marseille – Introduction
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 …
Mont Saint-Michel – Introduction
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 …
Mont Saint-Michel – Restaurants – Relais Saint Michel
The Relais Saint Michel is the last restaurant before the actual island, offering a great view and one fantastic dish.
Mont Saint-Michel – Tips
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 …
Montbard – Fontenay Abbey
The Fontenay Abbey, located next to the city of Montbard in Burgundy, is part of the Unesco World Heritage sites. Therefore you can expect something that is out of the ordinary, and you’ll not be disappointed. The Cistercian Abbey is old, very old. It is the oldest Cistercian abbey in the world that has preserved its …
Montbard Castle
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 …
Montlucon – Introduction
Montlucon is located almost at the exact centre of France. It has traditionally been associated to the royal Bourbon family. The city itself, dominated by the Bourbon family castle is very medieval looking & feeling with many narrow streets and old buildings. The core part of the city, the centre, is for pedestrians only; no …
Montlucon Castle – Dukes of Bourbon Castle
Built: 1070Status: MuseumVisitable?: YesNotable: Unrestricted view over the city of MontluconWeb: – In the city of Montlucon in Auvergne lies an imposing fortress with a beautiful chateau on top. The fortress and chateau belonged to the Dukes of Bourbon, a noble family that would later become King of France (and later on Spain). Perched high on …
Pleumeur-Bodou Castle – Chateau de Kerduel
Built: 12th centuryStatus: PrivateVisitable?: Sometimes, usually only the gardensNotable: –Web: – The castle located close to the city of Lannion in Brittany, the Chateau de Kerduel, is in the Pleumeur-Bodou area. The oldest part of the castle was built in the 12th century. Legend has it that King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table …
Plevenon Castle – Fort-La-Latte Fortress
Built: 1340Status: MuseumVisitable?: YesNotable: Used in many moviesWeb: Fort La Latte If the Fort-La-Latte castle looks familiar, it is. This fortress has been used in many historical movies (like The Vikings with Kirk Douglas). The Fort was built to protect the Brittany (Bretagne) coastline, including St. Malo and Dinard. The fortress is located on a …
Pornic – Castle
Built: 12th centuryStatus: PrivateVisitable?: Yes (sometimes)Notable: –Web: – The castle at the seatown of Pornic in Pays de Loire is the most visible item in the scenic landscape. It dominates the town. The castle is located partially on the sea promenade, partially on the public beach. So although the castle is in private hands, you …
Rouen – Events – Fete du Ventre – Festival of the Stomach of Rouen
Once a year, mid October, Rouen closes its city centre during a weekend and holds the “Fete du Ventre et de la Gastronomie Normande” festival. The best translation would be “Festival of the Stomach and Normandy Gastronomy“, meaning food, but it’s more than that. It’s also the “stomach” of Rouen, or if you want to put …
Rouen – Events – Fete du Ventre – Festival of the Stomach of Rouen Read More »
Rouen – Introduction
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 …
Rouen – Restaurants – La Couronne
La Couronne is France’s oldest Inn, going back to 1345. So it knows a thing or two about making & serving food. Try the Pressed Duck… heaven.
Rouen – Some of the Churches
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 …
Rouen – Some of the Houses
Rouen is an old city, one of France’s most wealthiest during the Middle Ages. Their houses and buildings were constructed to last, and last they did. Walking around the inner city will enable you to see many of these old houses and the implacable state they still are in. But often you will be fooled; the …
Rouen – Tips
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 …
Saint-Germain-de-Livet Castle
Built: 15th centuryStatus: Public/MuseumVisitable?: Yes (1st Sunday of the month is free)Notable: xxxxWeb: Chateau de Saint-Germain-de-Livet In a small 800 person village close to Lisieux is a castle that looks like a fairytale castle, the kind kids would draw. The village is called Saint-Germain-de -Livet, and the castle dates back to the 15th century. The castle was donated …
Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer – Guildo Fortress
Built: 14th centuryStatus: Public (ruins)Visitable?: YesNotable: Web: Driving around the Brittany coastline you might just see some signs for the Guildo Castle. You’ll need to take a few country roads to get there, but once there you’ll see something pretty amazing. Located some 500 meters from the town and bridge are the ruins of a …
Saint-Malo – Introduction
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 …
Tours – Introduction
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.
Valmont Castle – Chateau d’Estouteville
Built: 11th centuryStatus: PrivateVisitable?: NoNotable: Name of the castle used for the “Count of Valmont” in the movie “Dangerous Liaisons”Web: – The Valmont castle is most impressive; a mixture between a fortress and a castle, perched high on a hill overlooking the town of Valmont in Upper Normandy. The families who owned it were numerous (including …
Vannes – Introduction
The city of Vannes in Brittany is old, and very well preserved. The fortified walls extend all along the old city centre and merits a visit.