Cities that are involved in the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage
The one thing that Amiens is famous for, worldwide even, is its enormous cathedral. It is called the “Basilique Cathédrale Notre-Dame d’Amiens” (Basilica of Our Lady of Amiens Cathedral), or for short, the Notre-Dame (but not to be confused with the Paris one). The cathedral forms part of one of the French legs of the Santiago …
The Auxerre cathedral was built in the 13th century (on a cathedral dating back to 11th century).
Bayonne, located in the South West of France, is particularly known for its ham and its chocolates (and its rugby club). Apart from that, the city is a medieval city that has been reasonably well conserved over the centuries. The inner part of the city centre is old but well maintained. Bayonne is divided by …
Biarritz, in the South of France along the Atlantic ocean, is a very special place to visit. It has been special for over a century and half, as you can see from the who-is-who of celebrities that have and still do visit. Biarritz is part of the Basque country, so much of its culture is …
Bordeaux is not only one of France’s biggest cities, it’s also the name of the popular red wine region. Bordeaux wines are famous the world over, but the city is quite beautiful as well. Bordeaux, with its 250,000 inhabitants (and total of 1.1 million in the suburbs) is France’s 6th largest city. Although inland, Bordeaux …
Here’s a look at three out of 24 catholic churches (there are also 2 protestant temples, 3 orthodox churches, 1 jewish synagogue and 3 muslim mosques) to be found in Bordeaux. Basilica-of-St-Michael The St Michael Basilica is marked by its separate, 114 meters high, bell tower. The church was built in the end of the …
Caen, city of William the Conqueror, is a main part of Normandy’s history, including WWII. But you end up with mixed feelings of this city.
Dieppe, a fishing city with a big and intact castle/fortress, one of France’s oldest golf links and a twice daily ferry to Newhaven, UK.
Lyon is a city full of contrasts, particularly in its architecture. The city is big, Lyon itself is France’s 3rd largest city, but when you add the suburbs, then the Lyon metropole is France’s 2nd largest metropole (after Paris). It is also the world capital of gastronomy, the city where many of todays top chefs have …
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 …
Nantes is France’s 6th largest city with some 300,000 inhabitants and 950,000 in the metropolitan area, and it was once the capital of Brittany (that was in the 15th century). Although over the centuries it was part of the Brittany region, nowadays it is no longer considered as such, much to the displeasure of its …
The Beauport Abbey in Paimpol, Brittany was built in 1202. It was one of the first buildings in Paimpol. Today, most of the abbey is a ruin, but it can still be visited. It is also the starting point of one of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage routes.
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 …
The Basilica Saint-Martin of Tours is a modest basilica, as far as basilicas go. It’s quite recent, and replaces an old basilica that over the centuries has been destroyed.
Valence, a scenic and older city, lies pretty much South on the Eastern part of France. With its 65,000 inhabitants, it’s close to Switzerland and Italy (close enough for day trips) and it is in the crossroads of the North-South and West-East traffic. It was, once upon a time, a major colony for Rome (121 …
