When traveling in upper Normandy, don’t miss the resort of Étretat, which is 27 kilometers east of Le Havre. It is remarkable for its extraordinary chalk cliffs and rock formations, including three natural arches that plunge into the English Channel, and one that thrusts out from it, known as the needle. They are bathed in […]
Author Archives: marina.woodson
One of the most memorable monuments of Upper Normandy is perched looking west on a height of 90 meters, over-looking the Seine River Valley, at Les Andelys. It is called Château Gaillard, and was a state-of-the-art example of medieval fortress architecture when it was built at great expense by Richard-the-Lion-Heart in the remarkably short period […]
For most food lovers, France is an unfathomable source of delight. Even though most of the focus is on “Grande Cuisine,” we often forget that the country is one of the best places in the world when it comes to bread and pastry. The French capital is more than any other place filled with amazing […]
Paris abounds with interesting buildings and monuments. Out of many iconic monuments, Sacre Coeur basilica, located due north on the hill of Montmartre (the mountain of the martyr), always stands out. One reason is its specific location overlooking the city, making it clearly visible from all points. Second, it is made of gypsum, a type […]
Intimate Rembrandt Exhibition, September 16th 2016 to January 23rd 2017, Jacquemart Andre Museum, 128 bd. Haussmann, 75008 Paris, Open every day, 10am to 6pm, and until 8:30pm on Mondays Parisians have long been spoiled by the wealth of their options for seeing works of Rembrandt, including some of his most important works. Many are in […]
Prior to the French Revolution, if you lived in Europe and wanted a meal away from home, you sought what was available at a local inn. There you could participate in what was called the table d’hôte, the owner’s table. If he was having chicken, that was what you ate, whether you liked chicken or […]
The city of Paris is old, and one of its mysterious aspects is its underground, part of which evolved into the catacombs. That term literally means ‘underground cemetery,’ deriving from Greek (cata or beneath) and Latin (tumba, or tomb). In the first three centuries AD, Romans, Etruscans, Jews and Christians used existing underground galleries to […]
One of the elusive yet ubiquitous figures of 19th century French painting is Henri Fantin Latour. He is often described as a realist, yet he also immersed himself in works of imagination. His group portraits recall Courbet. His friends included Bazile, Renoir and Sisley, but he was also close to Edouard Manet, Edgar Degas and […]
From October 22nd 2016 to March 5th 2017, Louis Vuitton Foundation Open 11am to 8pm on week days and 9am to 9pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Closed on Tuesdays. Adress: 8, av. Mahatma Gandhi 75116 – phone 00 33 1 40 69 96 00 This exhibition is a rarety: it focuses on one of […]
Auberge du Terroir, 3 Place Saint Martin, 50170 SERVON. Phone: 0(0 33) 2 33 60 17 92 There are many fine restaurants in France, as everybody knows. It is one of the highlight places for gastronomy worldwide. Some might argue that the best places are the most luxurious ones, and that often is true. But […]