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French Onion Soup Recipe

After writing our last post on the 'Onion Johnny' of Brittany, it seemed only fitting to write a post on the delicious and traditional soup - French onion soup. Whether you belong to the camp of crediting the creation of onion soup to Paris or the camp that believes it to be a Lyonnais invention, this recipe will satisfy your hunger.

We will also put aside for a moment the debate on when to add the bread, and whether the onions are coarsely sliced or puréed, and say that this recipe is one option (it has been inspired by a number of different recipes I've tried), and it has proved to be a mouth-watering winter option at our house as my boys have grown older. I hope you enjoy it also!

Onion Johnny of Brittany

Onion Johnnies making their deliveries. Pic: La Maison des Johnnies et L'Oignon de Roscoff

A Breton Tradition - The Onion Johnny

Have you ever heard of an 'Onion Johnny'? It's the name given to Breton farmers and agricultural labourers who travelled on bicycles selling the distinctive pink onions grown in Brittany to their neighbours in Great Britain. Onion Johnnies went door to door selling their fresh produce to anyone who would buy.

Tying the strings of onions to their bikes allowed them freedom to travel about wherever they could make sales and they were a regular sight on the streets of Britain. Travelling from the Channel ports they even made their way regularly to Orkneys and the Shetlands high up north.

The strings were securely tied to their bikes and because they weighed kilos the strings needed to be strong. There is a system to tying the onions on the string with the onions plaited into a tress, in order of size. The largest onion at the end is referred to as penn kapiten – the Captain.

The Way of St James – Camino de Santiago

Saint Jean de Port - St James Way - Camino de Santiago

Have you ever thought of walking the Way of Saint James or Camino de Santiago?

The term "The Way of St James" or the Camino de Santiago, is not actually one path (chemin), but rather it describes many Christian pilgrimage routes, dating from medieval times that journey from various locations in Europe, to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. It is here, in this cathedral, that the remains of St James the Apostle are said to lie in rest. For the Christian faith, it is a most sacred site, and second only to Rome for pilgrim travel. - Pilgrimage Traveler

Walking the Chemin de Saint-Jacques-du-Puy

The four main pilgrim routes in France are known by their starting points and today we take a look at the Chemin de Saint-Jacques-du-Puy (which starts in Le-Puy-en-Velay as the name suggests) and ends at Saint-Jean-de-Port and also the Chemin de Compostelle. This is a popular path and we are grateful to Sharon Warren for sharing her insider knowledge about these paths having walked them many times.

Rodin Museum – Why This Is the Most Beautiful Museum in Paris

Musée Rodin, Hôtel Biron, 7th Arrondissement, Paris

Musée Rodin is a sophisticated museum housed in a pretty 18th century chateau called Hôtel Biron on rue de Varenne in the 7^th arrondissement. Surrounded by elegant dwellings, lush private gardens and foreign embassies, this museum has to be my favourite, as is the arrondissement it lives in.

Peaceful reflection is the norm in the sculpture garden and hushed admiration of the art works within the walls of Hôtel Biron is how I would describe the vibe of visitors to this museum.

There is so much to share with you about this museum. The history involving evicted nuns no less; perfectly designed gardens; paintings, and sculptures including The Thinker, The Gates of Hell and Balzac; and the architecturally magnificent Hôtel Biron. Let's find out why the Rodin Museum is the most beautiful museum in Paris.

The Thinker by Auguste Rodin – Rodin Museum

The Thinker by Auguste Rodin - Rodin Museum, Paris

The Thinker is a famous sculpture by French sculptor François Auguste René that is part of the collection of Rodin sculptures at the Rodin Museum ( Musée Rodin) in Paris.

The Rodin Museum is located in a classic 18th-century mansion called Hôtel Biron, which is nestled just behind Les Invalides in the 7th arrondissement. The elegant, two-story hôtel particulier overlooks seven acres of manicured lawns, rose gardens, and sculptures by Rodin dotted amongst rows of perfectly-pruned trees.

20 Amazing Historical Photos of Paris

Historical Paris - The Great Paris flood of 1910

20 Amazing Historical Photos of Paris

See Paris as you've never seen the city before in our amazing collection of historical photos. In these 20 historical photos of Paris, we get a glimpse into how devastating the Great Paris flood of 1910 was, how some of the Metro was built, old forms of transport around the city and the stunning array of pavilions and structures built for the World Fair in 1889, including of course, the Eiffel Tower.

To finish off our gallery of amazing historical photos of Paris, there's a photo of a little girl cooling herself during a hot spell from an iconic Wallace fountain - it's super cute!

Chartres Cathedral – A UNESCO Wonder

Chartres Cathedral - A UNESCO Wonder

Chartres Cathedral is huge which ever way you look at it and viewed from the surrounding countryside, its soaring spires tower above the city. Even when you are walking in the city, you will often see the spires projecting above the rooftops. It truly is stunning! This UNESCO listed Cathedral, located in the Centre-Val-de-Loire region, is one of the most authentic and complete works of religious architecture of the early 13th century, and is the major drawcard for Chartres.

Chartres is situated approximately 100km southwest of Paris and is about an hour away on the express train from Montparnasse station so can easily be a day visit from Paris.

Le Puy en Velay & Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe

Le Puy en Velay and Chapelle Saint Michel d`Aiguilhe, Auvergne, France

What to See and Do in Le Puy en Velay

Le Puy en Velay, most commonly referred to as Le Puy, is a small town in southern France with a fascinating history and heritage.

It has been an important religious centre for centuries now as it’s where one of the Camino routes in France starts. The UNESCO-protected route leads pilgrims on a journey of over 1,000km to Santiago de Compostela where Saint James is supposedly buried.

Le Puy is also famous for its own kind of green lentil as well as for the lace-making craft.

It is a charming place that will transport you to another time. Here’s what you can do and see in Le Puy.

« Previous Page

French Onion Soup Recipe

French Onion Soup Recipe

Onion Johnny of Brittany

A Breton Tradition - The Onion Johnny

The Way of St James – Camino de Santiago

Have you ever thought of walking the Way of Saint James or Camino de Santiago?

Walking the Chemin de Saint-Jacques-du-Puy

Rodin Museum – Why This Is the Most Beautiful Museum in Paris

Musée Rodin, Hôtel Biron, 7th Arrondissement, Paris

The Thinker by Auguste Rodin – Rodin Museum

The Thinker by Auguste Rodin - Rodin Museum, Paris

20 Amazing Historical Photos of Paris

20 Amazing Historical Photos of Paris

Chartres Cathedral – A UNESCO Wonder

Chartres Cathedral - A UNESCO Wonder

Le Puy en Velay & Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe

What to See and Do in Le Puy en Velay

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