Regions of France | A French Collection

Quintin – A Charming French Town

Quintin is a charming French town southwest of Saint-Brieuc city, and is only a short drive from our village. The smallish town has lots to offer to visitors with its blend of old-world charm and modern attractions. Quintin is built in the heart of the scenic “Le Gouët” river valley and is set on a hill perpetually overlooking the serene waters of Étang de Quintin (Quintin Lake).

Quintin - A Charming French Town

Situated between Armor and Argoat, Quintin, which was a fortified town and the centre of the Marian cult, boasts thirteen classified historic monuments. That's a lot of historical monuments for one small town!

It's architecturally rich urban heritage, which is principally the legacy of two centuries of prosperity arising from the manufacture of linen, is what makes it so attractive.

Place des Vosges – The Oldest Square in Paris

Place des Vosges - The Oldest Square in Paris

Place des Vosges is famously one of the most elegant residential squares in Paris. It’s an exclusive and much sought after address with its distinctive red and sand coloured stone and tile matching buildings, with large windows that overlook its beautiful enclosed park.

While living in this prestigious and glamorous Square is not possible for the majority of us; the park with its fountain, playground, large trees and manicured lawns are available for anyone to enjoy. Peaceful all year round, but particularly charming in spring and autumn, I love to visit Place des Vosges when in Paris.

Small Secret Garden in the Marais, Paris

Jardin des Roisers Joseph Migneret, Paris

I stumbled across a small secret garden with a big story to tell the other week as I was going to one of my favourite English bookstores in Paris. Just near the Smith & Son bookstore in the Marais district, hidden behind buildings and with only a narrow gated entrance, I found Jardin des Rosiers Joseph Migneret. Stopping to read about the garden on the City of Paris information sign, I then slipped through the open gate, to be quickly enveloped in freshness and lush leafy shade.

Jardin des Rosiers Joseph Migneret - A Small Secret Garden in the Marais

Let me share more with you about this wonderful secret green space in the 4th arrondissement - where you'll find it, who the garden honours and my personal photos and a YouTube clip to watch. Be transported to this little slice of Parisian heaven hidden behind shops, office buildings and apartments.

29 Iconic places to see in Paris

Amazing, incredible, ancient, cultural and fashionable are just a few words to describe the city of Paris. There is a never ending list of places to see, things to do, experiences to try and people to meet in the City of Light. I love spending time in Paris and regularly visit to shop, visit art galleries and gardens, try out new cafes and restaurants and often just wander the streets admiring the architecture and ambience of my favourite city in the world.

29 Iconic Places to See in Paris

Everyone's adventures in Paris are different and we all have our own 'must-see' list, but with a city that has so much to offer where do you start? I've created a list of 29 iconic places to see in Paris that include some big ones, and others that might not first be on your radar, but what make Paris so special. All together they are why we are drawn to Paris to visit, live, work and love. Check out these 29 iconic places to see in Paris.

Musée du Louvre

We have to start with this one. The Louvre is the largest monument in Paris and the most visited museum in the world. There are 35,000 works of art hanging in the huge museum and they fill approximately 16 kilometres of galleries and halls. The Louvre was first a fortress in the 12th century, then a royal residence and then the palace was transformed into a museum in 1793.

Pont-Aven – What to See and Do

Pont-Aven - What to See and Do

Pont-Aven is one of those super pretty little towns in France that you see on postcards, calendars and books for sale on Brittany. It's easy to see why when you stroll through the centre of town, meander along secret paths, cross the flower-covered town bridge or venture out to the port. It really is one of the prettiest towns I've visited. Following in the footsteps of painter Paul Gauguin and the Pont-Aven School painters was also a dream come true for me.

After strolling through the town, harbour and woods, dining on a galette and crêpe, wandering the pop-up antique market, visiting the museum and doing a spot of souvenir shopping, I eventually left Pont-Aven vowing to bring my family back with me for another visit. Here's what I'll be sharing with them when we visit together, and what I think are the best things to see and do in Pont-Aven.

In the footsteps of Gauguin and the Pont-Aven School painters

In the footsteps of Gauguin and the Pont-Aven School painters in Pont-Aven

Pont-Aven is known the world over thanks to the Pont-Aven School and the genius painter Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin. It's long been a dream of mine to visit the town and walk in the footsteps of the painters and discover more about their art and where they created it.

The rustic charm of the river Aven running through the town, secret bridges, ancient watermills, stone houses along the estuary and boats bobbing on their moorings, is what I'd conjured up in my mind from paintings and photos. But, I was not prepared for just how delightful Pont-Aven would be. It is simply darling! The town is also included in the prestigious group of 'Petites Cités de Caractère' or Small Towns of Character in Brittany.

Following in the footsteps of Gauguin, the Pont-Aven School painters and the Nabis artists was an amazing experience and I want to share it with you too. Here's how to walk in the footsteps of Gauguin and the Pont-Aven School painters in the darling town of Pont-Aven in Brittany.

French Street Signs – Famous people and Places

Have you noticed on any of your trips to Paris or around France, (or even just on photos) that many of the streets are named the same? It can be a bit confusing when searching in your GPS, and the same street name comes up in many different towns. That might be because the street is named after a person of interest or it simply describes a location or significant building that is on the street. Our early experiences of finding towns and streets that have the same names is something we still laugh at. You'll find more in our post Our Story #4 - Aussies in France.

French Street Signs - Famous people and Places

Examples are rue de la Mairie, translated as the Town Hall Street, or rue d'Église, which simply means the Church Street. These street names describe the main point of interest along the street. Interestingly, rue d'Église is the most popular name for a road in France.

Iconic French men and women are honoured with streets and squares all over France, but not everyone knows about some of the lesser known people, places and events which appear on plaques throughout the country. The French town planners do though and they love their politicians, presidents, philosophers and writers. Wars even made household names out of prominent soldiers!

Locronan – The Most Beautiful Town in France

Locronan in Brittany simply overflows with charm and is one of the most beautiful villages in France. In fact it's been titled the 'Most Beautiful Town in France'.

Locronan - the Most Beautiful Town in France

Locronan is situated only five kilometres from the bright blue Baie de Dourarnenez on the craggy Côte de Cornouaille. The most accessible ferry port is at Roscoff where Brittany Ferries regularly operate from. It’s an easy two hour drive by car from Roscoff to Locronan, and with its narrow streets lined with stunning bright hydrangea bushes and colourful flowering window boxes, this village well deserves its Petites Cités de Caractère (Small Town of Character) status.