Menu

A French Collection

France + All Things French

You are here: Home / Archives for Regions of France

Why Staying In Saint Germain Is A Good Idea

Staying in Saint Germain

Why Staying In Saint Germain Is A Good Idea When In Paris

Today we share why staying in Saint Germain is a good idea on your next visit to Paris. The 6th arrondissement or Saint Germain area in Paris is famously known for its glamour and style. It’s a beautiful place with a perfect mix of wide boulevards and beguiling side streets, classic Parisian bistros and fantastic French stores, elegant Haussmannian architecture and bold green gardens.

Decorating and design stores, bookstores, florists, fashion boutiques and iconic sidewalk cafes like Café Deux Magots beguile and appeal the tourist and local alike. The area is also home to the quirky Deyrolle with its tigers, peacocks and insects.

Continue Reading

Mont St-Michel and La Mère Poulard

Mont Saint Michel and La Mère Poulard

The Pilgrim's route or Grande Rue has been the main route winding uphill past Elise St-Pierre towards the impressive abbey gates of Mont Saint Michel since the 12th century. Now this main street is crowded with restaurants to cater to the vast number of tourists, the most famous being restaurant La Mère Poulard founded by Anne "Annette" Boutiaut. The story of this restaurant starts way back in 1888.

Annette Boutiaut - Her Story

Annette Boutiaut married Victor Poulard on January 14, 1873 and in 1888 Annette Poulard started her inn to cater for the pilgrims and increasing number of visiting tourists that arrived at all hours of the day tired, hungry and often wet. Because access to Mont Saint Michel is governed by tides, and visitors walked over the low lands and wet sands to reach the island, they arrived wet and cold. So making quick, hot nutritious food that could feed a number of people was required.

Continue Reading

5 Must Do Things – Pink Granite Coast, France

Pink Granite Coast Trégastel

5 Must Do Things – Pink Granite Coast, France

The Côte de Granit Rose or Pink Granite Coast is a pretty part of northern Brittany, France. The stretch of coastline is in department 22, Côtes d'Armor and stretches from Plestin-les-Grèves to Louannec. The coast is called the Pink Granite Coast because of the pink hue of the rocks.

Trégastel at the Côte de Granit Rose

The area is well known for its unusual rock formations with many agreeing that the best formations are between the towns of Perros-Guirec and Ploumanac'h.  Trégastel is one of our family's favourite locations along the coast because of it's fun family attractions and the outstanding walking paths with stunning views. We head here all year round regardless of the weather as there's always something to see and fun dining options. Below are a collection of family photos taken over the years in different seasons along the walking path from Plage du Coz-Pors around Île de Renote.

Continue Reading

Dinan – Top 5 Things to Do in this Pretty Town

Dinan's Top 5 Things To Do

Dinan – Top 5 Things To Do in this Pretty Brittany Town

Dinan, the walled Breton town in north western France, holds a special place in my heart as it was one of the early towns we explored on our house purchasing trip (read our story on buying a French house ‘It Has To Be France‘) when everything about France was so very new for us. I could not absorb enough of this town’s heritage and history and even now, after visiting it a number of times since, I find this town of character always surprises me with yet another hidden treasure.

Continue Reading

Château d’Angers: Fortress and Sumptous Residence

Château d'Angers, Loire Valley

Château d’Angers – A Fortress and Sumptuous Residence

The Château d’Angers is a castle located in the city of Angers in the Loire Valley, Maine-et-Loire department, France and while it is not as popular as some of the other Loire Valley châteaux it is spectacular and is also home to the amazing Apocalypse Tapestry.

A Brief History of Château d’Angers

The Château, which occupies a rocky promontory overlooking the River Maine, has been occupied by man since the Neolithic period.  The site was first occupied by the Count of Anjou in the 9th century and then 300 years later a palace was built there. In the 13th Century, the Regent Blanche of Castile built a fortress to mass royal troops.

Continue Reading

Top 10 Most Secret Places in Paris

Secret places in Paris

Top 10 Most Secret Places in Paris

Paris is one of the most visited cities of the world and France retains its status of being the most visited country in the world for a number of reasons. To experience a hidden and secret Paris you need to go where the masses don’t. After many trips to Paris we have found stunning and beautiful places that you can enjoy minus the crowds.

France draws people worldwide who wish to experience its stunning capital Paris, the varied attractions of sea and mountains, the idyllic countryside, its gastronomic food and wine, abundant art and historical sites.  For most though a first visit to France will include a stay in Paris, so check out these most secret places. 

Continue Reading

10 Amazing Eiffel Tower Facts

Eiffel Tower facts

10 Amazing Eiffel Tower Facts

Paris would not be the city we know and love without the Eiffel Tower – the  incredible iron lacework tower named after its engineer and creator Gustave Eiffel.

The Eiffel Tower was the result of a competition launched in 1886 for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, the date that marked the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.

Eiffel Tower facts

Continue Reading

5 Must Do Things at Concarneau, France

5 Must Do Things at Concarneau, France

Concarneau has so much to offer a visitor, but here are our 5 Must Do Things when visiting France’s third most important fishing port. The 14th century “ville close” (walled town) is the main tourist attraction and is built on an island in the harbour and surrounded by massive lichen covered granite ramparts. You access the “ville close” by walking over the stone bridge from Place Jean Jaurès.

Continue Reading

PRESS & MEDIA

A French Collection is featured in international magazines, ABC National Radio interviews, France Media Group webinars & blog articles and interviews.

PRESS & MEDIA PAGE

Follow Us

GET OUR NEWSLETTERS

C’est bon! Subscribe to get a taste of France delivered straight to your inbox every week

JOIN ME IN FRANCE ON INSTRAGRAM