Regions of France | A French Collection

Best Things to See in Guingamp, Brittany

Arial photo of Guingamp with Pierre II Castle and Basilica

Best Things to See in Guingamp, Brittany

Today I'm going to share what I love about Guingamp and the best things to see in this attractive town in the north western region of Côtes d'Armor, Brittany. Guingamp is the closest town to my little village and where we do our regular supermarché (supermarket) shop, go to the weekly fresh food market and purchase clothes, do banking, visit hairdresser etc. We know the town very well and fell in love with it the moment we first walked its ancient cobbled streets.

Arc de Triomphe Fast Facts

Arc de Triomphe Fast Facts

Built by Napoléon for his army and commissioned in 1806.
It took 30 years to build the Arc.
Napoléon and his army had conquered much of Europe by then and were considered invincible.
Napoléon promised his army they would return home through the arches of the Arc.
The Arc is 162 feet tall and 150 feet wide.
You need to climb 284 steep steps to reach the top of the Arc.

What to See and Do in Montparnasse

Come with me to find out what to see and do in Montparnasse. Montparnasse has not really been on my preferred list of places to stay whilst in Paris. But now, after a short visit one trip with children in tow and just recently a longer stay on my way through to the northwest countryside of Brittany, I found lots to see and do.

What to See and Do in Montparnasse

Here's my round up of what to see and do in Montparnasse - I'm sure you'll find lots to interest you whether you're there for a few hours or a few days. Mostly in the 14th arrondissement, Montparnasse has been called the bohemian centre of Paris.

The diverse range of restaurants, a legacy of art, historic streets, gardens and one of the largest cemeteries in Paris (home to some very famous people) plus the skyscraper of all Parisian skyscrapers, are waiting to be discovered in Montparnasse.

Montparnasse Cemetery

Montparnasse Cemetery is a huge cemetery in the 14th arrondissement of Paris that covers around 45 acres. It is one of the most visited sites in Montparnasse and is the burial ground of famous Parisian writers, artists, scientists and intellectuals. I was lucky enough to spend time wandering and exploring the cemetery the other week and share what I found in today's post.

A History of Montparnasse Cemetery

Going back in history to the Middle-Ages, the site of the cemetery was farmland and was occupied by market gardeners. In around 1825 the cemetery was created and was originally known as the Cimetière du Midi. It was at that time located outside of Paris.

Napoléon Bonaparte

France and Napoléon go hand in hand but with two French Napoléons, it can get tricky to know which Napoléon did what in Paris. This is especially so as they were even related. So just what did Napoléon Bonaparte do compared to Napoléon III? Who was the emperor and who was the architectural mastermind.

Napoléon Bonaparte vs Napoléon III

Paris has reminders of Napoléon everywhere, including the "N" engraved in bridges and on buildings, statues and even cafés named after these famous gentlemen. The café Le Bonaparte above is a perfect spot for my morning coffee after leaving my usual hotel on rue Vaneau, then heading down due de Babylone, rue de Sévres, rue de Four and then straight across Boulevard Saint-Germain to the cafe. It's a relaxed spot with plenty of pedestrian traffic to watch while taking a drink.

Paris the City of Light

Paris has the endearing nickname of The City of Light. Some say it's because of the inhabitants' enlightened thinking in terms of culture and learning. Others argue that it's because of the city's early adaption of street lighting.

Paris the City of Light

Ville Lumière or City of Enlightenment

The French translation of City of Light is Ville Lumière, meaning "city of enlightenment". This blog post pays homage to the most beautiful lighting in the world, the Parisian lamp posts. Many lamp posts are a story themselves heralding to a person, historical event or place and wandering the city, there is no shortage of their beauty.

Angelina – The Best Hot Chocolate in Paris

Angelina - The Best Hot Chocolate in Paris

Angelina café serves the world's finest hot chocolate and has been the essential gourmet and refined meeting place for Parisian aristocracy for over 120 years. Angelina is a space of calm that has seen the likes of Proust, Coco Chanel and the greatest French couturiers in the past and today welcomes Parisians, passing tourists and celebrities.

As well as the unforgettable hot chocolate known as "L 'African", Angelina is world famous for its famous dessert Mont-Blanc.

A Provence French Website For English Readers

A Provence French Website for English Readers

UzEssentiel is an absolute treasure trove of information for people thinking of heading to the South of France, in particular Uzès, Uzège, Gard and Occitanie. While Uzès and Uzège and Gard belong in the Occitanie region rather than Provence, they are often referred to as being in Provence.

UzEssentiel is a go-to website for South of France/Provence lovers and the wide range of interesting topics will keep you glued to your laptop. If you didn't already have plans to travel to these breathtaking places, I bet you will after spending some time on UzEssentiel.com.

It's a website for French readers but thanks to Nancy, its clever editor, it also has an English section in "la langue de Shakespeare" for their dedicated English reading community, called UzEssentiel in English.

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Best Things to See in Guingamp, Brittany

Best Things to See in Guingamp, Brittany

Arc de Triomphe Fast Facts

Arc de Triomphe Fast Facts

What to See and Do in Montparnasse

What to See and Do in Montparnasse

Montparnasse Cemetery

A History of Montparnasse Cemetery

Napoléon Bonaparte

Napoléon Bonaparte vs Napoléon III

Paris the City of Light

Paris the City of Light

Ville Lumière or City of Enlightenment

Angelina – The Best Hot Chocolate in Paris

Angelina - The Best Hot Chocolate in Paris

A Provence French Website For English Readers

A Provence French Website for English Readers

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