Regions of France | A French Collection

Josselin – 5 Top Things to See and Do

Josselin is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France and is classified as a Petite Cité de Caractère (small town of character). The town is absolutely charming with a huge stone walled château, half timbered buildings, pretty river with boats to hire and great cafes and boutiques to explore. Josselin welcomes thousands of visitors every year and it’s easy to see why.

Exploring Josselin on a warm summer’s day with friends is one of my happy memories and in this post I’ll share what I think are the top 5 things to do and see in Josselin and why this town qualifies as a Petite Cité de Caractère of Brittany. I loved Château de Josselin, the Musée de Poupées (museum of dolls), walking along the river and eating lunch in the town square.

Annette Charlton

Annette lives with her family between their homes in France and Australia. She’s been featured in International magazines including French Property News, on ABC National Radio, numerous blogs and travel websites. You can connect on Instagram or Facebook.

www.afrenchcollection.com

Marche Saint-Ouen (les Puces), Paris – The Largest Antique Market in the World

Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen or Les Puces, Paris

Antiques and vintage your thing? Then you’ll love Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, or Les Puces de Saint-Ouen. This huge market, which the Parisians simply call Les Puces is the collection of a numerous smaller markets made of many stallholders. If you hear the market referred to as les Puces de Clignancourt by the locals, that's because they are referring to the Métro stop and périphérique entrance/exit here. The first time I went I really only scratched the surface of what was available, but my subsequent visits have made up for that and I have spent many happy hours finding items for my French house.

Best Small Group Tours of Brittany

"There aren’t many guided tours of Brittany, so when one comes along that’s absolutely brilliantly put together, run by a most charming host and takes in the very best of Brittany and just over the border Normandy – we’re excited!"

Best Small Group Tour of Brittany

That's what Janine Marsh of The Good Life France had to say about my Brittany Tours, calling them the best guided tour of Brittany, and I agree that Brittany is best explored in small groups where you are guided to the most charming towns, picture perfect beaches and best natural wonders along the French northwest coast. [Photo above is of Tregestal, Brittany where we take a coastal walk among the boulders]

The History of Montmartre, Paris

The History of Montmartre

"From the days of the pilgrimages, in the Middle Ages, Montmartre has always been a spot where barriers are dropped and pleasures are indulged.

With a history stretching back 2,000 years, the village of Montmartre blends religious mysticism, cabaret life and the full-range of the arts." - Montmartre Office of Tourism

We’ve Adopted a Star to Save The Oldest Church in Paris

Adopt a Star to Save Saint Germain des Pres Church in Paris

A French Collection joins the American Friends for the Preservation of Saint Germain des Prés Church to help save the oldest church in Paris which would you believe dates back to 543.

Adopt A Star - The Oldest Church in Paris

As you can imagine after centuries of use and dirt build up, any building will show its age and need to be restored, and Paris' oldest church, Saint Germain des Prés is one such building definitely needing restoration. When I read about the American Friends for the Preservation of Saint Germain des Prés Church raising funds in the unique way of offering 800 'stars' on the celestial ceiling of the Monk's Choir for adoption, I knew I had to get on board. The project started with 3,000 stars available for adoption on the ceilings of the Transept and the Nave but due to the popularity of the project there are now around 800 stars available.

Combourg -The Hometown of François René de Chateaubriand

Combourg castle amongst trees viewed from the lake

Combourg – A Small Town of Character

Combourg is a small town in the north western part of France in the region of Brittany or Bretagne. This small town of character or Petite Cité de Caractère is said to have risen from a small parish town when in the 6th century Irish monk, Saint Lunaire, built a church. Much later in the 11th century the archbishop of Dol-de-Bretagne built a château where his younger brother Riwallon lived.

The town grew around three centres; the château, the feudal settlement that developed due to the protection of Riwallon and then a priory settlement that developed after Riwallon summoned Benedictine monks to the area.

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Annette Charlton

www.afrenchcollection.com

Claude Monet’s Hometown Giverny – What to See & Do

Claude Monet's Hometown - What to See and Do

Giverny in the northwest region of Normandy is well known as the hometown of Impressionist artist Claude Monet (1840 - 1926) but the picturesque village has more to explore than just Claude Monet's House and Garden complex. Read more as I discover what to see and do in Giverny.

Monet In Giverny

Monet's attachment to the village of Giverny started after signing a rental agreement for his pink maison (home) on 3 May 1883, and then after buying the house, moving in with Alice in 1890. They lived in this house and village with the two children from Monet and Camille's marriage and the six children from Alice and Ernest's marriage for the rest of their lives as a blended family.

The village was originally divided by a railway line that went along what is now called Chemin du Roy. Chemin du Roy divides Monet's two gardens and is now a narrow laneway for cars. Giverny encompasses Monet's garden and home but also has many other attractions to offer for the visitor.

The Most Beautiful Villages in Provence

The Most Beautiful Villages in Provence

Choosing the most beautiful villages in Provence is not easy because Provence is filled with divine flower-filled, stone and terracotta-tiled villages, many of them perched high with stunning views or with attractive rivers running through them.

Many visitors to Provence see the Big 3 “A” cities—Avignon, Arles, and Aix-en-Provence. But what about the smaller towns and villages of Provence? My wife and I live part of the year in St-Rémy-de-Provence and love to wander around the region. Let me tell you about some of our favourite and most beautiful villages in Provence.

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Josselin – 5 Top Things to See and Do

Marche Saint-Ouen (les Puces), Paris – The Largest Antique Market in the World

Best Small Group Tours of Brittany

Best Small Group Tour of Brittany

The History of Montmartre, Paris

The History of Montmartre

We’ve Adopted a Star to Save The Oldest Church in Paris

Adopt A Star - The Oldest Church in Paris

Combourg -The Hometown of François René de Chateaubriand

Combourg – A Small Town of Character

Continue Reading

Claude Monet’s Hometown Giverny – What to See & Do

Claude Monet's Hometown - What to See and Do

Monet In Giverny

The Most Beautiful Villages in Provence

The Most Beautiful Villages in Provence

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