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Claude Monet’s Garden at Giverny, France

Monet's Garden Clos Normand, Giverny

Claude Monet's Garden at Giverny in Normandy

"At Giverny, Monet created an ideal home for his family, a haven protected from the outside world and surrounded by the countryside that he loved. But this was also where he gained recognition as a major artist after years of rejection." - Adrien Goetz

Visiting Claude Monet's Garden

Visiting Claude Monet's Garden at Giverny in the region of Normandy, France is always a surreal experience for me and something I seriously recommend you try and do at least once. The house and gardens are where Monet lived from 1883 until his death in 1926. The gardens change with the seasons and sometimes the best season to visit is hotly debated, but I suggest you take the chance to visit Monet's Garden whenever you can - it will not disappoint.

At any time of the year wandering around the petite garden paths amongst the vibrant rainbow coloured flowers is like stepping into his paintings. I hope you enjoy my photos as I try and show you something a little different than what you may have already seen photographed in this garden. 

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Remembrance Day or Armistice Day in France

Armistice Day

Remembrance Day is a traditional memorial day which evolved out of Armistice Day and is also known as Veterans Day in the US or Poppy Day. It's an annual observance day on the 11th day of November.

Remembrance Day, Armistice Day, Veterans Day or Poppy Day?

It can be a bit confusing with the four different names but the explanation of the four names is simple enough. It is a day of honouring the war dead following the Armistice at the end of World War I. The day was initially called Armistice because the armistice was signed by the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne to end the hostilities "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month".  The naming of the day was changed from Armistice Day by many countries during the Second World War to Remembrance Day (in commonwealth countries) and to Veterans Day in the US.

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Father’s Day In France

Father at Musee Rodin, Paris

Father’s Day In France is called Fête des Pères

Father’s Day in France is celebrated on the third Sunday in June.  This day of celebration honours the role fathers, and father figures play in raising children and what a fabulous photo above of a father and his children enjoying a day out.  I took this photo only weeks ago in the sculpture garden of Musée Rodin, Paris.

This dad had pencils and paper ready for his children to draw the sculptures and colour pictures of the artwork around the museum. What a champion dad!!

French History of Father’s Day

St Joseph’s Day is said to be the origin of the modern Father’s Day, celebrated on March 19, this day of Saint Joseph, the foster father of Jesus was more a religious celebration.  In 1952 an offical degree was made to recognise fathers and Father’s Day is now celebrated on the third Sunday of June each year in France.

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May Day or La Fete du Travail – A National Holiday

May Day or Fête du Muguet

May Day is Labour Day in France

May Day or La Fete du Travail is a national holiday in France celebrating the rights of workers and as the French workers often protest to protect their rights, this can be a day of demonstrations and strikes. This particular French national holiday is taken very seriously and it's a good holiday to mark in your calendar when planning a trip to France around this time of year.  It's also one of the loveliest days of the year with fragrant bunches of Lily of the Valley for sale everywhere. Keep reading to find out more about this day of celebration.

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Louvre Museum Glass Pyramid Turns 30 Years Old

Louvre Museum Paris

The Louvre Glass Pyramid Celebrates its 30th Birthday

The glass pyramid entrance at the Louvre Museum in Paris has recently turned 30 years old and while it is loved the world over now, that was not always the case. In fact it was a very controversial issue for many years. Most of us however, cannot image the Louvre now without its unique and much photographed glass pyramid entrance.

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Saint Patrick’s Day in Paris & What’s On in France in March

Eiffel Tower on Saint Patrick's Day in Paris

Saint Patrick's Day in Paris and What's On In France Monthly Guide 

Another month has arrived and I wasn’t ready for it. The year races on. Excitement is in the air in France as hints of Spring arrive; cooler rather than colder days and a lazy drizzle instead of snow (fingers crossed).

Peak travel season still hasn’t hit and so March is an affordable time to head to France with reduced air-fairs and hotel specials. Want to know what’s happening in France in March? Read on to find out about Saint Patrick's Day in Paris, Literary Festivals, a Design Biennial, and an epic race up the Eiffel Tower!

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Fete du Citron or Lemon Festival, Menton

Menton Lemon Festival

Fete du Citron or Lemon Festival, Menton

Fête du Citron or Lemon Festival is an annual festival held in Menton, a town in the south east of France, that celebrates the humble lemon and orange fruits and with the festival being held for more than 87 years, the Fête du Citron is a festival with a long history.

The festival began in 1933 as a fruit show and has grown into an international event drawing 160,000 visitors annually. The lemons and oranges grown in Menton are called the fruits d’or (golden fruits). These special fruits d’or are celebrated every year during the Fête du Citron, from 16 February to 3 March. 

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La Chandeleur or Candlemas: A French Tradition

La Chandeleur or Candlemas is celebrated in France

La Chandeleur is also known as Candlemas and the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus and the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is a French tradition.  It commemorates the presentation of Jesus at the temple.

In France this commemoration is linked to eating crêpes or pancakes and is called Pancake Day.  It is celebrated on the 2nd of February and there are a couple of rather strange rituals that surround the way you cook your crêpes.

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