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The Five Sons of Carcassonne

Carcassonne walled city on hill

The Five Sons of Carcassonne Are Worth Exploring

Carcassonne, the impressive medieval walled city in the South of France is a popular tourist destination with an amazing history.  The lesser known Five Sons of Carcassonne are also steeped in history and worth exploring.

To find out more about the Five Sons of Carcassonne, guest writer Keith Van Sickle, part time resident of Provence, France and author of ‘One Sip At A Time‘, will tell us more.

Carcassonne will imprint itself on your memory whether you first cast your eyes over it in the soft morning light, harsh summer sun or gentle moonlight.  And once you know about the Five Sons of Carcassonne you’ll want to explore more than just the walled la Cité, so please read on and enjoy Keith’s post…

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Cruising French Canals

Cruising French canals

Cruising French Canals

Today we find why cruising French canals is an amazing way of traveling through France. Our guest writer Marie Nieves shares some of the different river cruises available in France, and why cruising the French canals is a great way to see the countryside and met people.

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French Canal Life – Living and Cruising the French Canals

Living and cruising the French canalsFrench Canal Life – Living and Cruising the French Canals

Does living on a barge on a French canal appeal to you? Would you like to give it a try? I love walking along the tow paths of canals and often wonder what it would be like to live on one of the barges I see tied up along the grassy banks.

Our French holiday home is within a short driving distance to a couple of canals and we often take the children for a walk or bike ride along the canal towpaths.

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Wishing Madame Eiffel Tower Happy Birthday

Wishing Madame Eiffel Tower Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Madame Eiffel Tower

Gustave Eiffel’s tower was completed on 31 March 1889 and the tower celebrates its birthday on the completion date of 31 March each year.   The tower has taken on the female gender and is affectionately referred to as Madame Eiffel Tower or The Iron Lady.

Here’s some photos and more posts on the Tower you might like to read to celebrate her birthday.

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Macaron Day

Macaron Day

Macaron Day

Macaron Day is celebrated on 20 March every year and what a delicious celebration it is! These delectable little sweets are instantly synonymous with France and are now enjoyed throughout the world.

With a gentle crusty outside shell and soft ganache inside, they are just waiting to be bitten into. Sold by the millions each year, the macaron is worthy of its day of celebration.

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Palace of Versailles in Canberra

Versailles Palace, France

Palace of Versailles

Can you describe the Palace of Versailles in ten words or less… golden, decadent, sumptuous, grand, extravagant, ordered, beautiful, breathtaking, majestic and intricate?  Are these any of the words you would have chosen to describe what started out as a king’s hunting lodge, became the seat of power and is now a museum of French history?

Chateau Versailles was a world of golden decadence exhibiting the latest in building techniques and materials, fabric and furniture production and extending the known boundaries of landscaping and horticulture.  Versailles showcased France’s wealth and importance to the world at the time.

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5 Top Ideas for Valentine’s Day in Paris

Valentine's Day in Paris

5 Top Ideas For Valentine’s Day In Paris

Romance and Paris go together like coffee and croissants and the city has always appealed to lovers. Called the City of Love; Paris is an obvious choice for Valentine’s Day meet ups, marriage proposals and honeymoons.  

We’ve put together 5 top ideas for you to spend Valentine’s Day in Paris if you are lucky enough to find yourself in the ville de l’amour (city of love) this February. 

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National Croissant Day

Basket of croissants for National Croissant Day

National Croissant Day

What is crescent shaped, made from layer upon layer of flakey pastry, loads of butter and tastes like heaven?  You got it… it’s a croissant, and the croissant has its own national celebration day in France called National Croissant Day.

Marie Antoinette brings the Croissant to France

This iconic french pastry is celebrated on the 30th of January each year and is linked with Marie Antoinette the famous Austrian queen who lived at Versailles. Marie Antoinette is given the fame of introducing the pastry to France over 200 years ago.

“She was sent to France at the age of fourteen to marry the future King Louis XVI. The lonely young girl missed her homeland and asked the court bakers to make her the kipferl that she remembered from home. She introduced it to the court along with other little pastries from her homeland. Collectively, they became known as viennoiserie.” History of the French Croissant by Margo Lestz

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

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