France
Eiffel Tower, Paris France. Photo by Chris Karidis
“France has the only two things towards which we drift as we grow older – intelligence and manners.”
– F. Scott Fitzgerald
Ooh la la! Get ready to embark on a fascinating journey through France–Western Europe’s largest country.
Travel France, one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. Must of the country’s culture is influenced by it neighboring border countries–Luxembourg and Belgium in the north, Germany, Italy and Switzerland in the east, Andorra and Spain in the south. France is often referred to as “The Hexagon” because of the the country’s shape by the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, English Channel, North Sea and the Rhine.
The French landscape is also very diverse and includes everything from beautiful beaches, fertile agricultural plains, and snow-capped Alps, to the forested Massif Central – a plateau of ancient mountains and extinct volcanoes.
Travel France to experience the rich unique offerings in food, culture, art, music, architecture, natural landscape, literature, fashion, film and more.
Anne-Marie Simons' "Taking Root in Provence" is a delightful and engaging read that transports readers to the heart of southern France through a series of charming vignettes. The book provides a peaceful escape from reality, capturing the essence of Provence with its tranquil and blissful content. Each vignette offers a glimpse into the serene beauty and cultural richness of the region, making it an ideal literary retreat.
Lyon, France, is the nation’s second-largest city, strategically located between Paris and Marseille. While it is celebrated as the gastronomic capital of France, Lyon offers an abundance of attractions beyond its culinary delights. The city is steeped in history and culture, making it a must-visit destination for travelers seeking a rich and immersive experience.
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Climate change was one of the main factors Plunkett McCullagh presented to his family when he pitched using part of the family’s inheritance from selling their countryside pub to found Heyday Chalet, a new coliving spot for digital nomads in Morzine, France.
Paris is polarizing. You either love it or you hate it. It’s either cliché or it’s charming.
On April 25th, 1792, Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle composed "La Marseillaise" the song destined to become the French national anthem. Rouget composed the song as a rallying cry as Prussian and Austrian armies marched on France. The song became the French national anthem on Bastille Day, 1795. However, Napoleon I banned it during his reign. It was re-instated in 1879. The French National Convention adopted La Marseillaise as the Republic's anthem in 1795. The song acquired its nickname after being sung in Paris by volunteers from Marseille marching to the capital. The song is the first example of the "European march" anthemic style. The anthem's evocative melody and lyrics have led to its widespread use as a song of revolution and its incorporation into many pieces of classical and popular music. The Convention accepted La Marseillaise as the French national anthem in a decree passed on 14 July 1795, making it France's first anthem. It later [...]
A quiet stroll through the stretch of Rue de la Bûcherie has led me up here at Shakespeare and Company, arguably the most famous independent bookstore in the world, a literary institution that began its journey in 1919.
Located in the verdant metropolis of Lyon in France, La Tour-de-Salvagny is a place for the cultured and the inquisitive. Wandering the streets of this wonderland of beautiful parks and grand chateaus can seem like stepping back into a more romantic and dreamier era.
On October 14th in the year 1066, a battle took place in England - Battle of Hastings, that in many ways determined the course of the next one thousand years of western history. The Norman army of Duke William of Normandy in France fought the English Army of King Harold II. Harold had been on the throne only a few months, and contested Duke William's right to rule England.
Vieux Lille, the capital of French Flanders, is a cultural hotspot that travelers just can’t get enough of. Make sure your visit is more than just for a day, as you’ll want to really explore all the city has to offer.
This broadcast is a favorite legacy show that we produced under our old name Travel'n On and before re-branding as WORLD FOOTPRINTS. We continue our conversation with Ricki Stevenson, founder of Black Paris Tours, as she introduces the rich culture that had defined Black Paris by taking us on a journey to the places made famous by Black soldiers, writers, and political exiles that came to the City of Light to flee American racism. Black Paris Tours was founded in 1998, and Ricki Stevenson has been the company's principal guide ever since. Stevenson is a former TV news anchor/reporter, talk show host, and Oakland, California native. With a focus on African and African American history, she has a master's degree in history. Stevenson claims that the inspiration for such Tours came from her six-year career as a foreign travel reporter and her long-held desire to live in Paris. Black Paris [...]
This broadcast is a favorite legacy show that we produced under our old name Travel'n On and before re-branding as WORLD FOOTPRINTS. Explore the other side of Paris with Ricki Stevenson. Ricki Stevenson, the founder of Black Paris Tours, introduces the rich culture that had defined the history by taking us on a journey to the places made famous by Black soldiers, writers, and political exiles that came to the City of Light to flee American racism. A really one-of-a-kind cultural experience is provided by Ricki Stevenson's special tours, which inform visitors about the abundance of Black history in Paris and shares insights and little-known facts about it. "Our most popular tour option is a concentrated seven-hour walking-metro-bus tour that offers visitors a city orientation and a primer on the history of Africans and African Americans in Paris." These tours will take you to the haunts, hangouts, and locations frequented [...]
