By Laura Glendinning Before high fashion, multi course meals, political intrigues, grand boulevards and palaces, there was, and always will be, the French countryside. All French regions claim to be the ultimate countryside experience. Sorry everyone, but that honor belongs to Provence. It's the history, the food, the informality. It's something. It is Provence. The Basics - Getting to Provence There are numerous ways to get to Provence from Paris. High speed rail from Paris to Avignon or Aix, or a meandering drive from Marseille, or rail from Marseille to an inland city and thence to the wonderful countryside of Provence. Personally, I have flown to London from L.A. (via Air New Zealand, one of the best experiences in the air,...
1. Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie Parc de la Villette, 30, avenue Corentin Cariou - A.P. 75930 Paris cedex 19 , 75019 Paris 33 1 36 68 29 30 Groups: 33 1 40 05 12 12, Res. 33 1 40 05 80 90 Porte de la Villette 75, 139, 150, 152, PC One of the world's most respected science museums is Paris's La Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie. The museum is located in the Parc de la Villette. The museum is considered a masterpiece of modern architecture. Among the museum's top attractions are: Experience the Explora where you can step inside of a camera or travel through the human body, and much more. Board the Argonaute, a former attack submarine. The Geode, one of the world's...
If you have never been to Europe before, understanding the rail system seems a bit overwhelming. At home, we are used to taking our car on long journeys, or using a nimble carrier like Southwest Airlines or Alaska to get to a regional city. Although Easy Jet and others have made inroads, Europe is fully committed to rail, and then some. Getting between most European cities by rail is easy, and often faster than air travel, because you don’t have to go way out of town to the airport, wait for security and otherwise be hassled as with air travel. For example, Eurostar is a private, very fast train line that connects London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and a couple of cities...
(Back to the Loire Valley Wine and Castle Booking Page) Monday and Thursday Chambord is the biggest Loire castle, yet was only built as a hunting lodge for King Francois I. It's been suggested, but not proven, Da Vinci had a hand in its design, but it's attributed to Phillipe Delorme. Unique architectural features such as the minaret-like spires and grand double helix staircase add to its distinction. Onsite is the Museum of Nature and Hunting, and an especially rare collection of tapestries. Designed by the same architect who created Blois, has stayed in the Count of Cheverny's family almost continually since it was built in the 16th century. Intact interiors and priceless antiques are a must-see, but the famed hunting dog kennels on...
Though the Eiffel Tower represents the very spirit of Paris, the Louvre Museum is all about the story of France. After all, it began as a fortress (by Philip the II in the 12th century ), was converted to a palace (by Francis the I), and became a storage place for the crown’s treasures when Louis XIV moved the Royal household to Versailles after Paris got too built-up and, as European cities were in those days, disease-ridden. Versailles became a symbol of all that had to change during the French Revolution in 1789. It was liberated by the people, the Royals were guillotined, and the Louvre opened just 4 years later as a museum to display what the French...
