The extensive remains of the Roman Baths (thermae) in Arles in the south of France – built during the 4th Century AD under Emperor Constantine – give an insight into how the Romanised Gauls lived – taking on many aspects of Roman culture. Regular bathing was was practiced across all classes. …
One of the great delights, whether in the Tuilleries garden in Paris or at the centre of many French towns, are the myriad colourful carousels. They are loved by children worldwide and form a component of almost every amusement park. Once they were the main attraction, but time and technology …
Why are bridges so fascinating? Bridges hold a special place in every culture. They are a means to cross from one place to another; over a hazard, a dangerous river or chasm. So bridges are both a connection and a marker for a division. When you step off the land …
One of only two surviving medieval houses in Paris, the Hotel de Sens was built between 1480 and 1510. It was built for the the archbishop of the town of Sens in Burgundy. At that time the Archbishop of Sens was more important than the bishop of Paris! It can be …
Driving in France is like driving through the looking glass – at least for those of us who usually drive on the left and sit on the right. The hire car was straightforward – I asked for the smallest they had, and it was only a little bigger than the …
Imagine working in a local council office. Now imagine that the view from your desk involved gilded statues and paintings worthy of a national museum? What if your office made the Palace of Versailles look plain? There is such an office. If you are the mayor of Paris (Anne Hidalgo) …
The journey from Paris to Arles took four hours by TGV (fast train) – just 8 months and 135 years after Vincent Van Gogh. His journey was a lot slower, but soon we were following in his footsteps – literally. A map from the local tourist office showed the locations …
