/tags/france.rss en-us The Roman Empire is known for a lot of things, including feeding Christians to lions, inventing the alphabet, and popularizing the cucumber (yes, really!). The Romans were so good at empire-building that many of their edifices survive, relatively unscathed, twenty centuries later—including the Pont du Gard aqueduct bridge near Remoulins, France. The Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct was constructed to the city of Nîmes in the south of France. People had been living in the region for thousands of years before it became part of the Roman colony of Gaul in 45 B.C. The Pont du Gard aqueduct was built in the first century A.D., when Nîmes was home to about 20,000 Roman citizens. In the past, the city had relied on the spring at Nemausus for its water needs. With an exploding population, and a lot of bath-happy Romans moving in, Nîmes needed an aqueduct. The aqueduct would fill the city's fountains and provide plumbing for personal homes and spas. Construction of the Pont du Gard began in the year A.D. 40 A.D., and continued until A.D. 60. It spanned the reign of two emperors, Claudius and Nero. The aqueduct carried water from the Eure spring, 50 kilometers away, to the water tower in Nîmes. France's Pont du Gard, the biggest structure along the length of the aqueduct, is 49 metres high, with three rows of arches: 6 on the first level, 11 in the middle, and 47 on the top. There was 54,000 tons of stone that went into this bridge, which would have had at least 1,000 men working on it at any given time during the three to five years of its construction. The aqueduct, of which the Pont du Gard forms a part, was actually quite the civil engineering feat in its day. Aqueducts were designed to carry water by the power of gravity alone, by sending it on a continuously downhill course. The difference in altitude between the Eure spring and the water tower at Nimes was only 12 meters. What makes this aqueduct amazing is that Roman engineers were able to design a gradually descending path throughout the entire length of the channel. For most of the channel's length, they accomplished this by burying the channel in a stone-lined ditch. But when geological obstacles required them to progressively re-route the channel back to the surface and across bridges such as the Pont du Gard, they still had to maintain a constant decline. The Pont du Gard is impressive, not only for its size and construction, or the fact that it's lasted so long; but because it forms a part of one of the most inspired aqueducts Rome had ever built. Today, the Pont du Gard is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has been since 1985, covering 165 hectares of the surrounding countryside. Tue, 08 Feb 2011 01:15:47 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/pont-du-gard http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/pont-du-gard Just an hour outside of Paris by TGV, the town of Lille is home to one of the most anticipated events in France: the annual two-day Braderie de Lille. As the largest flea market in all of Europe, this vibrant event dates back to medieval times and now attracts almost two million visitors each September. The “Braderie” (French for “sell at a low price”) offers over 10,000 exhibitors hawking their wares with everything from knick-knacks to treasures. Saturday kicks off the Braderie de Lille, and as with any yard sale, the first day offers the best selection. Note that “window shopping” is allowed on Saturday morning, but the sale does not officially begin until 2:00 p.m. Although the streets will get crowded and may even come to a standstill at times, it pays to do your research to know what you want to purchase ahead of time. There are tons of original pieces to be had, but there are also many items that are seemingly mass-produced just for the Braderie. With over 62 miles of vendors, the Braderie de Lille is divided up into sections: the smaller boulevards, the friendlier non-professional vendors (where you’ll find smaller antiques, records, and books), and the larger streets where there’s a huge selection of new ethnic items for sale, including fabulous artwork and paintings. Antiques are displayed along Jean-Baptiste Lebas Boulevard, while décor furniture can be found at la Facade de l’Esplanade and Deule Canal. There’s also a large gathering between the streets of La Porte de Roubaix and L’Opera where professional vendors specialize in antiques from the U.K. The Braderie de Lille brings about a carnival atmosphere where participants enjoy bargaining for deals as well as eating their fill of “moules” and “frites” (mussels and French fries). The traditional competition among local restaurants is to build the highest pile of empty mussel shells from their own restaurants. Everywhere visitors go, they are met by huge mounds of shells piled in the streets of Lille to the tune of an estimated 500 tons. Reminiscent of Mardi Gras, the Braderie comes to a close on Sunday night at midnight when the official street cleaners make their way along the boulevards. But before you leave Lille with your memories and great finds, take the time to explore the charming town by walking or via a minivan tour. Visiting the local restaurants will bring forth tasty culinary delights (besides mussels) like “waterzoi’ (veggies & chicken), or “carbonnade flamande” (beef stew with beer). Mon, 08 Nov 2010 17:42:47 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/braderie-de-lille http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/braderie-de-lille France’s Loire Valley is a beautiful landscape of historic towns, wineries, and stunning chateaux that recall the days of the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment. The area is known as “the Garden of France,” and considered to be the cradle of the French language. The valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that they say is “an exceptional cultural landscape, of great beauty, comprised of historic cities and villages, great architectural monuments - the Châteaux - and lands that have been cultivated and shaped by centuries of interaction between local populations and their physical environment, in particular the Loire itself." And it is all best seen from the seat of a bicycle. The Loire Valley came to life in the 16th Century as several chateaux were built as summer estates for the nobility of France. Now numbering more than 300, some of which are private residences and closed to the public, they attract a different crowd as hundreds of thousands of travelers find themselves exploring the area and enjoying the beautiful estates that line the river and many of its tributaries. One of the more popular ways to do this is by bicycle, as the curious pedal between the various villages and towns through the region to enjoy the palatial homes that now open to the public. The relatively flat terrain of the Loire Valley makes cycling through the area relatively simple and easy; how to pack simply for such a trip will surely be the most difficult task. Many tour companies help coordinate cycling visits to the region, but a new 500 mile (800 km) trail from Orleans to Angers has now further opened the area to the independent traveler wishing to plan their own getaway. Several other trails and roads in the area also make moving from town to town, or rather chateaux to chateaux, an enjoyable adventure that can transport the curious back centuries into France’s history. The architecture and landscaping of the chateaux truly make for an impressive visit as places such as Chenonceau sit atop the river, or the grounds of Chambord cover 13,000 acres with their gardens and vast hunting forests. It’s almost as though, riding up to the gates, the cyclist has ridden up to the home of some fairy tale character like Sleeping Beauty or Snow White. Enjoy what it is today as this wasn’t always the case. The chateaux were looted and abused during the French Revolution and used as military bases during both World War I and II. The pleasant days of relaxation have now returned to the country inns that welcome tourists to the area with a home cooked meal and a local glass of wine to enjoy after a ride to another amazing estate. And that’s how it’s best done since, although the area is only two hours by car from Paris, it’s best to take it slow and savor not just the food and wine, but also the culture and history of an area that was built upon the summer vacations of the nobility. Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:33:48 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/loire-valley http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/loire-valley If there's one thing that we know and understand about France, above all else, it's that not only do they love their food and wine, but they're great at making it. The soft touch of freshly baked bread for an evening meal, the mouth-watering taste of Crème Brûlée and the smell of freshly cooked chocolate Crêpes, all awaken the senses to what's becoming a universal love for French food. As French chefs have taken their cooking beyond French borders to extend to countries around the world, the taste of French cuisine now comes closer to home for many people. You no longer have to travel to the back country roads and small towns of France to enjoy authentic French dishes. In fact, with the rise of the information age it's now easy to find a nearby French restaurant, and also give French cooking a spin yourself. As the popular movie Julie and Julia depicted, cooking your first French meal is just a cookbook away. The truly ambitious look beyond the cookbook and take a cooking class in France itself. French cooking vacations are becoming popular experiences for travelers. The upside to these are that if you don't know the language, then you don't have to worry about being the only one who doesn't speak it. Many tour operators offer group cooking classes that make it both as fun and comfortable as possible. These cooking classes are becoming more like a culinary adventure, as it immerses travelers deep in their culture, while learning step by step how to become your own French cook. Given the new demand for foodie travel activities, you're now able to take cooking courses from more than two dozen operators in Paris alone. Schools typically offer half-day, full-day and multi-day cooking classes. You can be a pupil of a super chef, specialize in the organic or simply chocolate, partner with other industry professionals or even take a class with parents and children. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:41:23 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/french-cooking-class-paris http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/french-cooking-class-paris Bordeaux, France is a land of greatness. It is a place where wine makers go to become distinguished, and where visitors go to quench their thirst at charming countryside chateaux. Sheltered by forests and warmed by the gulf stream, Bordeaux city has a great deal of architecture and history to discover beyond its vineyards. A visit to Bordeaux would not be complete without sampling some of its amazing wines, whether it be a heavy, red Médoc or a sweet, golden Sauternes. Great wine is readily available at every turn in Bordeaux. Restaurants have amazing, local-only wine lists and at the grocery store there are entire aisles dedicated to Rosé, whites and reds. For a little more of an education, however, wineries or vignobles are not too far away. Before a trip to a Bordeaux chateau is made, a little wine education can come in handy. Right in the centre of the city, the Bar à Vin/L'École du Vin is available to cater to your wine education needs. You can go there to attend classes in English or French, or just to sit in their comfy, trendy dining room and be served a large assortment of Bordeaux wines. The servers are charmingly insecure about their ability to speak English, so a little French goes a long way. Cheese and chocolate dégustations are available and the servers can pair the wines along with them. This is a great place to begin a Bordeaux wine tour, as you can discover what regions and what styles of Bordeaux wine you prefer and which you would like to delve into further. Five major wine regions are accessible from Bordeaux: Médoc, Graves and Sauternes, Entre-Deux-Mers, St. Emillion and Pomerol, and Bourg and Blaye. These can be further broken down into smaller appellations and sub-appellations. Each of the Bordeaux regions have their own specializations. Spanning such a large area, a visitor must make some decisions about what areas to tackle first on a Bordeaux tour. St. Emillion is one of the most famous bordeaux regions to visit. St. Emillion wineries can be visited as a day trip or over-night and they have many great châteaux to visit. Of these, Figeac, Cheval Blanc and Ausone are all premiers Grands Crus Classés, literally meaning first growth, they are the highest rated wineries in Bordeaux. Médoc region of Bordeaux has some of the most famous wineries, and the greatest concentration of Premiers Grands Crus in Pauillac, a commune of Médoc worth a visit. Some of these wineries are just as famous for their châteaux as their wine. Perhaps one of the first châteaux that comes to mind when thinking about Bordeaux would be Château Mouton-Rothschild. This Premier Grand Crus Château not only has great wine to sample, but also has a small art gallery of wine themed paintings. Château Lafite-Rothschild is another excellent Premier Grand Crus with a beautiful château. Some of the wines here would cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars to purchase, so wine tasting tour may be a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience them! For a more intimate and even more historic setting, Château du Taillan is a great stop to make on a Bordeaux tour and is easily accessible from Bordeaux' city centre. The château dates from the 16th century and they have been producing wine since 1896. The ancient cellars and have interesting statues and tools used for making wine and transporting barrels. Being a Médoc winery, they specialize in reds blended with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, however their white, called La Dame Blanche, is also delicious and made entirely of Sauvignon Blanc grapes. While in wine touring through Bordeaux, remember that you cannot leave without tasting their famous pastry called canelé. Said to go well with coffee or wine, it has a crunchy exterior, a delectably gooey centre and is flavoured with rum, cinnamon and vanilla. While you may be able to find some of Bordeaux' wines in your home country, you will certainly not be able to find these anywhere else! Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:21:38 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/bordeaux-wine-tour http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/bordeaux-wine-tour For art lovers, there is something magical about the Louvre Museum in Paris. Though it is not the largest museum in the world (that distinction belongs to the Hermitage), it is the most visited. Part of the fascination stems from the unique architecture of the Louvre. Not many museums in the world were once palaces, and even fewer have the long history of the Louvre. Beginning as a fortress in 1190, the French monarchs continued to expand the Louvre, even serving as the royal headquarters until Louis XIV moved his household to the Palace of Versailles. Visitors today can still see the foundations of the original fortress, and the magnificence of the medieval French court can easily be imagined while strolling through its marbled hallways. Another reason for its enduring appeal are the artworks hosted inside the Louvre. The museum hosts 35,000 pieces from prehistory to the nineteenth century, and has all the Renaissance masters under its roof. It is commonly said that to see every piece of artwork will take at least a month. For most tourists, a more abridged visit is a necessity, and the museum offers multimedia Louvre guides that give 2-3 hour tours. The most famous painting in the Louvre's art collection is undoubtedly the "Mona Lisa", recently reawakened in the public consciousness (assuming it ever went to bed) by the Da Vinci Code. It's in a room of it's own, off the main galleries, but impossible to miss due to the crowds. A more tranquil viewing experience can be found in the next room where "The Virgin and Child with St. Anne", also by Da Vinci, hangs. Another Louvre painting that should not be missed is "The Coronation of Napoleon", which should really be called the Coronation of Napoleon's Empress, Josephine. The artist changed the composition after realizing that there was no one with the authority to actually crown the emperor, and had the emperor crowning his empress instead. The painting dominates by its size (ten meters by six) as well as its content. For those interested in sculpture, the "Winged Victory of Samothrace" stands on top of the Daru staircase, welcoming visitors to the Louvre's sculpture halls, where Michelangelo's "Slaves" and the "Venus de Milo" can be seen. Where people are often surprised by how small the "Mona Lisa" is, the opposite is true for "Winged Victory". Even headless, It stands over ten feet tall. The graceful wings adds to its presence, yet everything is so perfectly proportioned that it never feels overlarge. Rather, it's the people around it that feel disproportionately small. Once finished strolling the galleries (when all the art starts blurring together), stroll outside and look at the famous Louvre pyramid built in 1989. It's actually one large pyramid surrounded by twenty-two smaller ones that dot the grounds. Whether you agree with the architect that the pyramid unites all the architectural elements of the museum, or agree with its critics that it is a disruptive scar in the middle of the Neoclassical buildings, the pyramid is sure to arouse opinion. Finish by either shopping at the immense shopping arcade under the Louvre, or walking along the Tuileries Gardens where marble statues recline beneath trees. Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:22:24 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/louvre-museum http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/louvre-museum While wine lovers the world over have different palates and different favourites, France is undoubtedly the most famous wine-producing country, and the Beaujolais is its most famous red wine. On the stroke of midnight on the third Thursday of November each year, Beaujolais Nouveau is celebrated by drinking the wine from grapes harvested that summer. Dubbed “Beaujolais Nouveau Day,” parties are held all over France and further afield to celebrate the first wine of the season. There are about 120 Beaujolais Nouveau related festivals held in the Beaujolais region alone, and some bottles from the six-week-old crop are also sent to oenophiles around the globe in time to be uncorked for the occasion. Located in the heart of the Rhone-Alpes region of eastern central France, the Beaujolais wine-making region produces twelve officially-designated types of Beaujolais known as AOCs. This dozen includes some of the finest and priciest grand crus (big vintage) wines around, including Fleurie and Cote de Brouilly. The most common two are the Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages, the former of which account for half of the region's annual output, and are used to make Beaujolais Nouveau. The most famous festival—Les Sarmentelles—is held in the town of Beaujeu, the capital of the Beaujolais region. Kicking off in the early evening the day before Beaujolais Nouveau, the five-day festival features wine tasting, live music and dancing. During the afternoon on Beaujolais Nouveau Day, a heated tent offers wine and a range of local foods for visitors to sample. There is also a tasting contest featuring all of the twelve kinds of Beaujolais, in which the winner wins his or her weight in Beaujolais-Villages! Later that evening, a torchlit parade through the town honours the farmers that made the wine. Fireworks at midnight mark the release of the new wine during Beaujolais Nouveau, which is then drank until dawn. In Lyons, the nearest large city, fireworks and two days of tasting mark the 'Beaujol'ympiades'. The town of Salles-en-Beaujolais holds a Beaujolais Nouveau Hike each year featuring tours of cellars around the area. A less obvious but no less celebrated event is Le Marathon du Beaujolais, a three-day event in which participants taste the wine after running a marathon! And if you are in another part of France altogether—fear not, because in towns and cities up and down the country, street parties are held for locals to taste the new brew. It's one of the few times you'll ever see this kind of drinking en masse in France! As for the wine itself, Beaujolais Nouveau is known for its bright cherry red colour. Fresh and tasty, with fruity flavors and flowery aromas, it's a wine to be enjoyed (in the words of the local tourism authorities) at 10°C (50°F) on all occasions and at all times. Santé (Cheers!). Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:06:08 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/beaujolais-nouveau http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/beaujolais-nouveau Europe’s churches and cathedrals are celebrated for various reasons: breathtaking architecture, deep-seated history, and stunning stained glass windows. Religious convictions aside, Europe’s cathedrals house beautiful works of art and offer a chance for quiet reflection. Throughout my travels I’ve toured many impressive churches, but Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is a spire above the rest. The abundance of sights available in Paris can be daunting, especially if you are tight on time. If unsure where to begin, a shuttle boat called the Batobus which travels along the Seine River is a good start as it stops at eight of Paris’ main attractions: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Notre Dame Cathedral, to name a few. As we approached Notre Dame Cathedral, the misty grey afternoon made the large Gothic building seem all the more sombre and imposing. It’s no wonder the Cathedral was the site of Victor Hugo’s dramatic and passionate tale, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." A stunning example of French Gothic architecture, the construction of the Notre Dame Cathedral began in 1163 and was completed in 1345. Notre Dame has suffered copious amounts of destruction over the years, beginning with discontented Huguenots who destroyed features they deemed to be “idolatrous” in 1548. During the French Revolution, Notre Dame Cathedral was re-dedicated to the cult of reason, and many of the treasures were destroyed or plundered. In 1845, a twenty-five year restoration program was instigated, returning Notre Dame Cathedral to its former glory. Three beautiful rose windows, originally constructed in the 13th century, are one of Notre Dame Cathedral’s most arresting features. A gift from King Saint Louis, the South Rose Window is nearly 19 metres in height and has 84 panes. The famous gargoyles are another impressive feature of Notre Dame Cathedral. Some are functional, serving as drain pipes to drain rainwater off the roof; others are only decorative, keeping watch over the city from atop the Cathedral’s towers. Because of its historical significance, architectural merit and stunning beauty, the Notre Dame Cathedral is a must-see sight in Paris. When I left the Cathedral, night had fallen. The façade and the towers were illuminated, creating a glowing silhouette against the darkness. I didn’t think it was possible, but Notre Dame Cathedral was even more beautiful by light of the night sky. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:56:31 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/notre-dame-cathedral http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/notre-dame-cathedral Standing tall in the heart of the City of Lights, the elegant stone edifice of the Sacre Coeur Basilica rivals only the Eiffel Tower in defining the Paris skyline. The dome top of the Sacre Coeur Basilica, which reaches over 200 meters high, is open to tourists and offers a view over all of Paris up to 30 miles away in every direction. As well as gaining an unrivalled view of the city, you can observe people from all walks of life that gather on the steps outside the Basilica and stream into the charming streets of Montmartre. A venerated pilgrimage site, Sacre Coeur Basilica welcomes thousands of tourists from all over France and around the world every year. Perched over Montmartre, the name signifies the ‘Mount of Martyrs,’ christened after Saint Denis (the first bishop of Paris dating from the 3rd century) who is buried at the Sacre Coeur Basilica site. The site of this huge church originally hosted an abbey which was destroyed during the French Revolution. The Sacre Coeur Basilica itself was approved afterwards in 1873, although construction headaches and World War I meant it was not consecrated until 1919. The Sacre Coeur Basilica’s Romano-Byzantine interior features a great mosaic entitled ‘Christ in Majesty,’ which is among the largest in the world. You can also see the beautiful stained glass windows and fine pipe organ. However, the highlight of the Sacre Coeur Basilica is the Dome, which reaches 83 meters high from within the church. Once you have taken in the view from atop the Sacre Coeur Basilica and weaved back down the many steps, enjoy a break at the bottom by riding the carousel featured in the famous movie Amélie. Afterwards, why not drop over to Place des Abesses and get something to eat while admiring the view of the Sacre Coeur Basilica. 'Saint-Jean' and 'Sancerre' are the Montmartre district's oldest and most popular cafes. Art fans will not want to miss nearby Place due Tertre, known as the city's 'Artists Square'. There you'll find the home of almost three hundred artists as well as samples of some of the finest art to come from Paris in recent centuries. By now, you'll have visited one of the world’s most famous holy sites and got a real sense of the beguiling beauty of the Montmartre district. Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:49:37 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/sacre-coeur-basilica http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/sacre-coeur-basilica Climbing the Eiffel Tower, one the great charms of Paris, is a leisure best enjoyed in the spring. If, however, circumstances conspire in such a way that you end up in Paris’ 7th arrondissement between June and August, craning your neck at the confabulation of steel lace that stretches upward to its apex in the sky, it is a pleasure not to be refused. Climbing the Eiffel Tower is a difficult task even without the cloying heat of the summer months. Despite what seem like insurmountable obstacles and annoyances of a tireless stop along the Parisian tour route, the Eiffel Tower will not only raise your range of vision, but send your senses soaring. Built in just over two years for the Paris Exposition of 1889, the Eiffel Tower pioneered the tall trend, standing over 300m high. Gustav Eiffel’s masterwork was once thought to be the most odious thing since mouldy baguettes, but it’s long since cemented its place as crown jewel in the Parisian tourist industry. As such, the queues are already forming when the gates open at about 9 in the morning, and by around midday you’ll find yourself faced with a swarming morass of tour groups and hot tempers. Waits can be upwards of three hours on a sweaty July day before reaching the ticket booths. With 1671 steps, it might make you think twice about climbing the Eiffel Tower. There are three floors in the Tower, but the only way to get to the top is via the lift, saving your legs the forty-or-so minute walk up a hard iron staircase. Climbing the Eiffel Tower by foot, however, will mean drastically shorter queues. If you do decide to go au pied, remember to bring lots of fluids and stay hydrated. It’s a long and windy way up, and even though the Tower’s designed to take the Paris gusts, it has a tendency to sway and creak in a rather ominous fashion. Sways of up to 12cm can occur in the Eiffel Tower caused by wind. If you choose to ascend by the lift, you’ll be presented with a giddily surreal view of Paris beneath your feet. Literally. The elevator’s glass bottom is not for the vertiginous, but it gives you a stark appraisal of how tall the Tower really is. At the top of the Eiffel Tower send your sight wandering over the Champs de Mars, up the Seine and around to the Arc de Triomphe which, so imposing from the ground, looks squat and dense from this height. Gaze over the horizon at the green edges of Paris, and take in the skyscrapers and jardins alike. Then, when you’re done, close your eyes and listen to the wind howl around the iron girders. That’s the sound of history in your ears. If you’re in the City of Lights on honeymoon or just want to beat the crowds, consider climbing the Eiffel Tower for a late-night view of the city. The lifts close at 11pm each night, but the sparkling cityscape under the night sky is a magical experience. Time can get away from you when in the city of love, so if for some unforeseen reason you miss going up the Eiffel Tower, the view from the bottom is also one to relish, even after hours. A simple gaze up while directly under the Tower will gently fade away the hum of the surrounding nightlife and distance the trickle of tourists. Silent awe ensues, and thoughts of endless imagination occur. With a variety of places and ways to enjoy the Eiffel Tower, one of the simplest is often the most satisfying. A blanket under a quiet tree near the Tower; paired with a ripe local wine, brie and a crusty baguette, is a deliciously relaxing way to enjoy the view. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:38:18 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/eiffel-tower http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/eiffel-tower