Category: Blog

Go East to Alsace

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Alsace is an eastern region of France separated from Germany by the Rhine River. It’s a region unique in its own way. Although it is thoroughly French, it bears outward signs of its nearness to Germany. History, also, ties these two countries together. Alsace-Lorraine has been French since the mid-17th century. However, in 1871 it became German during the Franco-Prussian War. In 1918 became French again. 1940 Hitler took it back, but in 1945 it was again restored to France.…

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20 Surprising Facts about Paris

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There are many notable and surprising facts about Paris, France. Here is a list of 20 facts that maybe you didn’t know! Why is Paris called the City of Lights? Paris was one of the first cities to have city lighting. Lanterns were used widely on street corners in the 17th century to cut down on crime. This innovative trend continued. Gas lighting was introduced in the 1850s in some of the Galerie shopping establishments. One can say that the…

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Is Travel Insurance Necessary? (Dull but Important)

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This post on travel insurance might be a less exciting topic, but it’ll be worth a look. Especially now that the Coronavirus has covered the earth and many are scrambling to see if their policies will cover a needed cancelation. Many people will be disappointed since few policies cover this kind of thing (unless you bought “cancel for any reason” insurance, as did one of my French students. She was glad she’d spent the extra money in this case. I…

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Dinan: A Treasure in Brittany

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Dinan is my favorite town in Brittany. In fact, it was the first post I wrote for Oliver’s France. Enjoy it again and make plans to go! There are many rolling hills and peaceful landscapes in Brittany. Even here in the midst of this lush, unspoiled land, there are towns that require a visit. Dinan is one of these. It is about 4 hours by train from Paris, and around an hour from St. Malo and Le Mont Saint Michel.…

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7 Places in France you Must Visit

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Although there are literally hundreds of wonderful places to see in France, here are 7  places in France you must visit. These are world-renowned for a good reason! Find a few here to add to your Must-See Places in France List! Le Mont St. Michel (with a side trip to Dinan) On the border of Brittany and Normandy, there is a gleaming (by night) city that rises like a giant crown out of the English Chanel. You may have seen…

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7 Less Well-Known Museums in Paris Worth your Time

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Maybe you’ve already seen the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay. You’re in the mood for a different kind of museum. There are many museums in Paris that are less well-known by tourists. These museums are fascinating and memorable and even sometimes “off-the-beaten-track”. (Not much in Paris is!) Here are SEVEN listed by topic along with where to find them ONE: Industry and Progress Musée des Arts et Métiers (3rd) In this museum you can see the history of gadgets and inventions, such…

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