Travel France Tourism

Paris is absolutely one of the most enchanting places in Europe. To any traveler who indulgences himself so much into art, culture, and history, the lovely French capital should definitely be a part of his European itinerary. Touring the entire city can be quite a challenge especially if you only have a limited time of stay. However, you can possibly make the most out of your Parisian adventure by mapping and scheduling in advance all the places you want to see.

One of the best sites you must not definitely miss is the Louvre Museum. Being the largest museum in the world that houses the most extensive collection of art works from various epochs and countries, Louvre is the haven for lovers of art and beauty. Although I had managed once to tour the former palace only within a few hours, I must say that it is too enormous both in its floor plan and collections to roam around it only in a single day. If you want to maximize your time, you can go early and purchase your ticket before the queue starts to swell. Maybe going for a second round may not be bad either since some special sections are only opened at certain days.

Orleans is the capital of the Loire Valley in north-central France. Aside from being the hometown of the famous hero, Joan of Arc, several chateaux (or castles) can be found in Orleans making it of the famous tourist destinations in Europe. Orleans is just a one hour drive away from the French capital, Paris. One thing I have noticed about Orleans is the abundance of churches all throughout the city. The Cathedral of Sainte Croix, one of the most fabulous structures in the world, can be seen here.

There is one place in Orleans that has aroused my curiosity – the Campo Santo. Campo Santo was originally used as Orleans’ main cemetery since the 12th century. After a few centuries, the number of bodies buried in Campo Santo dramatically increased so the local authorities had no choice but to close it down because of possible health hazards. In the 18th century, the place was used as corn market. In 1970, the area was renovated to make way for the Visual Art Institute. There are many other places you can go in Orleans like the rue Jeanne d'Arc, the rue de Bourgogne, and of course, Joan of Arc’s house.

The Enlightenment period or the Age of Reason began in the 18th century when European philosophers advocated rationality, liberalism reforms and fight the traditional monastic supremacy, superstition and tyranny as a major character of the middle ages.

One major vehicle of the spread of enlightenment in France is the emergence of French philosophers who published the "Encyclopedie." The Encyclopedie was compilation of books and articles which advocated freedom, liberty, individual right and demanded reforms in the religion and government through the use of reason. Among these French philosophers are Baron de Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Voltaire, Denis Dedirot, and Jean Le Rond d'Alembert. The most famous of these philosophers were Volataire and Rousseau.

Art also flourished during this period Louie, the XV, the patron of art became the icon of elegance and beauty .The taste for beautiful and elegant objects and of romance and music also infiltrated the ranks of the dominant bourgeoisie which was one of the causes of the lower class revolution. Numerous cafe and salon opened as the people believed that "Eat, drink and be happy, for tomorrow you will die." People of the Enlightenment value freedom and reason during this period.

Whether you’re planning to stay over in France for a long time or just pay a short visit to a friend, it’s important for you to understand some of the ways of life that French people follow. Every culture has different approaches in some of the most basic things in life, so remember that what you consider alright and tolerable doesn’t mean that French people would see it the same way as you do. Among the countries in our planet, I will choose to compare the customs of the United States to that of France.

Children in the US seem a little too independent to me. I found that the French are very specific about some of the things their young ones must observe. For instance, during a meal the child should wait until the food is served on the table. The French considers it very unruly if the child gets the food directly from the refrigerator or the pantry. Generally, the children in France go to bed early. In America, it’s alright for a child to creep up to their parent’s bedroom and wake them up. In France, children would never wake up their parents, especially in weekend mornings.

If the United States has Uncle Sam, France has Marriane. Marriane is the symbol of the French republic. Marianne is the epitome of Liberty and Reason and represents the “Triumph of the Republic” and is the one of the most recognized historical figure of France. Her appearance was first noted during the French Revolution where she was illustrated as a woman wearing a Phrygian cap. Her images can be seen in various locations in France, especially in towns’ hall and the courts of law. She is also engraved on French euro coins and was formerly featured on the French franc coin; she has also been illustrated on French postal stamps.

It is uncertain whether her origin is attributed to Honore Daumier’s depiction of a mother nurturing two children or by Francois Rude’s portrayal of a warrior. Her name is believed by some to come from the Jesuit Mariana. According to another theory, her name came from the wife of Jean Reubelle. In the story, Barras, a member of the Directoire, spent a night at Reubelle’s residence. When he asked the name of Reubelle’s wife, she replied “Marie-Anne” to which Barras commented that the name is perfect for the Republic.

A certain 'Merovingian', a business man, was included in the cast of the film Matrix Revolutions, but what lies beneath the name? A dynasty of Frankish kings, the Merovingians were the descendants of Merovech, chief of the tribe of Salian, one of the ancient peoples of France. Eventually, they became the founder of France whose capital, Paris, is renowned for its famous Eiffel tower that leaves an unforgettable experience to anyone who pay a trip to Europe.

Merovingians were ancient 6th-8th century kings of France. Their ancestry, according to a myth, began with Merovech who was said to have had two fathers, a mortal and a Quinotaur, mythical beast. They also claim to be descended from Troy, Israel (the tribe of Benjamin) and Arcadia. Old European maps also revealed evidences of the existence of the Merovingian tribe.

These long-haired monarchs possess magical powers attributed to their hair, which was never cut. As kings they followed the Frankish custom in dividing the patrimony, thus they are kings by right of birth. But, the real authority is executed by elected mayors, who also reside in the palace, thus corrupting the reigning monarch's power to the extent that they take away the absolute and inherent power from the king.

When Clovis I, Merovech's grandson, died in 551, his kingdom was divided into various kingdoms - Austrasia, Neustria, and Burgundy. Amongst Frank monarchs, Dagobert I was the last active ruler whose descendants were the rois fainéants or idle kings. Unfortunately, in 751 Pepin the short, a mayor of the palace during those times, overthrew Childeric III, the last Merovingian king.

Perhaps one of the most recognized figures in French History is Joan of Arc. She is also one of the most famous female historical personalities in World History. Joan of Arc, or Jeanne d’Arc, is a national heroine in France and is one of the saints in the Roman Catholic Church. It seems that even after 500 years has passed since her death, she stills captivates the hearts of many. Hollywood has made numerous films about her life story. Several shows, books, songs, and stories also made reference to her name. Some of the world’s influential writers like Shakespeare, Voltaire and Mark Twain have used Joan of Arc in their works, one way or the other. She is seen as a woman of great power.

According to history, Joan of Arc’s involvement in the Hundred Years’ War came after a dialogue with King Charles VII. She is said to have received visions from God telling her to reclaim her homeland from the English. She gained approval from her peers as well as the public when she led successful campaigns. Unfortunately, she also earned enemies. She was charged with heresy, and after an unjust trial, she was burned at the stake at the tender age of nineteen.

France is a very rich country. It is brimming with wonderful culture, great people, and a magnificent legacy. It is no wonder why lots of people can't help but be fascinated and drawn to France.

Renaissance France saw the reign of Francois I. This mighty ruler is someone to be reckoned with. He is talented in the arts, letters, war, and sports. He enjoyed the works of Rabelais, Cellini, and Da Vinci. He even invited the said Italian artists to France so that his court can enjoy the presence of the three renowned artists.

Let us move forward to the reign of Napoleon. He can ever forget the historic feat that the great Napoleon Bonaparte gave to France? The said monarch ruled France between 1800 and 1870. During Napoleon's reign, Paris began to be modernized. It was also then that France began its industrial transformation.

Next is Belle Epoque. It is considered as the era before the occurrence of the First World War. French politics during this time was very chaotic. Despite the political rifts, several inventions have been made or discovered. Take for example the invention of electricity or the discovery of some vaccines to fight off diseases. Lastly, 1895 gave birth to cinemas.

The French Revolution was the result of the many problems that France faced during the middle ages. Historians are still unable to pin-point the exact reason for the ten year revolution. However, there have been historical evidences found that may have caused this event. During the 1700’s, France had a very bad economic system which resulted to burden its citizen with an inequitable system of taxation. Also during this time, resentment, as it seems, ruled the hearts of the people. Peasants and the bourgeoisie both resented Manorialism in France. The citizens also detested the religious intolerance and royal absolutism. Nobles enjoy various privileges and dominated France during this time, this of course was frowned upon by the less fortunate but ambitious French citizens. The Enlightenment Age also played a big role in the culmination of the French Revolution.

The social system in France made it certain that the nobles and the clergies above all the rest of the French citizen, even though some “regular” citizen had more wealth and reputation than the nobles. Bearing such titles, these noblemen had tax exemptions, and were placed above the law. The French Revolution was a battle for equality and the elimination of oppression by the upper class to the lower class.

Perhaps one of the most famous French cuisines known to the world is Escargot. Literally translated, it means snail but because of the inherent beauty of the French language, the term Escargot is used to name the dish. There are over 100 species of snails that are edible, but not all of them are used to prepare this French dish. The two species native to France is normally used to prepare escargot. Snails are found in soils and eat decaying matters, so obviously the contents of their stomach are poisonous to humans. Before they are cooked, the contents of the digestive systems of these snails are carefully purged. This process involved fasting and purging the snails which can take several days.

Traditionally the mollusks are baked with a sauce of garlic, shallots, parsley and butter in their shells. The cooking process of this dish involved removing the snail from its shell. It is then gutted and cooked with garlic butter. It is then poured back into the shell with butter and sauce. It is served with a special tong to hold the shell and a snail fork to extract the meat.

Bird flu is no laughing matter. It has killed many people in Asia, and now the avian virus sees itself proliferating in Africa, notably in Kenya and Nigeria. In Paris, where food and health security is so well-guarded, it has been reported that 15 swans had died of bird flu. If these incidences are not curtailed, it is likely that the virus will spread further and cause more deaths in many parts of the world.

Veterinarians have met in Paris in order to discuss about the incidence of the bird flu spreading in Europe and Africa. There is much concern about the spread of the virus in the African region because people cannot provide enough funds for fowl vaccination. The French government, along with other European medical leaders, is doing the best they can to cut the incidence of bird flu deaths by selected slaughter, fowl isolation and domestication.

There is one thing to fear about the spread of H5N1 virus. If birds don't migrate to Europe and America, there would be no incidence of the spread of the virus. However, because only in Australia and New Zealand were spared from bird migration, it is unlikely that Europe and Africa will be free from the epidemic.

If you want to bring a taste of France in your own home and kitchen, then you need to try cooking the Creamy Oyster soup. This is one of the easiest French foods I have tried making, and it is certainly one of the tastiest dishes. To start making this dish, you need to gather all its ingredients. These are the:









-Three tablespoons of butter
-Three tablespoons of flour
-Half a cup of onion, minced
-One-fourth cup of green pepper, chopped finely
-Two leaves of bay
-One-eighth teaspoon of thyme, dried
-One-fourth teaspoon of Tabasco sauce
-One tablespoon of parsley, minced
-One and a half cups of oyster liquor
-Three dozens of oyster, finely chopped
-One and a half cups of half and half

To start cooking this tasty meal, heat pan and put butter. Put the flour and mix for about five minutes. In this stage the thing you are cooking is called the roux. After a few minutes, mix the onions, celery, Tabasco sauce, thyme, and pepper. Make sure that when you are cooking this, the heat is low. This is done to avoid overcooking your vegetables.

When these vegetables are already in their right texture, mix the oyster wine and stir it properly. Season it using pepper and salt. The next step is to put the oysters with the rest of the ingredients and cook them for about ten minutes. When it is already cooked, mix it. Let it simmer for a few more minutes before you serve it.

The Chateauneuf des Papes Wine Festival, which is translated as the new castle of the Pope, is one of the most celebrated events in France. Also referred to as the Veraison wine festival, this celebration dates back to as early as the fourteenth century. It was said that there was a Pope who loved wine.

This legend goes further to tell the story of Pope Clement V. Everyday, before he left Rome, he would usually check on his beloved wine fields. His successor in 1316, Pope John XXII never failed him in taking care of the fields. In fact, he ordered a castle to be built, and he called it the Chateauneuf des Papes.

The castle was the location of the 13 wine fields. During the time when the grapes were about to be harvested, the whole region would celebrate the event. They did this through events such as jousting, wine tasting, music playing, horse riding, juggling, and a lot more merry events. To this day, the wine festival is an important event in the South of France. During the month of August, people from all over the world come here for the traditional celebration. What is really fun about the even is that people can drink free wine.

Bread is a vital food in the country of France. They eat this for breakfast, lunch, and even dinner. A typical French bread or une baguette in their language, is usually 60 cm in its width and is a bit long. One reason for this is that the French people want their breads to be really crusty. With this kind of length and width, its crustiness will definitely be maximized for their eating pleasures. Aside from that, this bread usually weighs about 500 grams.

One thing that is unique about this French food is that it does not contain any fat. As such, those people who eat it all the time do not have to worry about gaining a few pounds. Its no fat content is also the reason why the bread easily becomes stale. For this reason, the French visit their local bakeries or Boulangerie everyday.

If ever you get the chance to visit this wonderful country, you would see the importance of bread in their daily lives. No matter what time of the day is, you will usually people walking or riding their bikes with the bread in one arm. These are the people who can't get enough of this delicious and tasty French food.

France was originated from the word "Francia", which means "The Land of Franks" in Medieval Latin. The Land of Franks or Frankland originally consisted of the whole France as we know of today and some parts of Germany. It was divided into two parts, Western France which was called "Francia Occidentalis" and Eastern France as "Francia Orientalis".

The rulers of the Eastern side of France wanted to unite the whole of France and used the name "Holy Roman Empire" but the Western side opposed and kept its original name. They have not come into any united decision about their land until the Battle of Bouvines came and ended the struggle for a united Frankish Empire.

Since the name "Francia Orientalis" disappeared, what was left was the name "Francia Occidentalis". "Francia Occidentalis" was shortened to "Francia" which the word "France" came from.

France is a country with an old and mature civilization. During the time when the United States and other countries were just starting their own nations, France was already a well-established country. They had kings and rulers who went down in history as some of greatest leaders that ever lived.

As time passed by, one French city that has not changed that much is Lyon. This is the city which is still full of Roman attractions like the Ampitheatre des Tres Gauls. If ever you go visit the country, this is the city that is worth visiting.

Cannes is a city in the south of France. You probably have heard about Cannes because of the Cannes International Film Festival. This is the Olympics of movies.

Annually, critiques and judges decide the nominees for the different categories in the film festival. Film-makers, actors, screenwriters, and producers all vie to get an award from this very prestigious award-giving body.

Being awarded with a Cannes trophy means international blockbuster hit for movies or global recognition for a superb movie production.

7 Ave de Pezenas in Languedoc, France, is a bed and breakfas that will let you feel old France. The place is just 15 minutes away from the Mediterranean Beach.

The house was kept intact and the original structures were maintained for guests to enjoy. Of course, modern conveniences were also installed in this bed and breakfast to suit the living habits of its guests. They have WiFi areas where people can connect to the Internet.

They also offer home cooked dinners and a complimentary drink on arrival. They also offer rooms for couples or families.

This is the event that etched Lance Armstrong's name into world sporting history. The Tour de France is possibly the biggest long-distance road bicycle racing competition in the world. The event always draws a large number of participants around the world and even tourists eager to experience France and its culture.

The race route includes every possible historic town and city in France and in some rare instances include adjacent countries. No matter where the cyclists and the tourists go, all roads lead to the finish line in Paris' famed Champs Elysees.

Your trip to France will never be complete if you do not visit one of its greatest and most beautiful cities, Toulouse. This place is strategically located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic. During the time of the Gaul Empire, this city served as a route of people when they went to the sea.

Throughout the years, the city has become one of France's key cities. This is due to its natural resources, some of these are the hydro-electricity and gas. Despite its development, the city is still filled with all the wonders and treasures of the old times.