Skip to content

Posts tagged ‘France’

Dec 12

7 Comments

Inside Rouen Cathedral

A list of the greatest Gothic Cathedrals in the World is going to be dominated by the French greats: Notre Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, Chartres, Amiens, Riems and Rouen.  Since cathedrals, with their cavernous interior space and organic ribbing, are places to be explored and experienced, I always make time for a long visit!  Rouen Cathedral in Normandy is a spectacular example of the High Gothic (mostly) style and well worth gazing at and wandering through.

Main aisle of the Rouen Cathedral.

Main aisle of the Rouen Cathedral.

Read more

Nov 21

5 Comments

Honfleur Vintage Carousel

Honfleur in Normandy has been a vacation destination for over a century hosting artists, families and those looking for a seaside respite.  While the town is inherently cute with its tall, plaster and beam medieval style houses, the community comes alive at the onset of Spring.  Outdoor cafes spring up and street vendors pour onto the wide docks.  But there is one feature that really signals the arrival of Spring – the antique carousel!  When I visited in March it had just re-opened and was taking the first visitors of the year on a colorful (albeit chilly) ride.

Honfleur's vintage carousel

A sign that Winter is over – Honfleur’s vintage carousel!

Read more

Nov 18

Cheese Making at La Village Fromagerie

Last week I published an article on PlumDeluxe about the traditional food products of Normandy and local agritourism.  Visiting these cheese factories and apple orchards was one of the highlights of my trip to Northern France!  I wanted to give you a closer look at my amazing visit to “La Village Fromagerie” – the E. Graindorge cheese factory in Livarot, France.

Pont-l'Évêque cheese

Delicious Pont-l’Évêque from E. Graindorge Fromagerie

Read more

Nov 11

Somme American Cemetery and Memorial

It’s actually pretty hard to find the World War I battlefields in Northern France.  Infamous for the bloody stalemate that lasted there for years, the land has now returned to tranquil fields.  While contemplating this change driving through the Somme Valley, I happened across the American Cemetery.  The front gate and chapel door were unclosed, but there was not a single person to be seen.  I thought it fitting on Veterans Day (also known as Remembrance Day in the UK and Canada, and Armistice Day in France) which commemorates the November 11, 1918 end of World War I, that we visit this quiet cemetery in the French countryside and think about these forgotten battles that took the lives of these soldiers.

Memorial Monument - Somme American Cemetery

The Somme American Cemetery and Monument seems to pop up out of nowhere, interrupting miles of French farmland.

Read more

Jul 15

3 Comments

Guess the Artist – French Addition

In honor of Bastille Day, I have a little French Art History trivia for you.  I found the following painting in Rouen and want to see if you can correctly guess the artist who painted it.  (No cheating and scrolling to the bottom!)

nature morte painting

Mystery painting of the Day at the Musee de Beaux Arts, Rouen, France

Read more

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »
%d bloggers like this: