A quirky Provence festival not to be missed…
Category: FR History
Rennes-le-Château: A Tiny Town, a Problematic Priest, and a Massive Mystery
You’ve probably heard of The Da Vinci Code, but did you know that the story started with a poor priest in the south of France?
New Book: Berets, Baguettes, and Beyond
New book about France makes a great gift…
Restore Yourself at a Restaurant
There have always been places to eat outside one’s own home, but they weren’t always called restaurants…
Fleur de Lys: The Iris of Kings
The fleur de lys has a long association with the kings of France…
The Marseillaise: The French National Anthem
France’s rousing national anthem is called the Marseillaise and was written during the French Revolution…
The Calisson of Provence: A Sweet Story
The calisson is a Provençal treat linked to Good King René and Queen Jeanne…
Boney Napoleon Scares British Children
How “Boney” Bonaparte went from being a little pest to a child-eating ogre…
The Provence Christmas Story
You may know the traditional Biblical Christmas story, but in Provence, there is a bit more to it…
Renart and Chantecler: Two Animals that Shaped French Culture and Language
We have to go back to the twelfth century and start with a fox…
The Gallic Rooster of France
Find out why the rooster represents France…
Gaspard de Besse: Robin Hood of Provence
Just like Robin Hood, Gaspard de Besse robbed from the rich and gave to the poor…
3 Useful French Inventions
Today, we are looking at three French inventions that make our lives easer…
Madame Tussaud: Ahead of Her Time
When you think of Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, you probably think of movie stars, political figures, and other famous people. But you might not realize the amazing story of the real-life Madame Tussaud and how she survived the French Revolution.
The Pennsylvania French
In 1789, aristocrats started scurrying out of revolutionary France like rats off a sinking ship. One group of these posh refugees ended up in a most unlikely place – the wilds of Pennsylvania.
The Crazy Calendar of a Revolutionary Republic
The French Revolutionaries weren’t content with just changing their government. They wanted to change everything – even how they kept track of time.
Marie Antoinette’s Adopted Children
“Let them eat cake!” This is the most famous line that Marie Antoinette NEVER said. This queen had a compassionate side – especially when it came to children…
First Thanksgivings, Huguenots, and Alligators
The Pilgrims are credited with serving the first Thanksgiving meal… but could the French have beaten them to it? And what was on their table?…
Marie Antoinette’s Cats and an American Rescue Attempt
Did you know that Marie Antoinette almost escaped the guillotine and ended up in Maine, USA? Of course, we all know she didn’t make it – but some say her cats might have…
Berets, Onions, and Stereotypes
In the mid 1900s, if you had asked nearly any British person what a Frenchman looked like, you would have gotten this description: He wears a beret, and he rides a bike with onions hanging on the handlebars…
God Save the Royal Derriere
It seems that the British National Anthem could be yet another link in the intertwined histories of the United Kingdom and France…
The King is no Match for the Women of Paris
The 14th of July is the National Holiday in France and it commemorates the start of the French Revolution. Everyone knows about the storming of the Bastille, but there was another important, but lesser known, moment in the Revolution that was led by the ladies.
Bob was a Woman of Many Talents
In Paris in 1902, young Dr. Marcile was head-over-heels in love. The young lady who was the object of his affection loved him too, but
The Changing Face of the French Republic
Marianne’s Story – Did you know that France has been led by a woman ever since the French Revolution of 1789? It’s true!
Bread Delivery: Les Porteuses de Pain
If you like bread, then when you’re in France you probably stop by the boulangerie, or bakery, every day to buy a baguette, croissant, or
The Mad Farter or “Le Pétomane”
The highest paid performer at the Moulin Rouge at the end of the 19th century had a very peculiar talent…
Who wants to be a Bank Robber?
Well, I think I’ve done it! No, I haven’t robbed a bank – I think I’ve finished my book! I still have to wait to
Pierre the Patriot
When the French Revolution started with the storming of the Bastille, one man saw his chance for fame and fortune….
French Jazz Fans outsmart Hitler
French jazz developed under some interesting circumstances during the Nazi Occupation of World War II….
The Murphys, American Trendsetters on the Riviera
In summer, it’s hard to find an open space on the beach, so It’s hard to imagine that up until the 1920s there were no summer tourists here, no open hotels….
Nice, France: Her Relationship with Italy and How She Became French
Normally, I write about the city of Nice, but in this article, when I mention Nice, I am speaking of the historic “County of Nice”