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Tag Archives | France
Bois de Vincennes, Paris
Bois de Vincennes is one of the two enormous parks that bookend central Paris. I had never given much thought to them since the city center is so engaging, but they recently appeared on my radar because the Paris Marathon, which I’m running in April, winds thoroughly through both. The course actually looks like an […]
Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris
That this small Parisian museum is grossly overshadowed by the larger, more flamboyant art institutions is no reason to omit it from your to-see list. On the contrary, the quiet Boulevard Haussmann location and the lack of enormous crowds makes it a bit of a respite from the giants. Musée Jacquemart-André was the private residence […]
Sofitel Le Faubourg, Paris
Paris has an overwhelming supply of great hotels, and most of them are in desirable locations with amenities and transportation within an easy reach. So how do you decide where to stay? The best way is to pick a neighborhood based on proximity to your intended activities and narrow it down from there. Usually we […]
La Madeleine, Paris
A great way to experience European churches and palaces is to attend classical concerts. Listening to masterful compositions in ornate, historical surroundings is both transporting and relaxing. For me, it’s a bit of time travel, even if the time periods don’t match up. Recently, we heard a concert at La Madeleine. L’Église de la Madeleine […]
Nancy’s Marché de Noël
Unless you’re dying to see Nancy in December, don’t bother wasting your time with this market. The main part is set up in Place Maginot and there’s a modest row of stands with mediocre goods and appealing food. We especially liked the macaroons and sables. Over near the Marché (an enticing, huge indoor market with […]
Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg, Alsace, France
Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg occupies a strategic position over the Alsace plains, the Vosges, the Black Forest and the Alps. It was originally constructed in the 12th century for the purpose of watching over the wine and wheat routes to the north and the silver and salt routes running east-west. The castle sits 700 meters high […]
Église Saint-Martin, Colmar
Église Saint-Martin is a striking 14th-century Gothic church that dominates the center of Colmar. The church is built of red and gold stones and is in the shape of a Latin cross. The Renaissance crown over the bell tower was added in the 16th century, following a fire. The current structure was built on the […]
Colmar, Alsace, France
With a population of 68,000, Colmar is largest city on the Route des Vins. It turns out fairy-tale aesthetics are scalable – Colmar is just as cute as the other villages on the road. The old town is beautifully maintained. It helps that the city was largely unscathed during the world wars and the French […]
Hunawihr, France
Hunawihr is a serene, walled hamlet set amidst endless stretches of vines. The 16th-century fortified church has served both the Catholic and Protestant communities since the 17th century. Hunawihr is where you’ll find the largest stork population: the Centre de Réintroduction Cigognes & Loutres houses 200 free-flying storks. When we visited, the center was closed […]
