French History Trivia: How France got its name?
In a previous article, I talked about what is France in French. I’d like to…
Browsing: French History
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A short biography of Napoleon Bonaparte
You may hate him or love him… but you can’t ignore Napoleon Bonaparte, the former…
The Dome church of Les Invalides and Napoleon’s tomb
The glittering golden roof of the Dome church is an unmissable landmark in the Parisian landscape.…
Discover the original tombstone of Napoleon in Paris
Whether liked or hated, Napoleon Bonaparte still fascinates today. Since its exile to the remote island…
Secrets of the statue of Napoleon at Les Invalides
Enter in the historic Hôtel des Invalides in the 7th arrondissement of Paris and head to the…
When the Jardin d’Acclimatation was a human zoo
At the entrance of the Jardin d’Acclimatation is a commemorative plaque which does not draw…
Fountain of the Croix-du-Trahoir, Rue Saint-Honoré, Paris
Today the intersection of rue Saint-Honoré and rue de l’Arbre-Sec is part of one of the nicest parts of Paris.…
Fluctuat nec Mergitur: Paris’ Motto
The motto of the City of Paris is a Latin phrase “Fluctuat nec mergitur”, which has…
Louis XIV the Sun King died 300 years ago today
Three hundred years ago today Louis XIV died in the Palace of Versailles at the…
Provins: France’s third largest city in the Middle-Ages
Today we visited the medieval town of Provins situated 80 kilometres South-East of Paris in…
We’ve found Napoleon’s hat in Paris
Last weekend we were walking in the streets of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the 6th arrondissement of…
National Motto of France
According to the Article 2 of the French Constitution dating from the 28 September 1958,…
The National Flag of France: What You Should Know!
What does the French flag look like? For many people this is an easy question.…
La Marseillaise, National Anthem of France
The French National Anthem is known as La Marseillaise and was composed during the events…
10 Things you should know about the French President
The Fifth Republic gives the French President extensive executive powers in France. The Chief of…
The Trophy of Augustus (le Trophée des Alpes) in La Turbie
The monumental commemorative structure known as the “Trophée des Alpes” (or Trophy of Augustus) stands…
The first soldiers who fell during the First World War
With a bit of research we found out the names of the first soldiers who…
Chauvet Pont-d’Arc Cave
The Chauvet cave in southern France has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in…
1944-2014: the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landings
“I have also to announce to the House that during the night and the early…
The most important dates that made Annecy history
Annecy has a long history linked to the strategic position of the city on the…
Toulouse History
Located in the largest French department of the Midi-Pyrénées region, Toulouse is a very ancient…
World War I Armistice Day in France
The Public holiday commemorates the Fête de la Victoire when the Armistice after World War…
Discover Meung Castle in the Loire Valley
Located between Orléans and Blois in the Loire Valley, the castle of Meung-sur-Loire was originally…
Explore the emblematic hill of Fourvière in Lyon
You thought there was hardly anything worth discovering on the hill of Fourvière? Well, Lyon’s emblematic hill is…
Lyon History
Lyon History shows the rich heritage of France’s second largest city which has very much influenced the…
What do French people celebrate on Europe Day?
“Vive l’Europe!” On Europe Day 27 states and more than 446 million Europeans (including about…
Aix-en-Provence History
A brief account of the history of Aix-en-Provence. Romans origins in Aix The Aixois (the area…
The formidable story of Santa Claus in France
Santa Claus in France is called “Père Noël”. Like in any places celebrating Christmas, the…
Sundgau History
The Sundgau’s touristic appeal is closely linked to its history. This territory was once a…
Commemorating Victory in Europe Day in France
Victory in Europe Day takes place on the 8th of May 1945. It commemorates the…
Mulhouse History
Mulhouse history is about revealing a former Free Imperial City associated to Switzerland with a…
Bordeaux History
The attractive city of Bordeaux has a rich history spanning at least two thousand years.…
Sarlat History
Sarlat is a medieval town which developed around a prosperous Benedictine abbey whose origins are…
A short overview of Metz History
Today, no visitors in the peaceful city would believe how turbulent Metz history has been over…
What you need to know about Bastille Day in France
What makes Bastille Day so special to the French? Mainly because this is the French…
Les Milandes Castle
Famously known as the former home of Josephine Baker, Les Milandes is a Renaissance château, which…
Strasbourg History
The task of talking about Strasbourg History, of a city that is more than 2,000…
Discover the Arc de Triomphe in Paris
The Arc de Triomphe in Paris conveys a powerful historic symbol at the centre of…
The Palais des Tuileries, in search of a missing Palace
The Palais des Tuileries (Tuileries Palace) is the former residence of the Kings and Queens of…
Discover the Louvre Palace, Paris
The Louvre Palace is “royal Paris”. A part of the French capital that no visitor should…
Discover the Neo-classical Place Vendôme in Paris
The famous Place Vendôme in Paris’ First arrondissement ranks amongst France’s most beautiful squares. Located…
Textile History in France – A Journey into the Past
The textile industry has occupied a prominent place in the French economy for a long…
The main dates of Rouen History
Rouen is the historic capital of the ancient Duchy of Normandy and remains the chief…
The story behind the name Sydney
I love the sequence in the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” where the character…
La Rochelle History
“La Rochelle : belle et rebelle”, as the saying goes. For ten centuries, La Rochelle…
Things you should know about the Statue of Liberty
2016 marked the 130th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. This short article is about…
Discover the historic town of Belfort
If you are visiting Franche-Comté or Alsace, the Belfort with its history and its massive…
Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) was a brilliant philosopher, physician, musician, clergyman and theological scholar. As recognition…
The Coronation of the Kings of France in Reims
The coronation of the Kings of France took place inside the Cathedral of Reims, a…