France

From Military Stronghold to Literary Legend – the Chateau d’If
A mere 20-minute ferry ride from the historic Old Port of Marseille, the most famous legend in French literature becomes reality at the Château d’If.
Joaquin Sorolla: Spanish Master of Light
Unjustly overlooked outside of his native country, Joaquin Sorolla is considered one of greatest Spanish painters of the 20th century. Now the luminous splendor of his work can be admired at the Hôtel de Caumont-Art Center, in Aix-en-Provence, France.
The Golden Age of English Painting — Musee du Luxembourg, Paris
The first art Museum in France to be open to the public (in 1750), the Musée du Luxembourg is now one of Paris’ premier temporary exhibit galleries. Through a series of masterpieces on loan from the Tate Britain Museum, its current exhibit pays an exceptional tribute to the 18th century masters who shaped the Golden Age of English painting.
Museums in the 21st Century – Eight Must-Visits in France
Since the start of the new millennium, France is seeing an explosion of contemporary architectural brilliance from some of the world’s greatest structural and landscape artists. They have conceived a new crop of outstanding museums that go beyond their historic role as custodian of the cultural and artistic heritage of the country to become works of arts onto themselves.
Two Centuries of Stage Magic – in Moulins, France
The National Center for Stage Costume is the first institution in France to be entirely dedicated to the preservation, study and display of a unique collection of stage costume and scenography spanning the past two centuries.
A Languedoc Road Trip – Béziers to Adge
From Phoenician shipping settlement to Roman trading center to Medieval Cathar stronghold, the Beziers-Adge area of the Mediterranean coastal plain of the Languedoc is bursting with remains of its rich and varied history.
A Languedoc road trip – Hidden Treasures Along the Via Domitia
The first Roman road built in Gaul, Via Domitia left along its route through the Languedoc coastal plain a wealth of ancient treasures to be discovered at leisure.
A Languedoc Road Trip – Nîmes, France
Considered the most Roman city outside of Italy, the southern French city of Nîmes is a showcase of some of the best preserved vestiges of the Roman Empire to be found anywhere.
Masterpieces from the Guggenheim Foundation – in Aix-en-Provence, France
Summering in Provence – Masterpieces from the Guggenheim Foundation. From Manet to Picasso: The Thannhauser Collection at the Hôtel de Caumont-Art Center.
The rebirth of a Belle Epoque Fast Food Tradition – Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse
With their Belle Epoque, 1900’s décor, French comfort food at thrifty prices, “Bouillon” restaurants are once again popular in Paris. Proof? Chartier, a pioneer of the concept, is resuscitating one of its original Left Bank venues right in the heart of Montparnasse.
Bordeaux – La Cité du Vin
In Bordeaux, the city at very heart of one of the oldest and most revered winemaking regions in the world, the recently opened Cité du Vin takes visitors on a journey of discovery of the varied vineyards and wine cultures on the planet.
Musée d’Orsay, Paris – Picasso Bleu et Rose
The Musée d’Orsay presents a first-ever exhibition of Picasso’s early Blue and Pink periods. Organized as a continuum, it reveals the early creative identity of this towering figure of 20th century art world.
Touring the Archeological Sites of Burgundy – Les Hospices de Beaune
A charity hospital foundation from the Middle Ages, the Hospices de Beaune complex is one of the finest examples of medieval civil architecture in France. Its flamboyant Gothic buildings, polychrome roofs and rich art collection make this museum one of Burgundy’s gems.
Josette King
I was barely in my teens when travel became a driving force in my life. Now as a travel writer and photographer, I have visited over 45 countries in some of the most photogenic corners of the planet, taking tens of thousands of pictures along the way. With my work, I thrive to capture the natural and cultural uniqueness of each area I visit. Get to know me better…