Difficulty: Beginner
France
Parks, streets, boulevards, a storied history, and an eclectic mix of people: Belleville has it all! This historic neighborhood in Paris’s 20th arrondissement has been home to many different immigrant groups over the years and in recent times has taken a turn for the “bobo.”
Difficulty: Beginner
France
According to our trusty tour guide, Daniel Benchimol, Paris's Alexander III Bridge is one of the most beautiful in the city. You might find it hard to disagree after watching this video!
Difficulty: Beginner
France
Daniel Benchimol walks us through one of Paris's most charming neighborhoods, the Campagne à Paris (Countryside in Paris). This small, quiet corner of the 20th arrondissement is made up of only 89 houses built in 1906 and gives the impression of a quaint village inside a major city.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Daniel Benchimol takes us to the Cour de l'Industrie (Industry Courtyard) in Paris. It used to be the site of a wallpaper factory that was destroyed in a fire and more or less abandoned. An artisan association decided to renovate the premises, which now house over forty artists and craftsmen. Be sure to visit the area on your next trip to Paris!
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Daniel Benchimol takes us to Paris's eleventh arrondissement, which has a strong artisan tradition. There, you'll meet Laurence Raverdeau, voted the "best craftsperson of France" in 2011, who explains the complex art of upholstering. She shows us some of her amazing creations, which include scented macaroon-shaped cushions.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Daniel Benchimol visits Aline Putot, a renowned sculptor whose studio is located in the Cour de l'Industrie (Industry Courtyard), a revived artisan district in the eleventh arrondissement of Paris. Her craft requires very old tools, some dating from the nineteenth century, as well as more modern ones. Enjoy her beautiful creations!
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
For his last video on Paris's "Cour de l'Industrie" (Industry Courtyard), Daniel visits a gilder. Bruno Toupry explains the intricacies of his trade and highlights the tradition of passing on a craftsman's knowledge, which for him is both a duty and a pleasure.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
In this video, you will discover the origins of the Christmas tree. This tradition dates back to Roman times, when people used to decorate their houses with conifer branches to celebrate the winter solstice.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
In tribute to Uderzo's passing, we revisit the history of the famous comic strip Asterix and Obelix. In an old interview, Uderzo and Goscinny explain how they came up with Asterix in 1959.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
In an archaeological park in Aussois, you can find some fascinating, mysterious rock engravings dating from sometime between the Neolithic Period and the Iron Age. Do the "armed dances" carved in the rocks represent a battle or a ritual? The tour guide in this video speculates on their possible meanings.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Henri Griffon, an art enthusiast, puts his passion to work and brings together an amazing collection of contemporary artwork featuring the best artists from the Vendée.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Breton, France
Long-time Concarneau residents take part in an unprecedented technological event. Their memories of the olden days and the town's maritime life will be filmed and shared on smartphones for visitors to enjoy thanks to QR code technology.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Have you ever eaten an orache or a cardoon? Though popular in the Middle Ages, these vegetables are rarely harvested nowadays. But you'll find them in the garden of the Abbaye du Relec (Relec Abbey) in Brittany, which contains vegetables from many different time periods and countries.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
The Underwater Museum of Lorient might be a little hard to get to, given that it's literally underwater. Dedicated to shipwrecks and other sunken objects, the museum is made possible by a team of volunteers with a passion for documenting these lost treasures at the bottom of the ocean.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
In the process of relocating its archives, the diocese of Lyon discovered a thousand-year-old parchment dating from the time of Charlemagne.
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