Lionel Brigeot takes us to the northeast of France to the town of Verdun, where the famous Battle of Verdun took place during World War I. Follow Lionel up the Victory Steps, commemorating the battle in which more than one hundred sixty-three thousand soldiers lost their lives.

Lionel stays in Verdun for part two of this series. You will see the remains of the famous Battle of Verdun, which took place in 1916 and lasted ten months. The French soldiers were called poilus or "hairy men" because of their unshaven faces. Verdun also has a magnificent cathedral with stained glass windows.

Lionel takes us inside a shop that sells "dragées" (sugared almonds), which are the specialty of Verdun. These treats come in all colors and flavors, from chocolate to marzipan to hazelnut. If you want to try the famous "dragées," be sure to visit this shop in Verdun on your next trip to France!

Lionel takes us inside an amazing store filled with multicolored candies called dragées, or sugared almonds. This confection is very much a part of French tradition as it is offered at weddings, baptisms, and communions. A good-quality dragée is made from a top variety of almond like the Avola. Larger almonds require a thinner layer of sugar, which is considered a sign of quality as the delicate almond flavor won't be overwhelmed by the sugar.

Lionel visits a winery in the Lorraine region, which was full of vineyards in Roman times. Only a fraction of those vineyards remain today. This particular winery produces a wine called "Gris de Toul" (Toul Gray) due to the grayish color of the grapes during the fermentation process.

Lionel visits a vineyard in Bruley near Toul. In this video, the wine grower Isabelle explains the advantages of high vines versus low ones. The high vines are easier to maintain.

Every summer, the city of Paris organizes activities to entertain Parisians who don't go on holiday. On the banks of the Seine, you'll be able to play chess or checkers and feel like you're on vacation. There are also plenty of activities for children.

Lionel takes us to a repurposing festival. It's the second edition of this festival in the Marais neighborhood, offering a great opportunity to recycle, repurpose, and reuse everyday objects that would otherwise be discarded. It's also a great way of taking care of our planet.

Lionel is in the Place des Vosges in Paris on a chilly June day. The square is busier than previous years due to a recent flood along the Seine. Parisians like to go out in the fresh air, bring a picnic, a bottle of wine, or simply work on their laptop in the many parks scattered around the city.

When the weather is nice, Parisians meet up on the riverbanks every weekend to dance, talk, and spend time with friends. For those who love dancing, there are free salsa, hip-hop, and Afro-Cuban dance lessons. It's a party!

Louis and Fabio meet in a park to discuss the nice weather, their summer vacation plans, and the benefits of taking a break from their phones. You'll learn a lot of new slang words in this video!

Bruno Légeron tells us about his family business of making artificial flowers and feathers for fashion houses and the movie industry. The Maison Légeron dates all the way back to 1727.

Come learn some animal idioms with Manon and Clémentine! They'll show you how cats, dogs, and wolves can help you to improve your everyday French.

Today Manon and Clémentine present a number of "set expressions," or idiomatic phrases. Hopefully you're not feeling "soft in the knee"—there are a lot of useful expressions to learn in this lesson!

Whether you're a scholar, a budding writer, or just a casual beach reader, you'll find a lot to learn in Manon and Clémentine's lesson on book-related vocabulary. Using one of the most renowned works of French literature, In Search of Lost Time, as a guide, our two friends also recite their own poem on the future of the book. Happy reading!