Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Dourdan is a historic town with a magnificent church called the Église de Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois. Renamed the "Temple of Victorious Reason" during the Revolution, the church now contains a statue that bears a striking resemblance to Darth Vader (known as Dark Vador in France).
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Daniel takes us inside the castle of Dourdan, with its belfry, arrow loops, and many fortifications. This castle has a somewhat unusual history: find out why its roof was knocked off and why it was pretty much impregnable.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Daniel gives us a historical overview of the town of Lagny-sur-Marne, about thirty kilometers southeast of Paris. This small town is full of historical landmarks dating from the Middle Ages, and includes many Art Nouveau-style buildings from the Belle Époque. On a more whimsical note, you will also find a free outdoor library made up of a few books and DVDs in a glass case. Help yourself but don't forget to put them back!
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Sarah presents the Victor Hugo House on the Rue des Vosges in Paris. This prolific writer, playwright, and poet spent time there before being exiled to the Channel Island of Guernsey.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Join Daniel on his discovery of Dourdan, a small town in the Essonne department. This charming place is filled with history and boasts a thirteenth-century covered market that has been rebuilt over the years and is still in use today.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Daniel continues his visit to Lagny-sur-Marne, a small town where extraordinary events took place. Joan of Arc is said to have performed a miracle there on her second visit to Lagny. And the abbey-church of Saint Pierre once harbored a great secret: a nail from Jesus's cross. Unfortunately, the nail was lost, but not forgotten, as it now features on Lagny's coat of arms.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Discover the friendly neighborhood of the Butte-aux-Cailles with Antoine. Although it's in the heart of Paris, this neighborhood feels like a little corner of countryside with all its greenery. And in the evening the village atmosphere comes to life as people, mostly locals, go out for drinks or a meal.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Daniel shows us some more of Lagny-sur-Marne. This small town is famous for its battle with the English (or les Anglois in Old French), valiantly fought by Joan of Arc in 1430. You will also find more peaceful sites like the washhouse, where, by municipal decree, everyone had to be silent....
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Daniel Benchimol takes us to Lagny-sur-Marne, a medieval town on the outskirts of Paris. If history is not your thing, you can visit a small museum where neo-impressionists works are displayed. The pioneers of pointillism made their debut in this charming little town.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Discover the beautiful Parc des Buttes Chaumont in Paris with Adrien. This peaceful park used to be an execution site in the thirteenth century. Its gruesome past long forgotten, it is now a peaceful place where Parisians can get away from the city.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Daniel takes us to town of Rueil-Malmaison and its famous castle, which once housed Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Joséphine. Besides being Empress of France, Joséphine also invented the concept of the rose garden during her stay in the castle.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
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!
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Lea takes us on a mini tour of Cour Saint-Émilion in the twelfth arrondissement in Paris. Named for the wine that used to be sold there, the Cour Saint-Émilion has suffered fires and floods but was rebuilt a few times and is now a lovely open-air shopping complex.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Daniel Benchimol takes us to Mont-Valérien, the highest vantage point just outside of Paris, where you will be able to take in a sweeping view of the capital. Mont-Valérien also represents a sad part of history, a site where thousands were executed during World War II. General de Gaulle inaugurated a memorial in 1962 to honor its victims.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France Parisian
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.
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