French Guiana is currently debating a controversial topic: the Montagne d'Or (Gold Mountain), in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. The environmental impact is a major concern, and many people and organizations are opposing the project.

In New Caledonia, the last French colony, two societies continue to coexist: the descendants of the white colonists known as "Caldoches," and the native Kanaks, whose numbers were decimated by the colonists beginning in 1853.

In 1988, New Caledonia was on the verge of a civil war as the native population, the Kanaks, rebelled against economic injustice and demanded their independence. A violent incident on the island of Ouvéa prompted the French government to intervene and even bring in a SWAT team. More violence ensued as negotiations failed.

New Caledonia is still part of France and has not gained its independence despite lenghthy negotiations between loyalists and separatists. Now that the Kanak population is a minority, independence seems unlikely. For more info on New Caledonia, check out these links: https://bit.ly/3cnZgzs, https://bit.ly/2EWfOBG, https://bit.ly/2SyqOrw.

Lionel is in the Duchy of Luxembourg in Remich, a lovely town on the banks of the Moselle River. It has a lot to offer: boat rides, walking trails, and pleasant green surroundings.

Lionel is in the city of Schengen in Luxembourg. He talks about the Schengen Area, a group of countries between which European citizens can pass freely, without border checks.

Lionel takes us to the tiny country of Luxembourg. Wedged between France, Belgium, and Germany, Luxembourg boasts one of the highest gross national products per capita and is one of the richest nations in the world.

You can get away from it all just an hour away from Paris by visiting Sandra's alternative accommodation in Arbonne-la-Forêt. You can choose between a tree house or a cottage in the heart of the forest and enjoy the wildlife. There's no public lighting, so the animals won't be disturbed.

In addition to housing the second largest port in the Paris region, Nogent-sur-Marne also includes a promenade dedicated to the "accordion queen" Yvette Horner and a square named after the famous Corsican singer Tino Rossi. The latter is located on the Marne River's "Île de Beauté" (Island of Beauty), which is also a nickname for Corsica.

Along the banks of the Marne, Daniel gives us some more insight into the town of Nogent-sur-Marne, including a few real estate tips and a brief biography of Jean Sablon, a famous crooner of French chansons who was born in the town.

This video on Nogent-sur-Marne focuses on the town's beautiful architectural heritage, from the Royal Palace Cinema, to the Art Nouveau houses, to the Coignard mansion and its gardens. Daniel concludes with a discussion of the song that made Nogent famous, "Le petit vin blanc" (The Little White Wine).

Daniel Benchimol takes us to Médan, a small town to the north of Paris. In addition to a few fifteenth-century landmarks, this town attracted famous poets and writers. Among those writers was Émile Zola, although in this video, he's featured in another capacity that might surprise you.

We continue our visit to Médan, where you will discover some perfectly preserved wash houses, among other things.

We continue our visit to Médan where Daniel Benchimol takes us to the Dreyfus Museum, inaugurated in October 2021. There, you will discover a sad part of French history when anti-Semitism was rife.

Next to the Dreyfus Museum stands Emile Zola's house, which you can also visit. The famous writer financed his estate with the proceeds from his novels, and he even named the two towers he later added after two of his novels. He also hosted many of the biggest names in French literature and art.