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.

In addition to its historic castle, the town of Sceaux is also home to a group of vegetated islets that provide passersby with a place to rest and wild birds with a place to nest. The castle grounds also include an orangery and numerous pavilions to explore.

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.

Daniel shows us two historic landmarks in the town of Sceaux: the Saint John the Baptist Church, which contains many valuable artifacts, and the Félibres Garden, which is named after the Félibrige literary movement. He starts out his tour at a former railway station that is now the town's market hall.

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.

We continue our visit to Liverdun with Lionel. The town features a lot of houses with gerbières, or hayloft windows, through which people would hoist sheaves of wheat.

Gérard tells us about the history of Antibes, from the time of Julius Caesar to the construction of the city walls and the Fort Carré.

Amal and Caroline are sitting in front the Louvre Museum and its famous glass pyramid. Once controversial, the pyramid is now considered one of the museum's finest works of art.

The village of Liverdun has an interesting fountain with a huge underground reservoir that collects water from the nearby Moselle River. In the Middle Ages, people used the religious statues on the village's street corners to orient themselves.

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, French people have started to remove statues tied to slavery and racial injustice. However, some statues have been relocated, annotated, or simply replaced rather than destroyed.

Lionel is in the town of Grand, a Gallo-Roman city whose origin is puzzling, as there was no main source of water in the area.

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.

While Jeremy tries to tell a joke, Marie schools him on adjective agreement and other spelling and grammar pitfalls. Even native French speakers make mistakes!

In May 2020, France entered its deconfinement phase. While the French people are no longer expected to obtain written permission for leaving their homes, they still have to exercise caution and wear masks in most public places.

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.