What do Charles Baudelaire, Simone de Beauvoir, and the architect of the Statue of Liberty have in common? They are all buried in the Montparnasse cemetery, home to the graves of some of the greatest figures in French history. Here are some of its other famous souls.

Ariel Dorfman’s play Death and the Maiden is no light fare, detailing the horrors of both violence and military dictatorship. It is partly based on Schubert’s famous string quartet of the same name.

Good news for lovers of luxury footwear—but even more so for the work force of the French town Romans: the factory of designer brand Charles Jourdan will reopen its doors (after being forced to close several months prior) thanks to an investment from a Costa Rican firm.

A vide-grenier (“empty-attic”) is a combination of a flea market and a yard sale: a place where anyone can rent a booth and sell all the old things they don’t need anymore. Come see what the residents of this Parisian neighborhood are selling!

The town of Nîmes goes all out for Christmas, with thousands of lights and giant candy canes all along the streets. It might just be the most festive city in France!

Even an economic crisis can’t put a dent in luxury car sales. Looks like when you’re willing to wait that long for your dream, and able to pay for it, nothing can get in your way.

The Toxic Avenger is a French house artist based in Strasbourg. In this video, he teams up with Orelsan to bring Facebook to life.

In the wake of a deadly terrorist attack on a Coptic church in Alexandria, Egypt on New Year’s Day, many Coptic Christians are worried about celebrating Christmas (observed on January 6) as openly as they would like. Here is how a gorgeous Coptic church in Marseille is handling the situation.

Attention all Scorpios: according to François Lambert, the year 2011 will present many challenges to your love life. But don’t worry––learning French will just keep getting easier and easier!

A cemetery might not top your list of places to visit in a city. But actually, cemeteries are a treasure trove of information on a city’s history and architectural taste. The cemetery in Roubaix is particularly rich, with Gothic and art deco tombs side by side.

If you happen to be a Capricorn, you should hear what astrologist François Lambert says the stars have in store for you in 2011. Otherwise, no matter what your sign, we foresee a mastery of the French language in your future!

Sakado (a play on sac à dos, “backpack”) is an organization that helps the homeless of France by collecting backpacks filled with all of life’s essentials, from hygienic products to books. As this article reports, homelessness is one of France’s biggest domestic problems.

Who says that old people don’t know how to party? This event, organized by a local Lions Club, brought together a number of senior citizens for a day of dancing, schmoozing, and even romance.

Looking for your next vacation spot? The Château d’Urtubie, a stunning castle that dates back to the fourteenth century, is now a hotel in the heart of the Basque Country.

The Association Initiatives et Éducation de la Jeunesse à l’Environnement (AIEJE) uses the French Riviera as a training ground for the cultivation of young “eco-citizens.” What better place to learn more about the environment than in one of France’s most gorgeous spots?