Listen to Lionel Brigeot, alias Hugo Dampf, who challenges everyone with his riddles, puns, and attempts at humor. You'll learn to understand how riddles work in French and perhaps create your own!

Lionel, the stand-up comedian, punster extraordinaire, surpasses himself with his long string of puns. Catch them if you can! The long-suffering husband of Éléonore, he is not shy about making her the butt of all his jokes.

Lionel shows us around a family farm that spans three generations. This traditional dairy and cattle farm takes good care of its animals, which enjoy a special "cow wash." Nursing cows are allowed a break from milk production prior to calving, and nothing is left to chance as the sex of the newborn calf is predetermined thanks to artificial insemination.

Lionel takes us to the small town of Wissembourg (or "Weißenburg," since it's situated in Alsace where German is spoken as well). It boasts a beautiful church and a nice restaurant where Lionel goes to be "crowned." Another one of his signature jokes and puns await you in this video.

Lionel takes us to Metz, a city that was once part of Germany, being only some sixty kilometers from the German border. In this video you will learn a few facts about this Germanic city, and you will add a lot of useful terms to your going-about-town vocabulary.

Lionel takes us to the historic part of the city of Metz and to the Galerie Saint-Jacques, where you can browse the shops and go to restaurants. The shopping mall is located on one of the largest squares of the city, the Place Saint-Jacques.

We continue our visit to Metz with Lionel, who takes us inside the Saint-Étienne Cathedral, famous for its huge stained glass windows. After that, if you don't feel like walking, you can take the little tourist train and enjoy the sites at a leisurely pace.

Lionel speaks with Pascal, the director of the "Langue Sous Hypnose" (Language Under Hypnosis) school, who explains how hypnosis can help make language learning less daunting. Though Pascal says that "it's not hypnosis that teaches people languages, it's the teacher," he claims that hypnosis can make your brain more receptive to learning a new language.

Lionel gives us a tour of Strasbourg, the largest city in France's northeast region. He shows us its beautiful canals, bridges, half-timbered houses, and squares, as well as its famous cathedral.

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.

Still in Toul, Lionel takes a closer look at the Saint-Étienne Cathedral in Toul. Its construction started in the thirteen hundreds and was completed around 1495.

Astrid gives us a detailed description of the Toul Cathedral, its history, and its special features. Though its gargoyles may look scary, they serve a special purpose: draining rainwater off the roof. A light and sound show takes place every year, highlighting the gargoyles and the cathedral's amazing architecture.