Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Discover Chambourcy with Daniel Benchimol. Chambourcy is a small town on the outskirts of Paris that is full of charming surprises. An interesting garden called Le Désert de Retz will take you back through time with eclectic constructions reminiscent of extinct civilizations.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Though the Eiffel Tower used to be called, somewhat derisively, “the metal asparagus” by many Parisians, today it’s one of the most iconic and adored structures in the world. Here we get expert tips: on the best views, the best time to go, and what to see in the Tour itself.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Our tour guide Daniel is back to show us around Île Saint-Louis, one of the two islands situated between the Right Bank and the Left Bank of Paris—right in the middle of the Seine. Stroll along the riverbanks, visit the churches and cathedrals, and enjoy the picturesque Parisian beauty.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Dive back in to the 1968 winter Olympics, held in Grenoble, France. “Treize jours en France,” a recently restored documentary film made in ‘68 by director Claude Lelouch, captures the spirit of the times, and the “pre-revolutionary” zeitgeist leading up to the events of May.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Breton, France
Long-time Concarneau residents take part in an unprecedented technological event. Their memories of the olden days and the town's maritime life will be filmed and shared on smartphones for visitors to enjoy thanks to QR code technology.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Come discover this feature-length film directed by Serge Papagalli in the Trièves. Humor and affection drive his story, which focuses on the difficulties of peasant life.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Enjoy browsing through this charming boutique in Brittany called "La Dilettante." There, you'll find an eclectic range of objects and paintings on driftwood, linen, and traditional canvas, all with a distinct nautical or country theme.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
This Parisian poetry fair sees poets young and old, from all walks of life. Perhaps poetry is, as one attendee says, a link extended across space, time, and people.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
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.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Canada
For more than ten years, Les Héritiers [The Heirs] restaurant in Montreal, which specializes in French cuisine made from Quebecois ingredients, has been concocting dishes like risotto with marinated ginger and rack of lamb with garlic and rosemary sauce. But the food isn’t the only reason for the popularity of Les Héritiers: you can bring your own wine!
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
René-Marc Cohen, a very fine artisan, will show us how to upholster a squat armchair, "un fauteuil crapaud" (literally a "toad armchair").
Difficulty: Advanced
Canada
In the first episode of this documentary on Quebec, a young Frenchman shares his impressions on Canada. As the interviewees in the film demonstrate, the Quebecois have conflicting attitudes toward the French—some see them as "snobs," while others see them as just "polite."
Difficulty: Advanced
Canada
In the second episode of Le Québec parle aux Français, we learn more about the complex relationship between the French and the Quebecois throughout history. We also learn about the evolution of the French language in Quebec—according to a former Prime Minister of Quebec, the province even "spoke French before France"!
Difficulty: Advanced
Canada
The situation of the French language in Quebec is controversial and complex. Montreal was an English-speaking city until 1920, and it wasn't until the passage of Law 101 in 1977 that French became the official language of Quebec. According to some of the interviewees in this video, Québécois French is in a precarious position once again, with municipal signage and corporate names in Montreal reverting to English, as well as shopkeepers who refuse to speak French.
Difficulty: Advanced
Canada, France
One might think that the push to remove anglicisms from the French language would be stronger in France, but the larger movement to "purify" French is actually happening in Quebec. Many Québécois worry that the French language is endangered in Canada, and the Quebec government has taken measures to preserve it by inventing new words instead of borrowing from English. That's why an email is still un email in France, but un courriel in Quebec.
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