Where does Santa Claus come from? Santa's history begins in the third century in the city of Myra in Turkey, then to the Netherlands, then finally to America and back to Europe. But where Santa lives still remains a mystery...

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).

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.

We continue our walk around the little town of Liverdun, perched on a rock spur near the Moselle river. Françoise tells us about its collegiate church and the legend of Saint Euchaire.

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.

Nogent-sur-Marne is a charming town that has been the home of many celebrities, including the scientist Marie Curie and the singer Charles Trenet. Daniel shows us some of the town's beautiful landmarks, including the Baltard Pavilion and the Passerelle des Arts.

Lionel is in Liverdun, a small town in the Lorraine region that dates at least to Roman times. Burial grounds called tumuli have been discovered in the area around the Moselle river, which loops around the town.

We continue our visit to Liverdun with Françoise and Lionel who will show you inside the collegiate church of Liverdun. It once housed the relics of Saint Euchaire, which were looted during the Revolution. Now all that remains is the statue of the saint with his head... in his hands!

Gérard tells us about the city of Antibes where he was raised. He also sings a song about Jacques Audiberti, the renowned playwright, novelist, and poet, who was born in the city.

Françoise talks to Lionel about the Church of Liverdun. Built in 1184, the church is distinctive for its two superimposed doorways: an original Romanesque one, and a Baroque one added in the eighteenth century.

Gérard will tell you about the history of Antibes, an ancient city with a fascinating past. One of the oldest cities in the region, it was built by the Phocaeans before Roman times.

Patricia explains the importance of dictation exercises for learning French. Now an essential teaching tool in the classroom, dictation was originally a pastime for French nobility. The author Prosper Mérimée created a dictation exercise for Empress Eugénie that stumped even the brightest intellectuals. Think you can beat them? Try it yourself here.

Patricia continues her series on the feast of Candlemas, which in France is centered around the crêpe. Due to its round shape and golden color, the crêpe was a symbol of the sun in pagan times.

It took two hundred years to standardize French spelling before it could be taught in schools using a method called la dictée (dictation), in which a student writes out the words he or she hears. As a matter of fact, this is the exact same principle behind Yabla's Scribe game!

Patricia delves into the festival of la Chandeleur, or Candlemas, which takes place on the second of February. In France, la Chandeleur is traditionally celebrated by eating crêpes.

Gérard tells us about the history of Antibes, which goes back to the Phocaeans. Those ancient people always consulted an oracle before undertaking a voyage into the unknown to conquer new territories.

Gérard will introduce you to Antibes, a beautiful city founded by the Phocaeans in the 400s BC. The Phocaeans were replaced by the Romans, who were replaced by the Christians. Nowadays Antibes has grown to become the third-largest city in the Alpes-Maritimes department.

Patricia explains in detail the tradition of the galette des rois (kings' cake), which predates Christianity. The tradition is linked to a Roman pagan celebration called Saturnalia, during which a lucky slave was crowned "king" for the day.

Patricia discusses the galette des rois (kings' cake), a classic holiday delicacy associated with the festival of Epiphany. A small figurine is placed inside the cake, and whoever finds it in his or her slice is crowned "king" or "queen" for the day.

In the final part of his tour of Chantilly, Daniel takes us back to the "Potager des Princes" (Princes' Vegetable Garden) and introduces us to some adorable barnyard critters, including a rooster, a pigeon, and some rabbits. The rabbits even have their own French-style village to roam around in, complete with a café, a town hall, and some villas too!

Continuing his tour of the town of Chantilly, Daniel takes us to a bucolic vegetable garden called the "Potager des Princes" (Princes' Vegetable Garden), which was frequented by many of France's most famous writers and dramatists, including Racine, Molière, and the Madame de Sévigné. Today it also includes a goat petting zoo!

In this video, Daniel shows us around the town of Chantilly, famous for its horse races and for its beloved Chantilly cream (also known as whipped cream). You'll get an inside look at the town's beautiful racetrack, which is home to over three hundred events each year.

In the last episode on the town of Dourdan, Daniel shows us the Abbaye de L'Ouÿe (literally, "Hearing Abbey"). Legend has it that King Louis VII commissioned it in honor of his friends and loved ones who heard his cries when he was lost in the forest one day.

Dourdan is a historic town with a magnificent church called the Église de Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois. Renamed the "Temple of Victorious Reason" during the Revolution, the church now contains a statue that bears a striking resemblance to Darth Vader (known as Dark Vador in France).