Daniel Benchimol takes us to Médan, a small town to the north of Paris. In addition to a few fifteenth-century landmarks, this town attracted famous poets and writers. Among those writers was Émile Zola, although in this video, he's featured in another capacity that might surprise you.

We continue our visit to Médan, where you will discover some perfectly preserved wash houses, among other things.

We continue our visit to Médan where Daniel Benchimol takes us to the Dreyfus Museum, inaugurated in October 2021. There, you will discover a sad part of French history when anti-Semitism was rife.

Next to the Dreyfus Museum stands Emile Zola's house, which you can also visit. The famous writer financed his estate with the proceeds from his novels, and he even named the two towers he later added after two of his novels. He also hosted many of the biggest names in French literature and art.

Daniel Benchimol takes us to the Cour de l'Industrie (Industry Courtyard) in Paris. It used to be the site of a wallpaper factory that was destroyed in a fire and more or less abandoned. An artisan association decided to renovate the premises, which now house over forty artists and craftsmen. Be sure to visit the area on your next trip to Paris!

Daniel Benchimol takes us to Paris's eleventh arrondissement, which has a strong artisan tradition. There, you'll meet Laurence Raverdeau, voted the "best craftsperson of France" in 2011, who explains the complex art of upholstering. She shows us some of her amazing creations, which include scented macaroon-shaped cushions.

Daniel Benchimol visits Aline Putot, a renowned sculptor whose studio is located in the Cour de l'Industrie (Industry Courtyard), a revived artisan district in the eleventh arrondissement of Paris. Her craft requires very old tools, some dating from the nineteenth century, as well as more modern ones. Enjoy her beautiful creations!

For his last video on Paris's "Cour de l'Industrie" (Industry Courtyard), Daniel visits a gilder. Bruno Toupry explains the intricacies of his trade and highlights the tradition of passing on a craftsman's knowledge, which for him is both a duty and a pleasure.

Victoria manages Millymenthe, one of the last remaining herbalist's shops in France. If you're ever in the Essonne area, stop by the shop and enjoy the specialty of the region, a delicious peppermint tea.

Coryn Wolk makes exquisite creations out of stained glass. She uses several techniques, such as the lead and Tiffany methods, as well as oven fusion.

After thirty years as a graphic designer, Denis Lagarde decided to switch gears and work in the "completely crazy world" of artisan cutlery, fulfilling a childhood dream.

Laurent Azriel is a luthier in Vauréal. In this video, he talks about his craft, how he became a luthier, and the demands of his job, which he loves!

Manon Saenko works her magic on broken objects that she restores to their former glory. She calls herself the "doctor for objects," as she repairs all kinds of ceramics, ranging from family pieces to archaeological artifacts.

Véronique Schneider is a milliner, or hatmaker, who worked for the Comédie-Française in Paris and then moved to the Cour des Arts in Vauréal to make custom hats that anyone can wear.

In an effort to promote ecotourism, the town of Echelles has constructed one of the largest natural bathing areas in France. Its filtration system is 100% natural, powered by thousands of plant seedlings.