Lionel introduces us to Norbert, a former mailman who always had an interest in music and, after retiring, finally got to pursue his passion by setting up his own recording studio.

What's the difference between tapenade and olive paste? What needs to be done to olives to make them consumable? Find out in this video!

Patrice Zana's Dada-inspired artwork relies heavily on wordplay. In this video he discusses his pieces Caisse à dire ("Talking Box," a pun on qu'est-ce à dire [what does it mean]), Boîte à choses sûres ("Box of Sure Things," a pun on boîte à chaussures [shoe box]), and more.

Patricia concludes her series on vowels and vowel groups with a discussion of the vowels O and U. She also mentions a French word that contains all five vowels, but none of them are individually pronounced. Can you guess what it is?

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.

Serge Amoruso is an artisan extraordinaire who makes exquisite leather goods, from high-end bags to more artistic objects. Each piece is unique and takes anywhere from six months to two years to make.

Samuel Gassmann is an artisan who makes unconventional cufflinks of all different types: he has one set representing the "totality of time," and another inspired by the Happy Families card game. Be sure to stop by his new store the next time you're in Paris!

In this video, you will learn how to pronounce some vowel combinations with the letter E (ei, eu, eau) as well as the differences between é, è, and ê.

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).

Patrice Zana is a poet-artist inspired by the Dada movement and the concept of détournement (literally, "diversion," "hijacking"). He invented the term bris colisme to describe his practice, which employs fragmentation, collage, and wordplay in a variety of media.

Learn all about olives with this olive merchant from Nice. This lovely store, "La Maison de l'Olive," has all kinds of olive delicacies from the region and across the Mediterranean basin. Did you know that the olive groves (oliveraies) in the Nice region were planted by the Greeks?

Amal just learned that she can't have children and is afraid to tell her boyfriend because she thinks he might leave her. Her friend Caroline gives her advice and support.

Socca is a simple dish that you can only find in Nice. A local family business has been serving this delicious, filling pastry made of garbanzo beans for generations. If you're passing through, don't forget to stop by and try it!

Daniel takes us inside the castle of Dourdan, with its belfry, arrow loops, and many fortifications. This castle has a somewhat unusual history: find out why its roof was knocked off and why it was pretty much impregnable.

In this lesson, Patricia will show you how to pronounce the six French vowels and the vowel combinations ai, an, au, ain, and aim.