Daniel Benchimol braves the freezing temperature to show us around the beautiful medieval town of Gisors in the Vexin region in the north of France. The highlight of the town is its eleventh-century castle, which is currently undergoing major restoration work. The castle was once surrounded by a moat, and some of its towers still remain, with imposing names like "Prisoner's Tower" and "Chilly Tower."

There's a lot to explore in the Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais Church in Gisors, including a towering wooden organ, a magnificent mural, and a spiral staircase. Daniel Benchimol gives us a detailed tour of this stunning work of architecture, which he counts as one of the most beautiful churches in Normandy.

In the last part of his tour of the town of Gisors, Daniel shows us an interesting structure called a cabinet de verdure (greenery chamber) as well as a waterfall that served as the major driving force of the town's economy for centuries. Daniel also tells us the story of Philippe Auguste and the Golden Virgin, which you won't want to miss!

We continue our tour of the Norman Vexin region with a stop in the hamlet of Boisgeloup, where Pablo Picasso once lived. If you get hungry while strolling around this charming little village, make sure to stop in the bakery Chez Valérie et Patrick Bunel, which won an award for best traditional baguette. You can eat one while admiring the beautiful Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church for a wonderful sensory experience.

Daniel introduces the charming town of Compiègne and its magnificent City Hall. In the City Hall building, you'll find the Bancloque, a fourteenth-century bell that still rings today with the help of three automated figures called jacquemarts that "poke" the bell on the hour. And make sure to stop by the burger kiosk on your way out of the city for a delicious, locally sourced treat!

As Daniel explains, Joan of Arc is a bit of an "obsession" among French people, and tributes to her can be found in many towns across France. Compiègne has particularly close ties to the country's patron saint—after assisting the town in its fight against the Burgundians, she was captured by them in 1430.

In the third installment of Daniel's tour of Compiègne, he shows us the magnificent Saint Jacques Church, which happens to be a stop along the Way of St. James. He also takes us to some former salt warehouses and to a beautiful garden surrounded by medieval walls.

In the final installment of his tour of Compiègne, Daniel takes us to the "Haras National" (National Stud Farm), where some of the most prestigious horses in France have been raised since the 1700s. He also shows us the Imperial Theater, built by Napoleon III, and the Museum of Internment and Deportation, which commemorates the prisoners of the Royallieu concentration camp.

Daniel takes us to the town of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, located around thirty kilometers from Paris, which is known as the capital of canal transportation. You'll see some beautiful barges and cruise boats, as well as a public toilet that Daniel calls an "aesthetic success"!

In the second part of his tour of the town of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, Daniel shows us the Montjoie Tower, a Romanesque dungeon whose walls are still standing today. He also takes us to a beautiful garden filled with rare plants.

Daniel shows us around the old quarter of the village of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, a charming area that dates from the Middle Ages and contains some beautiful gardens and courtyards. Some of the streets and alleyways have even retained their medieval names, such as the "Rue de la Savaterie" (Cobbler Street).

Daniel concludes his tour of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine by taking us along the quays to see some of the barges that are docked there. Among them, you will find a houseboat that doubles as a chapel and the last tug boat ever built in France!

In this first part of his tour of Rambouillet, Daniel shows us the town's beautiful castle and its surrounding forest, islands, and gardens. Do you know what a "quincunx" in a garden is? If not, you'll find out in this video.

Daniel takes us to the Rambouillet castle, which includes a very interesting building on its grounds: the Laiterie de la Reine, or Queen's Dairy, which was built for Marie Antoinette in accordance with the "pleasure dairy" trend of the eighteenth century.

In this third episode on Rambouillet, Daniel shows us an interesting "shell cottage," a railway museum, and the beautiful Church of Saint Lubin and Palais du Roi de Rome. Rambouillet is full of wonderful surprises!