Explore the hidden (and not so hidden) corners of France with master tour guide Daniel Benchimol.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Daniel Benchimol is in Maisons-Laffitte, also known as the "horse city." He tells us about the history of its famous racetrack, which boasts the longest straight line segment of any racetrack in Europe. And if horses aren't your thing, there's a campground where you can relax by the river Seine.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
In part three of our visit to Maisons-Laffitte, Daniel Benchimol reveals even more interesting facts about this city. The Maisons Castle, which epitomizes seventeenth-century French architecture, has been used for the filming of many famous movies, such as Love and Death, Dangerous Liaisons, Queen Margot, and many more.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Daniel continues his visit to Maisons-Laffitte, home to many famous actors, authors, politicians, business tycoons, and others. According to Daniel, its villas are among the most beautiful in the Île-de-France region.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Daniel Benchimol takes us to Maisons-Laffitte, a town famous for its horse races and jockey training center, the largest in the Paris region. There are also opportunities to explore archaeological remains that have recently been discovered.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
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.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
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.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
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.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
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!
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
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!
Difficulty:
Beginner
France
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.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
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."
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
In this tour of the town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, you will discover a very old castle built by King Francis the First as well as a quintessentially French marketplace, whose numerous fountains make it the perfect place to cool off in the summer.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
A few kilometers from Paris, on Chatou Island (also known as Impressionists' Island), Daniel Benchimol has a nice surprise for you.... Watch this video to find out what it is!
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Daniel Benchimol is in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, where France's King Louis XIV was born. The Parisian suburb is also the site of the summer art exhibition Nouvelles folies à la française (New French Follies). This year's exhibition includes, among other things, a giant four-poster bed floating in the middle of a fountain!
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Daniel Benchimol takes us to the quiet village of Carrières-sur-Seine, a mere twenty kilometers from Paris. He points out a fun bench called Le banc des menteurs (The Liars' Bench), where one can sit and presumably tell lies until closing time at 7 p.m. Then the liars can take cover in one of the nearby cave dwellings carved straight out of the cliffs.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment? You will not be able to recover it.