We arrived at our favorite country retreat around 6 p.m. the other day, with an hour and a half to relax and freshen up before Helene and Jacques, our hosts, welcomed us along with the other six guests of the house to the beautiful garden of their ancient chateau for the start of the evening […]
Tag Archives: france
Gorges du Verdon
The Verdon Gorge (in French: Gorges du Verdon or Grand canyon du Verdon), in south-eastern France (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), is a river canyon that is often considered to be one of Europe’s most beautiful. It is about 25 kilometers long and up to 700 meters deep. It was formed by the Verdon River, which is named after […]
Glanum, memory of the past near St. Remy-de-Provence, France
We visited this monument the other day. It is an incredible experience that need at least two hours to enjoy fully. Glanum was an oppidum, or fortified town, founded by a Celto-Ligurian people called the Salyens in the 6th century B.C. It was known for the healing power of its spring. It became a Roman […]
A Visit to Arles, France
One of the largest concentrations of the ruins of the Roman Empire in France can be found in Arles. From a long bridge leading into the city over the marshes to an amphitheater, large theater complex and a portion of the Roman Forum plus other ruins make this a destination not just for lovers of […]
One night in medieval Carcasonne, France
The fortified city itself is essentially of concentric design with two outer walls with towers and barbicans to prevent attack by siege engines. The castle itself possesses its own draw bridge and ditch leading to a central keep. The walls consist of towers built over quite a period. One section is Roman and is notably […]
Postcard from France
The hamlet of Le Percy, in the French Alps near Grenoble.
Vézelay burial place of the relics of Mary Magdalene
All photographs on this blog by James Derheim, founder of European Focus Vézelay’s hilltop location has made it an obvious site for a town since ancient times. According to legend, not long before the end of the first millennium a monk named Baudillon brought relics (bones) of Mary Magdalene to Vézelay from Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume. In 1058 […]
Pont du Gard, France
The Pont du Gard is a notable ancient Roman aqueduct bridge that crosses the Gard River in southern France. It is part of a 50 km (31 mi) long aqueduct that runs between Uzès and Nîmes in the South of France. It is located in Vers-Pont-du-Gard near Remoulins, in the Gard département. The aqueduct was […]