Bonjour La France

26 years after the first attempt to get to France, we're finally on our way. A few days in Vietnam and then London on the way,... and then, "Bonjour Paris !" Read more

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Bonjour La France Traveler
Saint-Benoît-du-Sault
October 8, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Such a beautiful village but tragically falling to pieces, Houses with caved in roofs, no Boucherie or Boulangerie, nowhere to buy your daily Baguette (illegal in France, the people must have Bread!) empty of people, yet,... advertised as one of Frances' most beautiful rural villages, so typical of France.Read more
Traveler"Let them eat cake!"
10/11/25Reply
TravelerHehe,.. that comment got Marie Antoinette in a spot of bother!
10/12/25Reply
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Bonjour La France Traveler
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Brocanting,.. again!
October 9, 2025 in France ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
I can feel a spreadsheet and a business plan emerging! So much fun scouring the little rural Brocante shops,... Mdme Giselle today had a serious hoarding problem, but so much good stuff! Got abducted by her offsider (who may have been Spanish not really sure?!) Ended up in an abandoned house full of antiques.
Also, finally got to eat crepes for brunch and take a look at the Musée national Adrien Dubouché home of Limoges porcelain.Read more
TravelerAmazing stuff.... Our friend Liz would go nuts in that place
10/10/25Reply
Traveler You must be getting a lot of exercise ... your waistline isn't showing all these treats! Looks scrumptious!
10/11/25Reply
TravelerIncroyable!
10/11/25ReplyTranslate
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Bonjour La France Traveler
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Bergerac, Dordogne.
October 10, 2025 in France ⋅ 🌙 17 °C
Drove further south-west into the beautiful Dordogne region - wine and truffle country, my kind of place. Off for some wine and truffle exploration tomorrow. In the meantime, snug in our little Gite, with no room to swing a cat. It's Parisian small but very cute.Read more
Traveler Is that where your gite is?
10/11/25Reply
Traveler It's probably OK getting in, what about getting out? :-)
10/11/25Reply
Traveler The rangehood with no outlet!
10/11/25Reply
Traveler It is Parisian cute.
10/11/25Reply
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Bonjour La France Traveler
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Jour de marché à Bergerac
October 11, 2025 in France ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
Our favorite day in any town is market day. Alex was up early for a run to the Boulangerie for morning crossiant, then we headed down to the place de la ville to the market. Lovely fresh produce. Accidently purchased another cutlery set and a shopping sactual to transport the weekly market shopping.
The old part of Bergerac is fabulous, the sleepy Dordogne River runs through the city, the river goes all the way to Bordeaux and out to the Atlantic.Read more
Traveler Are the veges all from the local village?
10/11/25Reply
Traveler It looks pretty strong ... also good for all your brocanting purchases
10/11/25Reply
Traveler Just imagine the lives that building has housed! Oh, if walls could talk!
10/11/25Reply
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Bonjour La France Traveler
Périgueux, Périgord/Dordogne
October 12, 2025 in France ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
How to avoid land tax - build your house on top of the city wall! Ingenious!
Meandered around the provincial capital of Périgueux, on a Sunday,... so everything closed, stumbled upon a massive carboot/brocante fair, picnic'ed by the river, and discovered the lovely Mdme Corbiac ( decendant of Cyrano de Bergerac - the famous large nosed dude) whose family have been purveyors of fine wines for 700years.
Rounded out the day with a stroll through Bergerac on a warm autumn evening.Read more
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Bonjour La France Traveler
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La Roque Gageac
October 13, 2025 in France ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Villages enchanteurs de la Dordogne. Ils sont remarquablement beaux.

Beautiful day in the remarkable villages of the Dordonge.
Traveler Absolutely enchanting!
10/14/25Reply
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Bonjour La France Traveler
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Château de Beynac
October 13, 2025 in France ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Fortress and strategic stronghold of the ancient kingdom of Aquitaine. Frequented by the powerhouse 'It Girl' of the middle ages, Eleanor of Aquitaine ( Eleanor of Aquitaine was Duchess of Aquitaine from 1137 to 1204, Queen of France from 1137 to 1152 as the wife of King Louis VII, and later Queen of England as wife of Henry II ), Her son, Richard the Lion Heart also hung out here! Remarkable history and mighty impressive location with it's commanding views of the Dordogne valley - you can see an invading army several miles off!Read more
Traveler Beautiful
10/14/25Reply
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Bonjour La France Traveler
S'il te plaît, apporte-moi mon vin !
October 15, 2025 in France ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Fun morning wine tasting at the gorgous Château de Monbazillac ( yes,.. yet another stunning Castle!... Yawn,..). Awesome view of the appellation produced under the Châteaux label (a collective of several producers as well as nearby Châteaux). Signature wine varietal is Semmilon, the Châteaux grows 80% of the Semmilon grapes for the region. Delicious wine, a couple of bottles purchased for the wine cellar.Read more
TravelerWhat is the rainbow-coloured hanging?
10/17/25Reply
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Bonjour La France Traveler
Camino Francés
October 16, 2025 in France ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Having completed our Camino Francés pilgrimage ( from the Bistro on the leftbank of La Vienne Rive to the sunny seats on the rightbank - 100m approximately) Alex thought it was time for a snooze in the sun on the seats reserved for weary pilgrims.Read more
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Bonjour La France Traveler
St Emilion, Bordeaux
October 17, 2025 in France ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
As pretty as a postcard and drowning in wine! Another beautiful autumn day with picnic included. Purchased some fabulous salami (Hazelnut & Walnut, fig and wild garlic) and yet more truffle cheese. Accomodation in Bordeaux is right smack in the middle of the city so we're up for some city action.Read more
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Bonjour La France Traveler
Bordeaux, Quai des Chartrons
October 17, 2025 in France ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
How good is this City!
Great vibe, fed through the central artery of Quai des Chartrons, which runs through the heart of the city along the convergence of the Dordogne and Garonne rivers. People and animals moving at different speeds, every mode of transport, bars, cafes, pubs, strollers, walkers, roller blades, ferries, cruiseships, bikes,... you name it, it's moving along the Quai des Chatrons.
Absolutely love this City 😀 😍Read more
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Bonjour La France Traveler
Bordeaux, Day 2 pt 1.
October 18, 2025 in France ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Fabulous walking city. Definitely got our steps in today, just shy of 14kms. So much to see and do, easily accessed by an awesome tram network and very proactive city tourism initiatives, absolutely loved it.Read more
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Bonjour La France Traveler
Bordeaux,Bassines des Lumieres
October 18, 2025 in France ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Housed in German WWII Submarine hangers ( Base sous Marine) this interactive light show/art installation is fabulous and makes extraordinary use of this industrial space. Another dimension of Bordeaux and well worth a visit if you ever get the opportunity.Read more
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Bonjour La France Traveler
à bientôt Bordeaux
October 19, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
See you again Bordeaux!
Can't get enough of this City, Definitely needs another visit. Perhaps a residential french language course?
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Bonjour La France Traveler
Château de La Brède, Count Montesquie
October 19, 2025 in France ⋅ 🌧 17 °C
Little Châteaux outside of Bordeaux. Home of Montesquieu, renowned French writer and political philosopher - responsible for founding ideals of separation of power in government; executive, legislative, and judicial. Some fancy people and intellectuals hung out here. His writing helped American founders write the US constitution.Read more
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Bonjour La France Traveler
La Rochelle
October 20, 2025 in France ⋅ 🌧 17 °C
On the coast looking out to the Atlantic. Lovely central Harbour area. Great selection of restaurants and cuisine - good bowl of Ramen noodles for lunch!
Checked out the aquarium today ( along with several thousand school kids).Read more
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Bonjour La France Traveler
Île de Ré
October 21, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Île de Ré is a tiny island of the coast of La Rochelle. Wild and windswept when we were there, but I'm sure it would be gorgeous in Summer. Houses here must have green shutters! The little seaports of Saint-Martin-de-Re and La Flotte are super cute. We also ventured out on a cruise to see Fort Boyard a fort off the coast built by Napolean as a strategic defense.Read more
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Bonjour La France Traveler
Finally a good coffee in France!
October 22, 2025 in France ⋅ 🌧 17 °C
Thank goodness we were beginning to despair.
Oh,... and I found a crepe too!
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Bonjour La France Traveler
Cognac
October 22, 2025 in France ⋅ 🌧 18 °C
What to do in an Atlantic storm?
Stay warm indoors and try and figure out the fuss about Cognac. Visited the Châteaux de Cognac to taste some of this eau de vie, but personally, neither Alex or I got too excited, just not our cup of tea. Cool cellers and barrel room, complete with 600 year old graffiti and a ceiling designed by da Vinci. On the way stopped at cute village of Fouras which looks out to the Ile de Aix.Read more
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Bonjour La France Traveler
Bonjour et au revoir Nantes
October 24, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
A return to Nantes to swap out our rental car. Staying in the centre of our 'first city' of France, a place we will always love.
Took in the exhibition at the cool "Les Machines De L'ile" (similar to Peter Jackson's Weta workshop but way grungeier and cooler). Great place for young (and old) imaginations. Then lunch at the famous La Cigale Brasserie, described as the most beautiful Brasserie in the world in some write ups. Understand why as the atmosphere, food, and service was awesome. The interior is art nouveau style, ceramic wall tiles, rich soft furnishings and classic French table style - a very nice lunch!
Take a look at the YouTube shown to get a taste.Read more
TravelerChecked out the YouTube. Thanks for the hint. Next time, a table for 4. We'll be there with you.
10/25/25Reply
TravelerPerfect 👌 Let us know the dates and we'll make the reservation.
10/26/25Reply
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Bonjour La France Traveler
Vannes (GWENDE)
October 25, 2025 in France ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Ventured into Brittany (Breton, Bretange) so now have to contend with both French and Gaelic language and road signs. Visited Domaine de Sucinio a really well preserved castle where the Duc of Bretange as well as Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table hung out. (Yes, there is a room that housed the round table!) Learnt a couple of new French words on the guided tour - language retention is making progress!Read more
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Bonjour La France Traveler
Manger,...comme les Français
October 25, 2025 in France ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
In France we find ourselves thinking about food,...alot! Food is so enjoyable here. We say things like, "Ahhh,.. that was so good" or " Look at that it looks so fresh, so beautiful,...should we buy some to try?"
Food comes wrapped in paper or no wrapping at all it just goes straight in the shopping bag sans plastic packaging.
It's a french thing. Good food is so important to the French way of life.
After a forage in a market today dinner was:
Filet de porc à la compote de pommes bio, champignons truffés, pommes de terre Benne de Jersey au beurre salé de Normandie et salade verte.
SO GOOD!Read more
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Bonjour La France Traveler
À la découverte de Vannes
October 26, 2025 in France ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
Great city to explore on foot. Vannes has probably the best preserved historic centre and buildings we've come across. The rampart and walled public gardens are a real asset to the city.
Also found a café prepared to make a flat white, bonus!Read more
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Bonjour La France Traveler
Brocante treasure.
October 26, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
Brocanting is quite addictive, mainly because you never know what treasure you'll find in a junk shop. Today we discovered two dusty old paintings by French artist Pierre Gillies. Not worth a fortune ( but certainly valued at three times what we paid) and perfect for our living room in Fontgombault.
Painted in 1945 and 46, these are examples of Pierre's early work.
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Gillies(peinture)Read more
TravelerBeautiful
10/28/25Reply
TravelerWe love our beautiful Yvette and the two boys.
10/28/25Reply
TravelerLove ❤️ the paintings
10/28/25Reply
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Bonjour La France Traveler
Ile'd'Arz
October 27, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Today we jumped on a random ferry heading out into the Gulf of Morbihan. Ended up on the tiny island of Ile'd'Arz. With the weather looking gloomy and the ferry pickup several hours away we settled into the local bar/restaurant conversing with the barman only in French - simple things like making a joke, rehershing a phrase or being understood without an immediate response in English is so cool.
Definitely earnt our cup of tea back at the Gite after 11kms of walking.Read more
TravelerLove the wee cottage!
10/28/25Reply
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