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France’s Finest

September - October 2018
While we have visited parts of France before, this will be our first trip to spend time in the interior. We’re looking forward to beautiful art, lovely architecture, wonderful history and delicious food. Read more
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  • France’s Finest
    1
    Day 7

    Les Andelys

    September 24, 2018 in France ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    I have never spent any afternoon more pleasantly than in this lovely little French town. With only a few hundred inhabitants, its greatest claim to fame is a castle built near the end of his life by Richard the Lionhearted. Unfortunately it fell to the French after his brother John Lackland succeeded him, losing eastern Normandy to the French. After touring the remains of the castle, we visited its 12th century church. The weather is perfect, and I think I could spend a week in this charming little place.Read more

  • France’s Finest
    1
    Day 8

    Palace of Versailles

    September 25, 2018 in France ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    The Palace of Versailles began as a hunting lodge for King Louis XIV, but by the time of his grandson it had become the most luxurious and opulent residence in the Western World. The Hall of Mirrors where Woodrow Wilson signed the treaty ending World War I, the public and private bedrooms of three generations of French royalty, and the many rooms of state have been restored to their original, fantastic conditions. Add to all of this the palatial gardens surrounding the palace and one has a heavenly paradise on earth. More poignant, however, is the story of Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette, who became victims of a French Revolution whose violence eventually devoured its own sons. It ultimately succumbed to Napoleon, who declared himself Emperor, and re-created the class of nobility that the Revolution had attempted to erase.Read more

  • France’s Finest
    Day 8

    Chateau de Malmaison

    September 25, 2018 in France ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    Napoleon Bonaparte and his new wife Josephine bought this house as their private residence shortly after their marriage. They lived here from 1799 until 1802. At that time Napoleon had not crowned himself as Emperor of France. In fact, officially he was little more than a captain in the French army. For this reason the house is not as opulent as are the palaces and official residences which French governments provided for their kings and their Emperor. However, after their divorce, Napoleon gave this house to Josephine as her permanent residence. Many of the furnishings have been returned to the house, and curators have attempted to evoke the style of the period. The first effort to restore the house was mounted by Napoleon III, the nephew of the famous Corsican. I had always wondered about the name of this building, understanding that “mal maison” literally means “bad house.” There are at least two theories about how the house got its name. The moniker may have come from the presence of Viking raiders in the area in the ninth century. Thus, the house became known as the “bad house.” One other possibility is that a building at this location was used as a hospital during an outbreak of the plague. Since so many died here, the place became known as the “bad house.” Either way, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit here. Tomorrow we will leave the Viking Rinda to board a high speed train that will take us to Lyon for the second leg of our journey through France’s Finest.Read more

  • France’s Finest
    1
    Day 9

    At the Gare Lyon

    September 26, 2018 in France ⋅ ☀️ 46 °F

    We are waiting at the Lyons Train Station for the High-Speed train to Lyon. The TGV trains in France are remarkable. They zip along at over 200 mph and offer every amenity needed. We are hanging out at Costa Coffee until the train takes us to the next leg of the journey.Read more

  • France’s Finest
    Day 9

    First Afternoon in Lyon

    September 26, 2018 in France ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    How exciting to be in Lyon, France’s fastest growing city! Now it is number 3, behind Paris and Marseille, but right now Lyon and Bordeaux are both increasing in population and commerce faster than most other cities in Europe. Despite its recent growth, Lyon is still part of Provence, and it still retains that quiet, slower-paced life that eludes city dwellers. There are two universities here and a bicycle path that stretches from Germany to the Mediterranean Sea. In some ways Lyon has been the gateway between Germany and France, at least as far as culture, art, and politics are concerned. We are safely onboard our new home, the Viking Delling, and are looking forward to visiting the old city tomorrow.Read more

  • France’s Finest
    Day 10

    Morning in Lyon

    September 27, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F

    From the Romans to the Nazis, Lyon has been an integral part of the history of France. This very liveable city has all of the advantages of Paris without the hassles. The city was here before the Romans made it their capital of Gaul. I have long wanted to come here because it was the seat of the episcopacy of one of the early Church Fathers, Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon. Reluctant to support the French Revolution of 1789, Lyon was erased from the map by Rebespierre. Napoleon restored it and enriched it by making it a textile center. We saw a demonstration of silk weaving on a two-hundred-year-old jacquard loom. During WW II the city was part of the Vichy government. Many pass-throughs called trabels enabled the resistance to defeat the Germans. SS officer Claus Barbee was tried and imprisoned here for war crimes. Now Lyon is France’s fastest growing city.Read more

  • France’s Finest
    Day 10

    The Medieval Town of Pérouges

    September 27, 2018 in France ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Until the middle of the fifteenth century the medieval town of Pérouges was destroyed and rebuilt countless times. Since then the town has remained the same. It was an overnight stop for travelers going from Switzerland or Germany until the construction of the railroad in the middle of the nineteenth century. Then the town simply fell asleep with only eight inhabitants at the beginning of the twentieth century. The lovely old medieval town was rediscovered and restored. About 1000 people live there now, and it typifies everything beautiful about medieval France.Read more

  • France’s Finest
    Day 11

    The Hill of Fleurie in Beaujolais

    September 28, 2018 in France ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    Hill of Fleurie in Beaujolais boasts some of the best vineyards in France. The French do not regard the Beaujolais nouveau highly. George LeBoeuf vineyards simply produces and sells it quickly to make money. Other crus of the Beaujolais region are far superior to the Beaujolais nouveau, which our guide called a “catastrophe.” It is remarkable that the varied soil here makes it possible to produce 18 different types of wine from one type of grape, the gamay.Read more

  • France’s Finest
    Day 11

    Regnie Durette in Beaujolais

    September 28, 2018 in France ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    The smallest vineyard in Beaujolais makes great grapes. Brouilly is the strongest of the wines of Beaujolais. The grape roots must fight their way through the underground rock, and the wine is aged longer. At our wine tasting we found it delicious. We were at the Chateau des Ravatys, the Domaine of l’Institute Pasteur. This vineyard, strangely, is characterized as a “charity.” It was founded by a nurse in the early twentieth century. It does not export or market its wines outside the estate. However, it produces such fine wines that oenophiles throughout the world subscribe annually to receive cases of its product, and it sells a small amount here at the vineyard store. All profits that are not reinvested into the winemaking operation are used to support the local hospital.Read more

  • France’s Finest
    Day 11

    Chateau de Flecheres

    September 28, 2018 in France ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    Two men decided they would buy a sixteenth century château and restore it. Buying it was not a problem, but restoring it has taken a lifetime. The previous owner, a member of the French mafia, destroyed some of the fabric of the building and many of the records. The sixteenth century owners became Protestants, and for many years this chateau served as the meeting place for French Huguenots. Now the building is beautiful, but the new owners are still furnishing it. Some of the elaborate pieces have simply vanished in the mists of history. A parquet floor, once stolen from the house has been recovered. It shows the former opulence of the place. Nevertheless, the house is lovely, and the current owners are to be commended for their efforts. After the tour the owner treated us to a torte and champagne in the main parlor. What a delightful afternoon!Read more

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