         
[Photo: ©
Cold Spring Press 2000-2010]
FRANCE
On
Your Own ©
is
pleased to offer this page of interesting offerings that may be of help
when you are planning your next visit to France. It includes
-
properties for
sale are currently either bed & breakfast accommodations or properties
rented by the week for vacations. In most circumstances, the owners
had their own rooms in the château.
-
a Medieval château
bed & breakfast with weekly self-catering gîtes just south of
the Loire River
-
a magnificent
château in the département of the Vendée that sleeps
up to 55 guests
-
an exquisite 10-bedroom
château in the Creuse near Aubusson, move-in ready
-
a small château near the River Creuse at a great price!
-
a well-loved and cared for château in Brittany just outside of a
famous village
-
Fractional Ownership
of fine Paris apartments
-
a
Retreat to France for Women this May! Read about it below!
-
elegant note cards
with pen and ink drawings of French châteaux ~ for yourself or as
a gift for others
-
truly easy online
booking for hotels in Paris and other French cities ~ at great discounts!
-
modern and lovely
apartments for rent in Paris' best neighborhoods
-
personal guide
for historic walks in Paris
-
accommodations
accompanied by creative workshops in Provence
We hope you find
just what you are looking for in our MARKETPLACE!
Although
we are very selective about the offerings we accept for this page, we regret
that
we
cannot guarantee satisfaction nor be held responsible for any transactions
between parties to these ads.
To
place an ad in MARKETPLACE,
click to email us: advertise@franceonyourown.com
France
Travel For Women – A Unique Retreat for Women
May 28 – June 3, 2012
“Have joy and peace in
the temple of your senses.”

Summary
of retreat details:
Cost per person: $2950 -
The Retreat Package includes 6 nights lodging (see accommodations below),
all breakfasts, two dinners, labyrinth walks, two private guided
tours of Paris and Chartres, private, chauffeur-driven transport
to Giverny Gardens and Monet’s house, entrance fees to Monet’s house and
gardens, fabulous evening cruise on the Seine in Paris, daily centering,
guided conversations and focused activities.
-
When:Arrive
Paris on Monday, May 28- Depart Chartres by train for Paris, Sunday, June
3, 2012
-
Where:
Paris for two nights in a three star hotel, then depart in a private van
with driver for a day at Monet’s House and Gardens in Giverny, and on to
Chartres, France for four nights.
-
For Whom:Women
who want to experience the transformational blend of beauty, heart and
spirit in a uniquely planned retreat in France. Limited to 6 women.
-
Why:
To celebrate in a very special way a new decade in your life, acknowledge
an important transition, or treat yourself to well-deserved time away from
your daily routine and responsibilities.
Please contact Barbara (barb@barbarababkirk.com)
or Susanna (susanna@susannaliller.com)
with
your questions about this retreat for women.
P-042012
MAKE YOUR
RESERVATIONS ONLINE. . .
with EasyToBook.com
EasyToBook.com
would like you to visit their web site. EasyToBook is the booking
service for hotels that offers the best discounts making online hotel reservations
simple, easy and secure giving the traveler access to a vast choice of
carefully-selected and superb discounted hotels. The site offers thousands
of discounted rooms, all of which may be booked (and canceled) instantly.
No waiting!

Save
money because every hotel room offered is guaranteed to have the
best rate available on the Internet; you pay no reservation fee and have
a wide choice of fine hotels in Paris as well as throughout France and
elsewhere in Europe and the world ~ at all price levels from 1 to
5 stars! And, because there are no 3rd and 4th parties involved in
your reservation, the hotels can provide the lowest rates through EasyToBook.com.
What makes
EasyToBook.com your best choice for online booking? One thing might
be the Dutch approach of high quality customer service. Your satisfaction
is their goal. They designed their web site to be easy to find on
the Internet, easy to use and to contain accurate information about hotels,
their surroundings and local tourist attractions.
For
example, EasyToBook was one of the first companies to use Google Maps and
provides customers with 360 degree pictures to give a total view of the
hotel and the room. This avoids customer disappointment later.
Since the founding of the company in 2004, it has expanded yearly, moved
the head office to Switzerland in 2006, and it has plans to cover the world
very soon.
Just
because you can receive the best discounted rate doesn't mean the hotels
on EasyToBook.com aren't high quality accommodations. Here are two
examples:
The Millennium
Hôtel Opéra Paris on boulevard Haussmann is a 4-star hotel:
 
The Hôtel
Château Les Crayères just east of Paris in the Marne is a
5-star property:
 
Please
be sure to visit EasyToBook's France hotels pages using the following links:
Paris
Hotels
Hotels
in France
Nice
Hotels
Bordeaux
Hotels
and tell them
FRANCE
On Your Own sent you!
P063011
FRENCH
CHÂTEAU NOTE CARDS 
These luxurious,
ivory-colored classical note cards present our exclusive pen and ink drawings
of magnificent château chambres d'hôtes in France.
An assortment of twelve with matching envelopes will provide you with a
unique and elegant
way to drop
a few lines to friends or to express yourself with a distinctive thank
you message. Our cards also make very thoughtful and original gifts.
See our prices below which include postage and handling.
Three of the
twelve cards (châteaus Canisy, Motte and Foulon) are
shown above.
The actual
size of each card when folded is 5 1/2" wide by 4 1/4" high
(14 cms wide
by 10 3/4 cms high), printed on beautiful matte finish card stock.
They are blank
inside, and the name of the château
represented
on the face of the card is indicated on the back.
$15.50 to
the United States / packet of 12 assorted cards includes first class
postage and handling.
$16.00
to
Canada
or Mexico / packet of 12 assorted cards includes first class postage
and handling.
$19.50
to
Europe
/ packet of 12 assorted cards includes air mail postage and
handling.
(Please inquire
about cost to other destinations by email to watercolors@franceonyourown.com)
Check payments:
Mail your check payable to Cold Spring Press with a note providing
your full mailing address to the Post Office Box indicated at the bottom
of this page. For payments by non-US dollar
check, please add 5% to the total amount.
Credit card
payments: click on the PayPal icon below. Please provide your
full mailing address.
"Make payments
with PayPal. It's fast, easy and secure!"
Currently,
please
allow for 2 weeks to receive your cards from the date your order is received
by FRANCE On Your Own. If you need the cards in less time,
please contact us at watercolors@franceonyourown.com
for availability and express shipping costs.
If your
complete mailing address is not provided and we do not receive an email
address to contact you, we will not be able to ship your cards. Thank
you in advance for remembering!
CSP1231
5 Fine
Châteaux for Sale!
Château
near the River Creuse
for
sale at a bargain price!!
A magnificent
14th century château ideal for a B&B or weekly rental
This beautiful
château in the Vienne of western France sits high upon a wooded
bluff over the River Creuse with stunning panoramic views of the countryside.
Testament to the fact that this has been a sacred site for over 5000 years
is a megalith standing in front of the château. The château
itself can be traced to an earlier castle located here in the eleventh
century, while the current structure primarily dates back to the fourteenth
century when it was home to the Chamberlain to King Louis XI.
Nearby La Roche-Posay has been a renowned spa town since Roman times, and
the château's own well is fed from the same aquifer.
Its
new owners will appreciate the lovely gardens surrounding the château
and will enjoy the swimming pool, with underwater lighting for use at any
hour, offering both privacy and views over the peaceful countryside.
It is a model of thoughtful restoration including the most modern of facilities
such as heated floors and a well-equipped modern kitchen -- all achieved
by its British and American owners without sacrificing any of the historic
integrity of the building. Guests will experience the medieval mood
of the château expressed in massive stone walls, huge fireplaces,
heavily-beamed ceilings and a stone spiral staircase uniting the four stories
of the château. The château offers five double bedrooms,
a large family room with an additional four beds, a fully-equipped kitchen
with dishwasher, and a spacious living/dining room. The master bedroom,
with valley views, even has a Jacuzzi and private access to the East Terrace.

Two of
the lovely bedrooms at the château
The
location of the château is important as well. Halfway between
the Loire Valley city of Tours and the historic city of Poitiers, it is
ideally positioned near the beautiful Creuse River. Historic sites
are abundant in the region, including the prehistoric museum at nearby
Le Grand Pressigny, the medieval frescoes at the abbey at St-Savin, and
the ruins of the château at Angles-sur-l'Anglin. Those traveling
with children (and even those without children) will thoroughly
enjoy a visit to nearby Futuroscope, the popular high-tech theme park.
A bit farther afield is the seaside town of La Rochelle, delightful to
visit and perfect for a grand seafood dinner.
This property
would be an ideal investment, whether a private residence or rental property.
For price, details and further information, please contact us at info@au-chateau.com
and mention Vienne Château.
Breton
Château ~ Lovingly Cared
for
and Move-in Ready
Perfect Location near
Popular Historic village ~ Grand Vistas from the Château
In the
département of the Morbihan in southern Brittany this authentic
sixteenth and seventeenth century listed château is waiting for a
new owner. It is an imposing granite structure dominating the
petite
Vallée de l'Arz near the most delightful medieval village -
once you visit there you will return again and again.
The
château was the property of a powerful family since the 16th century,
and became the property in 1989 of a young man who dreamed of owning it
since he was 8 years old. He initially spent six months making renovations,
personally taking charge of the interior design, selecting fabrics and
furniture, and choosing the subtle lighting which underscores the beauty
of the décor. In the years that followed, many renovations,
upgrades and improvements have been made, turning this château into
one of the most popular destinations in Brittany for those seeking a quality
bed and breakfast accommodation with the option of taking dinner in the
elegant dining room.
Eight
double en suite bedrooms, and grounds that comprise twenty hectares of
lawns, woods and gardens, make this château the perfect opportunity
for someone to move in and immediately begin hosting guests. The
prehistoric megaliths found on the site and the ancient chapel make it
all the more interesting for guests and owners alike.
This
château is an ideal base for a wide variety of regional activities.
Ferry trips to islands in the Baie de Quiberon such as Brittany's largest,
Belle -Île, or day trips to the region's numerous beaches and picturesque
fishing ports are only some of the things to do and see in the area.
The Morbihan is peppered with megalithic sites, the most famous of which
is Carnac within an easy drive of the château, considered one
of the world's most important prehistoric sites with over 3,000 menhirs
and an excellent museum, Musée de Préhistoire. Nearby
is the medieval town of Josselin and its Château de Josselin dating
from 1407, as well as Vannes, a city steeped in history as far back
as 56 BC when Caesar's troops defeated its Armorican tribe and where you
can visit the medieval streets around rue de la Monnaie, the 13th century
Cathédrale St-Pierre, or the 15th century Château Gaillard
housing the Musée d'Archéologie du Morbihan.
Make
this your property in France, and welcome guests from around to world who
are seeking elegant accommodations in one of the most interesting regions
of France. For detailed information and the asking price of
the château, please contact us at info@franceonyourown.com
with Breton Château in the subject line.
ELEVENTH
CENTURY FRENCH CHÂTEAU FOR SALE
with Gîtes
and Bed & Breakfast accommodations
In
the
tourist-rich Loire Valley, on the banks of a tributary of the Loire, is
this amazing Medieval château with four self-catering gîtes
and a lovely bed and breakfast, too! For those interested in living
in luxury while operating a successful and enjoyable business, this château
is perfect! Currently, a French/English speaking couple are the very
capable on site managers.
 
THE GRAND FIREPLACE AND DINING HALL
The
11th century château, gîtes and B&B sit on over 5 hectares
of beautiful property, complete with gardens and a heated swimming pool
open from May to October. The château can accommodate up to
14 people in its five spacious guest rooms, and has a dining hall fit for
a king! In fact, Kind Henri IV was a guest here in 1576!

COTTAGES
AND SWIMMING POOL
Guests
of the château will find the area abundant in things to do and see.
They will enjoy late medieval and Renaissance art and culture at the nearby
Château d'Angers which is famous for its tapestries of the Apocalypse
and Mille Fleurs gobelin tapestries. The amazing Abbaye de Fontevraud
is not far away, nor is the wonderful Château de Saumur and nearby
riding center. Wine lovers will enjoy the appellations and vineyards
of Anjou as well as visiting the grand castles of the Loire.

SUITE HENRI
IV
In addition
to the château itself accommodating ten adults and four children
in 5 guest rooms, the bed and breakfast lodges ten+ people in 4 suites
and 1 double guest room; and the four holiday cottages/gîtes
will accommodate up to a total of 20 people who are looking for self-catering
holidays on the grounds of a magnificent château. The cottages
and bed & breakfast are elegant and comfortable with parquet and stone
floors, beamed ceilings and spaciousness and include underfloor heating,
air conditioning, satellite television, telephones, and, upon request,
Internet connections. All modern comforts are provided.
Guests
can come for rejuvenation and wellness treatments at the château
as well. There is an infra-red sauna, a Jacuzzi, and massage showers.
Currently operating to full capacity, groups can take the entire property
for special celebrations, friend and family reunions or group wine tasting
visits.
For
those interested in learning more about purchasing this property, serious
inquiries should be sent to info@franceonyourown.com,
please put 'Loire Château' in the subject line. We can
provide further photos, more details about the property, and sale price.
We look forward to hearing from you!
[Copyrighted
photos courtesy of the château owner. All rights reserved.]
CX2-1231
An Exquisite
Château near Aubusson
*** Substantial
Price Reduction !! ***

The
Creuse département of France's Limousin region draws those
seeking fine porcelain in Limoges, exquisite tapestries in Aubusson, and,
as it is a land of natural beauty and tranquility, the ideal locale for
a relaxing and memorable holiday. Set in the scenic foothills of
the Massif Central, the Creuse is hilly and wooded with lakes and
rivers in abundance ~ and, it is an angler's paradise. Lac de Vassivière
is one of Europe's largest man-made water sports complexes offering 1100
hectares for swimming, snorkeling, wind-surfing, sailing, speed boating,
water skiing and fishing.
In 2008
this exquisite château opened its doors to guests following three
years of extensive restoration, and it was renamed after a prominent Aubusson
family who kept the tapestry manufacture alive during the trying times
of the Empire and Restoration periods.
 
The welcoming
entry hall, restaurant with magnificent fireplace, château
passageway
The château
has been painstakingly renovated, and all efforts were made to retain the
period features of the residence. The basement houses the kitchen,
banquet hall and wine cellars. The ground floor features the Grand
Salon with a stunning period fireplace and high ceilings, the Conservatory
for breakfast, the Petit Salon for quiet times and reading, a Billiards
room, and the Restaurant for the enjoyment of gourmet cuisine in a classical
setting.

Two of the
ten en suite bedrooms at the château
A château
such as this with ten large suites, all with en suite bathrooms, five of
which are on the first floor - luxurious rooms with high ceilings,
and five more spacious and refined guest suites on the second floor - is
the perfect château for renting, chambres d'hôtes, or
as the private residence of a large and active family. [Furnishings not
included.]
Today,
the château is being offered for sale. As you will see in these
photographs, it is a truly unique and inviting. This sophisticated
and elegant residence needs nothing more than for a new owner to move in.
For
information please send an email to publisher@franceonyourown.com
and put 'Creuse Château' in the subject line. Merci!
CX3-1231
XIX CENTURY
FRENCH CHÂTEAU FOR SALE

In
the département of the Vendée in western France, with easy
access to the Atlantic shore, a beautiful 19th century château is
now for sale. Currently used as a family residence and bed &
breakfast, the château shares its 13 hectares of parkland (32.5 acres)
with three small rental cottages, a longère recently completely
renovated as a 'dortoir' with facilities for conferences, seminars, weddings
and other large gatherings, a heated swimming pool, horse stables and a
SwinGolf course.
The château
not only provides private accommodations for its resident owners, but it
offers two double guest rooms, one twin guest room and two suites, all
with en suite bathrooms, for guests, as well as a formal dining room, finely-detailed
classical French interiors, exquisite stained glass and other unique attributes.
The château is in excellent, move-in condition. The total
capacity of the château, cottages and longère is 40 persons.
 
STAINED
GLASS, HEATED POOL, CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE
Nearby are
many tourist attractions, including the historic city of Nantes (a half
hour drive from the Château and two hours from Paris via TGV), Le
Logis de la Chabotterie (historic castle of the Vendéen War) fishing,
hunting, museums, son et lumière spectacle at Puy de Fou,
the seaside resort of St Jean-de-Monts, La Roche-sur-Yon, the
Île de Noirmoutier, and the Marais de Challans.
AERIAL VIEW
OF CHÂTEAU AND DEPENDENCIES
[Entrance
road to estate is at top left center of photo]
The château
and its dependencies generate a very substantial annual income for its
owners, while maintenance costs and taxes are very low.
Those with
a serious interest in the possible purchase of this château can contact
us at info@franceonyourown.com,
(please indicate Vendée Château in the subject line)
and we will be happy to provide more details, photos and price information.
We promise a prompt response to all inquiries.
CX4-1231
PARIS FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP &
BEAUTIFUL
PARIS APARTMENT RENTALS
Glenn Cooper of Rentals
in Paris can help you find the perfect Paris apartment. Glenn
has lived in Paris for 18 years and worked with many clients to buy their
own Paris pied-a-terre worry free. His inside knowledge of
Paris real estate and how one gets things done in Paris has helped him
to grow his apartment hunting service over a number of years.
Fractional
Ownership

Fractional
Ownership available for this Paris Apartment
with a
view of Notre Dame Cathedral
Glenn is now offering buyers
the opportunity to own a fixed yearly period of one of his beautiful ideally-located
Paris apartments. His Fractional Ownership properties are
located on the Île de la Cité and in the Marais. You
can view his web site which presents his fractional ownership properties
at: http://www.paris-fractional-ownership.com
. PLEASE MENTION FRANCE
On
Your Own WHEN CONTACTING GLENN.
For a small fraction of what
a Paris apartment would cost if you purchased the entire property outright,
you can own a lifetime share of a beautiful, perfectly-located Paris apartment
with complete maintenance in place so that you will enjoy the property
in a truly care-free manner. This new concept is perfect for first
time buyers in Paris who really want to go ahead but don't want to be bothered
with all of the day-to-day concerns that property ownership requires.
Apartment
Rentals

Apartments
you can enjoy from Rentals in Paris
His long running Paris rental
business, Rentals in Paris, offers guests beautiful Paris apartments
in perfect Parisian neighborhoods ~ ideal for your next stay in the City
of Light. Guests are offered nicely furnished, completely equipped
quality apartments in the heart of Paris' most popular and centrally-located
neighborhoods: the Marais, Île de la Cité, Saint-Germain-des-Prés,
and the Louvre.
Each apartment ~ and there
are nearly 25 from which to choose ~ is stylishly decorated with amazing
attention to detail. There are queen-sized beds, comfortable sofa-sleepers,
cable television, and beautiful bathrooms. Most have washing machines
and/or clothes dryers and some have air conditioning, high speed Wi-Fi
DSL and telephone lines that include phone calls to the US, Canada, Australia,
and most European countries.
Compare feeling at home in
one of these great apartments to staying in a Paris hotel, and compare
the cost. Guests have discovered why apartments in Paris are a better
solution than Paris hotels in terms of comfort level, space, amenities
and value for money when traveling to France.
One bedroom apartments from
Rentals
in Paris range from 900 to 1200 euros per week or 2700 to 3600 euros
per month, while two bedroom apartments cost from 1400 to 1800 euros per
week and 4000 to 5000 euros per month. You will have the convenience of
your own kitchen and all the other comforts of home. Prices are all
inclusive, with telephone access and weekly linen changes (for monthly
guests) as part of the rate.
All reservations are handled
personally with the added convenience of booking online at the Rentals
in Paris web site at http://www.rentals-paris.com.
An English-speaking staff member greets guests at the apartments in Paris
and is available during your stay. If you have any questions or need anything,
you will always be able to contact a representative in Paris.
For complete details, locations,
and more photos, visit the web site or email your American contact in Paris,
Glenn Cooper, at coopergl@gmail.com.
You can also phone him from the US at 1.516.977.3318. PLEASE
MENTION FRANCE On Your Own
WHEN CONTACTING GLENN.
P-113011
CREATIVE
VACATIONS IN A MEDIEVAL PROVENÇAL VILLAGE:
Maison
d'hôtes with charm offers art, writing and creativity workshops
What if
your dream of a holiday in a heavenly Provençal perched village
could become reality? And what if it offered spacious yet cozy guest
rooms, art or writing classes, or a mix of creative arts including cooking,
wine tasting, language, culture and painting? What if such
a place truly existed and was waiting just for you?
Saignon and Fields of Lavender
Well,
your dreams have been answered! In the dramatic yet peaceful
medieval village of Saignon in the Luberon of Provence you will find La
Maison des Arts et Lettres, a romantic and comfortable home that is
designed to warmly welcome guests. For those interested in painting
with Andrew (classes scheduled May through September), the all inclusive
10-day package for one is $3500 US for a week, for two is $5600 US for
the week, and $1500 US for a non-painting companion. Marcia, your
hostess, conducts writing classes and keeps your appetite satisfied with
fine cuisine and wine.
You and
your fellow students will have daily morning and afternoon sessions, en
plein air with countryside and village scenes to choose from -
in orchards, vineyards or fields of sunflowers, poppies, and lavender.
You may also work with live models in the studio and in the landscape.
You will
receive individual attention in a non-competitive environment, working
at your own pace and level, to develop your skills, discover new aspects
of your talent, and refine your perception of the world.
Around noon,
you'll break to share questions and ideas over a copious lunch of seasonal
specialties, with local wines, cheeses and freshly baked bread.
Field trips
will take you to places that inspired Van Gogh and Cezanne; to Roman bridges
~ both famous and forgotten; to gardens and chateaux. You can up your experience
with an optional cooking class, wine-tasting at a vintner's, or an accompanied
visit to one of Province's lively outdoor markets.
To top
off the week, we will host a reception to show off your chosen works to
local art lovers in our ancient vaulted gallery space.

Artists at Work
For
those interested in something other than painting, perhaps just unwinding
and enjoying the beautiful Luberon, you can be a guest at La Maison which
offers weekly self-catering rentals. You have a choice of
a three-bedroom, three-bath apartment for six or seven at 1700 euros per
week, a suite for 4 at 1000 euros per week, a studio for two at 595 euros,
or a one-bedroom apartment for a two or three people at 650 euros per week.
All come with thoughtful amenities such as hair dryers, scented bath products,
a coffee maker, CD player, Wi-Fi and more.
Your bilingual
(English and French) hosts, Marcia and Andrew will make you feel right
at home. The village is located amid the lavender, poppies and sunflowers
of a regional park in the magical Luberon, only four kilometers from the
market town of Apt. La Maison des Arts et Lettres was once
part of the ramparts of this medieval village, but today, recently renovated,
it offers tranquil rooms overlooking the Place de l'Horloge and
is a short walk to the Place de la Fontaine, the village's center
of activity. Guests will appreciate the original features of the
building such as the chemin du ronde, the catwalk soldiers used
to keep watch over the valley below, and the base of the old signal tower.
Vaulted stone cellars from the tenth century are now home to a wine tasting
cave and an art gallery.

Lovely
Guest Accommodations
Regional
attractions are not far, with Avignon a mere 45 minutes (home to the Palais
du Pape on the Rhône) as well as the famed Cours Mirabeau in
Aix-en-Provence. Famous Luberon hill villages like Gordes and Roussillon
are just minutes away. A bit farther afield, but not out of easy
reach, are Nîmes, Arles, Orange and Vaison-la-Romaine. Your
hosts will be more than happy to help you plan your daily itinerary to
make the most of your stay.
Past guests
have given rave reviews after their stays. "Almost Heaven!..."
"Far more like staying with friends than staying at an inn..." "We
had an absolutely amazing four days..." and "I felt like Cinderella...it
was a totally sublime stay." You, too, can experience La
Maison des Arts et Lettres, as a guest who just wants to relax and
soak up the Provençal warmth and fragrances, or as a participant
in painting, art or other casual creative pastimes.
For
more information on the Painting courses, Creative Workshops or to inquire
about guest reservations at La
Maison des Arts et Lettres for
a week or longer, send an email to info@franceonyourown.com.
CX1231
HISTORIC
STROLLS IN PARIS
Paris Through
the Ages offers
a series of seventeen strolls to help you discover little-known facts about
the City of Light (and two guided tours outside the city) which will be
revealed to you in a most entertaining and enlightening manner by Arthur
Gillette. He knows Paris. Arthur is an American graduate of Harvard
(Magna Cum Laude in French language and literature) with a doctorate from
the University of Massachusetts. He has lived in Paris since 1958
and for many years was an official at the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) head quartered in Paris. At UNESCO
he was Editor-in-Chief of Museum International magazine.
You can
just imagine what a stroll with Arthur Gillette will offer you! As
the author of the Paris Through the Ages series of nine pocket
map-guides, and an expert on Paris and her monuments, your time
could not be better spent. Strolls are organized for small groups
(and almost always for a party of family and/or friends) to allow people
to interact and ask questions along the way, focusing on the vestiges of
a single historical period -- in some cases on a single monument. Each
stroll takes from two to two and a half hours and is done at a comfortable
and leisurely pace. The themes of sixteen currently offered strolls
are:
-
1 Lutetia:
Roman Paris
(its arena, baths and more)
-
2 A
Medieval Sampler (Saint
Germain de Prés church, the 13th century Cordeliers monastery refectory,
the Cluny abbots' "townhouse")
-
3 Learning
in Paris
(university and student life in the Latin Quarter between the 12th and
16th centuries)
-
4 The
Wall Route Right Bank (follow
the 12th century rampart from the Louvre to the eastern extremity of the
Medieval city)
-
5 The
Wall Route Left Bank (follow
the 13th century rampart as it wends its way through courtyards, mews and
an underground parking lot!)
-
6 Notre
Dame Cathedral (hear
about some unsolved mysteries surrounding the Grand Old Lady)
-
7 Cradle
of the Capital: Île de la Cité (a
sampling of events that marked Parisian history through 2300 years of uninterrupted
habitation)
-
8 Around
rue de la Huchette: Heart of the Latin Quarter
(architectural reminiscences of Renaissance King François Ier, 19th
century poet Charles Baudelaire, a 16th century Royal Prosecutor, and Napoleon
Bonaparte, as well as the oldest tree in Paris, the intimate 12th-13th
century St. Julien le Pauvre church and other medieval memories)
-
9 The
"Grand Century" on the Île St. Louis (an
intimate round-island look at the architecture and history of some of Paris's
grandest 17th century mansions, including where author James Jones lived
for many years)
-
10 The
Naughty Marais (feats
of derring-do whose ghosts haunt what was once THE place to live in the
French capital)
-
11 Atmosphère
Along The Canal St-Martin -
(A look at what's left of the Bastille's story and reality, the handsome
(!) early 17th century St. Louis plague hospital, and Paris’ main 'inland
waterway' – a strollers’ delight)
-
12 The
Mouffetard Quarter: “Quaint” PLUS
(a highway leaving Paris for Rome 2,000 years ago, rue Mouffetard still
boasts a street market that has functioned since about 1350, not to forget
a public fountain erected by Marie de Medici, the house where Ernest Hemingway
lived in the 1930s and segments of the Medieval city rampart)
-
13 Smiling
Architecture: Parisian Art Nouveau (visit
some of the masterpieces of Guimard, Chédanne, Sauvage and other
Belle Epoque builders) see photo
-
14 Meet
the Marne
- (Along the weeping willow-bordered Marne River banks you'll discover
famed 1900s guinguette dance halls, the Ile of Beauty (where 14th century
Bastille-builder King Charles V loved and died), some crazy turn-of-the-century
houses worthy of Charles Addams, the capital of France's rowing champions
and one of the original Paris Halles (central market) Baltard pavilions,
dismantled and reassembled as a cultural center in the early 1970s.
-
15 Cool,
Clean and Angular – Art Deco Architecture in Paris
(some of the best Parisian samples – Samaritaine department store, Théâtre
des Champs Elysées, Palais de Chaillot, La Coupole Café etc.
- of the movement that inspired such great American creations as
New York's Chrysler Building, with memories of F. Scott Fitzgerald and
Josephine Baker, among other American luminaries)
-
16 19
- 25 August 1944: The Liberation of Paris (military
and political highlights of the "glorious week" -- some grave and others
humorous - pinpointing aspects of American involvement)
-
17 USA
sur Seine
– major Parisian roots of the American Revolution.
-
18 Vaux-le-Vicomte
& Senlis: Day-long
visits to historical high spots near Paris such as the 'predecessor to
Versailles', Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, and Senlis, whose layered
vestiges stretch back 17 centuries, can usually be arranged by prior request.
Car transportation provided as needed.
Reservations
are
necessary, so to schedule your stroll and to obtain prices, contact Arthur
Gillette by Email at armedv@aol.comor
phone him at 33.1.45.34.51.67. Ask how you can
obtain Arthur's Pocket Guides including maps, too!
FX1231
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