Few places in the French capital draw the sort of morbid curiosity that the Catacombs of Paris do– and for good reason. The part that’s […]
Touring the Catacombs of Paris (& the Strange History of The Innocents’ Cemetery)
History of Paris
The American Revolution in France: Key Sites to Visit in Paris
Especially since I became a dual Franco-American citizen, I’ve been fascinated by the “dialogic” nature of the American and French Revolutions. By that, I mean […]
The Tour Saint-Jacques: An Enigmatic Treasure in Central Paris
During my early years living in Paris, I passed a nondescript construction site in the city center on a semi-daily basis. Clad with scaffolding and […]
Why to Visit the Victor Hugo House in Paris: An Inside Look
Victor Hugo is a French writer whose presence continues to loom large in the city he called home for much of his life. Best known […]
Some of the Most Beautiful Restaurants in Paris: 5 Stunning Settings
Recent trends in food have tended to de-emphasize the importance of the dining room from an aesthetic point of view– or at least pretend to. […]
Voices from Drancy, one of France’s Most Important Holocaust Memorial Sites
In March of 2020, I made a short trip from Paris that was a long time coming. I boarded a train, then a bus, to […]
France’s Bastille Day Once Celebrated Constitutional Monarchy (& Other Curious Facts)
On July 14th, 2020, there was no grand parade on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées celebrating France’s Bastille Day, for the first time since World War […]
Post-Lockdown, Paris Mayor Publishes Ambitious Green Plan for the City
It doesn’t come as much of a surprise that Anne Hidalgo, the newly re-elected Mayor of Paris, has co-conceived what is likely the most ecologically […]
The Forgotten History of Paris’ Wine Market (Halle aux Vins) & Warehouses
The area around the Quai St-Bernard at the edge of Paris’ Latin Quarter is strikingly contemporary– in contrast to most of the 5th arrondissement, where […]
Inside Le Train Bleu, One of the Most Beautiful Brasseries in Paris
During the heyday of train travel in the late nineteenth to early-twentieth centuries, rail stations in major cities were places where wealthy travelers showed off […]
An Elegant Paris Building– With a Dark History of Nazi Collaboration
On the Place des Petits Pères in central Paris, a sense of calm abounds these days. The Basilique Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church graces the square, and the […]
10 Memorable French Quotes, Followed by a Quiz: Who Said It?
While the art of the witty quotation is often attributed to English-speaking writers and thinkers– from Wilde to Swift– comparable quips in French tend to […]
5 Stunning French Paintings that Depict Paris (& Transport You There)
This week, we framed and hung a new print to liven up a blank wall in our house: an enigmatic painting from Marc Chagall that […]
A Short History of Quarantines in Europe and France
The early spring of 2020 will no doubt take up some space in the history books. It marks a moment that is unprecedented in contemporary […]
Seeking Josephine Baker in Paris: A Bit of History & Places to Visit
When most people think of Josephine Baker, they imagine her dancing in some glamorous Paris venue at the height of the jazz age. While this […]
In Focus: The Musée Carnavalet, a Free Paris Museum Dedicated to the City’s History
Anyone aiming to better understand the long and complex history of the French capital would do well to pay a visit to the Musée Carnavalet […]
The Rebirth of La Samaritaine, an Iconic Parisian Department Store
When news hit in 2005 that one of Paris’ historic department stores was being shuttered, locals reacted with understandable sadness and dismay. After all, since […]
Inside the Wine Museum in Paris (Musée du Vin)
Aside from the humble baguette, there is perhaps no other staple more common in French homes than the bottle of wine. Parisians have the luxury […]
Wandering Paris’ Saint-Germain-des-Prés: What to See & Do?
Put on your Sunday best and head over to Saint-Germain-des-Prés, an upscale Parisian neighborhood with centuries-old literary, revolutionary and artistic roots. Situated on the left […]
Fluctuat Nec Mergitur: Why is it Paris’ Motto, and What Does it Mean?
If you follow Parisian cultural trends with any regularity, you’ve probably seen locals reference the Latin expression “Fluctuat nec mergitur” as the city’s motto. But […]
