Archive for 'Curiosities in France'

France is not necessarily the first place one might think of if interested in surfing. However, if you've been dreaming of a vacation in France but also want to catch some waves during your holiday downtime then there are some great coastal destinations and beautiful seaside towns that are ideal for days in the surf while also enjoying the natural beauty, rich culture, delicious food, great wine, and more that France has on offer...     Read More

You know Sleeping Beauty's castle from the Disney logo, the one that appears at the beginning of all of those iconic films that so defined many of our childhoods? Well, it actually exists in real life and is perhaps even more beautiful in person. If you want to bring a slice of fairytale magic into your own life and your next holiday and to see this impossibly pretty architectural gem with your own eyes, then start browsing our vacation rentals in France...

In the most scenic and magical of settings that one could possibly imagine, the Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard is perched 200m above the lovely Lake Annecy on a rocky outcrop, offering commanding views over the surrounding landscape and framed picturesquely by hills, snow-capped Alpine peaks, and woods. On misty mornings as the cream-coloured walls and pretty pointed turrets are shyly revealed, the approach to the castle seems like a road right out of our own world and onto the pages of a storybook. Discover our holiday rentals in Annecy now and get planning your trip to this mesmerising corner of the globe.     Read More

A trip to Nice may be a bit away yet but if you have been browsing our incredible vacation rentals in Nice and are looking ahead to your next holiday in this stunning city on the French Riviera, then why not bring a little bit of it into your kitchen to help tide you over? The easiest way to recreate memories of a place, or to get a literal taste of what a visit may be like, is to make a typical dish of the region to enjoy at home in the comfort and safety of your kitchen. If you're talking about Nice, then one of the most obvious dishes of the city that first comes to mind is the somewhat controversial salade niçoise. A traditional French favourite that is now served all over the world, it is a dish that people have incredibly strong opinions on and are very passionate about, with traditionalists and innovators alike arguing about the exact ingredients that should be used and how exactly it should be prepared.

Salade niçoise, known as niçoise salad in English or la salada nissarda in the Niçard dialect of the Occitan language, is traditionally made of tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, Niçoise olives, and anchovies or tuna and is then dressed with olive oil. Described as, "one of the best combinations of salad ingredients ever invented," by Delia Smith and, "the finest summer salad of all," by Gordon Ramsay, it dates back to at least the 19th century. The version known in Nice at this time was made up of just tomatoes, anchovies, and olive oil and, like so many of both France and Italy's most beloved dishes, comes from peasant food traditions, being described in the late 19th century as, "simple food for poor people".     Read More

If you have found a vacation rental in Paris and end up making your way to the beautiful Musée Rodin, you will likely be visiting with the intention to view the extraordinary works of that artist to whom the museum is dedicated and for whom it is named. However, many do not realise, until they get to the museum, that there are lots of other fascinating works of art and exceptional artists who are represented by the collection. In fact, you may be surprised to stumble across other rather famous names in addition to Rodin, such as Van Gogh.

Unlikely a work that many are immediately familiar with but a telling and beautiful example from the artist's oeuvre and readily recognisable as the distinct style of Van Gogh, the work, “Portrait of Père Tanguy” (1887) is today's Art Focus and a piece that we recommend seeking out in the Musée Rodin. Executed in attractive and bright pastel tones, the portrait of this gentleman is set against a backdrop of the Japanese prints that he sold, which were also hugely influential on Van Gogh's work and a great passion of the artist's. This piece, therefore, can be seen as a visualisation of this great inspiration and fascination of his as well as a serene and beautiful portrait of, and tribute to, one of the first art dealers to ever sell Van Gogh's work and someone whose friendship Van Gogh greatly valued. In fact, it is just one of three portraits that the artists painted of him and one of two portraits of Tanguy by Van Gogh that are on display in the Musée Rodin.     Read More