Name of the brand outside the Dior store
15
Apr
2022

Enjoy The Full Dior Experience At Galerie Dior On Vacation In France

Posted in: Activities Food and Wine Museums & Galleries Must See Attractions Restaurants & Cafés Shopping Tourist Attractions

A few years ago, while attending London Fashion Week, this writer was lucky enough to find enough time to go see the Dior retrospective at the V&A Museum. Having just missed its stint in the brand’s home town of Paris due to the impossible queues there, it was even more thrilling. The museum was open late to accommodate the even greater number of crowds drawn by the exhibition and I milled through line of excited people leading to the entrance. Inside, it was even more than I had imagined: a sprawling, wonderful, multicoloured, powerful tribute to this iconic heritage label that followed from its very origins to where it has come and what it has become today. Many were not quite so fortunate, however, and were not able to get the chance to see the exhibition in any of the cities around the globe in which it temporarily made its home. If you happen to be among this number and you were considering finding a vacation rental in Paris or a holiday rental in France and spending a day exploring the stunning capital, then you should know that you now have a chance to make up for it! This archive of incredible design and more now has a permanent home in the reopened flagship store at the brand’s historic address at 30 Avenue Montaigne. So, no matter when you plan a vacation in France moving forwards, you can come and admire the incredible history of the brand, perhaps do some shopping if that is in your budget, and indulge in some very chic and delicious treats at the new café in the building or go for a full Dior dining experience in the Dior restaurant - all under one roof!

—    Colette Fitzpatrick

Domaine Du Rayol: A Must-See Garden On Vacation In Provence

Posted in: Food and Wine Must See Attractions Parks & Gardens Pretty Views Restaurants & Cafés Tourist Attractions
Provence is famous for her lavender and sunflowers and lush rolling fields, for the Alps towering comfortingly in the background and meadows full of wildflowers between snow-capped peaks, for impossibly blue waters lapping gorgeous beaches and framed by fragrant Mediterranean greenery. The region is home to endless historic homes and excellent parks and wonderful gardens, in addition to this amazing natural and agricultural bounty that blankets the area. Among all of the gardens of Provence, however, the Domaine du Rayol stands out as one of the more unique and special examples of this wonderful marriage of manmade and natural beauty. If you are a fan of gardens or pretty views (or great food) and you have found a holiday rental in Provence, then it is certainly a must-see!

Domaine du Rayol (also known as the Jardin botanique du Rayol and the Parc botanique à Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer) is a botanical garden and arboretum that is located in the commune of Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer, right on the coast. Listed as a Remarkable Garden of France by the Committee of Parks and Gardens of the Ministry of Culture of France, it is the most famous attraction in the area and a wonderful place to spend some time, wandering around, admiring plants from all over the globe in one destination while on holiday in Provence.
—    Colette Fitzpatrick

The Family And Michelin-starred Restaurant That Owe Their Existence To Melons

Posted in: Curiosities Food and Wine Must See Attractions Products & Specialities Restaurants & Cafés
Back in 1866, a family business was established in Cavaillon, France, selling Cavaillon melons at the entrance to the city. These melons are spherical and slightly smaller than the standard cantaloupe. The exterior has a pale gold skin with bluish-green vertical striping running from end to end and orange inner flesh with an intense floral yet tropical aroma and a very high sugar content. Available from mid-summer to fall, the fruit comes from Cavaillon and is a much-celebrated local product with special designation status. It can only be called a Cavaillon Melon if it is grown in Provence or in a part of the Durance valley and must be grown by farmers that belong to the product’s official association. Beloved of its hometown, statues, paintings, annual festivals, and a 9-ton melon sculpture at the entryway to the town all mark what it means to locals.

This beloved local melon can also be thanked for birthing the town’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, Maison Prévôt. This restaurant, which goes completely melon-themed for five months of the year, owes its origins to a trip to Paris in 1977, when Jean-Jacques Prévôt, chef and founder of Maison Prévôt broke down in the south of France, just outside Cavaillon.
—    Colette Fitzpatrick
Old Port of Marseille
10
May
2019

Enjoy The Views, Surroundings, Eateries, And Atmosphere Of The Old Port Of Marseille

Posted in: Curiosities Food and Wine Must See Attractions Pretty Views Restaurants & Cafés Tourist Attractions
The Old Port of Marseille is one of those romantic and perfectly scenic spots that makes for lifelong memories and magic moments. If you have found a vacation rental in Marseille, you should definitely set aside some time to visit this must-see star of the city and to go wander, experience all that it has to offer the discerning tourist, maybe grab a bite or a drink, and, ideally, time it to take in the sunset over this historic part of this city in France, the boats clustered around, and the glittering waters.

Located at the end of the Canebière, the main street of Marseille, the pedestrianised area that is the Old Port has been the natural harbour of the city since antiquity and remains a spiritual hub of Marseille as one of its most iconic areas. When the city was first founded by Greek settlers in 600BC, they originally built up their settlement around what is now the Old Port. It was the centre of maritime activity until the 19th century when new harbour moles, quays and docks were built to the north-west of the city, eventually resulting in the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille. While the Old Port was left in ruins after bombing by the Nazis in World War II, it has since been restored and is now a marina and a terminal for local boat trips, as well as a local fish market. In 2013, it was largely pedestrianised and renovated extensively under Michel Desvigne Paysagistes, with Foster and Partners following an international competition.
—    Colette Fitzpatrick

10 Of The Cutest Cafés In Nice 2019 II

Posted in: Food and Wine Restaurants & Cafés Top 10 Lists
The beautiful seaside gem of Nice has lots to see and do and is the kind of pretty place with surprises around every corner that is just made for getting a little lost and wandering around: who knows what you might stumble upon?! However, especially in the summer months, all that exploring can leave you tired, parched, too hot, and in need of a sit-down before you head back out for round two. To help you regain your energy so you can see more of the city, we have put together a list of ten of the cutest cafés around that are the best places to relax and grab a coffee or a snack to keep you going. If you have found a vacation rental in Nice, these are more of the cafés that you need to know about...

6. Bao.Lab, 39 Rue Pastorelli

Bao.Lab is a bright and cosy space that offers a menu of healthy bites, cakes, pastries, and a wide selection of coffees, teas, and other drinks. With big windows, white walls, light wood tables and chairs, and leafy plants, it is a light-filled place that is ideal for relaxing as you go about your day.
—    Colette Fitzpatrick