Archive for 'Tourist Attractions in France'

While Disneyland is, without a doubt, the most famous theme park in all of France, it is not, by a long shot, the only one. In fact, it is not even necessarily the most interesting theme park you might visit. If you have found a vacation rental in Pays-de-la-Loire and you've had your fill of princesses and iconic characters and rides and are still looking for an interesting theme park to explore, one of the most fascinating that you could ever hope to stumble upon is Puy du Fou.

Puy du Fou is an incredible historical theme park in Les Epesses in the region of Pays-de-la-Loire that attracts 2 million visitors each year. Opened in 1978. originally as an open-air amateur dramatics night wherein volunteers re-enacted the bloody history of the Vendée in the ruins of a castle and is now known for its incredible historic recreation extravaganzas that make use of thousands of actors and animals, astounding sets, mind-blowing special effects and sumptuous costumes. There are no rides and, yet, children that visit are enthralled by the experience and adults, too, are blown away by the scale and magic of being transported back in time.

If you have found yourself a vacation rental in Provence and are looking for things to do in that beautiful part of the world, we would have to suggest a visit to the Fondation Vincent Van Gogh in Arles. This extraordinary gallery and museum is devoted to the life and work of the great Van Gogh and, in particular, his incredibly productive stay in Arles. A permanent collection of works by Van Gogh himself and by other artists in homage to his oeuvre, as well as temporary contemporary art exhibitions, are displayed throughout the museum, which is, in of itself, a rather beautiful work of art. If you're a Van Gogh fan or art lover visiting the area, it is a must-see attraction.

Vincent van Gogh came to live in Arles in 1888, in search of what he described as a “different kind of light” and he must have found it as is period in the city was the most productive of his life. It was then and there that masterpieces such as “Sunflowers” and “The Bedroom” were born. Sadly, few traces of the artist remained in the place that had inspired him so, bar the hospital in which he was treated after the infamous ear incident. To right this shame and reestablish a connection with the artist, a non-profit foundation was established according to Van Gogh's own desire to have an international center of artistic creation and exchange in Arles.

I don't know about you but I, for one, use Instagram as a handy tool to plan trips. Once my destination is set, I simply search hashtags related to the place (e.g. #discoverfrance, #discoverparis etc) or geotags (for specific cities or areas) and start saving things that catch my eye. This is a great way to save art galleries, viewpoints, beautiful buildings, restaurants, bars and more all in one place. Then, if more research is required, I can simply look up the places in question. So far, it has been an incredibly useful tool and has helped me find both secret gems and must-see hotspots, where to grab a bite, what attractions to put on the list, and where to go to simply wander and soak up the unique atmosphere of a destination.

One particularly good destination for a little Instagram detective work is France. A long-time favourite among travellers, with a massive tourism industry, it is really well-documented and snapped for Instagram. It is pretty easy to find photos and accounts specific to an area that you might be interested in but we have compiled a list of some accounts that we are particularly fond of from a few different places around the country to help you get started. If you have always wanted to plan a vacation in France, these are the best French travel Instagram accounts to follow...

This week, I have been discussing the magic of Christmas in Paris and getting a little bit more personal on this blog. Paris is a city that I adore and, in all my visits to the city, I have come to love it most at Christmas. I have only been twice during the festive season but memories of both trips make me want to book a vacation rental in Paris and visit every December to enjoy the particular charms of the city in the run up to the holiday season.

In the last two posts, I recounted the most traditionally romantic experience one could have of the city but in this one I want to talk about my favourite trip to Paris over Christmas.

Of all the times I have visited Paris, those in the run up to the Christmas season have been the most incredible and magical. The city is even more beautiful and charming during the Christmas holidays and there are plenty of practical reasons to find a vacation rental in Paris and plan a December – smaller tourist crowds, especially picturesque, better availability etc – but in these posts I have been reminiscing about my own personal experiences of the festive capital of France and why I think everyone should spend at least one Christmas in the city....