Archive for 'Architectural Gems in France'

Stunning Corsica is a little slice of paradise on earth and is filled with gorgeous towns and landscapes and wee surprises dotted all over the place. One such little surprise that you might find yourself stumbling upon is the Staircase of The King of Aragon (or the Escalier du Roi d’Aragon), an incredible stone stairwell carved out of the side of a cliff in Bonifacio. Steep, striking, and extraordinary, it is one of those unique curiosities about a place that one should pop along to and see for themselves while on holidays. If you have found a vacation rental in Corsica and are seeking out everything wonderful and special and unique about this beautiful island, swing by this rather unusual gem.

In the last post, we introduced the exceptionally beautiful Palais Rohan de Strasbourg, which is a stunning example of French Baroque and a former dwelling of the prince-bishops and the cardinals of the House of Rohan, an ancient French noble family originally from Brittany. Today it is home to three of the city’s most important museums – the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Musée Archéologique, and Musée des Arts Décoratifs – and, as such, is a very important attraction and landmark in the city. If you have found a vacation rental in Alsace and are planning on exploring the lovely city of Strasbourg, it is definitely a must-see, not only for the incredible 18th century palace itself but also for the museums inside and their wonderful collections. Open daily (except Tuesdays) from 10am to 6pm and costing just €4 a piece to visit (or €2 at the reduced rate), they offer worlds of amazing art and design to get lost in at very reasonable price points.

Those who have found a vacation rental in Alsace should definitely set aside some time to go and explore the stunning city of Strasbourg. Over 2,000 years old, it is located in the east of France, on the border between France and Germany. As a border city, it is a mish-mash of different cultural influences and is also UNESCO-awarded and famously lovely. The Old Town is a maze of pretty little streets lined in buildings that represent a variety of different periods and architectural styles from the Middle Ages to the period of the Art Nouveau era and half-timbered houses and explosions of colourful blooms line the waterways located throughout the city. All in all, it is simply utterly picturesque and steeped in history and culture. It is gasp-inducingly pretty and it is well-worth spending a day or two wandering around and taking in all that it has to offer.

One of the most beautiful highlights of this gorgeous place is the Palais Rohan de Strasbourg. A former residence of the prince-bishops and the cardinals of the House of Rohan, which was an ancient French noble family originally from Brittany, it is now one of the city’s most important (if not the most important) landmarks and attractions. Located next to the Cathedral of Strasbourg, it is a masterclass in the French Baroque and an exceptional beauty.

Nice is home to lots and lots of truly beautiful buildings and wonderful architectural gems both in and around the city. There are plenty in the city itself and if you have found a vacation rental in Nice, you don’t have to go far to refresh your eyes and soul with manmade architectural wonders. However, if you fancy experiencing the “around” part of “in and around the city” and venturing a bit further afield then why not go exploring the French Riviera and take a trip to the stunning Villa et Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild, which really does make for a perfectly dreamy daytrip destination.

Home to a rich fine and decorative arts collection located inside a Belle Époque Italian-style palazzo and an incredible surrounding park that boasts nine distinct gardens, this gem on the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is a truly magical place. It was built by the heiress Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild at the beginning of the twentieth century over the course of seven years during which ten different architects were hired and fired in turn, the whole thing eventually came together in perfection and served as her residence and party villa until the 1930s. In her will, it was bequeathed to the Institute de France for use as a fine art museum and today displays over 5,000; from fine furniture to paintings and statuary to porcelain dinnerware.

Those with little ones who are planning a trip to France and who have found a vacation rental in Centre may want to take note of a very particular type of theme park that is located in the region. There are three parks by the name, “Le Château des Enigmes”, or Castle of Riddles. These are old castles that have been reimagined to be used as places for play and fun. Le Château des Enigmes - Val de Loire, or Château de Rocheux, is the branch located in the department of Loir et Cher, 17 km from Vendôme. Here you can explore the beautiful castle and the grounds, go on treasure hunts, try out the escape room, visit the animals on the farm and more. It is the ideal spot for a day out for the whole family, somewhere that younger kids, in particular, will really love!