Paris Sightseeing Excursions

22/09/2024

I'm going to skip right to my favorite new song:
*One Single Night*
Composed and performed by my daughter Angelina.
The horn arrangements and recordings are mine/me.
All of her songs are available on Spotify, Deezer and Itunes as well.
Thanks for your enthusiastic support 🤩❤️🎷🎶🎵
https://youtu.be/eKJblH2OYLc?si=Je1r5Rq4cWm3bErN

30/12/2021

LASCAUX & THE PAINTED CAVES IN DORDOGNE

One of my first discoveries after leaving Paris and arriving in the Southwest of France was Lascaux.
I’d heard of Lascaux.
Cave paintings. Yeah.
So what’s the big deal?
The big deal is that these paintings are somewhere between 14,000 and 52,000 years old.
…and the fact that the quality of the art is really impressive.
Not only impressive because it still exists, after all this time;
but really impressive because the people who created the art - were REALLY good at it.

We tend to think of prehistoric man as “ape-like”.
- Not only physically, but mentally as well.
The stereotype is of a biped with very rudimentary skills in communication -
But all of this comes crumbling down when you see the art and realize that it required a LOT of skill.
These prehistoric artists were capable of using techniques still common today:
Perspective… shading… and even movement.
They first needed a very keen sense of observation, because the images had to be reproduced from memory.
(I seriously doubt they brought mammoths into caves to model for them lol )

Then there’s the mystery of WHY they created this art - and why SO DEEP inside these caves?
It’s still a mystery. We figured out HOW. We have a pretty good idea of the WHEN. But no one knows why.
…And why are there almost uniquely images of animals? No plants or structures. Almost zero images of humans.

I also had no idea how much prehistoric art exists out there. It’s not just Lascaux.
There are dozens of caves in the Dordogne valley alone with prehistoric art - and there are other sites all over the world.
Not far from Lascaux is the Grotte de Rouffignac: “The cave of 1000 mammoths”.
To visit this cave you board a small electric train which takes you about a mile into the heart of the mountain where the drawings are found.

The difference between the art found in Lascaux and Rouffignac is subtle:
In Lascaux you’ll see *polychromatic* paintings:
This means they were made using a few different colors, and the variations obtained by blending them.
In Rouffignac all of the drawings are one color - black.

But the original Lascaux cave is closed to the public. What you visit - is a replica.
In Rouffignac you get to see the REAL thing.

The reproduction of the Lascaux cave in the International Center for Parietal Arts is phenomenal.
When Lascaux was first discovered in 1940 it became an overnight sensation. Thousand’s of people were visiting it daily.
It quickly became evident that all this traffic was destroying the art, so the Gov’t closed it.
They built the first reproduction of Lascaux in the 1970’s - it opened in 1983. This was called Lascaux 2
There was a mobile version of this which was displayed in museums all over the world - Lascaux 3
Then in 2016 they opened the International Center for Parietal Arts (informally referred to as Lascaux 4)
This new reproduction of the cave covers the entire Lascaux cave system; using all of the latest technology and a team of highly skilled artists.
I highly recommend visiting both Lascaux 4 and Rouffignac.
Then, if/when you become passionate about it like me - you can add other caves to this list: Font de Gaume, Pech Merle, Chauvet…

22/12/2021

MEDIEVAL CASTLES AND FORTIFIED VILLAGES IN DORDOGNE
Before ‘discovering’ Lascaux and the painted caves in Dordogne, I was already really drawn to castles.
Growing up in the US you just don’t have stuff like this!
The first castles I visited in France were in the Loire valley: Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise… my mom’s favorite is Villandry.
But the castles in the Dordogne valley are VERY different.
I was immediately intrigued … what makes these castles SO cool?
The answer - for me is : They are much older.
The castles in the Dordogne valley were built in the 11th and 12th century - mostly during the 100 years’ war between France and England.
While the castles in the Loire valley are grandiose and have amazing architecture -
They were built in the 16th century; when defense was no longer an issue.
The renaissance architecture of these (Loire Valley) castles was a basically a display of wealth.
The Dordogne castles are really fortresses: constructed on sheer cliffs and hilltops for strategic advantage and better defense.
This is an era in our history that I find both romantic and fascinating. (think Three Musketeers…)
Growing up in the US; I had this misconception about the 100 Years’ War: I imagined it was one big naval battle…
I now understand that most of this war actually took place in what is now France.
This history: the story of Aquitaine, Anjou, Brittany and Normandy - it’s brilliant, fascinating.
But there’s more to visiting Dordogne than just castles (and painted caves).
Domme is a charming hilltop fortified fortified village with magnificent panoramic views;
La Roque-Gageac is a lovely, quaint, riverside town. You might enjoy a riverboat sightseeing tour here.
If you like medieval weapons, the Castelnaud-La-Chapelle Castle is home to a wonderful collection of Catapults, Trebuchets, Crossbows (à la Game of Thrones!) …. maces, spears, etc.
Not interested in medieval weapons? How about visiting some of the most beautiful and unique gardens in the world?
The Jardins d’Erygnac has the most incredible topiary art and sculptures, its simply amazing.
From the Jardins de Marqueyssac you can see the Chateau de Castelnaud-La Chapelle, La Roque-Gageac, and the Chateau de Beynac.
The Chateau de Beynac is probably the most impressive castle in Dordogne; it was never taken by force.
This day trip departing from Bordeaux last about 8 hours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oobl8LfydtA&list=PLZL9pQDVxzej6fp9tDMGTSQg4Z6LR66Uf&index=1&t=18s

22/12/2021

20/12/2021

Visit the Dordogne Valley castles with Private driver GuideFull day sightseeing tours departing from BordeauxCharming medieval fortified villages, 11th centu...

10/12/2021

Private sightseeing tour from Toulouse to Carcassonne, Lastours and Albi with English-speaking driver-guide.www.sightseeinginfrance.com

24/11/2021

Visiting Lascaux international center for parietals art in Dordogne

13/10/2021

St Emilion ❤️❤️❤️

15/07/2021

La Sainte Chapelle When it’s time... I’ll take you there. Privately. Safely. Comfortably.
🇫🇷 www.sightseeinginfrance.com 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇪🇸🇲🇽🇸🇪🇳🇴🇩🇪🇨🇭 Private driver-guide: Excursions to discover the best of France. Explore Dordogne, Provence, Loire Valley Castles, Basque Country, Lascaux Cavern, Carcassonne, Castles, Wineries in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone Valley, Champagne & more.

Paris: Sainte-Chapelle (1238)

- The extraordinary Royal Chapel in the very heart of Paris. Commissioned by King Louis IX of France, it is one jewel of Rayonnant Gothic period with its world-famous, superb stained glasses, 13th century.
> Wikipedia: https://bit.ly/2lTMxyH

- L'extraordinaire Chapelle Royale au coeur de Paris. Commandée par le Roi Louis IX, c'est un joyau du Gothique Rayonnant avec ses incroyables vitraux, parmi les plus vastes du XIIIe siècle.

- La straordinaria Ca****la Reale nel cuore di Parigi. Voluta dal Re di Francia Luigi IX, è un gioiello dello Stile Gotico-Fiammeggiante con le sue famose, incredibili vetrate duecentesche.

© Pietro Madaschi, Milan Italy - 360 VISIO - www.360visio.com

Sainte-Chapelle de Paris