Travel France Online

06/06/2024

Let Us Not Forget!
80th ago today thousands of men and women fought for our Freedom! Far too many didn't go back home!
The British Normandy Memorial pays tribute to the men who fought under British command. It's one of many memorials on the shores of Brittany...
Here's the D-Day sculpture which represents three British soldiers disembarking from their landing craft and making their way up the beach
https://www.travelfranceonline.com/british-normandy-memorial-gold-beach/

05/06/2024

Tomorrow we'll commemorate D-Day 80 years anniversary !

In April we visited a superb art installation set up by the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-mer which honours the 1475 men and women under British command who died on 6th June
https://www.travelfranceonline.com/standing-with-giants-silhouettes-normandy/

06/04/2024

Saint Paul de Vence, a stunning walled city of Provence, that became a major artistic centre that attracted the most celebrated artists of the 20th century

Saint Paul de Vence, a breathtaking citadel in Provence, evolved into a thriving artistic hub, drawing some of the most celebrated 20th century's artists

05/04/2024

Glanum near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in Southern France, a ruined Greco-Roman city that lay buried in the earth for 17 centuries and was excavated in 1921

Glanum, near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in Southern France, a ruined Greco-Roman city that remained hidden underground for 17 centuries until its excavation in 1921

04/04/2024

Vincent Van Gogh admitted himself to the asylum at the Monastery St. Paul de Mausole, on the outskirts of St. Remy-de-Provence where he spent his last years before moving to Auvers-sur-Oise where he died

Vincent Van Gogh voluntarily entered the asylum at the Monastery of St. Paul de Mausole on the outskirts of St. Remy-de-Provence, where he resided during his final years

03/04/2024

The small town of Auvers-sur-Oise, north of Paris, was once a quiet village where Van Gogh spent the last 70 days of his life and painted 78 canvases. He was buried in the local cemetery; his brother Theo next to him, 2 years later. Their graves are side by side.

The small town of Auvers-sur-Oise, north of Paris, was once a quaint village where Van Gogh spent the last 70 days of his life and painted 78 canvases

02/04/2024

Discover La Maison de Monet in Giverny, the house and gardens the Impressionist Master Oscar-Claude Monet transformed into a work of art and where he lived and painted for 43 years

Maison de Monet in Giverny, the house and gardens the Impressionist Master transformed into a work of art and where he lived and painted for 43 years

02/04/2024

Spring brings beautiful light that many renowned painters exquisitely captured. One of them, Eugene Boudin, one of the most influential painters of the 19th century, is considered a precursor of Impressionism

Eugene Boudin, a sailor's son who became one of the Great Masters of Normandy seascapes and beach scenes and a precursor of Impressionism

01/04/2024

No need to introduce Christian Dior, one of the most acclaimed French fashion designers!
But what I love about him, is when he famously stated, “I have designed flower women“, where he simply encapsulated his vision of femininity infused with elegance and grace!

The celebrated couturier Christian Dior was born in Granville, a coastal town of Normandy where his childhood home is now a museum dedicated to his creations

31/03/2024

It's Sunday so let's celebrate in style and discover the amazing story behind one of the most celebrated French champagne houses, and Dom Perignon, who is credited as the inventor of this divine beverage!

Dom Perignon, a Benedictine monk and renowned oenologist with genius for winemaking, is considered the inventor of the Champagne method; legend or fact?

30/03/2024

Let's stay in the quirky and unusual with the Palais Ideal du Facteur Cheval, the masterpiece of Ferdinand Cheval, a modest rural postman, who entirely built this extraordinary structure despite lacking any formal training in architecture or construction!
While many dreams may linger as mere fantasies, Ferdinand’s determination transformed his vision into tangible existence.

Ferdinand Cheval, a modest rural postman who built from 1879 to 1912 his dream palace, since known as Palais Ideal du Facteur Cheval, a masterpiece of Naïve Art

29/03/2024

Quirky, unusual, different, simply extraordinary!
This is how the Maison Picassiette, Raymond Isidore’s masterpiece, comes across, as it defies traditional notions of artistic training and recognition, demonstrating that mastery and innovation can emerge from unexpected sources, crafted from humble materials and infused with personal meaning!
A must read!

Maison Picassiette, Raymond Isidore’s masterpiece, is a vivid expression of his singular imagination, crafted from humble materials and infused with personal meaning

28/03/2024

Another of my favourite French Renaissance chateaux, the Chateau de Serrant which was fully renovated and improved during the 19th century by the Duc de la Tremoille, a family whose origins go back 10 centuries

Chateau de Serrant, one of the Loire Valley grand French Renaissance chateaux, is renowned for its rich history and art collections amassed over the centuries

27/03/2024

Resembling a scaled-down version of the renowned Château de Chambord, the Chateau de Valencay's architectural style reflects the opulence of the French Renaissance, earning it a place among the illustrious chateaux of the Loire Valley.

Discover the rich history and captivating beauty of the Chateau de Valencay, a French Renaissance gem hidden a stone's trow from the Loire Valley.

25/12/2023

Celebrating Christmas with this night view of Hong-Kong's amazing Christmas lights and decorations.

Video taken from The Peak.

Hope you have a wonderful day!

24/12/2023

More Christmas decorations from Hong-Kong!

23/12/2023

Fabulous Christmas decorations in Hong-Kong !

22/12/2023

Merry Christmas from Brisbane and Adelaide!

21/12/2023

More good wishes for Christmas from Melbourne!

Hope your week is going well!

20/12/2023

Christmas decorations and illuminations in Melbourne!

Merry Christmas!

19/12/2023

Merry Christmas from Melbourne Airport!

18/12/2023

Count down to Christmas...

Merry Christmas from Melbourne with this night view of the illuminations on the river Yarra!

17/12/2023

Melbourne Parliament House

The Melbourne Parliament House is located on Spring Street and faces Bourke Street.

The main part was opened in 1856, but several sections remained under construction over the following decades. However, it has never been completed, as it should have had a dome, but its colonnade façade is very impressive.

It serves as the meeting place of the Parliament of Aistralia from 1901 to 1927, when Melbourne was the temporary capital.

16/12/2023

Melbourne City Marina

Melbourne City Marina is located in the safe harbour with calm waters in Victoria Harbour.

The largest visitor berthing facility in Melbourne, it is managed by the City of Melbourne, boasts a diverse and modern on-shore facilities.

15/12/2023

Melbourne riverside promenade

The river Yarra is the heart and soul of Melbourne’s tourism industry, and its Southbank’s iconic riverside promenade is a must-visit when in Melbourne.

This is where everybody goes, tourists and Melburnians!

And it’s beautiful!

14/12/2023

The Reuniting Family sculpture in Melbourne

The Reuniting Family sculpture commemorates Italian migration to Australia, and migrants from other countries who settled in Australia as well.

It was sculpted by Michael Meszaros, who captured the moment of the reuniting family and unveiled on 16th December 2008 by the The Honourable Sir James Gobbo, AC, CVO. Former Governor of Vic, who came from a migrant family.
It stands next to the Rialto.

13/12/2023

The Rialto and Winfield heritage buildings in Melbourne

Melbourne became the wealthiest city in the world during the mid-1800s Gold Rush.

This newfound wealth led to an architectural revolution, with magnificent buildings, such as The Rialto and the Winfield building on Collins Street, Melbourne’s premier boulevard, being erected in 1891.

The Rialto was designed by the renowned architect William Pitt.

It is today home to the InterContinental Hotel, and is a testament to Melbourne’s rich heritage.

Both buildings today stand among skyscrapers.

12/12/2023

“Raising the Rattler Pole – The Last of the Connies” is a full-size replica of a W-class tram, an unusual sculpture installed in 2013 at the corner of Spencer and Flinders Streets.
The artist is David Bell

Trams are a major form of public transport in Melbourne, the capital city of the state of Victoria. The Melbourne tramway network consists of 250 kilometres.

11/12/2023

Melbourne Airport Panda Artparade - Part 3

Melbourne Airport celebrated the arrival of the Panda Artparade in 2017 and partnered with Air China to give passengers a chance to WIN 1 of 21 Air China model aeroplanes.

To enter, passengers had to name one of the pandas (and say why they chose the name).

10/12/2023

Melbourne Airport Panda Artparade - Part 2

This installation was put in place in 2017, and it's really fun and stunning!