Madame du Barry, the last Maîtresse en Titre, or Official Mistress, of Louis XV of France, was famous for her beauty, charm and extravagance. She was also a friend of Voltaire and a patron of the arts, a fashion icon … Read More
For much of the 19th century, Britannia ruled not just the waves but most of the known world. Presiding over a vast colonial empire with an unrivaled productive capacity, Great Britain imposed its hegemony pretty much everywhere and on everybody. … Read More
The words “ebullient” and “irrepressible” are weak when it comes to Ben, the 87-year-old Fluxus artist, who showed up last week at the Fondation de Doute (Doubt Foundation) art center in Blois to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Fluxus … Read More
The creation of a new museum in France today is a rare and challenging feat, even more so when it is accomplished by a village with a population of only 5,000. The Musée du Verre François Décorchemont (François Décorchemont Glass … Read More
August approaches, and anyone who hasn’t left Paris may be looking for a way to get out of town to greener pastures, even if just for a day. While there are many options, there’s one place that has it all: … Read More
An immense, watery green paradise called Les Hortillonages lies in the very heart of the city of Amiens, close to its famous Notre Dame Cathedral and traversed by the River Somme. Forget about motor vehicles and public transportation in this … Read More
There is much more to Dijon than mustard. That’s the point the city seems to be making with its ambitious new project, the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin (International Gastronomy and Wine Center), which opened at the … Read More
When you are the daughter of a filthy rich Gilded Age banking tycoon, you would probably be expected to find a rich husband, have children and settle down to a life of luxury. Instead, Anne Tracy Morgan (1873-1952), daughter of … Read More
Last week, I was introduced to an element of French culture that had completely escaped me until now: a summer historical pageant. This one takes place in Meaux, a small city northeast of Paris, but I have since discovered that … Read More
To visit the town of L’Isle Adam, set on three islands on the River Oise, is to want to live there. An hour’s train ride north of Paris, it is even blessed with the last thing you’d expect to find … Read More
