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Is Lannion in Brittany Worth Visiting?

Is Lannion in Brittany Worth Visiting?

Yes, Lannion is worth visiting. Lannion is a historic town that is located in the Cotes d'Armor department of Northern Brittany on a site that's been occupied since Neolithic times. The port town is built around an estuary of the River Léguer, which in the Middle Ages, was defended by a château, and the town by a circle of ramparts. It's now a thriving town that due to its location, is the gateway to the very popular Pink Granite Coast. Described by Brittany Tourism as "the Radiant capital of Trégor", the town is "an elegant combination of tradition and modernity. It has a subtle architectural line-up consisting of mansion houses, manors, a former convent and cloister, while the technology park breathes an air of innovation and energy over the city." - Brittany Tourism

Lannion is the administrative, commercial, sports, cultural and tourist capital of Trégor which is probably why it gained the title of the "Radiant capital of Trégor", but what can you expect when you visit? And what do I love about Lannion that I think you might also enjoy? Lannion is a 40 minute drive north-west from our village and we regularly pass through, or stop and wander the town, on our way to our favourite beach walk and swimming spot at Trégastel. My photo above was taken on a very cold winter's day. Building in the middle is number 3 Rue des Chapeliers found in the town square. (More on the building below.)

29 Iconic places to see in Paris

Amazing, incredible, ancient, cultural and fashionable are just a few words to describe the city of Paris. There is a never ending list of places to see, things to do, experiences to try and people to meet in the City of Light. I love spending time in Paris and regularly visit to shop, visit art galleries and gardens, try out new cafes and restaurants and often just wander the streets admiring the architecture and ambience of my favourite city in the world.

29 Iconic Places to See in Paris

Everyone's adventures in Paris are different and we all have our own 'must-see' list, but with a city that has so much to offer where do you start? I've created a list of 29 iconic places to see in Paris that include some big ones, and others that might not first be on your radar, but what make Paris so special. All together they are why we are drawn to Paris to visit, live, work and love. Check out these 29 iconic places to see in Paris.

Musée du Louvre

We have to start with this one. The Louvre is the largest monument in Paris and the most visited museum in the world. There are 35,000 works of art hanging in the huge museum and they fill approximately 16 kilometres of galleries and halls. The Louvre was first a fortress in the 12th century, then a royal residence and then the palace was transformed into a museum in 1793.

Strasbourg – What to See and Do

Strasbourg - What to See and Do

Today on the blog we have something different for you - a short travel reflection on the romantic town of Strasbourg from one of our inner-circle of followers and readers, Linda. Read what to see and do in Strasbourg benefiting from Linda's recent travel experience of visiting this fairytale town in northeastern France.

I love it when I receive emails from readers excitedly sharing their upcoming travel plans or, after they've returned home, sending me photos and short writings about their time exploring la belle France.

Walks in the French Riviera – Secret paths and Sparkling blue water

Antibes, France

Walks In The French Riviera

The French Riviera is a heavenly place to walk, and in particular the area between Nice and the Italian border is a favourite for walkers in this region of France. The many walks take visitors along the sparkling blue Mediterranean and past some of the richest real estate in the world. Susan McDonald is a regular visitor to this area and shares her favourite walks with us. The area has also been the inspiration for her book The Lost Children.

Cap de Ferrat Peninsula Walk

Finding the start of many coastal paths in the Riviera can be a challenge so thankfully many of them are signposted. One of the best walks is along the peninsula of Cap de Ferrat beginning on the Promenade Maurice Rouvier. Flat, paved and picturesque from the beach in Beaulieu, walk towards the tiny fishing village of St Jean Cap Ferrat. Along the way, a standout villa is the pink La Fleur du Cap which has been recently restored for $10 million. It was the home of Charlie Chaplin in the 1950's and more recently, it was a hideaway for Dodi Fayed during his time with Princess Diana. You'll get a romantic glimpse into a different world of affluence and be able to admire some seriously good gardening.

Combourg -The Hometown of François René de Chateaubriand

Combourg castle amongst trees viewed from the lake

Combourg – A Small Town of Character

Combourg is a small town in the north western part of France in the region of Brittany or Bretagne. This small town of character or Petite Cité de Caractère is said to have risen from a small parish town when in the 6th century Irish monk, Saint Lunaire, built a church. Much later in the 11th century the archbishop of Dol-de-Bretagne built a château where his younger brother Riwallon lived.

The town grew around three centres; the château, the feudal settlement that developed due to the protection of Riwallon and then a priory settlement that developed after Riwallon summoned Benedictine monks to the area.

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Annette Charlton

Annette lives with her family between their homes in France and Australia. She’s been featured in International magazines including French Property News, on numerous blogs and travel websites and appeared on ABC National Radio. You can connect on Instagram or Facebook.

www.afrenchcollection.com

What To Do in 24 Hours in Paris in The Latin Quarter and Saint Germain

Saint Germain & The Latin Quarter in 24 Hours

Paris is made up of 20 departments or arrondissements and each one has its own unique style and vibe and they are divided into two major groups separated by the River Seine, the Left Bank (Rive Gauche) and the Right Bank (Rive Droite).

Deciding where to spend your time in Paris can be a difficult choice at any time and especially if you only have 24 hours to spend in the City of Light. One arrondissement that never fails to delight me is the Latin Quarter, and I'm not the only who loves this charming area. Helen Andreou of London Meets Paris Blog, writes how she loves "to wander off the predictable tourist traps because Paris is yours for the taking, it’ll mesmerise and seduce you until it has you firmly in its grip squeezing you tighter and tighter with each visit".

BnF or Bibliothèque Nationale de France – Richelieu Library

BnF or Bibliothèque nationale de France (National Library of France)

“The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man.”
― T.S. Eliot

National Library of Paris - Richelieu Library

The other month I was standing in awe in the oval reading room of the National Library of France - Richelieu Library, otherwise known to the locals as the BnF and the beauty of this building nearly brought tears to my eyes. I am not joking, the immense and kaleidoscopic oval reading room designed by academic architect Jean-Louis Pascal took my breath away!

Louvre Museum Glass Pyramid Turns 30 Years Old

The Louvre Glass Pyramid Celebrates its 30th Birthday

The glass pyramid entrance at the Louvre Museum in Paris has recently turned 30 years old and while it is loved the world over now, that was not always the case. In fact it was a very controversial issue for many years. Most of us however, cannot image the Louvre now without its unique and much photographed glass pyramid entrance.