The Crown Jewels of France: Where Are They Now?

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Keith Van Sickle

The British crown jewels are known the world over, with their brilliant diamonds and pieces like the crown, the scepter and the orb. They played an essential role in last year’s coronation of King Charles and are one of London’s major tourist attractions.

Why are the British crown jewels so famous but we rarely hear about the French ones? It’s because the French crown jewels were sold. Yes, sold! It happened over a century ago, after a political crisis. And curiously, some may soon be coming home.

Read the fascinating story of the French crown jewels in France Today!

How Did the Hunchback Get His Name?

Posted on January 15, 2025 by Keith Van Sickle

France has just celebrated the reopening of its iconic cathedral, Notre Dame, with a ceremony that brought together leaders from around the world. The cathedral dates back to the 12th century, but did you know that 200 years ago Victor Hugo helped save it?

Notre Dame was so badly damaged during the 1830 revolution that some thought it should be demolished. Then a year later, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame was published, a novel that championed the Gothic architecture of Notre Dame. It sparked a national movement to restore the cathedral to its former glory.

The novel’s central character is the hunchback, one of the most famous characters in French literature. He is known for his terrible deformities, his love for Esmerelda, and his unusual name. But where did “Quasimodo” come from?

Find out in Bonjour Paris!

How to Kiss a French Person

Posted on September 25, 2024 by Keith Van Sickle

It’s one of those French customs that mystifies foreigners: les bises (also called bisous). This is where French people kiss each other on the cheek.

It raises so many questions, like…when to do it? How to do it? How many times? And is it the same everywhere in France?

I’ve taken a deep dive into the history and practice of this most French of social customs. Let me share what I’ve learned–you might be surprised by a few things!

Read all about it in My French Life!

The Liberation of Aix-en-Provence

Posted on September 18, 2024 by Keith Van Sickle

The 1944 D-Day landings of Normandy began the liberation of France, and the country has been celebrating this and other important events throughout the year. The latest is Aix-en-Provence, which just opened an important photo exhibition called Shadows and Light. This show, which runs through October 27, includes many rarely-seen photos from the years immediately before, during, and after World War II.

Taken from the historic Ely photo collection, visitors will see images that will alternately surprise, shock, and delight them. Many of the photos were taken surreptitiously, when photography was prohibited during the Nazi occupation.

If you are not able to visit Aix but would like to see a sample of the photos from the exhibition, check out this article in Perfectly Provence!

What’s in a Name? Popular Street Names in France

Posted on September 11, 2024 by Keith Van Sickle

French streets have names, of course. Many are basic, reflecting their location. For example, the most popular street name in France is Rue de l’Église (Church Street). In the US it is Main Street and in the UK it is High Street.

But what about streets that honor people, how are they different in each country? Americans are fond of their presidents, so the most popular names are Washington and Lincoln. The UK loves its monarchy, with Kings, Queens, Victoria, and Windsor the top choices.

And how about France? The French aren’t fans of kings and queens, that business back in 1789 having dimmed their enthusiasm. Instead, they name their streets after famous figures from their history—political and military leaders, scientists, authors, and the like.

What do you think are the most popular names? Find out in France Today!

Provençal Legends: Mont Ventoux and the Mistral

Posted on August 28, 2024 by Keith Van Sickle

I always thought that Mont Ventoux came by its name because it is windy at the top, and venteux means “windy” in French. It’s a common misconception, but it’s not true. In fact, the word comes from Vintur, an ancient god worshiped by the Albiques, a Celtic tribe that once lived in the area.

Not only that, but the Mistral, the famous and sometimes-violent wind of Provence, is actually Vintur’s son! He’s a capricious child who throws tantrums when he doesn’t want to go to bed, hence the wildness of the wind. And there used to be an Albique ceremony to calm the boy and get him to go nighty-night.

I learned this in a very entertaining book called Le Dit du Mistral by Olivier Mak-Bouchard. It’s a fun story, full of legends and local expressions (though while most of the legends are true I suspect there’s some artistic license from time to time.)

Read more about these Provençal legends in Perfectly Provence!

The Great Women of France, Part 3

Posted on April 10, 2024 by Keith Van Sickle

Who are the great women of France? There are so many, it is hard to list them all! But let’s start with 15 who have played important roles in the history of la belle France.

There is so much to say that I’ve divided my list into three different articles, each discussing five women. This third article covers the 20th century.

Some of the women you are probably familiar with, like the great Marie Curie, winner of not one but two Nobel Prizes. But how about Nadia Boulanger, who taught some of the century’s greatest composers? Or Simone Veil, the Holocaust survivor who became one of France’s most important political figures? And did you know that Coco Chanel, the brilliant couturière, was also a Nazi collaborator?

Read all about these and other great women of France in My French Life!

The Other D-Day

Posted on March 20, 2024 by Keith Van Sickle

June will mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when Allied troops landed in Normandy and began their push towards Berlin. Today, places like Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc offer a moving testament to the courage and sacrifice of those who helped free Europe from tyranny.

But that wasn’t the only D-Day! There was another one as well, in the south of France near St-Tropez. It followed the Normandy landings by a few weeks, where military units with names like Camel and Garbo hitting the southern beaches.

The operation met with spectacular success, pushing German troops almost all the way to the German border. Today you can visit monuments to this “Operation Dragoon” in Toulon and other nearby towns.

Read all about it in The Good Life France!

The Great Women of France, Part 2

Posted on March 13, 2024 by Keith Van Sickle

Who are the great women of France? There are so many, it is hard to list them all! But let’s start with 15 who have played important roles in the history of la belle France.

There is so much to say that I’ve divided my list into three different articles, each discussing five women. This second article covers the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.

Some of the women you are probably familiar with, like the author George Sand. But did you know that the mathematician Emilie de Chatelet not only corrected some of Isaac Newton’s theories, but also developed an early form of financial derivatives? Or that Berthe Morisot was considered one of the finest of the Impressionist painters? And how about the salonnières, the women who ran the famous salons of the Enlightenment, sometimes called “the cradle of the French Revolution”?

Read all about these and other great women of France in My French Life!

The Great Women of France, Part 1

Posted on February 14, 2024 by Keith Van Sickle

Who are the great women of France? There are so many, it is hard to list them all! But let’s start with 15 who have played important roles in the history of la belle France. You’ll find a few surprises on my list, like the woman who was not even French, but that’s part of the fun of learning about these extraordinary women.

There is so much to say that I’ve divided my list into three different articles, each discussing five women. This first article covers the period up to the end of the 16^th century.

Some of the women you are probably familiar with, like Joan of Arc. But did you know that Saint Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris, once saved the city from Attila the Hun? Or that Catherine de Medici brought haute cuisine to France? And is it true that Mary Magdalene arrived in Provence by boat?