With its facades made of strident coloured tubing, the Pompidou Centre is like a gigantic ship posed in the heart of one of the oldest parts ofParis, halfway between the Forum des Halles and the Marais.

From far-off, it calls out to the walker who cannot remain indifferent to its extravagance. Indeed, over 35 years after its inception, the centre (which is named after the president who decided to have it built) is still one of the most modern buildings in the capital.

Strongly decried at the time, Italian Renzo Piano and Englishman RichardRogersdared a totally new architecture to house what has become one of the most dynamic institutions devoted to modern and contemporary art, bringing along in its wake the rebirth of an entire neighbourhood. From the Fontaine Stravinsky (Stravinsky Fountain) designed by Niki de Saint-Phalle and Jean Tinguely, to the windows of the galleries passing by the Pot Doré (Golden Pot) by Frenchman Jean-Pierre Reynaud, installed in front of the centre, recent creations are all around…

As for the building itself, it houses the very rich National Museum of Modern Art bringing together all the great names of modern and contemporary art (from Matisse to Picasso passing by Kandinsky and Brancusi), a superb public library, movie and conference theatres and galleries with temporary exhibitions. The centre is worth a visit for the amazing views ofParisthat it offers to visitors to the sixth floor.

Situation: 4th District.

Access: Metro Hôtel de Ville.

What remains of the Bastille, the famous state prison, taken over on July 14, 1789? There remains little in material terms but a great deal in human terms, for behind the Bastille it was a matter of a whole quarter, that of the Bastoche, of which the revolutionary tradition is well known.

For the atmosphere, read “Les Miserables” by Victor Hugo again. Indeed, there coexisted here, a laboriousParis, sometimes dangerous, but more often than not gay and alive. Today, this quarter, between République and Nation, has evolved considerably even though hints of demonstrations still float in the air. Some industrial passageways and yards still harbour craft activities, such as in the area of Charonne where you can find a luthier working, but more and more workshops are transformed into lofts for trendy urbanites.

The Rue du Fauberg-Saint-Antoine remains one of the most picturesque streets inPariswith its many passages previously full of woodworking and furniture making craftsmen, but where there are still just a few cabinet makers, upholsterers, gilders… Take the Passage du Cheval Blanc (White Horse) with its inextricable network of charming courtyards. At number 66 the Passage du Chantier (worksite) retains its nineteenth century appearance. A little further on, the Passage de la Main d’Or (Golden Hand) hides a lovely drinking house from past times. However, the workshops are increasingly yielding their space for housing. The soul of the Bastille is here in this new cohabitation.

A sign of this change is the Opera Bastille, which was created in July 1989. The director of this modern, but not revolutionary, building opted for a modern program. At the end of the night-time performance, the spectacle in the street has completely changed. Night owls have invaded the streets in search of the latest fashionable establishments or trendy bistros which are very numerous in the neighbourhood. For dining after leaving the Opera, you may prefer to go to Bofinger’s, one of the best Parisian brasseries.

Situation: 11th and 12th Districts.

Access: Metro Bastille.

You come to a large square with a bronze cylinder in the centre, evoking the chimneys of the concentration camps. At the far end on a high impenetrable wall there is the Star of David.

On the left, is the Wall of Names. Whatever your faith, and even if you are of no faith, you get a lump in your throat and your eyes fill with tears. Silence is required. 76,000 family names, followed by a first name and a year – that of birth, because that of death remains forever unknown – follow in a logic which hits you like a slap in the face. These names are read in alphabetical order but ranked by year of deportation. After each year, a vacant space is left for filling in any oversights. “Never again” it was said.

It is difficult to break away from this litany of names, known because it is that of the family, it is that of a friend, neighbour, colleague or acquaintance. 11,000 children are among this list of men and women. On The Wall of the Righteous opposite, there are bronze plaques with the names of 2,693 French men and women who saved Jews from deportation. On the mezzanine floor of the Memorial, there is the crypt and tomb of the unknown Jewish Martyr and a Star of David in black marble containing the ashes of victims of the camps and theWarsawghetto.

The exhibition tells the story of the Jews during World War II with documents, films, posters, leaflets and letters. Some 2,500 photographs of children who were deported close this visit. It takes a long time to regain your speech after leaving the Shoah Memorial.

Still in the Marais quarter, the magnificent seventeenth century Hôtel de Sainte-Aignan, has been theMuseumofArtand History of Judaism since 1998 and is worth a visit. The elegance of the building, the superb collections of religious art, works of Russian and German Jewish artists, but also the contents of the formerMuseumofJewish Artsand the Isaac Strauss Collection from theClunyMuseumare a real discovery. As for the wanderings of the Jewish people throughoutEuropefrom the Middle Ages to the present, they are related here. It is a beautiful, amazing and emotional trip.

Situation: 4th District.

Access: Metro Pont Marie.

One of the finest pavilions of the Place desVosgesto visit is the Hôtel de Rohan-Guéménée which, since 1903, has housed a museum dedicated to Victor Hugo (1802 to 1885). In 1832, the romantic writer, in full glory, rented a large apartment on the second floor of this hotel where he lived until 1848.

Although the layout of the rooms has changed a bit, most of the furniture and objects that Victor Hugo possessed are there again, restoring the atmosphere in which he lived with his wife and children, and the decoration which he created to the smallest detail as his passion for decoration was great. In the antechamber, it is the memorabilia of his family which are exhibited. In the living room, from the windows of which you can admire the Place desVosges, the walls covered in red damask, the Venetian mirror, the bust of the writer sculpted by David d’Angers and the portrait of his wife Adele are “witnesses” to the time when the couple received Gautier, Musset, Vigny, Balzac, Lamartine, Sainte-Beuve, Berlioz, Liszt, etc…

In the amazing Chinese living room we discover panels he designed for the home of Juliette Drouet in Guernsey, and then in the dining room, living room and the bedroom where he died, the historic furniture that he brought with him upon his return from exile, reminds us of the passion of this literary giant for the Middle Ages. The Rodin bust evokes the power and tenderness of the poet at the end of his life. In the bedroom, the desk reminds us that he was often awake writing – “Les Contemplations” (Contemplations), “La Légende des siècles” (The Legend of centuries) or “L’Art d’être grand-père” (The art of being a grandfather).

Situation: 3rd District

Access: Metro Bastille. Maison de Victor Hugo.

Best time to visit: Closed on Mondays.

This is one of the oldest quarters ofParis, with narrow cobbled streets, passages, courtyards and shady squares, as well as stately homes, palaces and the superb Place desVosgeswhich is a model of harmony and elegance. King Henry IV was the designer of this splendour.

It is a perfect square, lined with 36 two storey pavilions built of stone and brick, on arcades, which shelter a garden in its centre. In the Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, the Musée Carnavalet (theCarnavaletMuseum), occupying two magnificent Renaissance mansions, tells the history ofParisfrom the Middle Ages to the present day in a grandiose manner.

Turning into the Rue des Rosiers, you are met with a change of scenery. The Jewish Quarter enchants us with its special atmosphere which is overflowing with life all around.

If you get hungry, you will be overcome with choice. There is, for example, the charmingLoirdans la Théière (the Dormouse in the Teapot) which serves excellent sweet and savoury tarts, and the very chic and sophisticated Mariage Frères (Mariage Brothers) who take you around the world by drinking tea. The quiet and charming Rue du Roi-de-Sicile (King of Sicily Street) takes you to the not far away Place Sainte-Catherine, an adorable and great place to stop on a bench for a while.

In the Rue Saint-Antoine, the very baroque Church of Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis indicates that you are close to thevillageofSaint Paul, where it is so nice to look for bargains in the beautiful paved courtyards which play hide and seek with each other. The Rue François Miron is a succession of beautiful mansions and mediaeval houses leading to the imposingChurchofSaint Gervais, which from the top of its steps, watches over the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) and the famous Bazar facing it. The loop closes upon going up the so animated and so “gay” Rue des Archives.

Situation: 3rd and 4^th Districts.

Access: Metro Saint-Paul, Hôtel de Ville.

The top of its spire can be seen from the right or left banks of the Seine, but once in front of the Palais de Justice (courthouse) it seems to have disappeared as if by magic! Yet it is on this Ile de la Cité (CityIsland) thatSaint Louisbuilt,

in the heart of the royal residence, a chapel to house relics of the Passion of Christ, which he bought in 1239 from the Emperor Baldwin II ofByzantium. Although the relics disappeared during the Revolution, the building, several times restored, has kept most of its gorgeous original stained-glass windows.

Virtually invisible from the street, the Sainte-Chapelle can only be discovered once you are in one of the courtyards of the courthouse. You are first struck by the appearance of this 18^th century building enclosed by other buildings. It has two floors: a somber lower chapel, which was reserved for the inhabitants of the Palace, and an upper “ethereal” chapel of remarkable elegance and lightness, reserved for the royal family. It is finished off with the steeple, rebuilt in the 19^th century.

Upstairs, we discover the full architectural feat of this fine building. Walls disappear in favor of stained glass, each window of which is formed of a multitude of panels, illustrating the continuing history from Genesis to the Passion of Christ. The whole iconographic story ends with the Apocalypse shown in flamboyant pink. You ought to take the time to use binoculars and observe the details of the figures with refined gestures, sometimes touching, and true masterpieces of pictorial 13^th century.

Situation: 1^st District.

Access: Metro Cité.

Sainte-Chapelle: 6, Boulevard du Palais.

www.sainte-chapelle.monuments-nationaux.fr

Best time to visit: Concerts are held in the evenings in summer.

It is one of the strongest symbols of the capital to be admired from the Quai de la Toumelle (Toumelle Quay), where the view of its chevet, with dramatic flying buttresses and grey-green copper spire, is beautiful. The Notre Dame Cathedral stands as an imposing silhouette at the eastern end of the Ile de la Cité (CityIsland).

On a site occupied since the Gallo-Roman era, the Gothic cathedral was quickly built between 1163 and 1245. Later, the openings were enlarged, the transept was extended and the flying buttresses of the apse replaced. In the 19^th century, the architect Viollet-le-Duc worked on its restoration. The façade is formal with vertical and horizontal divisions.

Below, the three portals are decorated with numerous sculptures representing notably a beautiful coronation of the Virgin Mary. Above, we see the statues of the kings of Judahand Israeland then the Rose which at the time was regarded as a bold achievement. Inside, Notre- Dame has a very simple plan: a vast nave lined with double aisles that extend around the choir by a double ambulatory. The side chapels are decorated with large paintings offered, in the 15^th century, by the Goldsmiths Guild.

It is possible to visit the east towers and admire the fanciful gargoyles and other sculptures designed by Viollet-le-Duc, as well as the Bourdon Emmanuel (Emmanuel Bell) in the south tower, which since 1685 has been sounded when major liturgical holidays and historical events, such as the liberation of Paris, have taken place.

Situation: 4^th District.

Access: Metro Cité, RER express train Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame.

Notre-Dame Cathedral : 6, Place du Parvis-de-Notre-Dame.

www.notredamedeparis.fr

Best time to visit: Early morning, before there are too many visitors, or the Sunday afternoon for the organ concert.

Normandy is the perfect place for food-loving ramblers! Stretching from Dieppe and Rouen in the east across to Cherbourg and St-Lô in the west, Normandy encompasses the regions of Seine-Maritime, Eure, Calvados, Orne and Manche.

It is an enchanting region flanked to the north by its chalk cliffs and the English Channel, yet encompasses the beautiful Seine Valley, the famous horse country of Orne and the apple orchards of Calvados.

With countless small towns and villages of flint or half-timbered houses, multi-arched bridges over lazy rivers and fields of wild flowers, it is the perfect area to explore on foot, by bicycle or in an open-topped car!

History

With its strategic placement between the sea and the capital city of Paris, the area has a history of bloodshed and battles, not least the famous Normandy landings on D-Day. For history and WW2 buffs the small cemeteries, pristinely kept; the mile markers laid by the British liberators; the battle fields and the fields of red poppies combine to make a moving tribute to the fallen. Many visitors make a pilgrimage to these historic sites to pay their respects to fallen comrades and family members.

Weather

Normandy has more showers than the eastern and southern parts of France but generally summers are warmer and sunnier than in England, with 6-8 hours of sunshine on average. It has a Maritime climate with mild winters which are generally free of frost and snow.

Normandy Coastline

The rugged coastline of Normandy is a series of harbours, fishing ports, marshes and nature reserves. Of course it is also a source of wonderful seafood for which it is famous. Lobsters from Granville and oysters from Barneville are considered the best and are staple ingredients for the local cuisine.

The magnificent port of Cherbourg is a major ferry port linking Normandy with England. Further along, the marshes are a sanctuary for herring gulls and seabirds making it an ornithologist’s delight.

One of the most famous landmarks is Mont Saint-Michel, a magnificent Benedictine Abbey and Church set on a rocky island at the mouth of the Couesnon River. It can be reached at low tide via a causeway and at the right time of year you may see some seals. The original church was completed in AD708 and appears on the historic Bayeaux Tapestry which commemorates the Norman conquest of England in 1066. This magnificent Abbey is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Prepare for a steep climb up to the Abbey with over 900 steps, but it is definitely worth the effort! The Grand Rue narrow street leads to the medieval church of St Pierre. The interior is fabulous to see with tiers of arches, windows, a ribbed ceiling and a carved side chapel depicting St Michael slaying the dragon. The Abbey itself is a sprawling labyrinth of rooms, staircases, terraces and vaulted halls which can be seen on a guided tour.

Seine Valley

The River Seine is well-known as it runs through the heart of Paris, meandering towards the sea past Vernon and Rouen. It has carved a path through the white chalk cliffs around Les Andelys and makes for some of the most pleasant walking areas. Shady footpaths, hilltop viewpoints, ancient churches and delightful rose-covered cottages line the banks. Visitors can stop in the main street of any of the small towns and purchase fresh baguettes, warm cheese quiches, flaky croissants and fruit tarts from the local boulangerie. Many villages are in a time warp where local housewives walk to the shops, baskets on their arm to buy daily provisions and chat with their neighbors. Here you will find the locals pleasant, friendly and helpful, especially if you can speak a few words of french.

Calvados

Calvados is a pastoral area known for its horses and dairy cattle which graze the lush grass behind white fences. The local houses are picture-perfect with thatched straw roofs and half-timbered facades. From grand manor houses to pigeon-lofts, visitors will see the local flint, brick and cob which has been used as building materials for centuries.

Calvados is famous for its Camembert cheese production – a deliciously tasty soft cheese with a thick crust and a runny interior. It is the perfect accompaniment to the apples which grow here in profusion. The pink spring blossom of the apple trees is a beautiful sight. Apples, cider (which is sometimes known as ‘scrumpy’), and calvados, a sweet apple brandy, are the main products of this area. October is the time to visit and sample freshly made cider.

Things to see and do in Normandy

Bayeux - the Cathedral and the famous 11 th century Tapestry which recounts the victory of William the Conqueror over England in 1066.

Arromanches – the remains of the artificial harbour built in 1944 and the Museum of the Debarquement with many exhibits of D-Day.

Château de Carrouges – a wonderful historic château on the banks of the River Orne. Built in the 14 th century it remained in the same family until 1936. It is now open to the public, with its original furniture, huge kitchens and ancestral portraits hanging in the halls. Sitting in pretty woodland it is approached through wrought iron gates and over a moat.

Rouen – a splendid medieval town with a weekend market in the square beside the magnificent Gothic cathedral. Wander the old cobbled streets and dine in style here as it was voted “Gastronomic city of the Region”.


Monet’s Garden – One of the most lovely places to visit in Normandy is the home and gardens of French impressionist painter, Claude Monet at Giverny. The sizeable house he lived in is furnished just as he left it, and visitors can also see his art studio. He created beautiful gardens and borders, rose arcades and beds with every type and color of flower imaginable which is beautiful from spring to late autumn.

Across the road is his lily pond, which famously featured in many of his paintings. It is a stunningly beautiful and peaceful place to visit, along with the quaint village of Giverny and the Museum of American Art.

Food and Drink

Normandy produces some wonderful cheeses including Camembert, Livarot and Pont-l’Eveque. It is also known for its tasty andouille sausages, and its local Morel mushrooms, along with the sweet cider or the more rough-tasting “scrumpy”. Normandy cuisine is hearty, tasty and satisfying. It is farmer’s food but for all that it is delicious, rich and satisfying. Chicken chasseur, lamb dishes and duck are all served in rich, tasty sauces made of red wine, onions and mushrooms.

Along the coast the superb seafood creates the basis for dishes such as moules mariniere which are mussels served with tiny onions in white wine sauce, and Sole Normande which is a gently poached flat fish served with a rich sauce made of butter, eggs and cream. Trout and crayfish are caught in the local rivers, particularly further inland in Orne. Calvados apple brandy is often served to accompany to the rich cream dishes of this area.

Whatever you enjoy seeing and doing, Normandy has something for everyone, and you will certainly not go hungry!

France, like most countries in Europe, has a rich and varied history. In this beautiful country you’ll see some of the oldest buildings, the best architecture, and the most amazing castles in Europe. Perhaps even in the world. In a country with such a storied past, you’ll always find skeletons in the closet, and a sordid past. This vast country has many stories to tell and some very dark secrets indeed.

If you ever get tired of the sights, bored with the world-class shopping and fancy a real fright, why not take a trip to some of the most haunted and scariest places in France. You’ll find a number of old, and even some new spots on the map that have gruesome and terrifying tales to tell. And you’ll get to see a side of France that most tourists never have the chance to experience.

If you love things that go bump in the night, then France is the place for you. Perhaps you are even familiar with some of the popular “haunted” spots like the Loire Valley castles or the gloomy Conciergerie prison in Paris, but we’ll tell you about strange places in France you didn’t know before.

Some of these sights are not for the faint hearted. So, if you’re not into scary ghost stories, haunted houses or cemeteries, then this list of the top ten scariest places to visit in France is certainly not for you.

Prepare to be scared, here are the spookiest spots France has to offer…

10) At the number 10 spot you’ll find the most haunted house in France, which is located in Alais, Provence, and haunted by the ghost of the deceased Guy de Torno.

9) Coming in at number 9 is the frightening abbey at the Mont St. Michel, a spooky site with multiple ghostly sightings.

8) At 8, this is the first mention of the Château de Versailles. The château and the surround areas are said to be some of the most haunted places in France. There have been numerous sighting reported over the years, and even some reports from just a few months ago.

7) The seventh scariest place in France is the nuclear reactor in the Monts d’Aree, also known to the locals as the gates of hell.

6) Surprisingly, at number six you’ll find Euro Disney. It’s been reported the there have been several unexplained sightings at this site.

5) The number 5 slot goes to Basilica at Le Bois-Chenu Domremy. Not only will you find the ghost of Joan of Arc here, but there have been several spooky sighting of many other ghosts since the 1900s.

4) Fourth place belongs to the gardens of the Château of Versailles. Marie Antoinette’s ghost has been spotted repeatedly at this site, roaming the beautiful gardens surround the château.

3) In at number three is the Pere La Chaise Cemetery, which is the largest cemetery in Paris, France. The spot is the most visited cemetery in the world, and is said to be one of the most haunted. Definitely worth a visit.

2) Coming in at a close second is the Brissac Castle, which can be found in the Loire Valley of France. Even if you’re not into ghost hunting, this is a great place to visit. This ornate castle was masterfully rebuilt in the 17th century, and is overflowing with antiques, original tapestries, and the ceilings are even painted with gold. As soon as you enter the castle you get an eerie felling and a slight shiver runs up your spine. That’s because this was the site of a gruesome double murder. Jacques de Breze found his wife Charlotte and her lover one evening together in the castle. After his discovery, Jacques murdered them both. Legend has it the pair have haunted the castle ever since. Jacques was said to have sold the castle soon after their deaths, as he was so scared of the ghosts, and could no longer live alone in the castle.

1) The top spot goes to The Catacombs situated in Paris. During the mid 1700s, the population of Paris grew so rapidly, that the city soon ran out of places to bury its dead. Those in charge at the time found the perfect solution -the Catacombs, which is commonly called the empire of the dead. Many passageways and tunnels were dug underneath the city to accommodate the millions of dead. Bodies were buried and laid along the walls, and many of the original bones and skulls still line the tunnels of the Catacombs to this day. This is said to be the absolute scariest spot in the whole of France. And just the sight of the skull-lined tunnels can bring a chill to even the heartiest spine! Tours of the Catacombs run each day, but beware, as you may never return.