Named for its majestic river and beautiful valley, the department of Dordogne in south west France is one of the five departments making up the region of Aquitaine. Endowed with a soft, gentle beauty (in contrast to the dramatic extremes of Provence, for example), this region is rich with history, scenic landscapes and charming villages, and is one of France’s favorite vacation destinations. Not only a land of mystical troubadours, but one of reasonable thinkers, the area has produced such statesmen and writers as Montaigne, Fénelon, La Boétie and Montesquieu. Other interesting finds in the Dordogne:

• Castles – over a thousand of them, more than any other region in France — are scattered throughout the area: Castelnaud, Montbazillac, Hautefort, Eyrignac….Many of them receive visitors, some cultivate wine, and some even have bed-and-breakfast capabilities. You’ll think you’ve entered a fairy tale!

• Historical towns such as medieval Sarlat, Nontron and Bournat boast beautiful medieval architecture, pedestrian streets, scenic views and specialty shops. On the scenic Vézère river lies Saint Léon-sur-Vézère, which has been classified as one of the “most beautiful villages of France.” And St-Cirq Lapopie and Rocamadour, perched atop impossible cliffs, are simply breathtaking.

• Prehistoric sites, especially in the Vézère valley, dominate the region. You’ll find the famous Lascaux cave paintings as well as other caves, troglodyte dwellings and prehistoric sculptures. Beautifully preserved and tourist-friendly, these sites make you feel like you’re in a time machine going back centuries, providing a great appreciation for our fellow mankind of yesteryear.

• Delicious regional cuisine, combined with excellent wine, helps to clear your thinking: enjoy truffles, fois gras, duck, garlic soup, and sweet white Bergerac wines as you glide down the Dordogne River on one of the charming gabares which motor indulgently along the river.

• Festivals are celebrated all summer long in each of the towns in the Dordogne. Likely honoring a patron saint, the town dresses itself up, hosts a parade, wine tasting, communal picnicking, a bal musette (accordion songs to which the locals dance), and good general animation. Great fun to attend and watch.

Want to practice your French while touring this beautiful area? French teachers and other francophones are welcome to join our Extension Tour to the Dordogne July 26-29, 2012 to immerse themselves in the language and culture of this region, while enjoying the subtle beauty and excellent cuisine of the Dordogne. Click here for details.

Thinking of visiting Provence? Then mark your maps for a stopover in Avignon. Located in the south of France in the department of the Vauclause, Avignon is a beautiful city surrounded by medieval ramparts in the heart of Provence. During the fourteenth century, it became the residence of the Popes. As a result of the Great Schism—the great division between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church—the Roman Church re-established itself in Avignon, and to recognize this fact, Le Palais des Papes was constructed in 1335, under Pope Benedict XII and his successor, Pope Clement VI. Now recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site, it holds 15,000 square meters of living space, making it the largest Gothic palace in the world.

A visit to the Palais is a must. The magnificence of yesteryear is felt throughout the entire palace, although today empty, but the guides revive history in the empty rooms and recount the lustrous meals, the costly guards, and the elegance of the papal reign. The cost of admission: 10.50€, reduced: 8.50€. Tours and cultural events are offered throughout the year.

The city of Avignon is surrounded by ramparts, built since 1355 to protect and fortify the city from mercenary assaults. There is no cost to see them. They provide a beautiful view of the city, and add to its intoxicating medieval charm.

Another UNESCO world heritage site found in Avignon is the famous Pont d’Avignon, also known as the Saint Bénezet Bridge which overlooks the Rhone River. Built in the twelfth century, it collapsed several times due to the flooding of the river. The bridge underwent several reconstructions, but a flood in the 17th century finally put the bridge out of commission. Now only a few of the bridge’s arches remain today. The famous children’s song “Sur le Pont d’Avignon” references this bridge, providing its listeners with the historical and cultural significance, since the Middle Ages. To visit the Pont d’Avignon, it costs 3.50€ as a reduced admission, 4.50€ for a regular admission.

Amongst the other landmarks to see in Avignon is the beautiful Cathédrale Notre Dame des Doms, constructed in 1037. Since then, the cathedral has undergone much reconstruction and expansion, the last of which took place near the end of the 17th century. Admission is free to the general public. The Musée Calvet (the museum of art and archeology) and the Musée Angladon (more contemporary art, impressionist art) are also well worth seeing.

Host to one of the most innovative and successful theatre festivals in the world every summer in the month of July), Avignon has much to offer to its visitors. Its charm, history, culture, mild climate, and welcoming people make this city a must-see while traveling in France.

La Grand’Place Lille

Expecting a drab, chilly northern city on my first trip to Lille this summer, I was delighted instead to find a colorful metropolis filled with lively, cheerful people and more cultural activities than many French cities to the south. I was bowled over by the friendliness of the waiters in the restaurants, the staff at the hotel at which I stayed, the people on the bus, the curators at the museums I visited, the beauty of the architecture. There’s an overwhelming exuberance in this city that permeates all activities and fills the visitor with a pleasant sense of acceptance. Quelle surprise!

Take, for example, the Vieille Bourse, a seventeenth-century building in the heart of town. Beautifully sculpted and colorfully decorated, this former commercial exchange built in 1653 is actually composed several small houses constructed around a central open patio originally designed to afford a calm and protected area for the financiers to conduct business away from the elements. Modernized today with shops and restaurants, it was the scene one Sunday afternoon in August of a vast collection of books and art. Couples wandering the interior patio leisurely browsed the stalls and thumbed through the various books, some rare collections, some posters, old engravings and more….a bibliophile’s dream. The very same patio later on that evening had turned into a Milonga: tango lovers, both amateurs and experienced, dressed accordingly in elegant outfits and high heels,danced under the stars to the cherished tango music of the DJ, who blasted out old favorites of Carlos Gardel and Alberto Castillo from his station in the corner.

After decades of slow and painful decline from the destruction wrought in the area by two world wars, Lille has made a comeback in recent years, thanks to an urban remodeling project called Eurolille that began in 1991. The Euralille Centre was opened in 1994, and the remodeled district is now full of parks and modern buildings containing offices, shops and apartments. Lille was named European Capital of Culture in 2004. Its very central location in northern France makes it easy to reach by high-speed train: Brussels is only 30 minutes away; Paris, an hour; London, 90 minutes. From the middle ages to today, it has been a market town; every September the town hosts the largest flea market in the world, the “braderie de Lille.” Thousands of merchants, townsfolk young and old, participate in the buying and selling of anything and everything. An enthusiastic atmosphere is palpable and pervades the entire city.

The recent movie, « Bienvenu chez les Ch’tis »–the hilarious story of a reluctant Provençal who is horrified to be transferred from his

Parlez-vous Ch’ti?

beloved, warm Provence to Lille, the “north pole”, only to be won over by the friendly, loveable townspeople—was a smash hit in France and produced an immediate spike in tourism in the area. And with good reason. The food is excellent, the accommodations first rate, the natives hospitable, the architecture breathtaking, the ambience exuberant, the size comfortable, the cultural activities multiple. A local dictum says, “What the Lillois lacks in sunshine is made up by the warmth in his heart.” What’s not to love?

Next installments on Lille: Lille, Cultural Mecca of the North; Lille, gateway to Europe; Lille, an architectural Jewel.

If you’re considering visiting this beautiful city, read more here!