Join Us in France Travel Podcast

There were always at least a few dozen famous painters in Nice on the French Riviera in the 1900s. Today Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin talk about three of them in some detail: Matisse, Chagall and Yves Klein.

Why did they love Provence so much? Was it because painters and photographers are always in search of great light? Whatever the reason, painting on the French Riviera and Provence in general was really popular.

Click on Show Notes below to read Elyse's complete historical outline. Visit our Instagram account to see Annie's photos of Chagall, Matisse, and the MAMAC.

Useful link: the price of a taxi between the airport and Paris city center.

• The School of Nice
• Matisse
• Chagall
• Musée Matisse in Nice
• Musée National Marc Chagall
• Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain de Nice (MAMAC)
• Musée Massena
• The French expression "yakafokon"

Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/357

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Moving internationally can really difficult for children but is it worth it? Will the kids adjust to their new life in France? How long does it take to learn French for kids? What are some things parents can do to make the process easier? Annie's daughter, Marianne moved to France at age 7 shares her experience adjusting to France in this episode of the podcast.

• What was it like moving to France as a 7 year-old?
• Starting school in France with zero French
• Some differences between American and French school
• How long does it take to get comfortable with the new routine and new language?
• How did French children react to the new American kid?
• The nature of school in France: very serious and too competitive
• Doing activities in English like Girl Guides
• How to maintain reading and writing skills in English while learning French
• The mandate to take English at school even though the child is already fluent in English
• Doing sports and after school activities in France
• Grades in French schools
• Graduating from College in France
• The cost of studying in France
• International students in France
• Part time jobs for students in France

Full show notes for this episode

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Do you love medieval streets, beautiful literature and sweet wine? Then it's possible you're destined to visit Bergerac and Monbazillac! This episode of the podcast is full of our recommendations for a fun week-end in French wine country. Press play and get ready for some fun in the southwest of France!

Bergerac and Monbazillac are neighboring towns in the Dordogne department and an area called Perigord Pourpre (Purple Périgord). The Dordogne is part of the Aquitaine Region. The historical center of Bergerac is pretty small, but if you're going to visit Monbazillac as well, you'll need one or two nights.

Annie and her husband stayed at the Hotel de France, a short walk away from the medieval city center. It was easy to park, an easy walk to all the restaurants, the bed was comfortable, breakfast was great. A nice value for the price.

1. Walk around the historical city center. If you just drive around Bergerac you won't find it all that special. You have to park and go into the medieval pedestrian streets.
2. Go to the tourist office. It's right by the river in a lovely area. The tourist office often hosts local wine makers who will ask your questions and do a mini wine tasting. The one who was there that day was very friendly and knowledgeable.
3. Rent a bike at the tourist office to ride along the Dordogne river, it's lovely.
4. Take a boat ride in a Gabarre. There are lots of birds on the banks of the Dordogne because they keep the river as wild as possible.
5. You should go to Monbazillar because it's not far at all. The wine tasting was nice but they only do it at set times. Otherwise you can proceed to the wine store where you can taste and buy.
6. Monflanquin and Villeréal are about half an hour away, both worth a stop.
7. You could also visit the nearby village of Yemet that French people in the area call "the English village" because there are so many British people who live there.

Elyse gives a great summary of the history of this area. Her explanation starts around 25 minutes into our conversation. You can also read her notes by clicking on Show Notes below. But for the purposes of this summary let's just say this.

Bergerac was generally a wealthy area because of its wines and agricultural production. It was raided many times and recovered. Much later it became a stronghold of Protestantism who chased the Catholics away. The chateau of Monbazillac went back and forth between the two denominations causing much loss of life and emotional turmoil.

Once upon a time (in 1897) there was a young playwright who had one play performed in Paris. He was poor and desperately wanted to find more success. This was the time when dramatic realism was taking hold in the art world. Popular plays were dark and full of tortured souls. Edmond Rostand didn't want to make a burlesque play or a somber play. Rostand was a romantic and going through a terrible bout of depression himself.

That's when he remembered reading about a poet called Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac in the 1600s. This man had been rejected by his lover and had spent his life trying to get her attention. Edmond Rostand made the story better and he wrote the play in alexendrin. Everyone said it would be a total failure, but Rostand had persuaded a great actor to premiere it and it's been a huge hit ever since.

Intro for the episode

This episode features my frequent guest Elyse Rivin. You can book a tour with her through her website and you can also support her on Patreon.

Full show notes for this episode are here:

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Moissac is "only" a minor city in the southwest of France, but if you're interested in the Saint Jacques de Compostelle pilgrimage or the churches connected to it, you must make it one of your stops! In this episode of the podcast, tour guide Elyse Rivin explains how Moissac became so prominent, how it is a Unesco World Heritage Site and a great place to visit today!

#joinusinfrance #unesco #camino

• Saint Jacques de Compostelle
• The largest library in France and a major scriptorium
• The golden age of Moissac
• Moissac during the war against the Cathar heresy
• Moissac during the French Revolution
• The Abbey of Moissac becoming a historic monument
• Moissac protecting Jewish children during WW2
• Visiting the abbey today: the remarkable architecture of the doorway
• Church and cloister
• The cloister of Moissac: the first capitals that tell stories
• Walk around the capitals with the list in hand
• The romanesque doorway
• The tympanum of the Moissac cathedral
• A gothic church in the south of France
• Visiting Moissac and local gastronomy
• How life in France can resume thanks to the French Health Pass
• New travel rules are implemented in September 2021 but vaccinated visitors still welcome in France

This episode features my frequent guest Elyse Rivin. You can book a tour with her through her website and you can also support her on Patreon.

Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/354

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Today's episode with Elyse Rivin is all about Lafayette, the Hermione and the arsenal of Rochefort in the West of France.

The newest way to get a Passe Sanitaire for visitors to France is outlined in this document. More about this on Annie's newsletter.

The permanent home of the Hermione is in Rochefort, at the Arsenal de Rochefort 35 miles south of La Rochelle. There is also a lovely resort town on the Atlantic called Royan nearby.

The town of Rochefort is similar in style to La Rochelle, but it was built from scratch to be an arsenal town by Louis XIV. It soon became very important strategically.

#joinusinfrance #podcast #rochefort #hermione #history #france

Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/363

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