The History of France: From Food and Art to Sex and Violence

Princes, Rebels and Concubines: The Rise, Fall and Scandals of the Houses of Conde and Conti

When you think of the history of France, names like Louis XIV, Marie Antoinette, or Napoleon come to mind. But behind the crown, there has always been a hidden...

Where is the child, a never-ending story?

This article will tell you about a criminal case that shook France starting in 1991 with the disappearance of a child in Nice and resurfaced in 2017 with...

The Cayo Affair: A Drama of Murder, Trial, and War

Part One: Murder On March 16, 1913, if you ask Mrs. Caillot, she accidentally shot the editor of the popular newspaper “Le...

Pierre de Coubertin and the history of sports and the Olympics in France

Dear Francophiles, this world is crazy. While security tensions are at their peak in Israel, Paris is in euphoria, as if carried by the grace of summer under the seal of the Olympic Games....

Paris during the Belle Époque (1853-1914)

To most historians, the “Beautiful Age” (La Belle Époque) refers to the period between the liquidation of the Paris Commune (1871) and the outbreak of World War...

Paris in the Modern Era: From the End of World War II to the Present Day

Paris was liberated by the Allies in August 1944. Charles de Gaulle managed to convince them not to turn France into an occupation zone,...

The City of Lights: A History of Paris in the 17th and 18th Centuries

In the 17th and 18th centuries, France became a cultural powerhouse and Paris became both the City of Lights and the City of Lights. Here you can read about the events...

Paris in the Gallo-Roman period: 52 BC to 486 AD

Welcome to the first installment in a series of articles on the history of Paris. This installment deals with the city's early days, from its time as a Gallic settlement...

Paris in the Middle Ages: This is how the capital of the Kingdom of France was born

Early Middle Ages: 486-987 During the fifth century, the Western Roman Empire collapsed, and Gaul was conquered by the Frankish tribe, who gave France its name....

The Mistress, the Nightgown, and the Poison: The Rise and Fall of Madame de Montespan

Who doesn't remember the famous episode from "Friends" in which Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) accidentally meets her new boyfriend's parents while dressed...

Marie Josephine of Savoy: The Most Fragrant Queen in French History

The kings of France were never known for their hygiene. Louis XIV bathed only a few times during his life, while Henry IV enjoyed quite a few...

Arsene Le Pen: The Historical Truth Behind the Netflix Series

Who is Arsene Lupin, on whom the new Netflix series starring Omar Sy is based? What is the fascinating story of...

Land and Sea War: Napoleon and England – Without Compromise

In June 2023, Erez Levanon gave a lecture, as part of the Center for the Heritage of Napoleon and His Era, which dealt with the long-standing struggle between England and France, with an emphasis...

Diane de Poitiers: It's not the age, it's the exercise

Like Eyal Golan, some French kings preferred their (illegitimate) wives to be young, and sometimes very young. The best example of this...

The Story of the Champs-Elysées – Paris’ Most Famous Boulevards

Champs-Elysees. Just say this word and you immediately see a sparkling Parisian avenue with the headlights of thousands of cars and the Arc de Triomphe in the background....

The fascinating history of Versailles – from a hunting lodge to France’s famous palace

The Palace of Versailles is, without a doubt, the most famous palace in France. An architectural and historical icon that has survived the ravages of time and the French Revolution and has become a...

Happily Ever After – A Special Love Story Between a Lesbian Heiress and a Gay Prince

During the 19th century, a large part of the noble houses in Europe found themselves in a difficult financial situation following revolutions, failed investments, and waste of money...

Napoleon and the Jews

On January 26, 2023, a lecture by Professor Alex Grab was held at the Kibbutzim Seminar, which dealt with Napoleon's complicated relationship with the Jews of France. Below...

The dark side of the Eiffel Tower

Since the construction of the famous tower began in 1887, 370 people have died there. Accidents, challenges that ended in disaster, and mostly suicides....

French mayonnaise – who invented it? (and it’s impossible without a recipe or two)

Mayonnaise is undoubtedly one of the most famous sauces in the world. We all know that it originated in France, but few of us know how it was created...

Virginia Hall, the American who felt the need to help occupied France

The extraordinary life story of American spy and resistance fighter Virginia Hall remained unknown for a long time. By virtue of her role as a spy, Virginia...

Agnès Sorel – France's first royal mistress

King Charles VII (reigned 1422-1461) received the nickname "the Victorious" (le Victorieux) for his victory over the English in the Hundred Years' War....

Ninon de Lanclos – the first French feminist

Ninon de Lanclos was much more than a courtesan or a lover. She was involved in philosophy, music, and at the same time, sexual education. In this article you will discover...

Madame du Barry – the last royal mistress of France

Madame du Barry (Jeanne Bécu, Comtesse du Barry 1743-1793) is considered one of the most scandalous figures in French history thanks to a career that began...

The Minion Duel in the Heart of the Mara

On April 27, 1578, at dawn, six young courtiers met at the Parisian horse market (today's Place des Vosges)....

Catherine de Medici – The Unlucky Queen

Was Catherine de Medici (or in Italian Caterina de' Medici) a terrible monster as Alexandre Dumas the Elder and others made her out to be? Yigal Liberant...

The Hundred Years' War and Joan of Arc

What do we know about the Hundred Years' War (except that it didn't last a hundred years)? Giora Barak returns to the Middle Ages...

Marie Antoinette's Manchurian

In the spirit of our series of posts about the crisis that gave rise to the French Revolution, “A Reason to Party,” it is appropriate to recall one of the great party girls –...

Marie Curie and Paul Langevin: Secret Forbidden Love

Marie Curie is known to us for her discovery of radium and winning the Nobel Prizes. However, behind the scenes, a turbulent love story took place with a married man....

What really caused the outbreak of the French Revolution?

The French Revolution – from a new perspective on the occasion of the 231st anniversary of the estimated date of the founding of the “Association of Friends of the Constitution” at the Dominican monastery on Rue Saint-Honoré in Paris...

Jeanne de Belleville, a lioness in love thirsting for revenge

Jeanne de Belleville, the world's first female pirate, sowed terror and death in the mid-14th century, against the backdrop of the Hundred Years' War. Dr. Orna...

Pierre and Marie Curie – A Love Story

One of the most amazing stories of the 20th century is the love story of Pierre and Marie Curie, which led to two Nobel Prizes (and more...

A chapter from the book “My Name Is Jeanne,” a historical novel about Joan of Arc

"My Name Is Jeanne" is a historical novel by Yael Harmlin based on the life of Joan of Arc. Here you will find their chapter from...

Joan of Arc – Witch or Saint?

Joan of Arc is one of the mythological symbols of France. Dr. Alon Klibanov takes us on a historical journey following her amazing story and tries to understand...

Napoleon and the Women of His Life – or: Cherchez la Femme

Who were the women who influenced Napoleon? Who did he love most of all? Erez Levanon will try to answer these questions and more...

Maria Walewski – “Queen Esther of Poland”

Did Maria Walewski sacrifice herself for the Polish nation by becoming Napoleon Bonaparte's mistress, or was it perhaps a story...

The women who walked through the secret corridor in the Tuileries Palace

We are in the late 18th or even early 19th century. During this period, the dynamics of the turbulent relationship between Napoleon and Joséphine de...

Josephine de Boernais and Napoleon: A love story of fire and brimstone

The year is 1795. The goddess of fortune who smiled upon Napoleon in the sky of Toulon will also shine upon him in the sky of Paris. The Directory, the body that ruled France...

Marguerite Polin Belize – The Woman Who Almost Took Napoleon from Josephine by Erez Levanon

Who among you has heard of Marguerite Pauline Belize? Chances are, almost no one has. So you'll probably be surprised to hear that this woman almost took...

Paul-Emile Botte, the French “Indiana Jones,” discovers the buried cities of Mesopotamia

Introduction The year is 1840. The automobile has not yet been invented, electric light has not yet been discovered, the steel skeleton of...

Chevalier d'Aun – The Androgyne Who Astounded Europe by Yigal Liberant

Chevalier d'Aun was one of the mythological figures of the 18th century thanks to his ability to transform from a man to a woman and back to a man in a very short time. Yigal...

Giselle – The Exciting Ballet, a Mirror of the Romantic Era by Ronit Gruman

The ballet Giselle is considered one of the most successful ballets of the 19th century and has been part of the classical repertoire ever since. Ronit Gruman brings us...

The Migdal Nell Affair: Acts of Adultery in the Royal Court

Nell Tower, was at the center of a scandal of royal treason and a terrible punishment. Dr. Orna Lieberman returns with us to 14th century Paris and brings...

The Anonymous Necrophile or the Vampire of Montparnasse

In 1848, all of Paris was terrified. The bodies of young women, who had just died, were exhumed from their graves and discovered by the guards of the Montparnasse cemetery. During...

Bertrand de Gueclain – the French war hero who was actually Breton

History can be deceptive sometimes. Take for example the Hundred Years' War (which actually lasted 115 years). What do we remember from this war? Mostly...

Anne of Brittany – the Duchess who became Queen of France twice

Anne of Brittany is undoubtedly a mythological figure in the history of France in general and Brittany in particular. In this article, we will learn about her life story...

Amedeo Modigliani and Chaim Soutine: The Last Bohemians of Montparnasse

This is the story of the unique and surprising friendship of two brilliant painters, seemingly opposite in everything, in their appearance and in their artistic style: Amedeo Modigliani and Chaim Soutine. This...

Abelard and Heloise: Love Letters That Survived Nearly a Thousand Years

"I swear to God, if the ruler of the world, Emperor Augustus, were to honor me with marriage and grant me the world and its fullness forever, he would be more precious and honorable to me...

D-Day: Operations Fortitude and Overlord – A Brief Historical Background

The lecture on D-Day that you are about to read was created as a historical background for a tour of the Normandy landing beaches (to be published in the future)....

Napoleon Returns to France – Part 1: How Napoleon Arrived on the Island of Elba and Why He Left It

In 1932, a new road was inaugurated in the south of France. Road numbered N85. The road crosses the eastern mountainous region of the Provence region south of...

Missier: The Fascinating Life of Philip I, Duke of Orléans

Everyone knows King Louis XIV; one of the most powerful kings in history, a military leader, dancer, artist and musician, with an uncontrollable appetite for women and food...

A walking tour of the Left Bank of Paris following Napoleon

Several years ago, a tour itinerary on the Right Bank following Napoleon was published here, which was very successful. However, the emperor also lived, built, and influenced...

A duel that lasted 19 years

It's been a while since we've mentioned a duel here, and we won't do so this time either. Instead, we'll talk about a duel that's so unique...

Alexis de Tocqueville – Prophet of Liberalism and Democracy

213th birthday of Alexis-Charles-Henri Clairel de Tocqueville, the joy of every classical liberal (de Tocqueville was born on July 29, 1805). Everything...

Bernadotte – the French private who became King of Sweden

Sweden is one of the last remaining monarchies, but few know that its royal dynasty is entirely French and descends from a man who began as...

The Disappearance of the “Black Mozart” or the Story of the Knight of Saint-Georges by Avital Inbar

The knight Joseph de Saint-Georges was no less famous than his contemporary Mozart. So why did he disappear from the pages of history? Is it...

The breakfast on the lawn that shocked the Parisian bourgeoisie

When the work “Breakfast on the Grass” was exhibited at the “Salon des Rejects” exhibition, the French were shocked. The men quickly moved their wives away from the work and returned...

General de Gaulle and us

It turns out that this month, November, is full of historical events that naturally get forgotten over time. For example, on November 11, 99 years ago, a strike was signed...

Game of Thrones began where the Capetian dynasty ended.

701st anniversary of Jean I, King of France and Navarre. If you haven't heard of him, shame on you, because this monarch was the pinnacle of royalty...

Eleanor of Aquitaine, the most powerful woman of the Middle Ages

As part of the continuation of the research that distinguishes between strong women and “strong” women, it is worth paying attention to the amazing figure of Eleanor of Aquitaine. In this context, I would like to present...

The love story of Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot

I want to tell you about a romantic, illusory relationship that was forged in Paris these days, exactly 50 years ago. How the most desirable woman, a sex symbol...

A journey into the medical journal of Louis XIV

When asked the opinion of the Russian ambassador Yakov Dolgorukov about the Sun King, it was summed up in the sentence: “Smells like an animal.” Not terribly diplomatic...

The mysterious portrait and death of Agnes Sorel

The kings of France are known for their unfaithfulness to their legal wives, but there was one particularly daring beauty named Agnes Sorel, who managed to...

Bluebeard, the devilish companion of Joan of Arc

https://youtu.be/UhEPEdMEKlE לפני בדיוק 577 שנים, ז’יל דה רה (Gilles de Rais), אשר שמו המלא הוא ז’יל מֹונְמוֹרַנְסִי-לָאוְוָאל, מרשל של צרפת,...

The End of Marie-Antoinette (When Abyssal Hatred Meets Misogyny)

Today (October 16, 2017), 224 years ago, at 12:15 p.m., Marie-Antoinette was beheaded in Revolution Square (later - Place de la Révolution...

Michel de Montaigne The Journey to the Essays

“Do not read it like children – for amusement, nor like the ambitious – to be educated. No, read it to live.” Gustav...

Gaspard de Coligny – Martyr or Murderous Warmonger?

Today (August 24), we marked the 445th anniversary of St. Bartholomew's Day and the same anniversary as Gaspard II de Coligny, Lord of St....

Philidor: When Music Meets Chess at Cafe La Régence in Paris

The article was written by Yoel Tamanlis and Zvi Hazanov. The 18th century gave us some of the most fascinating figures in French history, such as the wife of...

Edouard Manet and Berthe Morisot: The Passion of Art

Edouard Manet and Bertha Morisot had a close relationship, both personal and artistic. Dr. Orna Lieberman takes us on an artistic journey between...

On the novel “The Little Horses of Tarquinia” by Marguerite Duras

Reading the novel “The Little Horses of Tarquinia” brought about a turning point in the life of Jan, a young philosophy student, as I explained in my previous article: The Last Lover...

Marguerite Duras's Last Lover

Jan Andrea, Marguerite Duras's "last lover," was found dead in the one-room apartment the writer left him, in the sixth arrondissement of Paris, opposite her apartment...

Breaking news from France: Have the killers of Little Gregory been discovered?

We are in the middle of June, nearing its end, and the pandemic is hitting here, in France. Not about Emmanuel Macron's heroic deeds, both abroad and at home,...

Things you didn't know about Louis XIII

A summary, courtesy of John Shemyakin and your faithful servant, of the character of Louis XIII, as depicted in Emile Mann's book, On the Life of...

The French Chapter in the Fascinating Life of Benvenuto Cellini

Benvenuto Cellini (November 3, 1500 – February 13, 1571) was an Italian-born goldsmith and sculptor who came to work for Francis I of France (1494-1547),...

Camille Pissarro, the first Impressionist

On July 2, 2017, the exhibition dedicated to Camille Pissarro ended at the Marmottan Monet Museum, a very favorite museum of mine (which I wrote about in a previous article). During my visit...

2017 French Elections – A Surreal Campaign

The 2017 French election campaign will likely be studied in detail in political science schools. Its surreal script is full of surprises, dramas, and scandals. The scandals of...

La Piva: The Poor Jewess Who Became Queen of the Champs-Elysées

In June 1867, all of Paris was talking about the glittering event. The rich and famous of the protesting capital, its nobles and celebrities, were invited to the inauguration of the palace built by the Countess...

Madame Tussauds – the Madame who sculpted them all

Marie Tussaud (1761-1850 Anna Maria “Marie” Tussaud), better known as Madame Tussaud, after whom wax museums around the world are named, is...

Mata Hari, Dance of Death

Who was Mata Hari? A ruthless spy or rather a tragic figure, who arrived in Belle Époque Paris and ended her life in front of...

Leo Marjean: French singer, music hall legend 2016 – 1912

Léo Marjane, the legendary singer in the heart of occupied Paris, sang "Bye Mir Bisto Shine", the beautiful Marjane, with the warm voice...

Beauty and the Beast – How the Kings of France Created the Famous Legend

In 1547, celebrations were held in honor of the queen of Henry II of France. The guests brought the king many gifts never before seen at the French court,...

Paul Verlaine, cursed poet

Paul Verlaine, one of the greatest French poets, was only 24 years old when the collection “Saturnian Poems” was published in 1866, which included “a poem...

The Lovers from the Island of Mauritius: Bernardin de Saint-Pierre and his book “Paul Virginie”

In many places on the island of Mauritius, there are reminders of the renowned work of Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, who is considered the father of the French Romantic movement and was a close friend...

A Headless Woman – The Story of French Misogyny

Le Regrattier Street on the Île Saint-Louis in Paris was named after one of the contractors who was in charge of dividing the island's land...

Things you didn't know about the scandalous portrait of Gabriel Destra

Anyone who enters the Louvre Museum cannot ignore this sensual work. People react to the work in different ways: some look on in amazement, some...

Gabrielle D'Estrada – The Mistress Who Almost Became Queen of France

Henry IV of France (1553-1589-1610) was known not only for his courage and for being the man associated with the Place de la Vosges and the Fontainebleau. More...

Frida Kahlo: The first Mexican to sell to the French

We all love hearing life stories of people from whom we can draw inspiration, following their fears, hopes, and dilemmas. This time I chose to write...

Madame de Pompadour – “Parisian Bourgeoisie” / Aristocratic Lady

Madame de Pompadour (Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson), mistress of King Louis XV (reigned 1715-1774). Played an official role in the affairs of the kingdom in France, and was caught...

Monsieur Chocolat – France's first black clown

The film “Monsieur Chocolat” tells the story of Raphael Pedilla, nicknamed “Chocolate” because of his skin color, and is loosely based on his life story...

Elisabeth Villegas Le Bern: The Painter Who Fought for the Image of Marie Antoinette

Elisabeth Villegas Le Berne was one of the most talented painters of the 18th century. She was a woman of the great world, a painter who traveled alone...

Rothschild Salon at the Israel Museum Jerusalem – Virtual Tour

The Rothschild Salon is undoubtedly one of the most impressive exhibits at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem (if not the most impressive). But how did the Salon come to be...

The Dreyfus Affair and the Elor Azaria Affair: Are there any similarities between them?

Since the Elor Azaria affair began in March 2016, I have seen quite a few comparisons online of this affair to the Dreyfus affair that occurred before...

A musical journey following the French anthem – to the Marseilles and back

We all know the French anthem, La Marseillaise. However, over the past 400 years, France has changed quite a few anthems, most of which you may not be familiar with....

The legal troubles of French writer Regis Gioffret

Novelist's hat and crime reporter's hat Régis Jauffret is a 61-year-old French author, born in Marseille, who has won awards and been published, often...

Tour de France, the Race of the Supermen of France by Nimrod Negev

The Tour de France is much more than just another sporting competition. The Tour de France is woven into French culture. Personally, as a Parisian child, I was exposed...

Medieval French Cuisine – A Culinary Feast

The Middle Ages were a festival for the gastronomy lovers of that period. These were the years in which the exotic spices that came from the East were discovered, especially salt, pepper,...

Swinging or maybe sinking? Paris has been flooded since 1910 to the present day

Anyone familiar with the symbol of Paris (a ship on a red and blue background) knows that the city's motto is "Fluctuat Nec Mergitur"...

Head Cleaning – The Story of the Foreign Wig in France

How did the foreign wig come to France and how did it influence French fashion? Join Ronen Sass on a journey back in time to the 17th century and discover...

The Francophile is interviewed on the Nativ Walami program of Nativ Robinson on the B network.

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Reshet B and offered to be the main guest on Nativ Robinson's program "Nativ Olami". I immediately agreed...

Woodsdon Castle – a French chateau in the heart of England

From the 17th century to the mid-20th century, France was the world leader in the fields of art and craftsmanship, as well as in many other fields, its influence...

From Terror to Cabaret – Anarchism in Paris from the 19th Century to the Present

As I have written before, terrorism was invented in Paris and began as state terror during the French Revolution. However, from the philosophy that led to the French Revolution also emerged...

Languedoc-Roussillon – The Monster of Jevaudan

Folktales of terrifying monsters and tales of terrifying creatures have spread among many peoples and communities around the world. In the town of San Antonio...

L'Escalade – Geneva's Urban Holiday by Dr. Shariel Birnbaum

Devoted Francophiles are people who usually travel to France, and sometimes also to Belgium and the Quebec province in Canada. Francophiles who are tired of Paris, or who have already had their Arab...

Sainte-Foy: The Saint with the Wicked Humor

Christian pilgrims who visit the site where the remains of a martyr (a martyr who died for the sake of God) are stored usually prostrate themselves in prayers and supplications...

Carcassonne – about a flying pig and the woman who tricked Charlemagne

In the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France, on the ancient road that connected the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, the magnificent walls of one of the cities stand proudly...

A day in the life of Louis XIV at the Palace of Versailles

In 1682, Louis XIV moved his royal court from Paris to Versailles, even though the construction of the palace was not yet complete and about 20,000 workers and artisans...

The married life of the Duchess of Orléans

How did the Duchess of Orleans react when she saw her homosexual husband for the first time? How did they communicate and how is Hanan Yuval connected to all of this?...

The Cursed Kings – The French Inspiration for Game of Thrones by Raz Greenberg

The historical source of inspiration for "A Song of Fire and Ice," as any beginning reader of the series with basic Google search skills knows, is...

The way a carousel turns… The story of the carousels in Paris

Who didn't love the carousel as a child? Personally, I loved the carousel at Parc Monceau the most...

The Francophile is interviewed by Yair Nitzeni on the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation regarding the French language.

While walking in Tel Aviv, a phone call suddenly rang from an unknown number. On the line was no less than a female investigator from...

Interview on the “Muzes” program on “Kol Hashalom” radio

Sigal Galili chats with me for an hour about “Francophiles Anonymous,” Paris, French history, flavors and smells, places in Israel that remind us of Paris and Francophiles...

Abelard and Heloise – the great love story of the Middle Ages

One of the points that appears on the itinerary of the two islands on the Seine is Rue des Chantres, from which Notre Dame Church can be viewed in all its glory....

Citroen De Chevre: The Iconic French Car

The Deux Chevaux (Two Horsepower) car, or 2CV for short, was designed for the peasantry of France to replace...

The Pirate and the Laundress of Nice

Khair ad-Din was a famous pirate from the 16th century who set his sights on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and robbed ships to his death.

A Journey in the Footsteps of French Hypochondria – Interesting Pharmacies in Paris

The pharmacies in Paris also have interesting stories to tell (if you just listen). Join me on a journey and discover the oldest pharmacy in Paris...

Although – the son of Louis XIV and the princess with the longest nose in Europe

What was Louis XIV's reaction when he saw his future wife for the first time? And what did his son say when he was asked to marry the princess...

The Childhood of Louis XIII – It's Not Always Fun to Be the Son of the King of France

Who among you hasn't dreamed of being born a prince, living in a palace, and being surrounded by endless pampering? So this isn't exactly the reality you experienced...

Attractions in the Loire Valley – Angers Castle by Chaya Bar

The town of Angers, formerly a large and central city, was the seat of the Plantagenet dynasty and the kings of the House of Anjou. In the town of Angers,...

When the city of Paris almost burned down (twice)

Unlike historic cities such as London or Berlin, Paris was hardly damaged during the world wars, and to our delight, most of its historical monuments...

Marie Antoinette – A French Fashion Icon (Who Also Influences Us) by Ariella Goichman Garber

Marie Antoinette had a profound and multidimensional influence on French fashion. Ariella Goichman Garber takes us on a journey through the fashion innovations she brought...

Pagon – the doctor who almost succeeded in eliminating the French royal family

In one of my previous posts, I discussed the executioners of Paris. Today I will write about professionals who killed many more people – the doctors. Who...

Sanson the Hero – The Macabre History of the Executioners of Paris

For nearly 200 years, executions in Paris were the business of the Sanson family. In this post, we will tell the story of the people...

The Adventures of Mr./Mrs. de Choisy – When the Abbot Becomes a Woman

Why did the king's brother wear dresses? I previously posted about the woman who took Louis XIV's virginity (much to his delight...

The Poisoning Affair That Horrified Louis XIV or the Fatal Marquise

The Marais area is divided into two parts by the Rue Saint-Antoine. The northern part is better known for sites such as Place de la Vosges...

Cyprien Ragno – The Cook Who Wanted to Become an Actor

Throughout France's culinary history, there have been quite a few chefs who loved what they did and promoted French cuisine to new heights.

French Fashion – The History of High Heels

A few months ago, I published a post about ridiculous clothing details like the wig and the tie. However, that post was missing one silly item...

Between France and Poland – Three Short Love Stories

There seems to be no connection between sensual France and Poland, whose women (especially Jewish ones) are cold as ice, according to Israeli mythology. However...

Contagious Love – The Story of the Death of Francis I

Francis I (1494-1547) was undoubtedly one of the most colorful kings of France. Today he is known as the last patron of Leonardo...

The History of French Fashion – From Ridiculous to Haute Couture

French haute couture, dictated by famous clothing designers, has only existed since the mid-19th century. Whoever set the...

Who invented champagne?

Champagne is undoubtedly the most famous French wine in the world. Legend has it that Champagne was discovered by Dom Perignon, but the historical reality was...

Queen Margo and her hapless lovers

Marguerite de Valois (1553-1605) was one of the most beautiful women of her time. Her blue eyes, her pretty face, her black hair and her figure...