ICI & LA NATURE PICTURES

FRANCE – ATLANTIC COAST : ILE DE RE – 30 PHOTOS

    The “Île de Ré” is an island off the west coast of France near La Rochelle . Ile de Ré is located on the west coast of France, along the Atlantic coast The island offers marine and rural landscapes, moors, dunes, woods, pine forests, marshes, large sandy beaches. The island is also …

France – November 11, 1918 – 100 years ago , the Great War ended there : The clearing of the Armistice – 40 photos

        The spot in the forest of Compiegne, France, where the armistice with Germany was signed, nov.11, 1918 . On the left is the train that formed the headquarters of Marshal Foch and on the right that occupied by the German envoys .       100 …

Walking in Paris – The Louvre Museum – 30 photos

The Louvre Museum is an old royal palace located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris on the right bank of the Seine.          The Louvre Museum  is the world’s largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris.            In 2017, the Louvre was the world’s most visited …

Southern France – Mediterranean Coast : The Rio Tagus – 20 photos

    At the end of the  harbour of Sète ( Mediterranean Sea ) is a rusted out derelict vessel  named the Rio Tagus .   Dans un bassin du  port de Sète se trouve un navire abandonné rouillé nommé le Rio Tagus.             Rust has become encrusted On wrecks …

Walking in Paris : Place de la Concorde – 30 photos.

    The Place de la Concorde  is one of the major public squares in Paris  It is the largest square in the French capital. It was the site of many notable public executions during the French Revolution.             It is located at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées.   …

France – Marseille – Chateau d’ If, count of Monte Christo island prison – 30 photos.

The Château d’If is a fortress – prison  in the Frioul archipelago situated in the Mediterranean Sea in the Bay of Marseille ( southeastern France ).     It is famous for being one of the settings of Alexandre Dumas’ adventure novel The Count of Monte Cristo.     Provence – Hiking tour in the Calanques around Marseille.       …

France-Brittany : Josselin Castle on the Velodyssey

  Josselin Castle is one of the highlights of the ride from Roscoff to Nantes along the Canal and the Veldyssey. Here is a brief history of the castle.   Josselin Castle’s story began 1000 years ago in 1008 : Guéthenoc, son of the Count of Rennes  built a stockade …

France – Velodyssey : The ” Port de la Cayenne” , Marennes – La Tremblade – 30 photos

    The port of La Cayenne is the oyster port of Marennes, small river town of the Charente-Maritime which is today one of the main oyster-farming ports of France.           Crossing France from north to south along the Atlantic, the cycling track of 1,200 km makes …

French Riviera and Cannes : The old town and the Port ; 30 photos

A CINEMA FESTIVAL BUT NOT ONLY ….                   Self-guided holiday on the French Riviera with an electric bike                             Self-guided holiday on the French Riviera with an electric bike …

France : Market day in Provence – 30 photos

Region bathed in sunshine, known for its scents and flavors, Provence remains synonymous with a magnificent terroir, from which are derived excellent products … The great specialties? Olive oil of course, fruit, vegs, aromatic herbs, goat cheeses, honey, or local wines, pottery, colorful cloth. Plus a few suprises specific to …

France – Brittany : The exotic Garden of Roscoff

  The Roscoff rocky outcrop is particulary protected. Very mild winters have allowed the development of an exuberant exotic garden overlooking the marina. In the 18th century, after the decline of its maritime trade, Roscoff became a “corsair city” but a was also one of the main smuggling port with …

France : Albi, Cathedral Sainte Cécile -the Museum Toulouse-Lautrec – 30 photos.

Marseille : Vallon des Auffes – A charming tiny fishing port in the heart of the city-30 photos.

English :The Vallon des Auffes is a little traditional fishing port in Marseille in the 7th arrondissement .Located 2.5 km south-west of the famous Vieux-Port. Its name comes from “l’auffe“, or “alfa” , a sort of cereal used to make rope, braids, and fishing nets. This little haven is composed of dozens of fisher cabins …

French Riviera – Cannes : The Croisette Promenade – 20 photos

The Promenade de la Croisette is the seafront Promenade in Cannes, France. It stretches along the shore of the Mediterranean Sea and is about 2 km long. The Croisette is also known for the Palace where the Cannes Film Festival is held each year. Many expensive shops, restaurants, and hotels (such as the Carlton, Majestic,and Martinez) line the road. Let’s have a walk …

France – November 11, 1918 : The clearing of the Armistice – 100 years ago , the Great War ended here – 40 photos

100 years ago the armistice of the first world war was signed here             The Armistice that brought to an end of the greatest war in history, was signed on November 11, 1918, on this exact spot in the forest of Compiègne.       …

France – Alps : Vercors, a massif in the French Pre-Alps – 20 photos

    The Vercors is a massif of mountains and plateaus East of the Rhône Valley, between the Drome department and the Isere department The Vercors massif and surrounding areas are protected thanks to the Natural regional park. In addition to outstanding, vertiginous landcapes the Vercors is also famous for the …

France : Vosges mountains and Alsace vineyards – 50 photos.

  A trip in the heart of the Alsatian vineyards, its great vintages and authentic villages.  A walking day passing by the balloons and at the feet of the great Vosges tops. The numerous castles and beautiful villages of the of the wine trail and the welcoming and convivial hosts …

France – Brittany : Walking to Fort La Latte on GR34

Fort La Latte is a fortified castle at the East of Cap Fréhel, standing 196ft (60m) on a rock above the sea.The imposing edifice was built in the 14th century, and fortified in the 17th century. Crossing the drawbridge and exploring the crenellations, turrets and dungeons will take you back …

France – Provence : Eygalières, Hugh Grant had a crush on this village – 30 photos

     Hugh Grant fell in love with Eygalières and with the charm of Provence !the English actor chose to spend Summertime in this genuine village nestled  in the mediterranean vegetation. He is besides not the only one to be seduced by the place. What about a short walk in …

France – Brittany : A hike on GR34 to Cap Fréhel – 20 photos.

All along the GR34 encircling the whole Brittany the landscape is stunning. From Saint Malo to Saint Brieuc the walk follows the dramatic Emerald Coast, the famous Frehel Cap, the outstanding pink cliffs of Erquy.These Natural sites have been on Unesco List since the 70s.   Hiking in Brittany on …

France-Brittany : le Guilvinec – On the tracks of seafarers ! – 20 photos

  GR34 walking around Brittany It is one of the most emblematic trails of Grande Randonnée®Français. The GR® 34 – or “Douaniers trail” – runs along more than 1,800 km along the coast of Brittany, offering uninterrupted views over the sea. Unforgettable! Rocky headlands, wild coasts, marshes, dunes, beaches, coves, and …

France – Perigord : Loubressac along the Dordogne Valley – 20 photos

    Perched on a promontory that offers a dramatic  view over the Dordogne valley and the surrounding castles, Loubressac is a charming medieval village. The houses built of ochre stone and capped with pointed roofs. The church of Saint Jean Baptiste and the Castle, dating back to the 15th …

Southern France : Bayonne, Cycling around Basque Country – 20 photos

    Stretching along the banks of the Rivers Adour and Nive, the waterside city of Bayonne is a lovely city in Southwest France, the capital of the French Basque Country. It’s been a strategic stronghold since medieval times, and the old ramparts are still visible around the outskirts of …

France – Provence : Saint Rémy de Provence – Welcome in the heart of the Alpilles! – 40 Photos

  In the heart of Provence, this charming village enjoys a real provençal art de vivre : wander along the boulevards under the plane-tree shade, stroll around the narrow streets, find out a square where a fountain gently gurgles, the attractive boutiques and the Art galeries bring life to this town center. Take …

France – Cycling near Paris : Blandy Fortified Castle – 30 photos

Together with Fontainebleau and Vaux le Vicomte, Blandy les Tours is part of the Circuit “Les 3 Chateaux” the 3 Castles tour in the Seine et Marne departement. A 40 mn train ride from Paris, the cycling tour starts in Melun which is unexpectedly a green forested environment, with large forests ,centuries-old trees, small …

Paris : The Pompidou Centre celebrates its 40th anniversary this year – 30 photos.

    The modern art mecca of the French capital, the Centre Georges Pompidou, is also known as Beaubourg . The building, which looks like an airport terminal, with its pipes, lifts and external scaffolding was a much-debate object when it was created in 1977 . Georges Pompidou the President at that period …

France – Brittany : GR 34 – Coastal path – Pointe de Pen March – 30 photos

  The coastline around Brittany occupies one third of the total length of the French coasts. Nearly 2 000 km proudly displaying a great diversity of sceneries : Pink Rocks in the Granite Coast, cliffs on the Emerald Coast, fjords in the extreme West, long sandy beaches, pebbles, islands, salt marshes, …

France -A Walk in Perigord : Castelnau – Bretenoux Castle in the Dordogne Valley – 30 photos

This imposing fortified and medieval Castle of Castelnau-Bretenoux is one of the most impressive in the Quercy region, it has been listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture since 1862. The building of this monument began about 1100, by Hugues, baron of Castelnau, who wanted to protect his …

France-Brittany : -Walking towards the famous Pointe du Raz, the most Western point of the French mainland- 40 photos

  Beware ! dramatic scenery!  La pointe du Raz is labelled  ” Grand Site  de France”, a real Nature  masterpiece. Between waves and steep rocks, this tip which is the extreme Western part of France is fascinating. This wild beauty marks the end of the World.Facing the Ocean with the New …

The Way of St-James in France : Marciac, on the Arles Route – 40 photos.

Marciac is a small village of Armagnac in the Southwestern part of France. It is a 13th century fortified village called “Bastide”,nestled down the hills of Armagnac where d’Artagnan was born. It is a bastide typical of the Gascony atmosphere. This charming place is authentic and the inhabitants are proud of …

France : Walking in the picturesque and very scenic Tarn Gorge – 40 photos

Let’s follow the Tarn River for 50 kilometres.The Tarn Gorges are among the deepest canyons in Europe. They are also extremely picturesque – one of the most scenic parts of France . Classified since 2010 World Heritage of the UNESCO, the  Tarn Gorgeare renowned among the French because of the …

The Way of Saint James in France : Toulouse , the Via Tolosana or Arles Route – 40 photos

    After Christ’ s resurrection the apostles set out to evangelise the world. Legend attributes the evangelisation of the Iberian peninsula to Saint-James (Santiago in Spanish language). His sepulchre was miraculously discovered around 820-830 in Galicia (which is now Santiago de Compostela), and Spanish Christians made Saint-James the standard …

France – Perigord : Carennac, a gem in the Dordogne Valley – 30 photos

Along the banks of the Dordogne River the medieval village of Carennac is classified among the “Most Beautiful Villages of France”. These photos have been taken in early April in a misty morning light. It is located not far from the famous Gouffre de Padirac and Rocamadour, this renowned perched …

France – Walking in Perigord : Autoire – Gorgeous ! …. – 30 photos.

Autoire is classified among the Most Beautiful Villages of France and is really worth the visit in one of the most gorgeous regions of France : the Dordogne Valley where French and English people love hiking. The villages are very picturesque  and rural landscapes have changed little since the 15th century. …

France – The Way of St-James – Auch, a restful resting stage on the Arles Way – 40 photos.

              France-Camino-Walking the Via Tolosana -From Auch to Lourdes.   Auch is one of the Capitals of the Gers and of Gascony.It is located only 77 km from Toulouse. It is known for the Renaissance Cathedral Sainte-Marie its remarkable organ, carved stalls and stained-glass windows, La …