ICI & LA NATURE PICTURES

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 – 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 …

Southern France – Colorful boats on the Canal du Midi – Mediterranean Coast – 40 photos

  Light colorful boats so fragile Under the breath of the singing wind, They go, come and flicker In a slight swing.     On the blue swell that laps The sharp ones go nodding, And the ripples the cahote From the beach to the sunset.   France – Bike …

France – The Great War remembered : They came from across the globe…. – 40 photos.

During the Great War, the Northern France was at the heart of a world conflict : the British, Canadians, Americans, Australians, New Zealanders , Poles, Czechs, Portuguese, Italians, Indians and Chinese were just some of the Nationalities who fought in this region . Traces of these battles remain numerous.   …

Paris – The Way in France – St-Jacques tower, a dizzying 360-degree vista over Paris- 40 photos .

  Formerly the tower was the bell-tower of a church, St Jacques de la Boucherie. (Saint James of the Butcher’s). It is of flamboyant gothic-style, built between 1509 and 1522. The pilgrims that headed off on the Way of St James considered it as a highplace and for some of …

France – Burgundy : Beaune , Cycling through the Vineyards – 30 photos.

The Hospices de Beaune is a former charitable almshouse in Beaune, France. It was founded in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin, chancellor of Burgundy, as a hospital for the poor. … The Hospices de Beaune consists of a pair of two-storied buildings arranged around a stone courtyard. The building wings are …

France – Mediterranean Coast : Sunset over Le Grau du Roi – 30 photos.

Le Grau du Roi is located in Camargue along the Mediterranean coastline. This peaceful place is a former fishermen hamlet and developped in the 19th century as a sea resort thanks to the 18 km sandy beaches near the Natural Park of Camargue.     Ici & Là Nature : …

France – Monte-Carlo : the famous Corniche Road above the French Riviera – 30 photos.

Monte-Carlo , along the French Riviera, is a particular place where luxury and wealth occupy the whole space. The few acres of land are not large enough to cope with the increasing demand which lead to conquer the land from the Sea. This famous Corniche road was also in Hitchcok’s …

Southwestern France : Sunny Sunday in Bordeaux, Market Day along the Garonne River – 40 photos.

  What’s up on Sunday ? On Sunday morning in France it is “Market Day”. It is such a pleasure to stroll around colourful stallls..So here we go for a walk at the Open air Market along the quays of the Garonne River in the city of Bordeaux, which the French …

France : Paris in Summer along the Seine…. – 30 photos.

      In Summer and precisely in August Paris is not totally Paris : the Seine banks turn into a great sea resort where the Parisians can enjoy sunbathing. In August the city is less buzy and nearly “empty”as most of the Parisians are on holidays somewhere else in the …

Spain – Catalonia : Figueres , the town where Salvador Dali let out his first cry!….- 50 photos.

  Figueres in Catalonia , Spain, over the French border, is the city were Dali was born and grew up. It is impossible to forget it while strolling in the town… and this is also where the painter had built his renowned Museum . A few km further, along the Mediterranean shores the famous …

France – Provence : The hidden coves ( calanques ) of Cassis – 40 photos.

The coast from Cassis to Marseille is a protected paradise. This is the heart of the Provence, where Marcel Pagnol, Dumas, Lamartine and even Simone de Beauvoir wrote about these creeks and where many painters of all periods have been seduced by the colors and the unique year round sunlight …