Victoria

Although my first trip to France was decades ago, I still remember feeling quite overcome to be actually exploring sites that for so long I had only dreamed of visiting. While strolling the byways of Paris—taking in the glorious scenery, perusing bou

Visit our website to read this issue’s online stories and to find more of the content you love. Take a closer look at some of our favorite May/June features: Creator of the popular blog French Countryside Companion Shannon Grochowski shares her Straw

It was usually in late spring or in the summer when I visited my sister in France. I had studied French and could speak a little, but she had married into a French family and was deeply immersed in the language and the people and the atmosphere of th

The rolling and fertile land that composes France’s Loire Valley is home to mythical tales of heraldry, to grand châteaux that rise like reverie, to lush vineyards and colorful gardens nurtured by an ideal combination of sun and rain. The river that

The idyllic Burgundian village of Mailly-le-Château cascades down rocky bluffs toward the Yonne River, where swans glide along in the current and herons swoop in search of a morning meal. Terraced steps lead from the water’s edge to a fetching stone

The exterior of Josephine Davis’s home, with its perfectly manicured lawn, symmetrical façade, and entrance edged with a carved stone balustrade, presents a striking first impression to be sure. But beyond the front door lies even more enchantment. W

The familiar peal of bells from the twelfth-century church next door to her home in Courances, France, is all the timekeeper Elizabeth New Seitz needs. Each hour and half-hour are marked, just as they have been for centuries—a steadfast reverberation

Named for the river that journeys through the heart of France, the Loire Valley is a place that has “perfected the art of living.” Here, lush vineyards and historic sites abound, and travelers cross oceans to enjoy the fruits of European culture. Amo

The cobblestone streets of Paris’s Le Marais district narrowly escaped Napoleon’s predilection for wide avenues—to the eternal gratitude of residents and visitors alike who much prefer the chockablock charm of this ever-bustling area. Once the domain

In the late seventeenth century, the Marais district was one of Paris’s most eminent neighborhoods. Here, nobility erected urban mansions and congregated at the royal Place de Vosges and other glamorous venues. The area was abandoned by aristocracy f

Begins on page 37 Makes 1 drink 1 ounce limoncello, chilled½ cup Cava2 ounces lemon-flavored Italiansparkling water*¼ ounce Lavender Syrup (recipe follows)Garnish: lemon slice, lavender sprig In a glass, layer limoncello, Cava, sparkling water, and L