Featured Cities

Marseille attractions

Marseilles is a city with an ancient seafaring vocation, so an essential route to see the attractions of Marseille should depart from the ‘old port’ of the city. Built in an area protected by the hills of Saint Lorent, Moulins and Carmes and two fortress (Saint Jean and Saint Nicolas) it is also a characterful place with its wharves dating back to the seventeenth century, and the sight of colourful fishing boats at anchor, the fish market and a great number of “bistrot”.

Marseille museums

Nearby you can visit the Musée des Docks, which contains examples of goods dating back to the first century B.C. and the Muséee du Vieux Marseille, where you see a model which reproduces the city as it was in Roman times. Also dedicated to local history is  ‘Musée d’Histoire de Marseille‘, which also contains the remains of an old boat (3rd century BC) discovered in the Old Port area.

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Featured History

Triumphal Arch in Orange, France

The Triumphal Arch in Orange (near Avignon) is about 22 meters high and 21 metres wide, and consists of three arches.

It is located on the ancient Via Agrippa (the Roman trade route from Lyon to Arles) and features numerous ornate carvings relating to the history of the conquests of Augustus, the Roman supremacy over the Gauls and various religious symbols.

In the nineteenth century it was called the Arch of Marius because it was assumed that it was erected in honour of the Marius’ victory against the Cimbri and the Teutons in 101 B.C., but today it is accepted that the arch was a dedication to the victory of Augustus at Actium (31 B.C.), and later also to the Emperor Tiberius.

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Featured Gardens

Sardy gardens

For most people, when we think of gardens in the Dordogne we think of the formal gardens in the French style, with carefully trimmed box hedges and meticulously planned layouts. There are several of these to enjoy, including the very well known (and popular) gardens at Marqueyssac and Chateau Hautefort.

For something a little different, venture west of Bergerac in the region and visit the Jardins de Sardy near the border with the Gironde department and close to Sainte-Foy-la-Grande.

The garden is very attractive, and in an ‘Italian meets English’ style, much less formal than the gardens at the grand castles.

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Featured Buildings

Medieval market halls

One of the more unusual building types that you will come across in southern France – especially in the medieval and bastide towns of the south-west of the country – is the traditional market hall.

These typically date back up to 700 years, and have long served as permanent ‘covered markets’. Because of this role they are usually found in the centre of towns (eg Villereal, Monpazier, Domme and many others), usually in a large open square.

There are various different versions of the structure, even in the unmodified form.

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