France

Hotel de Nesle :: Paris, France

November 27, 2022 by Chris Blecha Leave a Comment

In the heart of the Saint Germain quarters in Paris, France sits an artistic hotel for those who dream of the bohemian Paris of writing and painting, the Hotel de Nesle (pronounced nell). With 20 rooms uniquely designed by the owner and her son, they feature frescos based on historical French events and themes. The hotel not only provides distinctively unconventional yet comfortable accommodations, it’s great location on a calm backstreet only one block from the Seine River puts you within walking distance from all the major attractions such as Notre Dame de Paris, the Louvre, the Palais Royal and much more. Feel free to enjoy a leisurely stroll past the art galleries and fancy shops found throughout the St. Germain area.

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Disneyland Paris :: Paris, France

November 27, 2022 by Chris Blecha Leave a Comment

Also known by its original name of Euro Disney, Disneyland Paris is a wonderful vacation and recreation resort in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. Disneyland Paris is made up of two theme parks, a retail, dining and entertainment district and seven Disney-owned hotels. Opened in April 1992, it is the second complex opened outside the United States and the first to be owned and operated by Disney. Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios are the complex’s two theme parks and combined, the two parks bring in over 15 million visitors annually making Disneyland Paris and Disneyland Park (12+ million on its own) the most visited attractions in France and Europe.

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Palace of Versailles :: Paris, France

November 25, 2022 by Chris Blecha Leave a Comment

The Palace of Versailles (Chateau de Versailles) in Paris is without a doubt one of the most beautiful if not the most beautiful example of French 18th century art. The original site was used by King Louis XIII as a hunting lodge. Upon his death his son and heir Louis XIV started a transformation of the building and even moved the government and royal court to the newly renovated site. The Palace was continually upgraded and enlarged until the French Revolution when the royal occupants were ceremoniously beheaded!

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Château de Bagnols :: Bagnols, France

November 24, 2022 by Chris Blecha Leave a Comment

Surrounded by majestic vineyards in Bagnols, France sits a unique five-star deluxe château hotel, the Château de Bagnols. This thirteenth century castle was re-discovered in 1987 by Lady Hamlyn who painstakingly had it restored to its former glory. During the restoration a wide variety of Renaissance wall and ceiling paintings were found dating back to the château’s finest time, when nearby Lyon was one of Europe’s great Renaissance cities. The Château also features impressive towers, the original dry moat and a dramatic entrance across a drawbridge. It is one of France’s major historic monuments while at the same time serves as a unique twenty one room luxury hotel. The beauty provided by this majestic setting is amazing; guests can enjoy the vineyards, forests and green hills of the gorgeous Beaujolais countryside in south-east France.

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Opera Garnier :: Paris, France

November 23, 2022 by Chris Blecha Leave a Comment

Opened in 1875, Opera Garnier is an amazing example of Neo-Baroque architecture at its finest. Designed by a then unknown French architect Charles Garnier, Opera Garnier has served throughout the years as one of the principal venues for Parisian Opera and Ballet. It is known by many names such as Opera de Paris, Palais Garnier, and Paris Opera, with its most official name being Académie Nationale de Musique. It is the thirteenth theater to house the Paris Opera since it was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV. The theater was built over a fifteen year span on the orders of Napoleon III as part of a reconstruction project. Construction was interrupted due to numerous incidents and issues including the extremely swampy land it was built on, the 1870 war and the fall of the Second French Empire. Some claim that the classic novel, The Phantom of the Opera, was inspired in part by a unfortunate incident in 1896 when a counter weight for the grand chandelier fell, killing one person. In 1994 work began to update and modernize the facilities while restoring and preserving the décor.

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