Montréal-du-Gers (les plus beaux villages de france, notrebellefrance)
C'est en 1255 qu'Alphonse de Poitiers a construit sur un éperon rocheux contourné par l'Auzoue l'une des premières bastides gasconnes.
Respectant l'architecture de ces nouvelles citées, rues et carrelots mènent à la place centrale entourée de cornières sur trois côtés. Intégrée aux fortifications dont subsiste une porte en ogive, l'église gothique du XIIe siècle domine de son clocher plat les maisons à pans de bois.
Au nord, l'église préromane de St pierre de Genens du VIIe siècle présente une colonnade romaine et un chrisme taillé dans un marbre antique.
La Cité Médiévale de Crémieu (notrebellefrance, plus belles villes de france)
La petite ville de Crémieu, blottie sous ses collines et à pics de calcaire se situe sur le territoire de l'Isle Crémieu et le Pays des Couleurs, tout au nord du département de l'Isère, à 30mn au sud-est de Lyon. Elle présente un patrimoine architectural remarquable et remarquablement préservé qui témoigne de l'intense activité commerciale, puis religieuse qui s'est développée dès le XII° siècle.
Chateau Rural by Drone | Midi Pyrenees | France | Oliver's Travels
In the heart of Gascony, surrounded by landscapes of sunflower fields and hills, is the magnificent estate of Château Rural. This charming and historical residence is a true reflection of this traditional region and is a wonderful retreat for families and friends looking for authenticity and peace.
The foundations of the estate date back to the Middle Ages yet it was in the 18th Century when the existing château was created by a famous countess who designed the magnificent park featuring statues and a small chapel where locals could go and worship. In the 19th century the new owner added an innovative irrigation system using windmills, two of which remain to this day, alongside other historical features such as the ancient wine cellar and the château’s original towers.
Inside, the style of the modern-day château is one of rustic charm and rural warmth, with twelve charming bedrooms featuring sweet and comfortable furnishings, delightful living and dining rooms, a games room with French pool and a historic library featuring thousands of books.
The château’s managers, who live on site, are experienced instructors in yoga, pilates and circus arts and can host individual or group classes for guests in their fantastic yoga studio on the estate. Whether aerial yoga, meditation or Hatha and Vinyasa, this is the perfect place to practice yoga or pilates in a serene environment.
Outside you are surrounded by six acres of parkland featuring ancient oaks, wonderful walks and a swimming lake or stay closer to home and relax by the heated swimming pool. For the more active guests, you can kick a football around, play darts, ride the château’s bikes or play French pool in the games room. There are also tennis courts within walking distance, as well as golf, horse-riding and canoeing within a short drive.
Gascony is one of the most unspoilt and rural regions of France with a fantastic reputation for its gastronomy with amazing Farmer’s markets dotted around local villages and towns and many fine local producers of Grand Armagnac. Just ten-minutes away is the delightful hilltop village of Lectoure with its lovely restaurants, antique shops and a great market on a Friday morning or head to nearby Fleurance on a Tuesday morning to experience one of the largest markets in the region.
Other villages and hamlets in the area to explore include three of France's ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ within forty minutes by car; Fourcès, Larresingle and Montréal du Gers.
Further afield the cities of Toulouse and Bordeaux would make exceptional days out before returning to the peace and tranquillity of Château Rural.
Gascony Tour
Gascony tour - get a flavour of the Gascony (Gascogne) area of south west France. Enjoy the lifestyle and landscapes of the Gascony area from the Pyrenees mountains to the River Dordogne.
Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte (Notrebellefrance, Les plus beaux châteaux de france)
Ce château, l'un des plus beaux d'Ile de France, a été construit entre 1656 à 1661 par Louis Le Vau pour Nicolas Fouquet, alors surintendant des finances de Mazarin. Les jardins ont été dessinés par le jeune Le Nôtre.
Inauguré en grande pompe en présence du jeune Louis XIV, son faste suscita la jalousie du roi et concourut sans doute à la disgrâce de son propriétaire, à son emprisonnement à vie et à la confiscation de ses biens.
Certains considèrent qu'il inspira la conception de Versailles, en réponse à sa magnificence.
Saint-Véran au cœur du Parc Naturel Régional du Queyras (notrebellefrance, plus beaux villages)
Joignable par route depuis à peine plus d'un siècle, on pénètre dans le bourg constitué de plusieurs quartiers par la route en contrebas, et l'on découvre les constructions les plus anciennes, chalets de bois, belles galeries de greniers à fourrage, un puits, un four à pain. Les maisons sont isolées les unes des autres, cela permettait d'éviter que les incendies ne se propagent à tout le hameau. L'église présente un très beau porche à colonnes supportées par des lions.
Le village est animé, de nombreuses boutiques d'artisanats offrent un beau choix d'objets locaux. On peut aussi monter jusqu'à la chapelle Notre Dame de Clausis d'où la vue par beau temps est splendide.
DO IT FOR MOM (Do it for Denmark 2) | Spies Rejser
Spies Travel is joining forces with wannabe grandmas in the fight against Denmark's low birth rate. Introducing Spies Parent Purchase™: Send your child on an active holiday and get a grandchild.
Read more at
- - - - -
Spies Rejser går nu sammen med potentielle bedstemødre i kampen mod Danmarks lave fødselsrate. Derfor introducerer vi nu Spies Forældrekøb™: Send dit barn på en aktiv ferie og få et barnebarn.
Læs mere på
- - - - -
DO IT FOR MOM
Last year we at Spies Travels launched the ‘Do it for Denmark’-campaign in order to address the historical low birth rates in Denmark. It turned out quite successful, we made the Danes travel more, have more sex and reproduce for their country. Vitus, the baby conceived by the competition-winners was born in January this year. However the Danish welfare system is still under pressure. The birth rate is still too low despite a little progress after last year’s effort. And this affects us all, but those who suffer the most are perhaps those mothers that will never experience having grandchildren. That’s why we are joining forces with elderly women of Denmark who have become grandma-broody. We have a common goal: More babies.
This year we are prescribing active holidays, because studies have proved that couples that sweat together have more sex. This combined with the fact that you have 51% more sex on a sunny holiday will lead to more sex and therefore more babies aka. grandchildren. In order to give potential grandmothers a strong tool, we have developed the Spies Parent Purchase™ product (Spies Forældrekøb™), where they can prepay active holidays for their children and in-laws in order to make the magic happen. To show that we’re in this together, we’ll throw in some discounts as well.
This year the Danes will conceive not only for their country but also for their moms. We think that will do the trick.
Link to the danish travel agency Spies:
Les falaises d'Étretat (Guide touristique, notrebellefrance, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie)
Les falaises d'Étretat est un site naturel d'exception où le spectacle des falaises découpées en portes, aiguilles et pinacles va vous couper le souffle. Série de falaises spectaculaires le long d'une jolie côte naturelle, immortalisée par le peintre impressioniste Claude Monet. Un rempart de craie à 110 mètres au-dessus de la mer.
Paris-le marché aux fleurs de l'île de la Cité
The flower market is located on place Louis Lépine . It is open everyday from 8am to 7pm. It dates from 1808.