Tag: France

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Pont du Gard

Pont du Gard

Northeast of Nimes lies the town of Uzes. With its rich French heritage, considered the first duchy of France, and its dozens of small villages surrounded by oaks and pines Uzes has plenty to offer.

Perhaps the most famous and certainly a huge reminder is the Pont du Gard.

Located in the Occitanie region of France is the Pont du Gard, a three-story aqueduct bridge crossing the Gardon River. The Pont du Gard rests on a rocky base, creating a challenge for the builders.

A little history… Emperor Augustus, who expanded the city of Nimes, dreamt of making Nimes the rival to Rome. But, he needed water. There was a river. The river Eure met their needs, if they could get the water where they wanted it.

Emperor Claude decided to build an aqueduct, knowing there were two challenges. They had to bypass the Garrigues massif which separates Uzes from Nimes and they had to span the Gardon with its over 50-foot floods.

In only 15 years, the 49 meter high Pont du Gard was completed. At 52 km long, it is the highest in the Roman world. Stones from the Estel quarry, 500 meters away, were brought on flat-bottomed boats against a major river current. The arches of the aqueducts were massive at 24.5 meters. This was well over the norm at that time which was 13 meters. Nothing like that had ever been done.

With the water the aqueduct was able to transport for fountains, spas, and houses of the privileged the city of Uzes grew from just a few thousand to over 22,000.

The Pont du Gard has been considered one of the major accomplishments of the Roman civilization. It ceased to function around the beginning of the 6th century. Today it is located at a distance from the villages with only two buildings close to it.

This is a true masterpiece of Roman construction. This most-visited ancient monument in France is listed as a world heritage site by Unesco. Take some time to explore this amazing site.

If You Go: The Pont du Gard is located at 400 Rte du Pont du Gard, 30210 Vers-Pont-du-Gard, France

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Pommery Champagne House

Pommery Champagne House

Not only does Pommery produce an amazing dry Champagne, the history surrounding Madame Pommery is truly an interesting aspect of this house.

She was one of the great Champagne widows of the 19th century. She is the one you can credit with bring the sweeter sparkling wines to a dryer Champagne. Pommery was born in 1819 and married into a prominent wool family in Reims, France. Once her two sons were born, her husband left the wool industry and dived into the wine business. Two years later, he died. She was only 38 years old.

At that point she decided to carry on with his wine business, changing the business plan fairly quickly from red wines to sparkling wines. She had the uncanny ability to see that the English market would take a liking to delicate, fine, dry Champagne. And, it did.

Ahead of her time, she created Pommery Nature in 1874, the first brut Champagne that had major commercial success. In 1868 she decided to relocate to a different place and launched the “construction site of the century” in Reims. She used the crayeres chalkpits as wine cellars. French and Belgian miners had dug into the earth an interconnected set of tunnels.

Today, the variety of grapes used, the quality of the harvest, the selection of vintages for blends, and the time spent ageing in the cellar all add to the special flavors of Pommery Champagne.

So many processes and procedures go into making this Champagne, with oenologists and the Cellar Master testing the entire way. This ensures Pommery’s distinctive aroma, flavor, and quality will be there in every bottle.

Take a tour, taste the Champagne, and do not miss the lower level of galleries. The staircase alone is amazing if not monumental. With 116 steps down is the only connection to the lower level of caves from the main level.

Art, sculptures, and rotating exhibits are tastefully arranged throughout the lower level. The Pommery Champagne house is not only a feast for your mouth…it’s a feast for your eyes as well.

Cheers!

If You Go: Pollery is located at 5 Place du General Gouraud, Reims, France

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What Vaccinations are Required for France?

Traveling to France is on my list. Therefore, I have read a lot of sites and posts about Covid-19 and vaccinations in France. I want to know in advance what vaccinations are required of me, where I can go, and what I can do before I plan my trip.

What Does France Require?

French President Emmanuel Marcon introduced new Covid-19 regulations for vaccinations this summer. These mandates will start in August. They include limiting places with more than 50 people, like bars, cafes, trains, planes, etc. to those who are vaccinated or recently tested negative for Covid-19.

What if Americans Have Had Their Vaccinations?

If you are a vaccinated American, the white card issued by the US CDC does not always serve as the French Health Pass.

What is a French Health Pass?

Bring your card showing your vaccinations with you to France. Any willing French doctor or pharmacist can enter the vaccination information in the French system. This will generate a printout with a QR code. You can then create a paper or electronic version of the French Health Pass.

How Can You Do This?

How can you find a pharmacist to do this? Many pharmacies offer antigen tests free to Americans, with results in 30 minutes.

What is Acceptable?

The French Consular office in D.C. and the U.S. Embassy confirmed the CDC-issued white vaccination card is considered acceptable proof of vaccination for entry to France. If you are flying on Air France, check ahead of time. There have been flights that did not accept the vaccination card and wanted the French QR code.

Can you show your digital copy from your phone? Possibly, depending on where you are and how strict that establishment is.

What About Unvaccinated Americans?

As for Americans, if you are unvaccinated, you will be required to show a negative PCR test or rapid test taken within 72 hours prior to departure for France.

Bottom Line…

If you are going in the near future, check your airline, hotel, and other important places you will be to see what exactly is required. Right now, it can be a little confusing.

More information and tips about traveling can be found at tips/http://travelsandescapes.net

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Minerve, France

Minerve sits on a rocky outcrop, perched over a couple of rivers in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region in southern France. It is the namesake of the Minervois wine region. It is bordered to the south by the Canal du Midi and to the north by the Montagne Noire mountain range.

The scenery is breathtaking with gorges and canyons carved in the limestone walls over eons, bridges built where they appear out of those walls, tunnels carved into rock, and houses perched in and atop the limestone. Some look suspended, as if a mild breeze would topple them into the caverns below.

We wandered the streets and alleys, climbing up and over walkways and gardens, taking in the views, and thinking of the history here. This was a medieval village and all that went with it.

Some history…


With the backing of God and the Pope, with men hungry for loot and blood, Simon de Montfort laid seige, to the impregnable fortress village. And to speed things along he attacked St Rustique’s well, the principal waters source for the village, found at the base of the village. Four catapults were set up around the village, -three towards the city gates and the fourth – the largest named “Malevoisine” to destroy the well.

The village was well protected with double surrounding walls, and overhanging ledges. But, they could not withstand the attacks and eventually several villagers were burned at the stake.

Now, little is left of the fortress. The village is a hodge-podge of narrow alleys, topped by a simple 12th century church.

Definitely worth a side trip if you are staying in the area.

If You Go: Minerve is 25 kilometers north-west of Narbonne in Languedoc-Roussillon. It is classified as one of the most beautiful villages of France.

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Collioure, France

Only 15 miles from Spain, Collioure is a mix of French, Spanish, and Catalan. We saw French street signs, yellow and red Catalan flags, with a mix of Spanish thrown in.

On the Mediterranean coast of southern France, called the Vermillion Coast, Collioure’s views are just what we had hoped for. Dramatic… picturesque…postcard perfect. All overused words and yet they all fit.

Beaches ranged from pebbly to sandy. All tumbled from the wall-like Pyrenees into the clear blue Med. We could see why painters have flocked here for centuries, trying to capture some of the essence of this piece of paradise.

Taking time to wander, then sit at one of the many outdoor terraced cafes, we wondered why we hadn’t come here earlier. And…stayed longer.

Our day-long visit was too short.

But there is next time…as soon as we can travel again.

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Abbey du Fontfroide, France

The Cistercian Abbey du Fontfroide is nestled in the foothills of the Corbières, south-west of Narbonne. Founded in 1093, Fontfroide, now classified as a Historic Monument and a Great Site of Occitania, crosses centuries, eras and events, witness to history for present and future generations.

Abbey du Fronfroide was founded in 1093, on land given to a few Benedictine monks by the Viscount of Narbonne. It takes its name from the nearby source, the Fons Frigidus, the Froide Fountain. Besides water, the monks could find wood and stone in the massif for the construction of the monastery.

But Fontfroide did not really develop until after 1145 and its attachment to the Order of Cîteaux . The Cistercian monks, under the direction of St Bernard of Clairvaux, wish to return to the purity of the rule of St Benedict, advocating poverty, austerity and architectural sobriety.

The Abbey du Fontfroide is imprinted within its walls with rich testimonies of these residences, including the monumental triptych by Odilon Redon “Day, Night and Silence” as well as stained glass windows by Richard Burgsthal.

Today, the descendants of Gustave Fayet still maintain the Abbey du Fontfroide with the same passion.

We spent the better part of a day wandering and exploring around and through the Abbey with its thick walls, massive stair cases, impressive gates and doors, and graceful archways. Peaceful courtyards beckoned for us to sit and reflect in the silence. Overhead, fragrant flowers perfumed the air. Statues watched over us. Garden paths wove in and around it all.

The sheer size of the Abbey and the grounds are amazing. Look out over the rooftops to the hills beyond.

If You Go: Abbey de Frontfroide is located at Route Départementale 613, 11100 Narbonne, France. Their phone number is +33 4 68 45 11 08

Check more posts for information on France https://travelsandescapes.net

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Cossy Champagne…Definitely a Favorite

Cossy Champagne

The Cossy estate is based in the 1er Cru village of Jouy-lès-Reims – just a few minutes outside of the center of Reims, and dates to 1764. They started bottling under their own label in the 1950s, in addition to managing the Cooperative winemaking facility for their village and the neighboring hamlet of Pargny-lèsReims.

Sophie’s wines all clearly have a graceful, feminine touch. They are all from her estate vineyards within a kilometer or two of the winery, so they’re all from essentially the same terroir.

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Ruinart Champagne

The House of Ruinart is unlike any other. It was the first established House of Champagne in 1729 and inspired by the intuition of a monk well ahead of his time.

Chardonnay is the very soul of Ruinart. The grape, mainly harvested from the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims terroirs, is at the heart of all our cuvées.

A unique part of our visit included a tour of the crayères, or chalk galleries, classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2015. It’s hard to describe the feeling when you know you are 125 feet down into the earth with the silent chalk surrounding you.

Vaulted ceilings and large galleries, the crayères almost remind you of being in a cathedral where you really should be quiet. The only other souls we saw were rows upon rows of bottles. Probably millions. Not a bad sight.

The cool, dark crayeres are lit by spot lights in a few places. Other times, light comes in from a hole far above you.

Centuries of graffiti are carved into the walls, bearing names, doodles, and even tiny altars with crosses.

The blend for Blanc de Blancs

The blend is 100% Chardonnay from various years (20 to 25% of which are reserve wines from the 2 previous years).

A large majority of Premiers Crus from the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims vineyards for aromatic refinement, supplemented by Sézannais wines known to provide maturity. Finally, several wines from the north of the Vesle valley give a light, fresh touch.

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Epernay, France

Home to the great wine production and trading houses, and listed as a Remarkable Site of Taste, the majestic Avenue de Champagne has 110 kilometres of cellars.

The first Champagne House opened in Epernay in 1729, founded by Nicolas Ruinart, a draper at the time, who wanted to try his hand at producing sparkling wine.

Other establishments would also set up on Avenue de Champagne (in particular Moët & Chandon, in 1743). The Avenue de Champagne, previously known as Rue du Commerce, became an important economic hub in the 19th century and other Champagne Houses followed: Perrier Jouët, de Venoge, Mercier, etc.

In February 1925, the Rue du Commerce became the Avenue de Champagne.