Join Us in France Travel Podcast

Moissac is "only" a minor city in the southwest of France, but if you're interested in the Saint Jacques de Compostelle pilgrimage or the churches connected to it, you must make it one of your stops! In this episode of the podcast, tour guide Elyse Rivin explains how Moissac became so prominent, how it is a Unesco World Heritage Site and a great place to visit today! #joinusinfrance #unesco #camino Discussed in this Episode Saint Jacques de Compostelle The largest library in France and a major scriptorium The golden age of Moissac Moissac during the war against the Cathar heresy Moissac during the French Revolution The Abbey of Moissac becoming a historic monument Moissac protecting Jewish children during WW2 Visiting the abbey today: the remarkable architecture of the doorway Church and cloister The cloister of Moissac: the first capitals that tell stories Walk around the capitals with the list in hand The romanesque doorway The tympanum of the Moissac cathedral A gothic church in the south of France Visiting Moissac and local gastronomy How life in France can resume thanks to the French Health Pass New travel rules are implemented in September 2021 but vaccinated visitors still welcome in France This episode features my frequent guest Elyse Rivin. You can book a tour with her through her website and you can also support her on Patreon. Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/354 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

In this episode of the podcast, Annie Sargent brings you a conversation with Scott Toporek who went back to Paris at last! This trip was supposed to happen in 2020, but didn't happen because of the pandemic. They came back in August 2021 instead. They had air vouchers they could use up and a week of vacation, so they thought why not? Scott has been to Paris 5 or 6 times before, although never before in August. He knew what he wanted to do and see and he was in a position to compare Paris pre-pandemic to what he experienced this time. We talk about his favorite spots in Paris, but we also go into details about what it’s like visiting Paris while this pandemic still drags on. Some of you aren’t ready to leave the safety of home yet, some have plans to come soon. As you'll hear in this episode, Paris isn’t scary. If you are subscribed to the Join Us in France Newsletter, you've read Annie's advice about getting the French Health Pass and what the recent European Directive means for you.  As a recap, this is the link visitors need to apply for the French Health Pass. The process is different for students coming to a university in France. Discussed in this Episode What Is Paris Like in 2021? La Samaritaine Mask Compliance in Paris Will I Test Negative Before I Return Home? The Carnavalet Museum The Parvis de Notre Dame is still not fully open to the public Classic restaurants in Paris L'Escargot de Montorgeuil La Rotonde Le Train Bleu Chez Dumonet Chez Janou Poilâne bread How to get a nice shot of the Eiffel Tower A great walk in Paris A favorite spot on the Île Saint Louis: Place Louis Aragon Pay attention to the details on your Covid test Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/353 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

On this episode of the podcast, Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin talk about their visit to the Chateau de Chantilly. You can visit the chateau of Chantilly on a day trip from Paris by train and have a great time in the countryside! The Chateau de Chantilly has a long history, an amazing art collection, beautiful stables and horses, and it's a favorite for weddings and events. Click play to see why you might want to go yourself! If you're ready to venture out of Paris and learn about French history, this episode is for you! A Few Gotchas About the Chateau de Chantilly When you are looking for a ticket to Chantilly, go the "Grandes Lignes" machines. Because the train that goes to Chantilly goes all the way to Amiens, it's not a regional train but a train that changes regions. Don't get on the city bus that says "Chateau de Chantilly" because it will take you a long way around. There is a tourist bus that picks up visitors, but we're not sure what the schedule is. It's only about a mile on flat terrain to walk to the chateau, it's probably best to hoof it. Renting a bicycle would be a great way to visit. You can arrange that here or here. There are probably more, these are a couple of the first results on Google. There are horse shows, but it looks like the shows are only in the evening. This is a great place to bring a picnic and there is a bathroom in the horse museum. Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/352 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking    

Have you ever thought about buying a new condo or house in France? My guest on this episode bought a new town home in Provence and a new studio in Paris. She bought them from plan because it was a great deal and she wanted a place of her own in France. In this episode she breaks down the process and shares why she's happy she did it! Buying New Constructions in France I know that many of you hope to move to France someday, so today I bring you a conversation with Maria Trenzado about buying a brand new apartment or single-family home in France. She’s bought two apartments from plans in the past. She’s heard me talk to different people about buying existing homes, and she thought hey wait a minute! She explains what is it like buying a brand new condo in France. How she went about it, the advantages, what should you be on the look-out for, all that good stuff. Make sure to check out the guest notes for details we didn't necessarily cover during our conversation. In the first quarter of 2021 developers sold more than 30,000 new dwellings in France, this is a popular option for French people because we’re not all cut-out for an old house and a renovation project. You’ll find links to a few of the big players in the new construction space in France in the show notes joinusinfrance.com/351. After the interview I’ll update you the pandemic and how things are progressing in France. Consider These Providers If you're hoping to find new constructions in France here are a few of the biggest players in the new construction space: Vinci Immobilier Nexity Bouygues Prix Maison French Estate Agents Leggett Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/351 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

Are you eager to go back to Paris but the latest wave of the pandemic is holding you back? My guest on today's episode of the podcast, Whitney Szypula, certainly didn't let the pandemic stop her. She got vaccinated and made a plan to come immediately. But what is it like to travel to France in Covid times? Did it feel risky? Are there restrictions? What are they like? Is it even worth it? What happens if you don't wear a mask in the Paris metro? Americans were welcome back in France on June 9th, 2021 and she landed on June 10th! This is the first day Americans were allowed to enter France after several bouts of covid-related lock-downs. Whitney was in France for 3 weeks with her partner who is French. They explored Paris together and then went to visit Provence and Savoie where he lives. She shares some wonderful suggestion Let's talk about it! Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/350 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

This is Join Us in France Episode 349.  Bonjour, I’m Annie Sargent and Join Us in France is the podcast where we look around France so you can best enjoy France as a destination. We talk about places you might want to visit in France, French news that relate to travel, French culture, history, gastronomy, and everything it takes to have a great time in France. Today I bring you a conversation with Elyse Rivin about the liberation of the Mediterranean in 1944. We’ve talked about the incredible feats of valor surrounding the liberation of France via Normandy, but that was only part of the job. Lots of Allied troops participated in the liberation of Algeria, Corsica and Provence all around the Mediterranean. And, unlike Normandy, 50% of the troops who participated were French. But the liberation of the Mediterranean wasn't only done by French soldiers! I bet some of you have relatives who fought in those battles and they rarely get acknowledged because all we ever talk about is Normandy. Aug 15th marks the 77th anniversary of the landing of Allied troops in Provence and it’s an amazing story that Elyse and I will share with you now. This time the France travel update on how to get your health pass and QR code is at the beginning of my discussion with Elyse and not after the interview. Stay tuned for that. If you like what we do here at Join Us in France, consider supporting us by visiting Annie's boutique to check out my cookbook Join Us at the Table, my self-guided VoiceMap tours and my services such as my itinerary review where I help you craft the best vacation in France specifically for YOU. This episode features my frequent guest Elyse Rivin. You can book a tour with her through her website and you can also support her on Patreon. Remember that there were 3 major military operations to push back Germans in the  Mediterranean: Operation Torch (North Africa November 1942) Operation Vésuve (Corsica October 1943) Anvil Dragoon (Provence August 1944) German Bunkers you can see in Provence: Blockhaus des Goudes Bunker Faben (Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat) Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/349 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

Are you thinking about making a stop in the city of Montauban in Occitanie? Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin visit Montauban today and share their insights about this town in the southwest of France. Montauban is a city with lots of history and some recent controversy. Should you put it on your list? It's definitely off the beaten track and that's a plus to many people. Take a listen to decide for yourself if you'd like to check it out! If you have time for nothing else, here's what you should put on top of your list in Montauban: The Ingres Bourdelle Art Museum inside of the former Bishop's Palace. It would make a good base to set off to see gorgeous villages in the Aveyron area (Penne, Castelnau de Montmiral, Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, Bruniquel to name just a few that we've done episodes on in the podcast) Here is a selection of accommodations we like in Montauban For Americans planning to visit France in Aug or Sept of 2021: Information on how Americans can get a QR code starts 59 minutes into the episode. This is the Sherpa site where you can see up-to-date information on what it takes to travel to France from your country. It also explains what you'll need to return home AND lets you print travel documents. Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/348 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

Are you thinking about visiting the city of Èze near Nice in Provence? Welcome to the Join Us in France Travel Podcast. We are making a stop in Èze today! Annie Sargent brings you a conversation with licensed tour guide Elyse Rivin about the hill-top village of Èze. We talk about the history of this beautiful place, discuss ways to get there, and a few gotchas you should be warned about. Annie has visited Éze several times. It's a touristy place, but there's a good reason for that! And once you know the tricks, you'll have a grand time! French news about the new health pass requirement starts 35 minutes into the episode or visit the show notes to read what's happening. Here are a few useful links for you on the new health pass: This official web page gives step-by-step instructions on what health professionals need to do to generate a QR code for foreign nationals. Paris By Mouth, a tour company, has published a very good blog post about how to do this for people who are in Paris right now. Things are changing fast. There are a lot of conversations about this on the Join Us in France Closed Group on Facebook, see the latest there. Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/347 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

In this episode of the podcast Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin discuss tips for Paris visitors with mobility issues. The strategies we share would work for older visitors in Paris, but they will also help anyone who is coming to Paris with children. Kids don't enjoy walking 20,000+ steps per day the way we often do in Paris! So, you'll probably have a stroller and that makes mobility more difficult. Also consider that even if you're perfectly healthy, nobody likes to be totally exhausted at the end of a vacation day. So, let's share tips for Paris visitors with mobility issues! Latest news about mobility on the Paris metro and buses This episode features my frequent guest Elyse Rivin. You can book a tour with her through her website and you can also support her on Patreon. Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/346 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

Are you dreaming about visiting the city of Nice on the French Riviera? Welcome to the Join Us in France Travel Podcast where we look around France so you can best enjoy France as a destination. We talk about French culture, history, gastronomy and everything it takes to have a lovely experience in France. Today Annie Sargent brings you a conversation with Elyse Rivin about the amazing city of Nice in Provence. We love the gorgeous bay and wonderful weather and think it's totally worth a visit and a good place to stay for a few days as you explore the French Riviera. This episode features my frequent guest Elyse Rivin. You can book a tour with her through her website and you can also support her on Patreon. Discussed in this Episode Nice Nice self-guided walking tour A brief history of Nice Eze Vance Saint-Paul-de-Vance Menton Villefranche-sur-Mer Grace Monaco Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/345 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking