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Today Annie Sargent brings you a conversation with Elyse Rivin about the lovely village of Penne in the Tarn. It’s a small place (600 inhabitants) with a ruined castle on top of the hill and gorgeous views all around. 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. This medieval village does not have any sort of special label like “Most Beautiful Village of France” so it’s definitely under the radar. But it's such an interesting place! We often get asked about memorable places to visit with children and Penne is definitely one of them! Children will love the adventure of exploring the ruins and watching restoration work go on (if you go at the right time, check their website for specifics.) Penne is north east of Toulouse. The name comes from a Latin root that means high pointy rock and the castle is indeed on top of a high pointy rock. This ruined castle got its start in the 800s at a time when local inhabitants needed protection from various invasions. The Village of Penne Today Today a lot of arts and crafts people have moved into the village because in a normal year Penne gets quite a few visitors. You'll find some shops and cafés and scenic narrow streets (see Annie's photos on Instagram). What's different is that this village doesn't have a monastery and it is not a bastide. It was developed primarily around the defensive castle which speaks to the difficult political situation of this area during the Middle Ages. You should wear good walking shoes as you will be walking up fairly steep cobblestone. It's not taxing physically because you don't have to go a long way, but may be impossible for people with mobility issues and difficult with a stroller. Attractions and Accommodations Nearby It will only take half a day to visit Penne (unless they have special events going on), but the great thing is there is plenty to see nearby. Bruniquel, Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, Castelnau-de-Montmiral are good candidates in our opinion. Here are some good accommodation around Penne. Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/336 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/335 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking This week in France we are celebrating the bicentennial of Napoleon’s death and so today Today I bring you a conversation with Kurt Weihs about Napoleon. I am excited to release this episode because I have been working on it for several months. My guest Kurt Weihs did an amazing job helping me summarize Napoleon’s life and why he has had such an enormous imprint on France. If you’re interested in learning how France ticks and why, you’ll love this episode. On this episode we want to look at the big picture of Napoleon's life. The man, his ideas and some of the major turning points in his life. In this episode we paint with a broad brush, but by the end of this episode you'll have an idea of who Napoleon was and why he made his mark on so many places in France. Books Annie read to prepare for this episode: From French historian Max Gallo: The Song of Departure and The Sun of Austerlitz 1815: The Return of Napoleon by Britten Austin Wellington & Napoleon: Clash of Arms by Robin Neillands The Road to St Helena: Napoleon After Waterloo by J. David Markham The Words that Define Napoleon In order to make sense of Napoleon's full and complicated life, it is useful to try to distill things down to a few ideas. Kurt's 5 Words for Defining Napoleon Romanticist: Napoleon was very much in love with Josephine and let his emotions guide his choices. Fairness: Napoleon expected to be treated fairly and believed people would keep their word. This was not always the case in reality. Order: Napoleon loathed disorder and chaos. He hated insurrections and attempted to tamp them down. Image: Like most authoritarian dictators, Napoleon used the media for propaganda  and used out-right lies to shape his public image. Endurance: During his campaigns he spent days and days on horseback, he attacked swiftly and tirelessly. Annie's 5 Words About Napoleon Family: His family was from Corsica and functioned much like a clan. After he became Emperor, Napoleon placed his brothers into high positions and married his sisters to men in high position. Ambition: Any time he felt his influence was threatened he rushed back to Paris to set everyone straight. Dictator: He gave a lot of power to the police and kept a thumb on anyone who didn't like him. Law: He instituted the Napoleonic code which is still the rule France lives under. Institutions: He created institutions of learning (high schools and the baccalaureate), financial institutions (the French central bank) and new distinctions for anyone who served him (la légion d'honneur). Napoleon's Early Victories Napoleon was not well-liked among his superiors because he was so demanding and ambitous. They sent him away to fight battles they thought were hopeless and he surprised them all by doing a great job. One example of that is when he took command at the Siege of Toulon and later at the Campaign of Italy. Napoleon took care of his men and they loved him in return. Napoleon was good at talking to the men and getting them excited about battles. He also allowed them to loot and didn't intervene when they behaved horribly towards the populations they were invading. He spent money to equip and feed the troops better than was the norm before him. The troops loved him and did their best in battle. The Annexation of Egypt didn't go as well. They were able to take Malta and Alexandria initially, but the battle of Nile against Lord Nelson went poorly. At this time Napoleon also rushed back to Paris because he feared enemies were plotting against him. The scientific endeavor in Egypt was a lot more successful than the military attempt. By 1799, But within a month of returning to Paris from the Egyptian Campaign Napoleon had orchestrated a coup and put himself at the head of a new regime for France that we call the Consulat. From the time Napoleon established himself as the Premier Consul until he crowned himself Emperor, only 4 years passed. Napoleon was young and blindingly ambitious. He had the support of most French people because Napoleon instituted reforms that were popular with the people. Popular Reforms Napoleons Put in Place Creation of the Civil Code Stronger property rights Civil marriage becomes an institution further reducing the influence of the Catholic church Departments and Préfets are created to handle local matters Central bank and stable currency Napoleon encouraged food production, agriculture and industry Built roads and canals Created public high schools and a new standard diploma: the Baccalauréat Napoleon made improvements to Paris, including many to his glory: La Colonne Vandôme,  La Madeleine Church, two new bridges over the Seine Austerlitz and Inéa. Overall France was very prosperous under Napoleon despite his never-ending wars. Napoleon As a Dictator and Other Unpleasant Traits Under Napoleon only gave lip service to the basic freedoms established by the Declaration of Human Rights established by the French Revolution. Under his leadership the police were all powerful. They read your mail and watched who hung out with you. No more freedom of the press. He punished his enemies and promoted those who praised him with a new medal La Légion d'Honneur. He believed women should be pretty and should make children and should never concern themselves with politics. Madame de Staël is an example of a woman he did not approve of. He established the family order with men at the top and women never being allowed to challenge her husband. At the same time he didn't want men abusing their wives and put some protection in place against that too. The Code Civil famously says Le mari doit protection à sa femme et sa femme obéissance à son mari. This means that a man must protect his wife and she must obey her husband. Napoleon re-instituted slavery when it had been abolished by the French Revolution. Napoleon's Biggest Victory: Austerlitz This happened 6 years after Napoleon fled Egypt and a year after he became Emperor. It takes place in a small town that's now in the Czech Republic but was part of the Austrian Empire. The battle was the climactic final act in the series of battles that made up the War of the Third Coalition. The Allied strategy was to let the French Army exhaust itself chasing them while avoiding direct confrontation.  To avoid this Napoleon had to entice the allies to fight him.  He did this by a mix of making fake gestures for armistice and having one of his corps falling back from the Pratzen Heights at Austerlitz.  The French appeared on the edge of breaking.  They were anything but that. The victory at Austerlitz was responsible for sweeping change in Europe. It pretty much ended the war of the 3rd Coalition (there was still minor fighting in Italy but Napoleon’s power was no longer challenged, for now). The centuries old Austrian Holy Roman Empire collapsed. Austria survived but the Empire was unable to continue. The resulting vacuum allowed the formation of the Confederation of the Rhine. A strong French ally. Treaties with Austria and, later, Russia pretty much left Britain on her own to continue the fight against Napoleon. Napoleon's Biggest Loss: Waterloo Napoleon abdicated his throne and was exiled to Elba in 1814. On March 1 of 1815 Napoleon was back in France and headed for Paris. He retook power as Louis XVIII fled north into Belgium seeking protection from the British. In the following three months Napoleon rebuilt the French Army back into a continental fighting force. Despite Napoleon’s protestations for peace it became clear that the monarchs of Europe would not accept Napoleon as ruler of France. War was inevitable the only question being where it would happen and it turned out to be in Belgium at Waterloo. On June 15th, 1815 the French Army crossed the border into Belgium. They immediately encountered small groups of Prussian troops who began falling back to the northeast. Napoleon split his army into two forces. One, commanded by Marshal Ney, who would continue on to Brussels while his second, commanded by Marshal Grouchy, would pursue the Prussians and hopefully bring them to battle before they could link up with the British. The battle started late because the ground was still soddened from the rain. At 11am things had dried out enough that Napoleon was content to move forward. What followed was a grueling full day of battle. Both sides fought hard with many back and forth attacks. At 1pm, though, Napoleon’s worst fears were imagined as he saw the Prussian Army appear almost like magic on his right flank. By this time both the British and French army were like punch-drunk boxers. The addition of fresh Prussian reinforcements tipped the scales and gave the allies the strength they needed to pull off the victory. As evening came on Napoleon fled the field while his most precious soldiers, the Imperial Old Guard blocked pursuit in a suicidal rear-guard action. By the next day, Napoleon was back in France, but the writing was on the wall. France was going to fall, and it was up to Napoleon how this would happen. Abdication After Waterloo Up until then, Napoleon had experienced very few failures. Like a gambling addict Napoleon continue to up the stakes with each new “game.” The slowness and lack of initiative that hampered Napoleon’s efforts throughout the Waterloo campaign continued to be an odd problem. There were roving Prussian armies in France who wanted nothing more than to find Napoleon and shoot him. Yet, he seemed reluctant to leave France despite the repeated suggestions that he do so, now. He complained that he needed a passport to travel to the United States, which appeared to be his favorite option. The French government continually stated “oh, it’s in the mail, you don’t have it yet?” On July 15th Napoleon put his faith in the British and turned himself over to them. He hoped they would either let him proceed to America or at least allow him to settle on a pleasant estate like they had allowed his brother, Lucien. The British government would have none of it, though. They did not trust Napoleon and the last thing they wanted was a Bonapartist uprising in Kent or some other such mischief. Napoleon was denied any meeting with royalty and instead shipped off to Saint Helena in exile. Napoleon at Saint Helena St Helena is a big volcanic rock of an island in the middle of the Atlantic weeks away from the next port. It is approximately 10 miles by 7 miles and well known for its foul climate. Napoleon’s first few months on the island were tolerable. He was not allowed to mingle with the people of the island, but he had the company of the Balcombe family who gave him a place to stay until the Longwood House was ready for him to move in. After his move to Longwood House, though, things became worse. Restrictions on his movement increased and Hudson Lowe, the governor of the island, insisted that Napoleon remain under constant watch. Rather than allow himself to be watched Napoleon began to lock himself up indoors. The lack of exercise and harsh climate started to impact his health. Hudson Lowe feuded continuously with Napoleon over his access to doctors. The people around Napoleon began to note an obvious decrease in his health. In 1818, Hudson Lowe forced many of the few friends that Napoleon had to leave the island. He was continually paranoid that Napoleon would escape somehow. In his final months in 1821 Napoleon fought a worsening battle against abdominal pain and what appeared to be stomach ulcers. In his last days Napoleon was delirious most of the time. On May 5th, 1821 Napoleon died from what appeared to be stomach cancer though conspiracy theories abound to this day that he was assassinated with poison. Conclusion There are so many what-ifs to consider about Napoleon’s life after his abdication. He could have lived like his brother, Josef, in the USA. Of course, he could have also been imprisoned in a Scottish border fort if the British had wished. Would Napoleon have enjoyed the life of a private citizen? I don’t think so. Napoleon hated a life of mediocrity. He spent a lot of time talking about his desire to just settle down and relax, but throughout his life anytime things became ‘settled and relaxed’ he found a way to stir things up. I think the English were wise to not let him land and stay in England. Unfortunately, the alternative was not pleasant.  More episodes about French history

This week Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin decided to have some fun with the whole idea of a Francophile". Elyse knows a lot about France, but is she enough of a Francophile? As a matter of fact, dear listener, are YOU a proper Francophile? Face your fears and take the Francophile test right here! As you take the test you will be climbing up the Eiffel Tower and only the most consummate Francophiles will get to the top or “le sommet” as we call it in French. Can YOU do that? This episode features our frequent and very popular guest Elyse Rivin. If you enjoy her episodes, please consider supporting her on Patreon. What Does It Take to Be a Francophile? Is it the music you listen to? Is it the fact that your French is impeccable? Do you have to be a snob to be a Francophile? I know it's not how many times you've visited France because there are genuine Francophiles who've never set foot in France. There are also people who love a style called "French Country" that doesn't have that much to do with most of the decor you see in reality in France. None the less, there  are a lot of things Francophiles have in common, let's see how you stack up, shall we? Face your fears and take the Francophile test right here! When Can Americans Come Back to France? Everybody wants to know the answer to that question and I've usually responded that I don't have a crystal ball. But this time we have something official to go on. President Macron went on on CBS's Face the Nation and he was asked that question among many others. His response was that France is putting a system in place to be able to open the country to all. French people who are still living under many restrictions but also foreign visitors. If you'd like to watch the part where President Macron answers this specific question, click here. Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/334 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking FOLLOW US ON: Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter Categories: French Culture, French Customs & Lifestyle

Knights Templar have a romanticized and exotic imagery attached to them. But reality is different from the lore that surrounds them. Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin talk about it in this episode of the podcast. The movie by Ridley Scott The Kingdom of Heaven is a great example of a romanticized version of the Knights Templar. But is is based on real people and things could have happened the way he showed it in this excellent movie. The events happened so long ago we have to fill in a lot of stories. What is for sure is that Knights Templar were a reflection of their times and what was happening in French culture at the time. Let's talk about their amazing rise and precipitous fall. 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: Who Were the Knights Templar in Reality? A Brief Recap of the History of the Knights Templar The Knights Templars Were Warriors First Les Commanderies in France The Downfall of the Knights Templar Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/333 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

Today Annie Sargent brings you a conversation with Eva Jorgensen about the Paris Saint-Ouen flea market. It is one of the biggest, most famous flea market in the world. This flea market gets almost 5 million visitors a year which is impressive because it’s only open 3 days a week! In this episode of the podcast, we talk about vintage clothes shopping, antiques, and wonderful old items you could bring back in your suitcase. It's really about the thrill of the hunt, and the wonderful surprises you might find at the Marché aux puces de Saint-Ouen. Eva is the author of Paris by Design 10 Pro Tips About the Paris Saint-Ouen Flea Market Go on a Monday if you'd like to see it on a quiet day. Fridays: Supposedly the flea market is ONLY open on Friday mornings for dealers. Eva went on a Friday morning and nobody asked if she was a dealer (she's not). So, if you can only go on a Friday, it's also a possibility, but only in the morning. It's best to AVOID the Porte de Clignancourt metro stop, even though that's the way Google Maps will tell you to go. If you go that way you'll run into the giant highway and all the people who setup on the sidewalk and sell junk and trinkets. Generally, Annie avoids any metro stations called "porte de" around Paris as explained in Episode 194 about Dicey Paris neighborhoods. You'll have a better experience going to the Garibaldi metro station on line 13. You cross the street and go through the garden on the side of the church (called Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire-Saint-Ouen, it's big, you can't miss it) and you'll exit the garden at rue des Rosiers (93400) turn right and walk 1 kilometer. You'll enter at the back of the Paris Saint-Ouen Flea Market. Part of Saint-Ouen is definitely sketchy, but if you take this way to the market, you'll walk through a quiet residential neighborhood. Eva walked there by herself and felt totally safe going that way, whereas she didn't enjoy going via the Porte de Clignancourt station. See map below. If you arrive at the Paris Saint-Ouen Flea Market via the Garibaldi metro station, you'll get to the Marché Paul Bert first. One way to make sure you don't miss it is to tell your favorite map app on your phone to take you to a restaurant called Ma Cocotte. Stick to the market itself, it is completely safe. At lunch time notice how several vendors will eat together around a folding table and maybe play some cards or something. It adds to the friendly atmosphere. At the Paul Bert café don't miss the chocolat chaud à l'ancienne (hot chocolate), Eva also likes the classic bistro lunch like croque-madame with a side salad. Le Comptoir des Puces is a little hideaway place inside of Marché Serpette, a great place for a break. The official page for the Paris Saint-Ouen flea market in English. The episode page for this episode is here: https://joinusinfrance.com/332 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | PayPal | Booking

On this episode of the podcast, Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin discuss Avignon and all the things you should not miss there. Of course, we love the palace, the bridge, the festival and the gastronomy. Should you put it on your list? Let's talk about it! 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/331 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking  

In this episode of the podcast Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin discuss the pros and cons of Airbnb for people who visit France.  The apartment rental giant is facing more and more scrutiny because it has disrupted the travel market and now rents more rooms than several hotel chains combined. 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. Even if you think it's great that the hotel industry is facing increased competition there are some things you need to think about before booking an Airbnb in France: Neighbors getting fed up with ever-changing occupants. Owners canceling a few days before you're due to arrive. Local residents being priced out of the rental market. Apartments with hidden flaws. Owners taking a long time when there is a problem. Having said that, there are times when Airbnb is the best option. This is true for visitors who have special dietary needs and will cook for themselves. The same goes for groups who need more bedrooms. We're not anti Airbnb but we think there are better options, especially in France. Get the Real Local Flavor France is littered with Maisons d'hôte aka Bed and Breakfast. They are all over the country and there are even some in central Paris! There is no better way to meet locals. The question is how do you find such accommodations without searching for days? Booking.com makes that easy! We also love the Gites de France site and the properties they list. A Gite is a furnished apartment or house you can rent for a few days or a few months. There are none in Paris, but they are literally everywhere else in France. If you're driving around the French countryside and would love to stay in a French chateau, you MUST check out the Relais et Chateaux. Some of them are surprisingly affordable! There are some in Paris as well. The Plum Guide is like Airbnb but they visit the apartment before listing it so you're sure to have a well-appointed place. Home Stay and Holiday Homes are also possibilities. Annie uses a website called MindMyHouse which is great for longer trips when she wants her dogs and cat pampered at home. Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/330 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking  

On today's episode of the podcast Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin talk about bastides in the southwest of France. What do tour guides mean when they tell you that a place is a Bastide? Why is that important? There are a lot of bastides in the southwest of France. For this episode we use the example of Castelnau de Montmiral a charming village in the Tarn. But bastides were a small revolution at the heart of the Middle Ages and Elyse will explain that they sprung up  #joinusinfrance #podcast Patreon | Boutique | Newletter 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. Useful Links Wikiloc Visorando Les Musicales de Montmiral Related Episodes Cordes-sur-Ciel, Episode 88 Sorèze and Revel, Great Day Trips from Toulouse, Episode 156 Mirepoix, Episode 81 Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/329

Thinking about taking a trip to France with your baby? Listen to this! Jessica took a vacation in the French Alps with her 9 months old. She worried about the logistics, but she soon found out that France is a family-friendly destinations and how to care for her baby's needs the French way. #joinusinfrance #podcast #travelwithkids French Alps Hotel Recommendations In Lyon: Hotel Carlton In Annecy: Hotel du Palais de l'Isle Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/328 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter  

On today's episode of the podcast, Elyse Rivin tells us about the legend of Saint-Antonin and how a monastery was named after him and grew into the beautiful town of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val on the Aveyron river. We’ll tell you about the wonderful history of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, but also about hiking, scenic drives and gorgeous overlooks, caves and chateaux you can visit nearby. It’s also a great place to rent a canoe and enjoy the view from the Aveyron river. Perfect for active vacationers and families with kids. And easy access to great local food and wine too! Now is the time to select a few new places to visit in France and we don’t think you can go wrong with Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val and nearby towns. After my conversation with Elyse I’ll also update you on the likelihood of visitors being able to come back to France for the summer of 2021, how French President Nicolas Sarkozy was condemned to 1 year in jail, and a quick update on the renovation of Notre Dame in Paris. Click on the blue button that says Show Notes for more on that. Patreon | Boutique | Email Newsletter