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The French Countryside Guide Welcomes You!

  • Renewing an Adult 10-Year U.S. Passport in France by Mail

    Renewing an Adult 10-Year U.S. Passport in France by Mail

    I recently renewed my 10-Year U.S. passport in France & this was possibly the easiest administrative thing I have done in my six years living here. Not only was it simple, it was actually much faster than I expected. Even with a small photo issue, I had my passport back in a little over a…

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  • I Went to a Traditional French Catholic Wedding!

    I Went to a Traditional French Catholic Wedding!

    Okay Okay, I know everyone’s thinking “what’s the big deal, it’s just a wedding,” right? Wrong! The reason I am so excited to write about this is because I genuinely never thought it would occur. I never imagined I’d receive an invitation to a wedding here in France, let alone one in a church! This…

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  • The OFII In France and the Integration Process: La Formation Civique

    The OFII In France and the Integration Process: La Formation Civique

    Not only did my integration process take a long time, it is still not finished. Either I am extremely unlucky, or I just move too much. You decide. Below is an update about my integration process and my experience with the formation civique in 2021/22. The last time I wrote about the integration process in…

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Salut! I’m Rose.
I’m an American married to a Frenchman living in the countryside of France. I’m here to fill you in on life here, from administrative paperwork to weird customs to underrated places to visit.

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Two views. One beautiful place. Le Pont Vieux, C Two views. One beautiful place. 

Le Pont Vieux, Camarès. 
A beautiful stone bridge dating back to the 11th century crossing over the Dourdou. 
Interestingly, the name “Camarès” once referred to the region, while the town itself was known as Pont-de-Camarès, deriving the name from the Pont Vieux (the old bridge) which was one of the only means of crossing the river.

#Occitanie #France #Camarès #frenchhistory #historicalplaces 

Two views. One beautiful place. 

Le Pont Neuf, Camarès. 
The Pont Neuf (new bridge), built in 1856, was the consequence of an Industrial Revolution taking place in Camarès. As early as the 17th century, textile mills dotted the banks of the Dourdou, first reputed for their woolen blankets, then their knitwear.

What I find most interesting is that this past, although I had no previous knowledge of the town’s history whilst visiting, was so evidently clear in the architecture left behind from the 19th century. 
Plus the views are breathtaking. 

#Occitanie #France #Camarès #frenchhistory #historicalplaces 

Olivet, “Camarès (Aveyron) - Le Pont Vieux et le Quartier de L’Eglise.” No date.

#Occitanie #France #Camarès #frenchhistory #historicalplaces 

Unknown, “Camarès - Le Pont Neuf, 22 August 1929”

#Occitanie #France #Camarès #frenchhistory #historicalplaces
Just a little archway to adventure. #penne #penn Just a little archway to adventure. 

#penne #pennetarn #tarn #france #francetravel
Beautiful frosted glass contrasts with the golden Beautiful frosted glass contrasts with the golden tones of silver stained curves. Stained-glass designed by Fabienne Verdier in 2018.

 #church #architecture #history #frenchblog #travelinfrance #travel #expatinfrance #France #hiddengems #frenchcountrysideguide #frencharchitecture #frenchchurch #eglise #tourisminfrance #stainedglass #frenchstainedglass #vitrail #vitraux #fabienneverdier #champagnetourisme #aube #aubetourisme #routeduvitrail #nogentsurseine #travelblog #expatblog #Francetravel
Constructed on the site of a former salt storehous Constructed on the site of a former salt storehouse in 1670, the greniers à sel (salt storehouses) are a beautiful reminder of Honfleur’s maritime history. 

Originally a trio of stores, only two are extant; the later of the stores, built in 1699, burnt down in 1892.

Designed to store the salt necessary for fishing (herring and cod), they were one of the largest open salt stores in Normandy. It is likely that the stones creating its walls are the remnants of the city’s old fortifications. 

Sold as national property during the French Revolution in 1791, it was not until 1806 that the state transferred ownership of the large salt storehouse (at 500m2) to the town of Honfleur. At this time, it was used as a butcher’s shop and then reinstated as a salt storehouse up until 1908 where it was later sold. The town repurchased the store in 1949.

As for the small salt store (at 381m2), it remained private property until 1952, when it was purchased by the town of Honfleur. 

Both of the storehouses were classified as historic monuments in 1916.

Pictured is the exterior pathway between both of the storehouses that connects them together.

 #MonumentHistorique #architecture #blog #historicalmonument #history #frenchblog #historicalplace #expatlife #travelinfrance #travel #cultureblogger #americaninfrance #lifeinfrance #frenchcountrysideguide #frenchpatrimony #frenchhistory #france #Frencharchitecture #Francetravel #travelblog #Honfleur #Normandy #Normandie #greniersàsel #greniersàseldhonfleur #stonework #masonry  #expatinfrance  #expatblog #travelblog
Stained glass designed by Maurice Rocher (dating t Stained glass designed by Maurice Rocher (dating to 1973) located in the Chapelle de l'Immaculée at the Basilique Sainte-Anne d'Auray in Morbihan, Bretagne.

#bretagne #brittanyfrance #breizh #brittany #BZH #Morbihan #baiedequiberon #sainteannedauray #auray #travelblog #vitraux #stainedglass #Francetravel #expatblog #France #Frencharchitecture #frenchcountrysideguide #frenchpatrimony #travel #travelinFrance #cultureblogger #historicalplace #architecture #monumenthistorique #historicalmonument #church
More, just because. #bastilleday #14juillet #pris More, just because.

#bastilleday #14juillet #prisedelabastille1789 #prisedelabastille #fireworks #feudartifice #frenchcountrysideguide #blog #americanexpat #history #frenchblog #expatlife #frenchcountryliving #travel #expatinfrance #cultureblogger #liveinfrance #americaninfrance #lifeinfrance #frenchhistory #france #frenchvillage #expatblog #travelblog
Such a wonderful night. Such a wonderful sight. # Such a wonderful night. Such a wonderful sight.

#bastilleday #14juillet #prisedelabastille1789 #prisedelabastille #fireworks #feudartifice #frenchcountrysideguide #blog #americanexpat #history #frenchblog #expatlife #frenchcountryliving #travel #expatinfrance #cultureblogger #liveinfrance #americaninfrance #lifeinfrance #frenchhistory #france #frenchvillage #expatblog #travelblog
Happy 14th! #bastilleday #14juillet #prisedelabas Happy 14th!

#bastilleday #14juillet #prisedelabastille1789 #prisedelabastille #fireworks #feudartifice #frenchcountrysideguide #blog #americanexpat #history #frenchblog #expatlife #frenchcountryliving #travel #expatinfrance #cultureblogger #liveinfrance #americaninfrance #lifeinfrance #frenchhistory #france #frenchvillage #expatblog #travelblog
The other side. c. 1230 South portal. #cathedral The other side. c. 1230
South portal.

#cathedral #bourges #cathédrale #unesco #cathédraledebourges #unescoworldheritage #unescoworldheritagesite #sculpture #stonework #sculpturesurpierre #MonumentHistorique #architecture #historicalmonument #history #frenchblog #historicalplace #travelinfrance #travel #cultureblogger #lifeinfrance #medievalarchitecture  #frenchcountrysideguide #frenchpatrimony #frenchhistory #france #Frencharchitecture #Francetravel #expatblog #travelblog #closeup
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  • Renewing an Adult 10-Year U.S. Passport in France by Mail
  • I Went to a Traditional French Catholic Wedding!
  • The OFII In France and the Integration Process: La Formation Civique
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  • “Chandeleur,” The Day of Crêpes… and Candles?

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