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Month: October 2020

VLS-TS France

How to Apply for a Visa de Long Séjour- Valant Titre de Séjour vie privée et familiale (VLS-TS) as an American Spouse of a French Citizen While Living in the UK

Posted on October 19, 2020August 3, 2023 by Rose Joly

What Is a VLS-TS? The VLS-TS or Visa de Long Séjour – Valant Titre de Séjour is a special long-stay visa for those visiting France for over 90 days who fulfill specific criteria (such as being students, interns, spouses, etc.). The visa also acts as a temporary residence permit, meaning that applicants do not need…

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countryside church, loire valley

An Atypical Weekend in the Valley of the Loire

Posted on October 19, 2020June 19, 2025 by Rose Joly

This is a trip I took with my husband who decided to book us a romantic and relaxing weekend getaway. I was visiting him briefly from the UK in June of 2019 and I thought it would be apropos to share this experience here, even though it took place some time ago. I kept nagging…

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Getting Married in France (Twice!)

Posted on October 19, 2020June 19, 2025 by Rose Joly

If you have read the about page you are aware that I have gotten married in France twice (to the same person). The reason for this being is that marriage can only be officiated legally in France by the government since the country is laic, meaning there is a firm separation of church and state….

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Clairvaux prison with retaining bars and door

The Shockingly Dark History of the Abbey of Clairvaux

Posted on October 18, 2020August 23, 2021 by Rose Joly

Last night as I watched The Green Mile with my husband, I was reminded of a particularly moving visit we had taken to the Abbey of Clairvaux in July. What could a 12th century abbey and The Green Mile have in common? You’re about to find out. Expectation VS Reality To be honest, I had…

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Images of French cliches such as the Eiffel Tower, croissants, and cheese

When Someone Says “France:” The Most Popular Stereotypes About France Debunked

Posted on October 18, 2020June 16, 2025 by Rose Joly

Today I wanted to discuss some things that are not necessarily untruths about France, but are characteristic tropes of French culture and France itself. The stereotypes or cliches I have collected and discussed below were retrieved by posing the question “what comes to mind when you hear the word ‘France’?” on several social media platforms….

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Woman and man embracing with architectural backdrop

How to Get Married in France to a French National as a U.S. Citizen

Posted on October 18, 2020July 28, 2023 by Rose Joly

Getting Married in France is Difficult But don’t turn away just yet, I am here to help! Marriage can only be officiated legally in France by the government since the country is laic, meaning there is a firm separation of church and state. Therefore, in order to have a more “traditional” wedding (with a religious…

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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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I really loved the lines of this architecture. T I really loved the lines of this architecture. 

The Chapel of the Visitation, located in Le Mans, is one of very few Regency-style buildings in western France. 

Listed as a historic monument, this chapel was built between 1723 and 1737, it was initially created for the convent of the Sisters of the Visitation, a religious order for women founded in 1610. Founded in 1634 in Le Mans, the convent was not established on this site until 10 years later.

During the French Revolution, in 1797, the convent became state property and the sisters were expelled. The buildings were converted into a courthouse, a prison and a gendarmerie. It was not until 1991 that the courthouse was moved and later, in 1995, the prisoners began to be transferred to a newly built prison (a long process that lasted until 2010). The chapel itself, however, returned to worship in 1804.

Undergoing its first complete exterior restoration in 1864, the chapel saw the addition of the large wrap-around staircase with balcony. 

 #MonumentHistorique #church #architecture #blog #americanexpat #historicalmonument #history #frenchblog #historicalplace #expatlife #travelinfrance #travel #expatinfrance #cultureblogger #liveinfrance #americaninfrance #lifeinfrance #France #frenchcountrysideguide #frenchpatrimony #frencharchitecture #frenchhistory #Francetravel #frenchchurch #chapel  #LeMans #Chapelle #FrenchRevolution #Frenchpatrimony
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
Down the countryside lanes. #travelblog #expatbl Down the countryside lanes.

 #travelblog #expatblog #frenchvillagelife #Francetravel #frenchvillage #france #countryside #frenchcountryside #frenchcountrysideguide #lifeinfrance #americaninfrance #liveinfrance #cultureblogger #expatinfrance #travel #frenchcountryliving #expatlife #frenchblog #americanexpat #blog #middleofnowhere
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