Skip to content
The French Countryside Guide
Menu
  • Home
  • About
  • Administration
  • Culture
  • Travel
    • Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
    • Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
    • Bretagne
    • Centre-Val de Loire
    • Corse
    • Grand Est
    • Hauts-de-France
    • Île-de-France
    • Normandie
    • Nouvelle-Aquitaine
    • Occitanie
    • Pays de la Loire
    • Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
  • Contact
Menu

Culture

I Went to a Traditional French Catholic Wedding!
Bride at altar

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

Continue reading I Went to a Traditional French Catholic Wedding!

“Chandeleur,” The Day of Crêpes… and Candles?

“Chandeleur,” The Day of Crêpes… and Candles?

Like every day, February 2nd is another day to celebrate France’s delicious gastronomy. Unlike every day, crêpes dominate the day.

Continue reading “Chandeleur,” The Day of Crêpes… and Candles?

January in France: Fête de la Galette
galette des rois, a round puff pastry cake with paper crown on top

January in France: Fête de la Galette

The 1st of January marks a momentous occasion every year in France, and no, I’m not talking about the new

Continue reading January in France: Fête de la Galette

Foreigner in France: My Top Five French Beer Brands
pack of 1664 beer with a no sign

Foreigner in France: My Top Five French Beer Brands

Put down that 1664, it’s time to try some other French beer!* Here’s my top 5 (in no particular order):

Continue reading Foreigner in France: My Top Five French Beer Brands

Donating Blood as a Foreigner in France
Partagez votre pouvoir, donnez votre sang! banner

Donating Blood as a Foreigner in France

Today I wanted to talk about donating blood in France. Pandemic aside, treatments for new and pre-existing illnesses still take

Continue reading Donating Blood as a Foreigner in France

Americanized French Recipe: Bouchées à la Reine
photograph of bouchee a la reine served with green beans and mashed potatoes

Americanized French Recipe: Bouchées à la Reine

Are you ready to feel like a damn queen? If the answer is “yes,” you definitely need to try this

Continue reading Americanized French Recipe: Bouchées à la Reine

Sephora France vs. Sephora USA

Sephora France vs. Sephora USA

If you are anything like me—which you probably are because you are reading this article—you are likely obsessed with Sephora.

Continue reading Sephora France vs. Sephora USA

Thinking About Moving to France? 5 Things the Other Expats Forgot to Tell You

Thinking About Moving to France? 5 Things the Other Expats Forgot to Tell You

I have been living in France for over a year now, and let me tell you, expat life is not

Continue reading Thinking About Moving to France? 5 Things the Other Expats Forgot to Tell You

Getting Married in France (Twice!)

Getting Married in France (Twice!)

If you have read the about page you are aware that I have gotten married in France twice (to the

Continue reading Getting Married in France (Twice!)

When Someone Says “France:” The Most Popular Stereotypes About France Debunked
Images of French cliches such as the Eiffel Tower, croissants, and cheese

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

Today I wanted to discuss some things that are not necessarily untruths about France, but are characteristic tropes of French

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

Share this:

  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • More
  • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X


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.

Support This Blog

Imagine my surprise when I walked into the Treasur Imagine my surprise when I walked into the Treasury of the Abbey of Sainte-Foy in Conques to find this stained glass on display. 

I’m a huge nerd for stained glass & these works are particularly interesting.

Swipe for the history of these bays. 👉🏻 

📷 La Translation des Reliques de Sainte Foy. Francis Chigot & Pierre Parot (illustration).
The transfer of the relics of Saint Faith. 

#FrancisChigot #stainedglass #abbatialesaintefoy #Conques #FrenchHistory 

Created by stained-glass artist Francis Chigot of Limoges (1879-1960) for the Monuments Historiques in 1940 (yes, during the war!), these windows once adorned the Abbatiale of Sainte-Foy of Conques. 

Pierre Parot, one of Chigot’s trusted illustrators, designed the 104 windows which would take over a decade to be created.

Of the windows I have seen, colors seem to concentrate around jewel-tones as well as a range of oranges which must have been really complimentary to the architecture of the abbey, especially the orange toned stained glass against the red sandstone and yellowish limestone of its construction. 

If you’ve visited or seen photos of Conques, you are aware that the stained glass adorning its bays is nothing like those created by Chigot. 👉🏻

📷 La Translation des Reliques de Sainte Foy. 
Francis Chigot & Pierre Parot (illustration).
The transfer of the relics of Saint Faith.

#FrancisChigot #stainedglass #abbatialesaintefoy #Conques #FrenchHistory 

Unfortunately, Chigot’s work was deinstalled from 1990 to 1992 as part of a project to replace all windows beginning in 1987.

The colorful glass, many of which was narrative, was replaced in 1994 with (in my opinion) dull and unimaginative stained glass designed by Pierre Soulages, an artist local to the region. 

On the bright side, many of the Chigot windows have been preserved & are now permanently integrated into architecture or are on display in different areas around the region. Not only does this keep them in good condition, we are still able to admire their beauty and details (up close!) nearly 80 years after their creation… such as these little faces painted in a very typical 1940s/50s fashion!

#FrancisChigot #stainedglass #abbatiale
Penne is such a wonderful medieval village without Penne is such a wonderful medieval village without all of the tourists. 
Plus, they have a 12th century fortified castle constructed on a cliffside that they are slowly rebuilding proper medieval style, brick by brick, by hand. 

#Penne #occitanie #medievalarchitecture #France #medievalfrance
Penne (Tarn) is such a wonderful medieval village Penne (Tarn) is such a wonderful medieval village without all of the tourists. 

Plus, they have a 12th century fortified castle constructed on a cliffside that they are slowly rebuilding proper medieval style, brick by brick, by hand. 

#Penne #occitanie #medievalarchitecture #France #medievalfrance
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
Follow for Updates

Recent Posts

  • 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
  • Sens & Villenueve-sur-Yonne, A Day Out Exploring in Bourgogne
  • “Chandeleur,” The Day of Crêpes… and Candles?

Archives

  • June 2025
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • January 2022
  • August 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
Banner supporting blood donation

Legal

  • About
  • Contact
  • Cookie Policy
  • Intellectual Property
  • Privacy Policy

Search

© 2026 The French Countryside Guide | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme