Innholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2024 i My French Country Home

Dear Readers, There’s much to love about the arrival of summer in France. The days start to stretch out as the country shrugs off its final winter vestiges and relaxes into the warmth and geniality of the season. It’s not hard to see why the French prioritize this time of year for exploring new corners of their own country. As we all start to plan or embark on our summer explorations, we first find ourselves drawn to the captivating allure of the Pays Basque, where France rubs shoulders with its southern neighbor, Spain. Featured in our Discovery Guide, this region was once a haven for whalers and privateers and now beckons modern-day adventurers, cultural treasure-hunters, and epicurean explorers alike. Humans are not the only species on the move this time…

The Porcelain Moon By Janie Chang - William Morrow Near the end of WWI, the lives of two young women — one Chinese, one French — intersect with potentially perilous consequences. When Pauline flees her uncle’s home in Paris, trying to evade an arranged marriage in Shanghai, she meets Camille, who is plotting to escape an abusive relationship. Ultimately, as danger rises, the pair is forced to make a terrible decision that will bind them together forever. Beyond Paris: An Insider’s Guide to Rural France By Sophie Duncan - Oxford eBooks This witty romp through some of France’s lesser-known regions is informed by the author’s two decades of living in the French countryside, as well as her renovation of a 16th century château near the medieval city of Carcassonne. Delving…

Tish Jett is an author, journalist and former editor at the International Herald Tribune and American ELLE. She pens our regular “Just Between Us” column. www.tishjett.com / @tishjett Jean de Bois Berranger is an international photographer based in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. His shots of the annual sheep migration are featured in our Portfolio. www.jeanduboisberranger.photoshelter.com Jacky Hobbs is a journalist and photographer specializing in French lifestyle and horticulture. She wrote the text and took photos for our piece on rooftop irises. www.jackyhobbs.com @jacky.hobbs Franck Schmitt is an author, photographer and journalist. His photos feature in our piece on Manon and Luc’s home in the Touraine and accompany the summer cherry recipes. www.franckschmitt.fr @franckschmitt_photographe We are delighted to have these talented writers and photographers contribute to this issue. Corinne Schanté-Angelé is a…

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*What’s new? Rendezvous aux Jardins For one glorious weekend (May 31 to June 2), 2,200 parks and gardens across the country open to the public, including more than 400 where access is normally restricted. The theme for this 21st edition is the Five Senses, offering the opportunity to discover France’s most exquisite gardens through hearing, smell, touch, sight and taste. www.rendezvousauxjardins.culture.gouv.fr/en Paris Fashion Week: Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2024-2025 For a frenzied few days (June 24-27) journalists, celebrities and influencers descend on the French capital to get a firsthand look at the haute couture trends for the Fall/Winter season. Even if you don’t make it to the catwalks, you can enjoy the street fashion on display and take in the city’s palpable buzz. www.fhcm.paris/en D-Day Festival This annual event to mark the anniversary…

In the Catalan region on the border of Spain, generations of highly skilled women and men have been transferring their know-how and techniques for producing fabrics and woven goods of sensational caliber. In a world where textiles are increasingly mass-produced, Les Toiles du Soleil stands apart as a traditional enterprise with exceptional character and heritage that is appreciated now more than ever. Originally, this was a factory for sandal components under the name of Sans & Garcerie. In the 19th century, more than 300 workers braided rope and wove canvas here to produce espadrilles, the iconic and timeless French shoes. The raw materials of jute, hemp, cotton and linen were processed entirely on site — a meticulous operation that earned the factory great integrity — which was then sent off…

Cherry and Almond Clafoutis Preparation: 30 minutes Baking: 30 minutes Serves 6 Ingredients: • 4 eggs• 1⁄3 cup (80 g) of butter• 4 cups (600 g) of cherries• 1 small cup (20 cl) of whole milk• ¼ cup (30 g) of flour• 2⁄3 cup (80 g) of sugar• 1⁄3 cup (60 g) of almond powder• 3 tbsp of rum Instructions: Preheat the oven to 410°F (210°C). Wash and dry the cherries. You can keep the pits, since they add flavor to the fruits. Melt the butter in a saucepan and turn off the heat. Beat in the sugar before adding the eggs and rum. Slowly incorporate the sifted flour and almond powder into this mixture, then gradually add in the milk, stirring until smooth. Distribute the cherries in the bottom…

The region known as the Basque Country, or Euskadi, is made up of seven historical provinces that straddle the modern-day border between France and Spain, with a combined population of roughly 2.5 million. Ancient seafarers, whalers and shipbuilders, Basques are ethnically distinct from their neighbors and fiercely proud of it: Their native tongue, Euskara, is believed to be the most ancient living language in Europe — and is still spoken by an estimated 750,000 people. While most of the world considers the black felt beret to be a quintessentially French piece of headgear, its heritage is in fact Basque. Traditionally worn by Basque shepherds, the floppy round hats started to be mass-produced across France in the late 19th century, leading to their wide popularity, especially among the working classes. Espadrilles…

The couple already had a home in the bucolic southern Touraine — renowned for its vineyards and extraordinary architectural heritage — but with the arrival of their young son, they went searching for a more spacious cocoon. When Manon and Luc first pulled up to this 200-square-meter (2,100-square-foot), late 18th-century residence, just a stone’s throw from the beautiful royal town of Loches, they quickly fell under its spell. “Lovers of typical Touraine architecture, we were seduced by its stone façade adorned with a scented wisteria facing the courtyard,” Manon recalls. When they stepped inside, however, they were stunned by what they found. “Most of the old features had been camouflaged to make way for a more modern look.” Manon and Luc went straight to work to restore the house’s character,…

The iris — or fleur de lys — is France’s national flower. For centuries, it featured as an emblem on royal vestments, coins and coats of arms … and on the rooftops of countless homes across the Normandy countryside. These charming, picture-postcard cottages are traditional rural dwellings, whose architecture is unique to the Boucle de la Seine, a national park region that hugs the curvaceous, southern banks of the Seine, about 130 kilometers (80 miles) upriver from Paris. Many of these historic homes date back to the 14th century, but this particular vernacular style has persisted in this part of Normandy for more than 400 years. The secret to their construction has been passed down through generations and continues to be taught today — helping to preserve and perpetuate these…

An artist at heart, Colombe Lecomte-Flament needed an outlet for her creativity — and a way to escape Paris for the French countryside. After ten years of working in the fashion industry, Colombe launched her own brand that allowed her to express her artistic passions as well as spend quality time in her happy place, at home in the Loire Valley with her family. Have you always been interested in design and fashion? Ever since I was a child, I have been creative. I was born into a very artistic family with my father specializing in Art Déco design and my mother in fine arts. Growing up in a château in the countryside, I was always surrounded by beautiful objects. My education was also heavily art-centric, having studied at the…

In France, fine cuisine and consumption thereof are cherished cultural rituals. The celebration of sharing delicious food is an integral component of the country’s revered art de vivre, so important in fact that in 2010, France’s multi-course gastronomic repast made UNESCO’s revered Intangible Cultural Heritage list, which seeks to protect cultural practices in the same way it is dedicated to protecting sites of cultural value or great natural beauty. (In 2022 “the artisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread” was also added to the list.) France’s ambassador to UNESCO at the time, Catherine Colonna, noted that the French enjoy getting together “to eat well and drink well. How wines are paired with dishes, how the table is dressed, the precise placements of glasses for water, red and white wines, and…

Back in 1899, the Michelin brothers, Édouard and André, weren't dreaming about Michelin stars — they were driven, rather, by an ambitious vision for the French automobile industry. At the time, the number of cars across France amounted to less than 3,000 and drivers tended to stay relatively close to home. So to entice more people onto the roads the brothers came up with an ingenious idea: They would publish a free travel guide packed with useful details, including maps, information on how to change a tire, where to fill up on gas and … a curated list of dining and lodging options for those seeking a retreat from the day’s adventures. The Michelin Guide was born. In those early days, the coveted awards were not stars but rather “rosettes.”…

The story of how La Maison d'Inès came into Valerie’s possession is a tale of two women brought together through a twist of fate and a shared love for antiques. A native of Provence, Valerie felt the pull of Apt’s charm three decades ago. Upon relocating, she initially pursued a career in press photography but soon found herself captivated by the world of Provençal antiques, inspired by the town’s twice-weekly markets, which fill the tiny streets with an invasion of vendors selling local wares and produce. Against this vibrant backdrop, Valerie’s path intertwined with that of Inès, the owner of an antique store that she would often visit. One Saturday, when Valerie had ducked in to browse, Inès shared her desire to retire and sell the store. Seizing the opportunity,…