French lessons, events & trips
FRENCH LESSONS EVENTS & GIFTS
As we wilt in the humidity (and wild weather rages across Australia), we’re completely captivated by the winter wonderland we’ve been seeing all over our Instagram feeds. Paris *sous la neige is completely magical, and last month’s downfall provided a feast for the eyes – and a rare opportunity for skiing in Montmartre.
*under the snow
If you’re browsing Airbnbs in Lyon, one word will often jump out at you: ‘canut’. A ‘canut’ apartment refers to converted former *ateliers that housed the city’s skilled silk workers (canuts) in the 19th century.
Famous for creating intricate patterned silk but working under terrible conditions with low pay, canuts spent long hours on Jacquard looms, which allowed complex designs to be woven with punch cards, but were heavy, noisy and physically demanding to use. The workshops, especially in the Croix-Rousse district, had high ceilings and large windows to allow workers to see the fine threads, and some even had mezzanines for extra space.
Now, those practical features are used to appeal to tourists with a taste for history – and comfort. Many historic workshops have been transformed into chic, light-filled apartments that preserve the original architecture, including exposed beams, tall windows and sometimes loft-style mezzanines – but with every amenity you could need for *un séjour stylé.
*workshops | *a stylish stay
Thinking of joining us on our October trip to Lyon? This month’s SWOON subject makes the perfect side trip. Perched on a hilltop 30 minutes outside the gastronomic capital, Pérouges is a charming medieval town straight out of *un conte de fées — but it almost didn’t survive.
A popular film set, Pérouges is loved by locals and *les tourists for its well-preserved 15th-century ramparts, stone houses and cobblestone streets. And let’s not forget those delicious galettes de Pérouges (think a sweet, brioche-like flat pastry with sugar and a touch of *citron).
Once a thriving hub of linen weaving and trade, the town fell into disrepair with the Industrial Revolution. New roads and railways bypassed Pérougues, its population dwindled, and buildings were so neglected that razing was on the cards in 1909.
Thankfully, a group of passionate locals came to the rescue – buying and restoring the historic houses and protecting the village’s medieval character for us to enjoy for centuries to come.
*fairytale | *tourists | *lemon
Sharing her lifelong love affair with France since 2016, American Francophile Rebecca Plotnick is the woman – and skilled snapper – behind the popular Everyday Parisian blog and The Paris Diaries newsletter.
Worth a look for her photos alone, Rebecca’s content ranges from seasonal packing tips and neighbourhood guides to advice on the best restaurants in Paris for solo dining.
You can also read about Rebecca’s passion for Paris (and new book) in her interview for A Table in France. Or pick up one of her prints online.
Imported from Japan, listening bars are the latest craze sweeping Paris. If you have a deep appreciation of *la musique and an aversion to shouting over the doof-doof thumping through many venues, these stylish audio-centric bars are for you.
You’ll find DJs spinning vinyl – from funk to disco and house, exceptional audio systems, and inventive food offerings.
Want to get in on the listening action over a craft cocktail? Here are some of the best listening bars to drop by on your next trip to Paris.
* music
With its distinctive round shape and glass dome, la Bourse de Commerce may be one of those French buildings you previously walked by, but it’s well worth a closer look. First serving as a commodity exchange for *le grain in the 18th Century, the historic building near Les Halles is now an art museum that has housed the impressive Pinault Collection since 2021.
A must for fans of modern and contemporary art, the minimalist gallery spaces – designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando – feature works by renowned artists such as Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst. Admiring all that talent make you hungry? There’s also a rooftop resto with panoramic *vues.
View the upcoming *expositions on the Bourse de Commerce website.
*grain | *views | *exhibitions
Joining us for our trip to Honfleur? Here’s a list of 10 of the best things to do in the quaint Normandy town – perfect for planning out your *temps libre.
Not coming this time? *Vous allez nous manquer, but don’t worry. We’ll be sure to raise a glass when it’s time for #8.
*free time | *We’ll miss you
From *les huîtres at Cap Ferret to tartiflette in the Alps, whet your appetite for a culinary tour of France in 10 classic dishes. Rounding up the country’s most delectable regional delicacies with a side helping of accommodation suggestions, this Guardian article is a must for any gourmand.
*oysters
Found in the 7th arrondissement with *la Tour Eiffel as a tourist-pleasing backdrop, Rue Saint-Dominique is one of Paris’s premier shopping destinations. Dating back to the 14th century and renamed in 1643 after a Dominican monastery once located nearby, the chic, vibrant street, crossed by the Esplanade des Invalides, is the perfect place to while away an afternoon.
Whether you want to give your credit card a workout or simply soak up the atmosphere and *faire du lèche-vitrines, you’re spoilt for choice with the boutiques, *boulangeries and specialty stores on offer. Plus charming cafés, bars and restaurants, ready to help you refuel.
*the Eiffel Tower | *window shop | *bakeries
On Saturday, 7th of June, locals and tourists will see the streets and monuments of Paris in a new light as Nuit Blanche (White Night) takes over the city for the 24th year. Launched in 2002 by then-Mayor Bertrand Delanoë, the annual event aims to make contemporary art accessible to the masses, with installations, performances and projections illuminating public spaces and cultural institutions throughout the city.
With actress Valérie Donzelli as Artistic Director, this year’s program focuses on cinema, with nearly 300 free artistic projects popping up across Paris. Included in the lineup are an open-air dance performance at the Institut de France and an “aquatic and musical installation” at the Bourse de Commerce.
*Un grand succès, the Nuit Blanche concept has been adopted around the globe, with over 30 cities now putting their own spin on the all-night celebrations, including our very own Melbourne.
Nuit Blanche, Paris
7 Juin, 2025
Visit the website
*A big success
Can’t stop buying *la papeterie? We understand the addiction. So, we’d be remiss not to insist you pop Papeterie Perjac on *l’itinéraire when next in Paris. (Call us enablers.)
A cornucopia of delights folded between the le Grand Rex cinema and le Palais Garnier (opera house), the 60-year-old stationery store is now permanently home to the paper republic embassy.
Founded by Frenchman Jérôme Bacquias in 2012 and based in Vienna, paper republic is famous for its range of high-end leather-bound journals and refillable notebooks – featuring vegetable-tanned Tuscan leather and acid-free, wood-free FSC-certified 80gsm natural paper made “in one of the best, if not the best, European paper mill in Sweden”.
With embossing and customisation available in-store, their journals make the perfect gift. Or why not treat yourself and document your travels in style?
Paper Republic Embassy
Papeterie Perjac
66 Rue du Faubourg Poissonnière
75010 PARIS
*stationery | *the itinerary
If you prefer your holidays far from bustling cities and crammed coastal resorts, with a healthy dose of fresh air, Lonely Planet’s guide to the best hikes in France might be for you.
And, to ensure you fit right in on *la piste, we’ve also compiled *une liste of handy French hiking vocab to learn before *votre depart.
*the track | *a list | *your departure
If you’re a fan of fashion, art, curios and all things offbeat, don’t miss a visit to Messy Nessy’s Cabinet in the Latin Quarter when à Paris. Opened last year, *la petite boutique is a treasure trove of delights, from bottles of Eau de Seine (yes, it is what you think) to *les casquettes de baseball, logo sweaters, card games, books and antiques.
It’s the brainchild of Vanessa Grall, *la femme behind the cult blog Messy Nessy Chic and the Don’t Be a Tourist series of city guides. Pop by and say hi if in town—you’ll find Vanessa is often manning the till.
And if a Paris trip is not in your immediate future, you can also shop the collection online.
Messy Nessy’s Cabinet
19 rue de Bievre, 75005 Paris
Instagram: @messynessychic
*in Paris | *the little store | *baseball caps | *the woman
Clinging dramatically to a hilltop on the Côte d'Azur, Èze is a picturesque medieval village between Nice and Monaco, also dubbed “the eagle’s nest”. Renowned for its breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea, the village charms with narrow, winding cobblestone streets lined with quaint stone houses, artisan shops and bougainvillea.
Dating back to the Middle Ages, Èze is home to l’Église Notre-Dame de l'Assomption, an 18th-century church with a striking neoclassical facade. History lovers can also explore the ruins of a 12th-century *château, destroyed by Louis XIV's troops in the 1700s.
*Mais, ne t'inquiète pas, there’s also plenty to enjoy in this French Riviera gem if *les églises and medieval architecture are not *ton truc. Perched 429 metres above the sea lies the le Jardin Exotique d'Eze (the Exotic Garden of Èze), a beautiful garden filled with cacti and exotic plants that has inspired countless creatives throughout history, including Nietzsche.
Èze is also celebrated for its perfumeries, such as Fragonard, where you can soak up the exquisite fragrance and learn about the art of traditional French perfume-making.
*castle | *But, don’t worry | *churches | *your thing
Straddling the 3rd and 4th arrondissements in the heart of le Marais lies *une petite tranche of heaven and an important part of French history. The oldest planned square in Paris, Place des Vosges is a beautiful public space frequented by tourists and locals all year round.
Originally known as Place Royale (Royal Square) but renamed after the French Revolution, the square was built by King Henry IV in the early 1600s. With a perfectly symmetrical design structured around the taller King's and Queen's Pavilions, Place Royale was, in fact, home to nobility but no royals – barring the future Queen of France, Anna of Austria who lived there briefly. You can read more about the square's rich history here.
Today, visitors stroll the arched walkways or drink in the atmosphere and red-brick architecture while lounging by the fountains, *une glace in hand. You’ll find lovers kissing on benches under linden trees, *les enfants playing in the sandpits, culture vultures visiting the galleries or Victor Hugo Museum (the literary icon once called No. 6 home), and others dining in the numerous cafés dotting the perimeter.
* a little slice | *the square | *an ice cream | *children
Planning a trip to Brittany? Make sure you add la maison entre les rochers (“the house between the rocks”) to your itinerary. Located in Ploughrescant, the northernmost commune in Brittany, Castel Meur is *une petite maison en Pierre nestled between two giant granite boulders on a ruggedly beautiful coastline.
Also known as la maison du gouffre (the house of the abyss), the charming home was built in 1861, with its unusual location serving as protection from buffeting Atlantic winds and storms. Made famous by a postcard and drawing visitors since the 19th century, the “Big Castle” is privately owned and inhabited by a descendant of the original owner.
Unfortunately, this means the home is *fermée to guests – but you can still ooh and ahh from afar and fill your camera roll. You’ll want to.
*a little stone house | *closed
With the nickname 'gem of the lake', Yvoire is a medieval French city bursting with charm. Adorning Lac Léman (Lake Geneve) in the department of Haute-Savoie in the southeastern French region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the 14th-century village is considered one of the country's plus beaux*.
A treat for historians and green thumbs, Yvoire is renowned for its beautiful springtime blooms and well-preserved medieval atmosphere. With cobbled streets and stone houses, remnants of fortified walls and the striking Chateau d'Yvoire, the village is picture-postcard perfect.
Not to be missed is Le Jardin de Cinq Sens (The Garden of the Five Senses) – a spectacular garden designed to engage all the senses.
*most beautiful
Located in the Haute-Savoie region of southeastern France, près des Alpes françaises*, Lac d'Annecy is a popular destination touristique* that attracts around 2.5 million visitors annually. And celebs such as actor Jean Reno who owns property in the area.
Spanning approximately 27.5 square kilometres, the alpine lake is renowned for its crystal-clear waters, often cited as the cleanest in Europe, and surrounded by picturesque mountains that lure nature lovers all year round.
With equipment rentals dotting the shoreline, it’s the perfect spot to indulge in water sports like paddleboarding, kayaking and sailing – or take it easy with a scenic boat tour. Prefer to stay on dry land? There’s a 42-kilometre-long bike path and numerous hiking trails to keep you occupé(e)*, including Mont Veyrier and La Tournette.
For less adventure and plus de culture*, head to Annecy at the lake’s northern tip. Dubbed the ‘Venice of the Alps’, the charming medieval town is home to winding canals, châteaux* and historic architecture. Plus, a vibrant cultural and dining scene accessible by train from Paris and Lyon – and less than an hour’s bus ride from Geneva.
*French Alps | *tourist destination | *busy | *more culture | *castles
Popular among honeymooners and adventure seekers, Les Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean that dazzles with its pristine white-sand beaches, lush *forêts vertes and diverse marine life while enticing Francophiles with its historical connection to France.
In 1756, the French formally claimed the islands, naming them after Jean Moreau de Séchelles, the Minister of Finance under King Louis XV. Despite British control in the 19th century and eventual independence in 1976, the gallic influence is still evident today in the culture, Seychellois Creole language, and architecture.
*Le tourisme is the mainstay of the local economy, with attractions like the Vallée de Mai with its coco de mer palms and Aldabra Atoll’s giant tortoises drawing nature lovers from far-flung corners.
Whether you want to snorkel, dive, hike or relax, this picture-postcard destination won’t disappoint.
*green forests | *tourism
If you're in Paris, don’t miss a trip to Stohrer in the second arrondissement. Established in 1730 by King Louis XV's pastry chef, Nicolas Stohrer, the city's oldest pâtisserie is a must-visit for anyone with a taste for history and dessert in equal measure.
With an unchanged facade and cosy interior, the sole shopfront of this Parisian institution retains its historic charm on the busting Rue Montorgueil, a pedestrian market street popular with locals and tourists. Enter the store, and you’ll face a tough choice – will it be a classic éclair, a zesty tarte au citron*, or Nicolas’ famous creation, the booze-soaked Baba au rhum*?
Or, in the spirit of research, pourquoi pas les trois*? Visit the website to whet your appetite.
*lemon tart | *rum baba | *Why not all three?
Source : www.facebook.com/StohrerParis/