The Compass: France

France, the largest country in Western Europe, has long been a gateway between the continent's northern and southern regions. If you're looking for Europe's finest art, gourmet cuisine, or "chic" cultural ambience, France can seduce you with it all.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌    ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  

 

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France

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRISTIAN HEEB, LAIF, REDUX

France, the largest country in Western Europe, has long been a gateway between the continent's northern and southern regions. If you're looking for Europe's finest art, gourmet cuisine, or "chic" cultural ambience, France can seduce you with it all. Join us this week as we see the Notre Dame portraits celebrating restoration with vintage photography, see how France’s most famous pilgrimage site plans a new tourism future, discover the global roots of Marie-Antoinette’s secret garden, and see if you can guess a famous French landmark. Let's explore France.

HISTORY & CULTURE

PHOTOGRAPH BY TOMAS VAN HOUTRYVE Notre Dame portraits celebrate restoration with vintage photography Inspired by a portrait of the cathedral’s 19th-century architect, this photographer set out to connect the past with the present. READ MORE SHARE RELATED: HOW NOTRE DAME BECAME A SYMBOL OF RESILIENCE +

PHOTOGRAPH BY FINE ART IMAGES, HERITAGE IMAGES / GETTY Bastille Day celebrates the rebellion that ignited the French Revolution On July 14, 1789, thousands of Parisians stormed the prison to protest King Louis XVI's abuse of power. It was a defining moment of the revolution that toppled the monarchy. READ MORE PHOTOGRAPH BY SERGIO RAMAZZOTTI Was Napoleon Bonaparte an enlightened leader or tyrant? Bicentennial commemorations of Bonaparte’s death fuel debate about his legacy, France’s colonial past, and the leader’s ties to Haiti. READ MORE

PHOTOGRAPH BY RAYMOND ROIG, AFP, GETTY How more than half the art in this French museum was forged This small museum in southern France spent more than $190,000 on forged or fake art. READ MORE SHARE

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AKG / ALBUM Did a 'werewolf' really terrorize France in the 1700s? The savage 'Beast of Gévaudan' rampaged across the French countryside between 1764 and 1767 and killed as many as a hundred people. The true nature of the attacks and the creature itself remains a mystery. READ MORE SHARE

ENSBA / RMN-GRAND PALAIS This French archaeologist broke the law—by wearing pants Jane Dieulafoy wore men's clothes in the 1800s, but France looked the other way. She became a celebrity, renowned for discovering ancient Persian treasures. READ MORE PHOTOGRAPH BY TOMAS VAN HOUTRYVE Notre Dame rises again Three years after a devastating fire, the iconic Paris cathedral’s restoration honors its medieval roots—and the once vilified architect who saved the church in the 1800s. READ MORE

TRAVEL

DREAM NOW, GO LATER

PHOTOGRAPH BY SÉVERINE SAJOUS France’s most famous pilgrimage site plans a new tourism future Second in popularity to Rome for Catholics, Lourdes is taking lessons from the pandemic to broaden its offerings. READ MORE SHARE

PHOTOGRAPH BY CLARA TUMA Pastis, an iconic French aperitif, makes a comeback A new generation of artisanal distillers infuses Provence’s beloved aniseed drink with fresh vitality—and flavors. READ MORE PHOTOGRAPH BY EDOUARD BRIDE, HANS LUCAS / REDUX This former coal mining region now fuels green tourism This mining region once supplied half of France’s coal. Now the UNESCO World Heritage-recognized area hosts hiking trails, a vineyard, and a ski slope. READ MORE

COURTESY CHATEAU VERSAILLES The global roots of Marie-Antoinette’s secret garden The ill-fated queen was a flower fanatic. Here’s how her Versailles garden dazzled then and continues to inspire today. READ MORE SHARE

CAN YOU GUESS THIS FAMOUS LANDMARK? CLICK TO SEE IF YOU'RE RIGHT!

WHERE WILL WE JOURNEY TO NEXT? Be sure to check your inbox next week to find out.

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