Paris Plus Plus – Page 4 – Paris and beyond

THE ELEGANCE AND LUXURY OF AVENUE MONTAIGNE, PARIS

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For anyone with an interest in high fashion, it’s generally acknowledged that Paris is a world leader, if not the leader, in haute couture. For decades, the top street for Parisian couture houses was the Faubourg St Honore. It was his desire to assert his own vision and originality that Christian Dior opened his couture house in 1947 on Avenue Montaigne, rather than the Faubourg St Honore. Since then, this short road has gradually seen many of the top fashion houses establish themselves here, and nothing says “fashionista” more than an address on Avenue Montaigne.

THE ALBERT KAHN GARDENS, A HIDDEN PARADISE IN PARIS

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The Albert Kahn Japanese garden in autumn.

We had been aware of this beautiful place in Paris for quite a few years, but due to so many other distractions in the city, had never managed to get there. Whenever we came across a reference to it, or someone mentioned it, typical descriptions were that it was a quiet haven, an exquisite retreat covering 4 hectares, and a little-known, almost-hidden paradise. One glorious, bright sunny day on a recent visit, we were determined to finally get there, after reading an article describing the property’s recent re-opening, following a renovation and restoration project that took 6 years to achieve. And how glad we were that we did!

THE SPARKLING SEASIDE TOWN OF LA ROCHELLE

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The St Nicolas Tower and the Tour de la Chaine at the mouth of the old port of La Rochelle

Less than 2 hours by car up the coast from Bordeaux will take you to the beautiful port city of La Rochelle. One of the country’s most important seaports from the 14^th to 17^th centuries, the city’s luminous limestone façades glow in the bright coastal sunlight. Although its old commercial harbour, the Vieux Port, isn’t deep enough for the modern ships of today, it’s now one of the largest yachting harbours along the French Atlantic coast. With its straight streets, arcaded walkways, half-timbered houses adorned with fearsome gargoyles and slate tile roofs, shady promenades on the site of the city’s ancient fortifications, and some fabulous lighthouses, it’s one of our favourite places in France, and a very rewarding destination for visitors to discover.

EXPLORING THE COAST FROM BORDEAUX TO LA ROCHELLE

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Our initial idea was to make our way straight from Bordeaux up the coast, and although we had intended to stop off briefly along the way at various points of interest, our main aim was simply to get to La Rochelle. We had been to La Rochelle some years ago, and remembered it as being a very attractive port town with lots to see and do. However, we hadn’t realised just how much there is to see en route, and so what was supposed to be a less than two hr. car trip, with some quick diversions on the way, instead turned out to take several days!

DISCOVERING BORDEAUX

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Porte Cailhou on Place du Palais. Photo, Shutterstock

The city of Bordeaux is now such a pleasure to visit and explore, with a rich historic heritage of elegant historic stone buildings, impressive monuments that invite the visitor to stroll along its pedestrian streets, into any number of bistros, Michelin-starred restaurants, wine bars and enticing shops that draw you in. The city today bears little resemblance to the first time we saw it, decades ago now, when the fine stone buildings were grimy, blackened from soot and dirt, shabby and unloved. Seeing the beautiful, creamy stone of the fine city buildings today, it’s hard to imagine its recent past. After many years of hard work, the ‘Sleeping Beauty’ has awoken from its slumber. It’s now a World Heritage Site, and one France’s greatest treasures.