History

When you think of France's wine-growing regions, Paris doesn't immediately spring to mind. How delightful to discover the pretty working vineyard, on top of Montmartre hill, in the shadow of Sacré-Cœur. In October there's...

In 1849, Suzanne Leenhoff was employed by the wealthy, bourgeois Manet family to teach their sons Édouard (aged 17) and Eugène (16), the piano. Why Leenhoff, then herself only 19 years old, left Zaltbommer...

With the heat of summer, I crave the sweetly perfumed white-fleshed peaches that arrive at the markets in Paris from the south of France. But nearly 150 years ago, Parisians stocked up on peaches...

"I have been to hell and back, and let me tell you, it was wonderful." Louise Bourgeois's quote perfectly captures her droll insightfulness about the vicissitudes of life. She considered her artwork, which spanned most...

You’d expect a business whose tagline is Feeding the Mind, Nourishing the Soul to offer travel experiences that are as memorable as they are unique. Recently, when the culinary tourism company Epicurean Exchange engaged...

Imagine a small village and church surrounded by meadows, wetlands and forests filled with wild game, very much like a Millet or Poussin painting of the French countryside. The year was 1607. Into this...

In light of all the recent news, I realize that more than ever, I really do care—about art, literature, and compassion for strangers. So this week, I’d like to share my new favorite book...

Poison and water boarding in the 17th Century On July 17th, 1676 Marie Madeleine Marguerite D’Aubray, Marquise de Brinvilliers, was tortured and forced to drink 16 pints of water, after which, (perhaps unsurprisingly!) she confessed to...

The extraordinary partnership of Matisse and Lydia Delectorskaya started inauspiciously enough in 1930 when she was hired to take care of his invalid wife Amélie. Matisse had married Amélie in 1898. He had been born...

The Museum of Immigration in the 12th arrondissement is re-opening the summery pop-up café on its esplanade. From May 17 to October 7 visitors can relax at the “Palazzo”, which is equipped with beach...

In the world of fashion brands, Louis Vuitton handbags and accessories are the pinnacle of luxury. Few know that the man who created this billion-dollar empire was descended from a large, humble, working-class family...

Polish film Cold War (Zimna Wojna), directed by Pawel Pawlikowski, premiered at the 71st Cannes Film Festival to great acclaim. After, it was quickly nabbed by Amazon for the film’s U.S. distribution rights. We first...