Blog Masonry
Languedoc-Roussillon: A brief history
As in Provence and the French Riviera, Greek navigators plied the coast of Languedoc-Roussillon in ancient times and set up trading posts, such as Agde. In 600 BC, they introduced grapevines to Roussillon. In 121 BC, the Romans invaded the region: they built the Via Domitia, […]
Languedoc-Roussillon: Introduction
Languedoc-Roussillon offers a wide selection of landscapes: endless sunny beaches that can go on for four miles at a stretch, immense vineyards bordered by olive groves, arid limestone hills scorched by the sun, and sparsely populated mountainous forests. Roughly half of the size of New Hampshire, […]
Champagne-Ardenne: Gastronomy
Surprisingly, Champagne has few trademark dishes, but visitors will not fail to enjoy the local fare. Native recipes make limited use of beef which, when used at all, is usually mixed with other meats, as in potée champenoise (“stew from the Champagne regionâ€), which can […]
Champagne-Ardenne: Introduction
The king of wines and wine of kings The region is home to 1.35 million people who are proud of their heritage and have always striven to live life to the fullest despite the hardship of wars and economic ups and downs. Clearly the most important […]
Celts
The Celts are an indigenous people of central Europe with large numbers in the United Kingdom, in France, and in Ireland where they are in the majority.
The first literary reference to the Celtic people as keltoi or hidden people, is by the Greek Hecataeus in 517 BC.
“Celt” is pronounced /kelt/, and “celtic” as /keltIk/ (in SAMPA). The pronunciation /seltIk/ should only be used for certain sports teams (eg. Boston Celtics NBA team).
Brittany: History
Brittany was first inhabited by Noelithic tribes whose various tools bear witness to advanced development. These menhirs -which can be isolated (such as at le Champ-Dolent), or grouped into lines (Carnac)- and dolmens are still scattered throughout the region. These ancient stone creations remain quite a mystery to locals and visitors alike.
Brittany: Introduction
A Land in the Sea Protruding boldly into the Atlantic, France's northwest corner has long been geographically distinct from the main bulk of the country. It is so unique and recognizable that it can easily be spotted on a world map. Also known as the land […]
Lorraine: A Brief History
The history of Lorraine is intertwined with that of its neighbour Alsace. Both have been the subjects of constant wars between France and Germany, spanning over a few centuries.