In the late 19th century, there were literally hundreds of women who murdered or attempted to murder their husbands or ex-lovers in well publicised crimes of passion in France. These were acts of violence fueled by jealousy, vengeance, or madness and provoked by betrayal or disappointment in love. At the time, the law allowed a […]
How to get away with murder – Crimes of passion in 19th century France Continue reading
Ah, the Belle Époque in Paris. A whirlwind of balls, galas, theatre, can-cans at the Moulin Rouge and gilded ceilings at the Paris Garnier Opéra house. Women dressed in their finest met at five o’clock at the house of Paquin to order yet more feathers, flounces and bustles, and the fashionable showed off the latest
La Belle Époque in Paris? Not for these women Continue reading
Famous during her lifetime but unfairly forgotten by history, Chana Orloff was one of the greatest sculptors Paris has produced. Born in the Ukraine, educated in Israel and working in Paris, she found major success with her strong and free sculptures of female figures. Her works will be on display from 15 November, 2023 until
Chana Orloff, Sculpteur l’Epoque, Musée Zadkine Continue reading
When you think of castles, history and heritage, you think of France. Tourists flock here in their millions to visit famous historical sites like the Eiffel Tower, the château of Chambord, Monet’s gardens in Giverney and of course, the former royal palace which is the Louvre. But did you know that of the 460,000 or
What is Matrimoine? Continue reading
With a medieval tower, Renaissance turrets, a gallery built specially for a king and the romantic ruins of an aqueduct, the château de Maintenon is a fairytale castle. And it all once belonged to the secret wife of Louis XIV. Madame de Maintenon, the wife of King Louis XIV Frances d’Aubigné was born in 1635
The Château de Maintenon and the woman who was almost a queen Continue reading
The large group of people clothed in chemises rouges or red smocks gathered together under the shade of the guillotine, were not there voluntarily. They were fifty-four men, women and teenagers, most of them not even known to each other. They had already endured the cries, insults and silent pity of the crowds as their
Who were the Women in Red? – The Affair of the “Chemises Rouges” Continue reading
At 38 years old, Julie d’Angennes was ‘on the shelf’ according to the ruthless aristocratic standards of 17th century Paris. She was not a great beauty, but she had been captivating hearts for much of her privileged life and one of the greatest questions of the day, even as she teetered on the edge of
France is the home of haute couture, of Paris fashion week, of innovation and style. It’s also the place where the humble bikini was created. So as the weather warms up and we don our bathing suits and head to the beach for summer, let’s take a look at how French swimsuits have changed over
A short but revealing history of French swimsuits Continue reading
In the Louvre museum there is displayed a rather shocking painting of a naked Gabrielle d’Estrées with an equally naked yet unnamed sister tweaking her nipple. Supposedly announcing a pregnancy and upcoming royal marriage, it was deemed so disgraceful when it later hung in the Paris Prefecture, a green curtain hid the two women from
Madame de Villars, a scandalous life in 17th century Paris Continue reading
Before the eighteenth century in France, there was little notion of privacy. Kings and queens got out of bed and dressed in front of a crowd of nobles, wealthy women held literary salons literally in their bedrooms, and the commoners lived with as many people as they could in small, dark rooms. But everyone needs
The exquisite 18th century bedroom of Madame Thierry Continue reading
When Louis XV appointed Madeleine Françoise Basseporte the resident botanical artist at his Jardin du Roi, he was making history. No women before, or even since, had been the designated dessinateur au roi. But this was the era of the Enlightenment, where new ideas were flourishing and scientific methods were overcoming tradition. For over 50
Flower power: the botanical art of Madeleine Françoise Basseporte Continue reading
It is true that the majority of fashion designers today are men. But it may surprise you to know that up until the end of the 19th century, the French fashion world was dominated by women dressmakers or couturières. As all of Europe looked to France before draping themselves in the latest trends, King Louis
When women ruled the world of fashion – Maisons de couture of the Belle Époque Continue reading
If you’ve ever visited the Château Gaillard, perched majestically atop a tower-like rock overlooking the Seine river in Normandy, you would understand the title of the article. Richard the Lionheart ordered the construction of the château and likely laid a few bricks himself in his rush to have it finished, and was so enamoured at its completion that he is recorded as declaring “C’est un château gaillard!” It’s an old word, gaillard, and not easy to translate, but the closest we can get in this context is “What an insolent castle!” Strong and arrogant, bold and …
A short but insolent history of the Château Gaillard Continue reading
It’s easy to make Suzanne Valadon merely a footnote in the history of French art. Her body of work is often overshadowed by her body itself, laid bare on the canvases of artists such as Renoir, Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec. She is remembered more as a symbol of desire, seen only through the eyes of others, as model and mistress, and even the work of her own son, painter Maurice Utrillo…
The audacious life of Suzanne Valadon Continue reading
In 18th century Paris, nine out of every ten newborn babies born were sent away from their family after birth. Some returned, many did not. They were subject to the age-old tradition of wet nursing in France, where babies were not breastfed by their own mother but were given to a wet nurse, another woman
Breast is best? A history of wet nursing in France Continue reading
On 28 July, 1794, loud cheers were heard all over Paris when the sharp blade of the guillotine descended onto the head of Maximilien Robespierre. The despised dictator was dead and the Reign of Terror was finally over. Within France there was a palpable sense of lightness, almost giddiness, a feeling that the worst was
Les Merveilleuses (The Marvellous Women) Continue reading
In a country with thousands of beautiful châteaux, it’s easy to imagine that any could simply be lost to history. War, weather, revolutions and natural disasters have all taken their toll on the built landscape. But lost royal châteaux? Today we can still visit many of the many palaces and châteaux which have harboured the French kings and queens over the past thousand years. Others have been razed to the ground, and only in our imagination can we glimpse the pomp and glamour of royal life.
The lost royal châteaux of France Continue reading
In the grounds of the Petit Trianon, the beloved neoclassical villa of Marie Antoinette, sits one of her follies – le Temple de l’Amour, or Temple of Love. Each morning, as she rose from her luxurious bed and glanced out the window, the sight of its elegant Greek-style cupola filled her heart with joy. Marie Antoinette may have loved jewels and fabulous new dresses, and knew how to party, but she also craved the peace and solitude which was completely lacking in the ornate and formal world of the Palace of Versailles. This, she found in the gardens of her Petit Trianon, in her Temple dedicated to Love.
Marie Antoinette and the Temple of Love Continue reading
Who doesn’t love a good challenge? This fun quiz will unleash your inner French woman and decide which of the most amazing women in French history is …
Quiz – Which French Woman in history is most like you? Continue reading
This post celebrates one of the women who fought long and hard not only for the rights of women, but for the end of slavery, and for better social conditions for all.
Olympe de Gouges and the Declaration of the Rights of Woman Continue reading
The supposed heroes of the French Revolution are names embedded in history – the evil Robespierre, the brave Lafayette, the tragic Jean-Paul Marat. But what of the women of France? They were not idly sitting at home with their embroidery waiting for an end to the chaos: they picked up their pikes and stormed the
4 women who totally owned the French Revolution Continue reading
Should you go looking for the prison cell in which Marie-Antoinette spent her last few months, it no longer exists. Imprisoned in the former medieval fortress of the Conciergerie on the Quai d’Horloge in the centre of Paris before her ‘trial’ and death, the dank and dark cell in which she rested, alone, unable even to kiss her children goodbye, was later turned into a memorial. The death of Marie-Antoinette by the sharp blade of the guillotine may have been quick, but her death sentence began well before.
The death of Marie Antoinette Continue reading
Classical and elegant, yet bold and brilliant, the city of Bordeaux has something for everyone. If you love wine, it’s among the best in the world. If you love food, there is foie gras and canelés. If you love history, Bordeaux is a potent mix of the medieval, the Renaissance and the modern. In fact, walk around the city and you’ll find almost half of it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. For those of you like me who adore their history, here are the best things to do and see in Bordeaux.
The best things to do in Bordeaux (if you love history) Continue reading
Take yourself back to the markets of Les Halles, Paris, exactly 231 years ago, and join the women who will march on Versailles. These women were wives and mothers and tired of endlessly waiting in line for bread for their families. They took whatever weapon they could get their hands on, found a spare cannon
The women march on Versailles Continue reading
The evil and wicked Catherine de Medici was a Queen consort, a Queen regent, and the mother to three French kings. Her reputation through the ages is one of a diabolical woman who strove for power, sacrificing her children, her country and her principles. History tells us she
Was Catherine de Medici really an evil queen? Continue reading
There are some places you visit as a tourist which fill you with sadness and despair at the atrocities committed by men. Oradour-sur-Glane is one of these places. Once a peaceful village in the countryside, in 1944 it was changed forever after one of the most barbarous acts by German soldiers in France in World War II – a massacre in which 642 men, women and children were shot or burnt to death in the local church.
Top 5 historic places in France – Oradour-sur-Glane Continue reading
I met my lovely French husband whilst on a backpacking holiday. It was a coup de foudre, a bolt of lightning; we fell in love in 3 days. When I returned home, this is how I broke the news to my friends: “I’ve met someone”. “Ooh”. “He’s French”. “Ooh la la!” French men have a
Famous French lovers Continue reading
Sophie Blanchard was destined to become an aéronaute. As a little one safely ensconced in her mother’s womb, a stranger passed through her tiny village in 1778 and happened to enter into conversation with her mother. He told her that if her baby was a girl, he would return sometime to marry her. Obviously one
Sophie Blanchard, a woman who took to the skies Continue reading
The Reign of Terror was exactly as it sounds – terrifying. Whilst the French Revolution in 1789 was generally fairly violent, the part of it which was the Reign of Terror was horrifyingly so. If you were of the aristocracy, if you were of the pre-Revolution parliament, a collector of taxes, or basically anyone who
Last words from the Guillotine Continue reading