I should get myself a special trendy knife like yours ! Speaking of cheese, do you know this anecdote? Camembert (probably the most famous cheese in Normandy) was invented at the end of the 18th century by a charming young peasant woman, Marie Harel, with the help of a priest pursued by the revolutionaries, Father Bonvoust. So there's no doubt that Camembert is 100% Norman. But - and this is incredible! - nobody has ever legally secured the name or origin of Camenbert ! This means that anyone, anywhere in the world, can make the same kind of cheese, more or less doctored, more or less industrial, with more or less bizarre ingredients, and call it Camembert ! That's why, when you buy a Camembert, you should ALWAYS check the box for the words: ‘Made in Normandy’ and AOP (Appellation d'Origine Protégée / Protected Designation of Origin). Otherwise, the cheese may have been made in Poland, Romania or God knows where else ! 🙂

Merci. If ever I return to France, I will visit this Chateau.

Same thing happened to me in the bus. Some people were sooo smelly! It's incredible, smelling of sweat, onion and used clothes and have no awareness...

Hi Guys. I recently used my carte Vitale for the first time at the dentist. After the card had been processed, I was given a printed piece of paper, but nobody has told me what to do with the paper, to claim my reimbursement. Please reply...

Aaaaah ! Giverny ! From my point of view, probably the most frustrating historical site in our beautiful Normandy ! The place is splendid, all the elements relating to the life of Monet, his family and friends are magnificently preserved and showcased..... but there are far tooooooo many tourists (and some of them are very noisy and show little respect for the site). I've been to Giverny many times, and I have to be honest : in high season, the visit can sometimes become a chore. In your report, you yourself remarked that it's too busy. 🙂

I'm like Sinan: when I'm hungry, I quickly get into a bad mood ! And on the subject of the city : I'm very surprised at the very poor quality of the upkeep of the old buildings. I can't go into all the technical details here, but it's clear from your interesting report that the heritage is not well maintained and/or very badly restored (or not restored at all). This is clearly visible. It's a shame, because the medieval elements are really worthy of interest and study. 🙂

Lovely episode!

I love the pace of your videos, the gentleness and quietude I can’t wait to see more as it reminds me of my wonderful days weeks and years in and around Paris back in the 1980s

A lovely tour, thanks guys

Another very interesting report ! The whole of the Chevreuse valley, between Versailles and Rambouillet, is a really beautiful place, very pleasant and relaxing, yet not far from the hustle and bustle of Paris. 🙂

Salut Guys! How interesting place! Didn't know anything about it till I watched your episode. Nice. Keep enriching me please, with new info,history and beautiful places. Thank you Anton & Sinan! Au revoir🤍✨️👍🏻🇫🇷🙌🍀

Adorable. Love it!

Very enjoyable. Pas de chevre au Chevreuse? The architecture looks Romanesque. I took a 24-lecture course on French Gothic Cathedrals by Professor William Cook, which was offered for free through my local public library. I was a church musician and wanted to know what a "nave" was. I hope you will be covering the upcoming Notre Dame, Paris opening.

Here is another gorgeous town with Medieval château near Paris that we think you'd enjoy seeing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2qloXSPf5eCatU

Ah, well, here's a town I don't know. Or rather, I think I must have passed through it, but obviously it didn't make much of an impression on me. And seeing your report, I don't think it's really the place I'd choose for a long holiday, it looks a bit depressing (and not just because the weather wasn't good that day). But maybe I'm wrong....

Amazing! Thanks guys! ❤

Hi guys, I always love your videos! I always learn something from you two! Thanks and keep up your great work! I do appreciate your work! ❤

As always I appreciate your work on your videos. I will never get to visit France but I do thank you both for showing me your beautiful country! Thanks guys! ❤

Salut Guys! Very interesting for me to see. Interesting town,I like it. Not sure too about living there,but this region has something special about it. A bit grey yes,a bit cold...but certain charm is there. I also like to look at the arhitecture around. I like this episode a lot. I repeat myself often,I know. You give me only one option with these great videos. Always curious to explore with both of you. Every time something new to see and learn. 👍🏻✨️🙃! Merci

The Sainte Chapelle is an absolutely extraordinary monument. All the science of medieval architects is expressed here: to succeed in holding up such high walls with so few supports and to achieve a balanced "descente de charges" (I don't know the technical word in English) is a prodigy. The famous relic (the Crown of Thorns) cost a veritable fortune when Louis IX went to buy it in Jerusalem in 1238. It is estimated to have cost the equivalent of almost 6 million euros, or half the royal budget. Of course, it's probably a fake, like many relics (a good deal for the seller !), and there are other cities in Europe where there is also the ‘real’ Crown of Thorns, or at least pieces of it (Pisa, Bologna, Munich, etc).... But keeping the crown of thorns in Paris was not only an act of devotion, but above all an affirmation of the king's political greatness. 🙂

Taking long walks in the forest is always a great activity, nature is a perpetual source of wonder.... but when it comes to mushrooms, I prefer to buy them in the shop! There are too many different species that look the same, and I've noticed that this year (2024), there's been a major increase in cases of poisoning from mushrooms collected directly from the forest by private individuals.

Thank you for another interesting video.

Absolutely lovely from your perspective. Thank you.

Oh, I absolutely love the Musée d'Orsay ! Firstly, the transformation of the old station into a museum is a real masterpiece of architectural restoration. Secondly, the collections are absolutely amazing - all the greatest works of the 19th century are there. And finally, even when it's busy, you're never crushed by the crowds as if you were in the metro (which is unfortunately the case in many of the rooms in the Louvre).

All the episodes are really interesting. Let me tell you a little-known historical anecdote: at 3:01, you show the portrait of Count Fersen. I cannot detail here the whole hectic life of this great character, who was most likely Marie-Antoinette's lover, but it so happens that at the very beginning of the 20th century, a very good-looking young French aristocrat and writer, Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen, claimed to be the descendant of the famous Count Fersen. It was false, but it helped him to be quickly received into high society. His father died early, leaving him an immense fortune, and allowing him to enjoy life without doing anything other than writing and appearing in fashionable intellectual salons. Unfortunately, in 1903, the police came to arrest him, after being denounced, because he was organizing elegant (but very undressed) parties at his home where attractive young men, sons of powerful personalities from the aristocracy and the upper middle class, were presenting "des poses plastiques à la façon antique", as they said at the time ! The scandal was enormous. He was convicted, went to jail for a while, but was quickly released. He then settled in Italy, in Capri, where he had a magnificent villa built, and he lived there, always surrounded by handsome boys and European intellectuals and famous artists. One day, he said: "My ancestor was the lover of Marie-Antoinette, the most beautiful woman in France, but I am the lover of all the beauty in the world !" 🙂

Try living in Scotland! Vous devez vraiment visiter Edinborg.

Ooooh! A new episode on Le Havre (and Anton has short hair) ! A very interesting episode showing other aspects of this rather strange city. For decades, when the mayors were Communists, it really was a shithole. Then there was a wonderful right-wing mayor (Antoine Rufenacht), whom I got to know very well having interviewed him on several occasions. He died in September 2020. It was he who completely transformed the image of Le Havre, cleaned it up, carried out major modernisation work and, above all, worked for nearly 14 years to have Perret's architecture listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This has totally changed the city (even if there are still several very dodgy districts, far from the city centre, up the hill). 🙂

Check out the first part of this trip in Honfleur: kzbin.info/www/bejne/noa4iHmflreHqdU

I totally agree with Sinan at 4:23 about the thousands of padlocks on the bridges. It's a very recent fashion (2008). Not only does the weight of the metal endanger the structure of the bridge, but I also find it extremely ugly. In principle, since 2015, this has been prohibited by the law known as the ‘Damage to the Integrity of Historical Heritage’ Act.

In this video, you explain really well how our system works, and it's true that it's VERY advantageous compared with other countries. But France currently has a HUGE problem: a spectacular shortage of doctors. In the countryside, there are whole regions where there isn't a single doctor left. And even in very large towns such as regional capitals, finding a doctor has become a real obstacle course. Those who retire are not replaced. And when you need to find a specialist (cardiologist, pneumologist, etc.), you often have to wait months for an appointment. There are two reasons for this: the first is that the government, some 30 years ago, decided to reduce the annual number of medical students (how stupid!). It takes at least 10 years to train a doctor. This means that those who are retiring now can't be replaced, there's no-one! The second reason (and this is a scandal) is that the few new young doctors no longer intend to work like their elders. They want to work much less and earn much more. This is really a big problem here.

You're right, the first metro cars, up until 1930, were made of wood, and they were nice. But you're wondering why that changed: it's quite simple. It's because it no longer meets modern fire safety standards. Originally, even the conductor's carriage (where the engine was located) was made of wood, but in 1903, there was a short-circuit and an accident killed a lot of people, so the first metal conductor's carriages were built (but the rest of the train was still made of wood).

Covid ? Confinement ? Performance ?? Avant-garde ?? It was rather "The awakening of the living dead" !!!

In 2025, you should go and take part in the Dunkirk Carnival (the peak of the events is at the end of February/beginning of March). It's something ex-tra-or-di-nary. The importance of the event, its very particular social and historical codes, the parades of the Giants, the dances (and the heavy drinking) are truly astonishing, and sometimes destabilizing. It's a sincerely unusual experience, which doesn't necessarily please everyone because it's so "over the top", an experience for which you have to be prepared. But it's worth seeing to understand the spirit of the people of the North.

At one point you say: ‘The city's reputation is bad, and that's unfair’. Well, it's not that unfair. You haven't seen everything in Calais. And especially not at night. The seriousness of the insecurity and the damage caused by the crowds of illegal migrants who fight among themselves, terrorise the inhabitants, make everything dirty, and are under the thumb of the powerful smuggling mafias, are realities. The real question is not: ‘What can we do to stop them crossing into England?’, but: ‘Why aren't all these people, whose presence in France and Europe is forbidden and unwanted, deported straight away to their countries of origin once and for all ?’. And no politician has the courage to answer this question. Ask the mayor of Calais what she thinks about all this.

Ooooh ! The beach in Malo ! This is where my parents showed me the sea for the very first time, when I was a very small boy !

Unfortunately, I think you're right. For the last three years or so, when it comes to parcels, large or small, I've only used point-relay deliveries. I never have any problems there. But if you have a parcel delivered to your home, there are very often disappointments.... and there's NEVER anyone to talk to, no-one to blame. Note that it also depends a lot on the town where you live. But in general, it's true that parcel delivery companies aren't very reliable. The worst is the La Poste/Colissimo service. There have been a lot of cases recently where it has been proven that deliverymen steal parcels and declare them lost. Or they don't come and say they haven't found the address. As for sending parcels, I always use Mondial Relay now, it's very efficient and I've never had a problem.

Hello, hello... Here's another example that might amuse you : On 7 November 1800, a law was passed prohibiting women from wearing trousers in public (except on carnival days). The text reads: ‘Any woman wishing to dress as a man must go to the Préfecture de Police to obtain special authorisation, unless the woman is holding the reins of a horse by the hand’. Of course, this law was rarely applied in the 20th century... but it was never abolished, and anyone could potentially complain about seeing a woman in trousers in the street. The law was only officially abolished... on 31 January 2013 !!!! 🙂

You'll think I'm a British literature fanatic (and you'll probably be right), but every time I go back to Oxford, I go to drink and hang out at The Eagle and Child pub, where the ‘Inklings’ used to meet (Tolkien, Williams, Lewis, Bennett, etc).

Oh, it was so much fun ! But you're both doing really well ! I understand that French is sometimes difficult, because the way you pronounce words often doesn't correspond at all to the way they're written ! 🙂

Ah, what a nice video ! I was born in Lille... behind the great theatre! At that time, the city was still a huge industrial centre (coal mines, metallurgy, textiles), but the ravages of WWII were significant. Life was hard for the workers. The city, like all these northern towns, was very dark and depressing, but the people of northern France have a reputation for being cheerful, welcoming and ‘bons vivants’, and it's true. Lille and the surrounding area was the richest region in France during the industrial era. Today, everything has collapsed and there are no more industries. The city has been completely cleaned up and has become very beautiful, as you've seen (at least in the historic city centre, because there are also a lot of very dodgy districts). The architecture is very much in the Flemish style. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit ! 🙂

Wow! You know how much I love your work and your reports, but I think you've made a mistake here !! At 9:52, you've included a sign that says: "Oscar Wilde 1915-1963" !! But that doesn't correspond to anything: Oscar was born on 16 October 1854 and died on 30 November 1900. This incredible monument, known as the ‘Flying Demon Angel’, was created in 1911 by the sculptor Jacob Epstein. Mmmmm.....

Great fun !

This mishap shows above all that you have come across a particularly unpleasant and obtuse person. Unfortunately, there are people like that everywhere! I can recommend a little thing to you, in the future, to avoid this kind of problem: each time you want to visit a site or a museum and film inside, do not be satisfied with the general information, but make a phone call (or send an email) to the press service to check if it is possible to record without problem, explaining that you are not an ordinary tourist, but that you make dozens of reports on YT for the promotion of French heritage. I can assure you that you will have reliable information, and that you will be welcome on site. 🙂

You're right, Amiens is a beautiful city, very pleasant. Its cathedral is absolutely wonderful, and the network of canals (it's called the Hortillonages) is unique in France. You didn't mention it in the video, but the big tower that you show at 11:08, and which is just outside the train station, was built by Auguste Perret, the famous architect who rebuilt Le Havre. Your historical walks are always very, very interesting ! 🙂

Salut Anton & Sinan! There is no way not to like this episode. Simple as that. In fact,I love it,not like it. Very interesting place. I like the vibe . And the weather suits perfectly. Love the architecture. Interesting region. Now it's getting grey and colder step by step,but when the place is beautiful,even such weather looks charming. Love the cooking part in the end. I agree about the cheese. You should have show the end result. But I am sure ot was delicious. I was awaiting any second Sinan to pop up and get into cooking action,but.... it's ok. Still patient here. One day maybe 🤭 Keep exploring and showing us guys. It's a pleasure to watch you! 🤍👍🏻✨️ Merci

Beautiful!!!!!

Very interesting video - I love your soft intelligent way of delivering the information.

I too am always very uncomfortable in narrow spiral staircases ! One of the most terrifying experiences was when I had to climb to the top of the spire of Ulm Cathedral in Germany: the stairs are not only very narrow and slippery, but they are also openwork ! You can see the void between the steps... and the height (160 m) ! Aaaargh !!

Now that you live in France, you probably have a better understanding of the importance of General De Gaulle. He is by far the most important French statesman of the 20th century. He's more than a hero. In fact, he's almost become a legend. You no doubt know the vital role he played in liberating the country at the end of WWII. If you follow the political news a little today, you'll notice that most politicians refer to De Gaulle all the time. The big difference is that De Gaulle was a REAL statesman, the kind of man who no longer exists today, with an incredible sense of the greatness of History, the prestige of France and its culture, whereas our current politicians are frighteningly mediocre and only think of themselves.