September 8 – from a visit on September 6 Gloria Temple’s ancestors named Bayer came from the small town of Soultz-sous-Forêts, now located in the Alsace of France. When Gloria’s ancestors lived here, this was part of the German Empire.
Tag Archives: france
A Shortcut Today Through France
July 9 While making our way from Meersburg on the Bodensee of Germany over to the southwestern corner of the country and the Suedliche Weinstrasse we decided to take a short-cut through a part of France. The Alsace is loaded with picturesque, colorful villages. The deeper colors and pastels can be found on houses along […]
The Bloody Failure of the Maginot Line
July 9 (From Wikipedia, photo by European Focus The Maginot Line named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, obstacles, and weapons installations that France constructed along its borders with Germany during the 1930s. The line was a response to France’s experience in World War I and was […]
The Road from Stuttgart to Lisbon – Part 1
May 21 We’re on our way to Lisbon where we’ll greet return guests Art and Carol for their sixth trip with European Focus since 2007. Along the way, we’re scouting locations for future tours and yes, even pausing to do nothing for a bit. After nine nights spent in Otlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany (a record […]
Postcard from Burgundy
Tending a vineyard the old-fashioned way with real horsepower
Pont Neuf in Paris and the End of the Knights Templar
June 15 s Jacques de Molay, last Grand Master of the Knights Templar was executed at the stake at the place where Pont Neuf bridge stands today in Paris The story of the Knights Templar is one which has always fascinated us. Originally set up as a guard to protect pilgrims who were traveling to […]
Noyers-sur-Serein, France
June 11 After lunch at Auberge de la Beursaudiere in nearby Nitry, Burgundy, we walked around the medieval town of Noyers-sur-Serein, a lovely assembly of half-timbered houses, cobblestoned streets, slate roofs and interesting and picturesque corners everywhere you turn. We love taking our guests to this special place. While well-known amongst the French, it is […]
A Lunch to Remember in Nitry, France
June 11 We love to make a lunch stop an event to remember. So on June 3rd, which happened to be Mother’s Day in most of Europe, we made arrangements to stop at one of our favorite country inns in the hamlet of Nitry, Burgundy. We called ahead and it’s a good thing we did, […]