Dordogne Live Cam

This southwestern region of France has many claims to fame: Cro-Magnon painted caves, a certain literary Musketeer, Cognac, Armagnac, truffles, and pâté de fois gras. It is an area with deep traditional roots and historic importance.

The beaches along the coast are probably the most popular destinations, such as Biarritz on the Côte d'Argent; however, there are many wonderfully beautiful and enchanting places to visit inland.

Dordogne is a beautiful area of canyons and cliffs and where many limestone caves and prehistoric cave paintings can be toured. The rock and mineral formations in these caves are spectacular. In 1940, two boys and their dog discovered Cro-Magnon paintings at Lascaux. Visitors can see an exact re-recreation of the paintings at Lascaux II, just a few minutes' walk from the original site. The perspective in these drawings is quite sophisticated and the techniques those ancient artists used are fascinating.

The countryside is absolutely gorgeous, and full of Romanesque architecture and medieval frescoes in its churches. At St-Savin paintings can be seen inspired by Old Testament stories from Creation to the receiving of the Ten Commandments. Some Moorish influence can be seen in the architecture in such cities as Poitiers, where the king Charles Martel battled the Arabs invading France and pushed them out. The city of Auch features a statue honoring d'Artagnan, the Gascon hero of Dumas' The Three Musketeers.

One of the world's most expensive brandies, Armagnac, can be be found in Gascony. Forty percent of the Armagnac produced never leaves the region., and 4/5 of the remainder never leaves France. Independent producers in the Gers and Lottet-Garonne regions offer direct sales to the public. Look for signs advertising Vente Directe.

Religious Tours of France - At your request we will organize a variety of religious tours for you and those travelling with you to any of the regions and towns of France that you may desire.

Trace the paths of the Allies of WWI and II

This beautiful land has been the scene of wars for thousands of years, and the names of its battlefields, particularly in World Wars I and II, are almost universally recognized: Somme, Verdun, Omaha Beach. The scars of the two World Wars are still evident in many areas of France where ancient and irreplaceable, beautiful structures - churches and buildings alike - were demolished by air raids. The North of France is where one can tour the famous battle sites of World War I, like Somme, tracing the path of the Allies with monuments, cemeteries and memorials. Normandy's Invasion Beaches are untouched since the war, and German bunkers are still visible in the dunes as well as huge blown-up pieces of steel on the beaches. There are museums and monuments to that tragic day, and a massive military cemetery. The famous Maginot Line was in Alsace, and General Eisenhower's Headquarters, La Salle de Guerre map room can be seen.

The number of spectacular châteaux in France is staggering. The Normans built numerous castles and fortifications in Normandy and the North. The Loire Valley, known as the Garden of France, was one of the more popular areas for Europe's royalty to build, although French kings also built many fabulous châteaux closer to Paris in Champagne and the North. Burgundian Dukes had their share of splendid castles and palaces, and the Bordeaux region, acquired by Henry II from Eleanor of Aquitaine, because of its fine wines, has an abundance of luxurious palaces and châteaux crowning the vineyards.

France is probably best known as the wine capital of the world, with more fine wines and liquors produced than any other country. Think of it: Burgundy, Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Beaujolais, Reisling, Chablis, Dom Pérignon, Cognac, Armagnac, Grand Marnier, Calvados, Benedictine, Kirsch -- the list of commonly known French concoctions goes on and on. For wine tasting enthusiasts, a private tour through one of the French wine regions is the trip of a lifetime. The scenery is gorgeous, and the châteaux are magnificent. It is said that the most hospitable areas in which to travel in France are the ones with the finest French wineries.

A luxury, world-class ski and spa experience awaits you in this mountain paradise

Grenoble, a modern French university city, is the access to the Alps and the only city in this alpine region of France. The great writer Stendhal was born here, and there is a museum dedicated to him. A great place to stroll or sit in a café is the pedestrian place Grenette, where there are spectacular views of the mountains. Or take the cable car up to the Fort de la Bastille hilltop for an even more incredible view. The Musée Dauphinois exhibits local art as well as a natural history section showing the development of the Alpes and tracing the history of this area’s primitive residents. The Musée de Grenoble was the first museum in France to focus on modern art. There are about 10,000 pieces, many Impressionist, Italian Renaissance, and Flemish.

Aix-les-Bains is a fashionable spa town on Lac du Bourget. In the summer there are loads of activities here such as excellent golf, tennis, horseback riding, tennis, and sailing on the lake. The Abbaye de Hautecombe is nearby, where you can hear Gregorian chants at mass.

Evian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains are two exclusive thermal spas on the southern end of Lake Geneva, or Lac Léman as it is called in France. Evian is of course where the bottled water originates, and this resort is very fashionable, with luxury hotels and spas and a lakeside boardwalk.

Chambéry – This is where you will find the Château des Ducs de Savoie, as well as the best shopping in the alpine area.

Chamonix has been a chic ski and summer resort for over 200 years – it is the oldest in France and the site of the very first Winter Olympics in 1924. Lord Byron stayed here and hiked these mountains in the summers. Chamonix has many cultural activities as well as excellent winter and summer sports available. In summertime there is white water rafting, mountain and rock climbing, horse riding, and golf. There is a St. Bernard breeding kennel you can visit. Chamonix boasts the highest cable car in the world, climbing over 12,000 feet, where the view of Mont-Blanc is awesome.

Courchevel is the number one ski resort in France, and as part of les Trois Vallées, it is the largest ski area in the world. There is a fabulous Tobaggan Run here as well as the highest climbing wall in France. In summertime, Courchevel offers glacier expeditions, mountain climbing with pre-conditioning, kayaking and rafting, hang gliding and paragliding, as well as wonderful scenic hiking trails in the immediate area.

Megève – This elegant and authentic Savoy village of chalets has become a mecca for celebrities. Megève not only has some of the most excellent skiing in the Alps, but the variety of other activities to choose from in winter or summer is outstanding. In winter there is snow shoeing, gliding, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and other snow sports. In summertime, this town is a paradise of over 150 km of marked footpaths and hiking trails over the flowered hills, many of which lead to charming mountainside restaurants. There are 80 horse and cattle farms in the area, many of which you can visit. There are flights over Mont-Blanc and its glaciers.

Val d’Isère – this ski resort is one of the most prestigious in Europe. There are 96 lifts and a multitude of other activities such as dog sledding, snow shoeing, gliding and paragliding, and helicopter rides. Val d’Isere has a cattle farm open to visitors where you can sample their own cheeses, yogurts, and flan.

The outskirts of Paris are rich with forests, beautiful landscapes and châteaux. These make for some of the best day trips in Ile-de-France.

Fontainebleau - a famous, fabulous Renaissance château and wonderful forest with huge rock formations for climbing and hiking. Originally used for hunting by royalty and nobility.

Barbizon - the delightfully quaint town near Fontainebleau, not to be missed.

Chantilly - splendid château containing a museum with the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry and paintings by artists such as Poussin, Raphael, Titian, Van Dyck, and Delacroix. The most impressive part of the château is the Grandes Écuries, or Great Stables, with an equine museum, Musée Vivant du Cheval, a horse training and dressage show, and incredibly luxurious horse stables, paneled in polished wood with gold and brass fixtures - a site to see for any, and especially for horse lovers. Bring a picnic lunch here if the weather is nice, or else try the buffet restaurant in the basement of the château.

Versailles - The château of all châteaux. This palace has a rich history, starting from its humble beginnings as Louis XIV's hunting lodge. For nearly a hundred years, starting in 1668, French architects created one of the most elaborate palaces in Europe. From marble courtyards to formal gardens, elaborate fountains to the exquisite Hall of Mirrors, Versailles is a must-see for any French vacation.

Vaux-le-Vicomte - A smaller version of Versailles, although some consider it almost even more exquisite. See the enormous kitchen with its copper pots and kettles hanging from racks. This château can actually be rented for weddings, although it is prohibitively expensive for most!

St-Germain-en-Laye - The Château St-Germain was the birthplace of Louis XIV and houses a museum.

Thoiry - A renaissance château built in 1559, engineered so that the sun rises and sets on the summer and winter solstices directly in its central arch. The gardens were designed by Le Notre. Nearby is the Thoiry Safari, a great drive-through safari and interactive center.

Rambouillet - This château has been the French president's summer residence for more than 100 years, and is on the edge of a prized hunting forest. The castle is made of red brick and many walls are covered with ivy.

Château Breteuil - This château has a fabulous Wax Museum, the world's first, and 18th century gardens.

Malmaison - Here you find Napoleon and Josephine's château, where Josephine spent most of her time. It is one of the few châteaux of that period to have a bathroom with a bathtub. The furnishings are exotic and interesting, and tell much about the private side of Napoleon, as opposed to the famous political figure most know.

Maisons-Laffitte - This is an exclusive horse town north of Paris with a race track, where the streets are lined with elegant stone and brick homes covered with ivy, wisteria and lilacs. Each house seems to have its own stables with fine horses.

Giverny - Claude Monet's house, now Musée Claude Monet, and his gardens and lily ponds.

Dampierre - This renowned château is beautiful, built in the 17th century with rose bricks and stone, and it has many fabulously rich rooms including the Salle des Fêtes with frescoes.