Your French Escape: Paris Doors, a Village & a Lake Annecy View
Inside this FREE Substack: Paris' most beautiful doors, a charming village in Provence, and a photo to make you dream of Lake Annecy.
Bienvenue to your FREE weekly newsletter!
Bonjour mes amis!
This past week has been a busy one with online French lessons with my amazing adult students – and a guided tour of the dockyards of Portsmouth, England, with Debbie, a former French student from the time when we were running our French language centre in Sydney, Australia.
Anyway, I’m thrilled to have you back with me today – Sunday, 11 May 2025!
In this free edition, you’ll:
Learn where to find the most beautiful doors in Paris 🚪
Discover my French village of the week 🇫🇷
See a beautiful photo I’ve selected to make you dream of Lake Annecy 📸
✨ Stay tuned for the PAID subscriber edition next Wednesday:
“Why is there a rooster on the church steeple in France? The forgotten story of the weathercock”
It may not look like much at first, but trust me – it’s a fascinating story!
Last Wednesday, I shared my post “May in Provence: What Caught Our Eye – and Might Catch Yours Too”. Curious? You can still read it!
🔓 UNLOCK EXCLUSIVE FRENCH MOMENTS:
Become a monthly subscriber – or choose the annual plan and save!
Enjoy captivating stories about France, French life, and culture – delivered straight to your inbox or the app, if you prefer.
Enjoy and à bientôt!
Pierre
Where to find Paris’ most beautiful doors
Who would’ve thought I’d one day be writing about doors in Paris?
And yet, here we are.
When you live in the City of Light, your first instinct is to tick off the big names – the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Champs-Élysées… not spend your time staring at old wooden doors.
But hear me out. These doors are more than just entrances – they’re little pieces of Parisian history.
They reflect the homes, the styles, the secrets behind the façades.
After years of walking through all 20 arrondissements, I started noticing them.
Some are understated, others are breathtaking – complete with carvings, mascarons, wrought iron and gold leaf.
I’ve taken photos, lots of them, and mapped out exactly where you can find these hidden gems yourself.
Curious? Click below to explore the most beautiful doors of Paris – and see a side of the city that’s often overlooked, but impossible to forget.
French Village of the Week: Lourmarin, Provence
I still remember how we first heard about Lourmarin.
It was back in 2010, when we were living in Sydney and running our French language centre.
One of our interns, Claire – originally from the south of France – brought it up one day. “You really should visit Lourmarin,” she told us. “It’s close to my hometown – absolutely stunning.”
And so, the following year, in 2011, we finally had the chance to visit Provence.
And of course, Lourmarin was top of the list.
And wow – what a discovery.
The village has that special Provençal charm you just can’t fake – warm stone houses, winding streets, leafy squares, and the sort of cafés where you could easily lose track of time over a glass of rosé.
There’s even a château, and the weekly market is everything you’d hope for: colourful, lively, and filled with delicious smells.
Since then, we’ve returned several times.
Lourmarin has become one of those places we never tire of.
Most recently, I filmed a slow, sunny walk through the village – it’s now on YouTube if you’d like to get a feel for the place.
And if you’re curious to know why we keep going back, I’ve written a full blog post with our favourite memories, tips, and photos.
You can read it here. If you’ve got a soft spot for Provence, I think you’ll fall for Lourmarin too.
Photo of the Week: Lake Annecy 11 May
A View Worth Climbing For – Talloires and Lake Annecy
Taken on a crisp spring morning seven years ago to the day – 11th May 2018 – this was one of those moments you want to bottle forever.
I’d climbed up to the terrace of the Hermitage Saint-Germain, perched above Talloires, not quite knowing what to expect. And then… this.
Spread out before me, the brilliant blue of Lake Annecy shimmered under the early sun, calm and glassy. Below, the charming rooftops of Talloires nestled in the greenery like a postcard brought to life. Across the lake, Duingt stood proudly on its little peninsula – its castle rising like something out of a fairy tale.
The whole scene was crowned by the Semnoz mountain, draped in cloud like a sleeping giant watching over the valley. It’s hard to describe the peace of that moment. Birdsong in the trees, a light breeze, and that view – layers of water, village, and mountain.
This spot, high above the lake, felt timeless. A place where nature and history meet, far from the rush of the world below.
🇫🇷 Fancy learning French with a personal touch?
Whether you’re just starting out or want to brush up before your next trip to France, I offer online French lessons via Google Meet — 40 minutes of relaxed, friendly conversation, sprinkled with helpful grammar tips and cultural insights.
I already work with wonderful learners from the US, the UK and Australia — and I’d be delighted to welcome you too.
You’ll find all the details on my website. 👇
Or simply reply to this email and say bonjour — I’d love to hear from you!
Lake Annecy 😍