Summer 2024

spread around the world. It was fascinating to
see how many English words are commonly
used in France, but then the English language
itself is heavily influenced by French thanks to
William the Conqueror.
I was fascinated by a cabinet of ‘bon point’
(good point) cards which are given to kids
when they do well at school. When they
collect enough, they can swap the cards for a
gift. Talk about foster a competitive spirit! It’s
quite brilliant.
Temporary exhibitions take place throughout
the year. In the royal chapel, much of the
original décor has been retained, Renaissance
style and full of symbols including the
Salamander, personal symbol of Francis I. The
King’s staircase features a beautifully sculpted
ceiling. The gardens feature a giant word
sculpture. There’s also a book shop and a very
nice café which has a great seasonal menu.
It’s a really fun, entertaining, enlightening and
educational exhibition.
as you wander the town you’ll spot many
reminders of his time, the school he went to,
his home as a boy, (now a decorating shop),
and a dedicated museum.
Nearby are several major literary hot spots:
La Ferté-Milon, the birthplace of playwright
Jean Racine (1636-1699), Château-Thierry
(the only place outside of Champagne where
champagne is produced), is where France’s
most famous author of fables, Jean de La
Fontaine (1621-1695) was born; sculptress
Camille Claudel was born and lived much
of her life in the area (1864-1943); and
Ermenonville is where Jean-Jacques Rousseau
(1712-1778) spent his last days.
Find out more: Cité internationale de la
langue française
Where to stay: La Fontaineracine, a lovely
B&B. The house dates to 1565, and Jean de la
Fontaine married his wife here. At the bottom
of the beautiful, romantic garden, an Eiffelbuilt
bridge crosses the gentle river.
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Villers-Cotterêts
The town of Villers-Cotterêts is also worth
a visit and holds a prominent place in the
literary history of France. It’s here that
novelist Alexandre Dumas was born and
La Fontaine Racine
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