Category: French History
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The Crusade That France Launched Against Its Own People — And Still Doesn’t Celebrate
The Cathar Crusade of 1209 reshaped southern France. Today the ruined hilltop castles still stand — plus get weekly France stories free in our newsletter.
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French Surnames of Gascony and Occitanie: Origins, Meanings and Family Heritage
Discover the French surnames of Gascony and Occitanie — their Occitan origins, meanings, and how they travelled from the south of France to Quebec, Louisiana, and beyond.
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The Medieval City France Tried to Demolish — and How One Man Stopped It
Carcassonne almost became rubble in 1849. Discover what saved France’s greatest medieval fortress — plus get weekly France stories free in our newsletter.
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Two Thousand Years Old — and Still Selling Tickets in France
France’s Roman arenas still host concerts after 2,000 years. Nîmes, Orange and Pont du Gard — plus get weekly France stories free in our newsletter.
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Why Toulouse Has Never Quite Forgiven Paris for What It Did
Toulouse turns pink at dusk and has a fascinating story behind it. Explore the Cathar past, food culture, and hidden history of France’s Pink City — plus get weekly France stories free in our newsletter.
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Inside the French City That Ruled the Christian World for 70 Years
Discover Avignon: seven popes ruled from the world’s largest Gothic palace for 70 years, and a famous half-built bridge still tells their story — plus get weekly France stories free in our newsletter.
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Why Every Pilgrim Walking to Spain Starts in This Volcanic French City
Inside the volcanic city where pilgrims have started their walk to Spain for over a thousand years — plus get weekly France stories free in our newsletter.
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Why Brittany Has More Ancient Standing Stones Than Anywhere on Earth
Discover the Carnac stones in Brittany — 3,000 prehistoric menhirs older than Stonehenge, still standing in silent rows across the Breton moorland — plus get weekly France stories free in our newsletter.
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French Surnames of Provence: Origins, Meanings and Family Heritage
Discover 15 French surnames of Provence, their Occitan and Latin origins, and how they spread to Canada, Louisiana, and South Africa. Trace your Provençal roots.
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The Ancient Cave in Southern France That Rewrote Human History
The Ardèche gorge conceals a sealed cave with 36,000-year-old paintings that rewrote prehistory — plus weekly France stories free in our newsletter.