Category: French History
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French School Culture vs. American School Culture
French school culture differs from American schools in surprising ways. From two-hour lunches to compulsory philosophy, here is the full picture.
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Joan of Arc: Why France’s National Hero Still Matters
Joan of Arc was a teenage peasant girl who saved France in 1429. Discover her remarkable story and the places where you can follow her trail today.
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Napoleon’s France: The Man Who Remade Europe
Napoleon’s France — from Corsican soldier to self-crowned Emperor who remade Europe. Explore his battles, legacy, and the places to visit today.
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The Cathars of Languedoc: France’s Forgotten Heresy
Discover the Cathars of Languedoc — France’s persecuted religious movement who built castles in the southern mountains. Visit their ruins in Ariège and Aude.
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French Surnames of Auvergne: Origins, Meanings and Family Heritage
Discover the French surnames of Auvergne: Celtic roots, volcanic landscapes, and how to trace your Auvergnat family heritage today.
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French Surnames of Champagne: Origins, Meanings and Family Heritage
Discover French surnames of Champagne — their origins, meanings, and migration to Canada and beyond. A heritage guide for those tracing French ancestry.
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French Surnames of Picardy: Origins, Meanings and Family Heritage
Explore the French surnames of Picardy — from Frankish warrior names to cathedral builders and Quebec settlers. Origins, meanings and where to trace your roots today.
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Why Brittany Feels Like a Country Within a Country
Brittany is part of France but feels like a country of its own. Discover its Celtic roots, Breton language, ancient megaliths and the proud identity that sets it apart.
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French Surnames of Languedoc: Origins, Meanings and Family Heritage
Discover French surnames from Languedoc — Occitan roots, meanings, and migration trails to Louisiana, Quebec, and South Africa. Begin your heritage search.
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French Surnames of Savoie and the French Alps: Origins, Meanings and Family Heritage
Discover the origins and meanings of the most common French surnames from Savoie and the French Alps — from Favre the blacksmith to Blanc of the glaciers. Plus how to trace your Savoyard ancestry.