Category: French History
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The French Villages Destroyed in WWI That France Chose Never to Rebuild
Nine villages near Verdun were completely destroyed during the Battle of 1916 and never rebuilt. France still keeps them as official communes, with mayors but no residents — ghost villages that refuse to disappear.
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Why France Still Packs Crowds Into Its Ancient Roman Arenas
France has Roman arenas that are still packed with crowds. From Nîmes to Orange, discover the ancient amphitheatres and theatres still in use today.
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The French Villages That Vanished in WWI and Were Never Rebuilt
Nine villages near Verdun were so completely destroyed in WWI that France declared them uninhabitable. More than a century later, they remain empty — officially recognised communes with mayors but no residents.
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The Abbey That Survived Viking Raids but Not the French Revolution
The ruined towers of Jumièges Abbey in Normandy tell a story that spans Viking raids, royal visits, and Revolutionary France. Here’s what to expect.
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The Forgotten Crusade That France Launched Against Its Own People
There are castles in southern France that most visitors never notice. They sit on clifftops so high they seem to belong to the sky rather than the land. Locals pass beneath them every day without looking up. And behind each one is a story that most French history books barely mention. Photo: Love France Who…
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The Medieval French Castle That Became an Island by Accident
Most castles in France stand on a hill overlooking a valley. Château de Val was built on one. Then, in the middle of the twentieth century, that valley slowly filled with water — and the castle became an island. Photo: Love France A Fortress Before It Was a Legend Château de Val sits in the…