Saint Michel d'Aiguilhe – the Chapel Built atop a Volcanic Plug

Back in the year 951, a French bishop was celebrating his return from a major pilgrimage. It had taken Bishop Godescalc many weeks to go from his home of Le Puy-en-Velay in France to Santiago de Compostela, almost 500 miles away in Spain and on his return he decided to celebrate. On the route his pilgrimage took, he had visited many shrines and chapels and so he decided to build one himself so that future pilgrims could use it as their own starting point.  As Le Puy had a remarkable geological feature – a volcanic plug 279 feet (85 metres) high, that must have seemed like a very good place indeed to build a chapel. Image Credit

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In fact, Godescalc wasn’t quite the first person to come up with that idea.  The Dean of the local cathedral, Truannas, had previously requested that a chapel be built atop the volcanic plug.  Local chronicles show that at this time the town was being ravaged by plague, and the dean had vowed to Saint Michael the Archangel that he would build a chapel there if the plague ceased.  It did and so, the vow was fulfilled.  Whether Bishop Godescalc’s pilgrimage was also an attempt to alleviate the plague through prayer and penance on his journey has been lost to history, but it is these two men who we must thank for the chapel’s existence.

The French Dream - Remarkable Drone Footage of Historic Western France

The French Dream is a quietly cinematic travel film by Patrick Morris, better known as the Drone Biker. Travelling through Europe on his motorbike, Morris combines road travel with aerial filmmaking, capturing landscapes from both ground and sky.

In this film, he explores parts of France including the Loire Valley, the Dordogne, and the Périgord - La France de l’Ouest. These are regions shaped by rivers, stone villages, and long, long histories, and the video takes its time to observe them. Castles emerge from morning mist, fields stretch beneath wide skies, and small towns appear seemingly untouched by the urgency of modern life.

Rather than aiming for spectacle, The French Dream focuses on mood and atmosphere which allows the spectacle (and this part of France is truly spectacular) to effectively reveal itself. The camera lingers, allowing light, movement, and sound to do the work. It’s a reminder that travel doesn’t always need narration or drama; sometimes it’s enough simply to look carefully.

I particularly liked the shots at 2:49 of the video of Beynac-et-Cazenac in the Dordogne Valley, southwestern France (and pictured at the top of the post). The castle is Château de Beynac, a medieval fortress perched on a limestone cliff above the River Dordogne, with the village of Beynac clustered along the riverbank below. It’s one of the best-preserved and most recognisable castles in the region - and a frequent subject for drone footage and travel films.  Having visited in my youth, this brought back a whole host of happy memories.

Morris’s film offers a calm, reflective view of France - one that invites the viewer to slow down and appreciate the quiet details of place and history.  I must say, it has made me want to pack a bag and head for France…

The Tallest Statues of Jesus Christ in the World

Probably the most famous statue of Jesus on the planet, known for both size and location, is the statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (pictured above). You would be forgiven for thinking that this was the largest statue of Jesus in the world too – yet you would be mistaken.  The Jesus who towers above the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio is only the fourth largest statue of the Christ on Earth.  Take a look at some of the others - they get bigger as you go along.

Cristo Rey - Mexico
Height 20.5 m (67 feet)

Image Credit Flickr User gtoexperience

The Christ the King statue sits atop of the hill named after a gambling implement of all things – a dice cup.  The hill,Cerro del Cubilete (more of a mountain if the truth be told) is 2,700 meters high and is situated in the state of Guanajuato in Mexico.

Le Marais

Le Marais is a district of Paris which, were you to choose, could be a holiday destination in itself.  Although it seems to be seen more and more as simply the gay quarter that should tell the seasoned traveler something – gay districts usually take root in neighborhoods which are diverse, cultural and historic (and therefore interesting to the curious). Le Marais is all of those – and more.

So, take a tour through Le Marais on something typically French – a skateboard.  Seriously. Filmmaker Thomas Guerrin followed an (unnamed) boarder through the streets of Le Marais (using a glidecam + 5D III) capturing, in this unusual way, the architecture and feel of the place. He captures the people too – Le Marais has long been home to Jewish and Chinese communities and he captures these as well as other categories more typical of French life, such as the older lady with her host of pampered dogs!

It is difficult enough to capture the spirit of a place without being on a skateboard, but Guerrin  artfully captures the essence of Le Marais in all its variety. I have yet to see a better advert for my favourite Parisian district.

Al Dente

Taking place in a colorful and musical universe, Al Dente is a short film which tells us the story of a little street girl discovering the magic and the dangers of an ogre's kitchen.  It isn’t quite as harmless as it sounds – I am pretty sure that some of the imagery used in this animated short would have given me nightmares (up to the age of, oh, about 25) so do watch this first before you decide to show it to any small people in your household!

After all, Al Dente as a term describes when something is cooked so that it is firm but not hard, something that still offers resistance to the bite but is nevertheless cooked through - and that is how the ogre likes to eat the children he has captured!

Al Dente was created by Mael Francois, Carlos Felipe Leon and Jean-Francois Barthelemy for their graduation project at Supinfocom (yes, I should just change the name of Kuriositas to Animation at Supinfocom, I know).. Music is by Matthieu Alvado.

The Coolest Doorway in Paris

It is something of a feat to be the coolest example of anything in Paris, which could certainly be a contender for the coolest city in the world regardless.  Yet the door which opens up to number 29 Avenue Rapp is, we believe, the coolest door in Paris. See if you agree.

First Autumn (Premier Automne)

This is the story of a young girl and a young boy, Abel and Apolline. Apolline lives in the summer and Abel lives in the winter and so by their very natures they are never supposed to meet – there must always be a barrier in between them. Yet the two children live isolated lives and it is only a matter of time before they come across each other in the forest in which they dwell. Yet when they do meet – and summer and winter collide – they soon realise that to co-exist is much more difficult than either of them may have imagined.

This is a very sweet if not somber animated short, directed by Carlos De Carvalho and Aude Danset and I found it entrancing. It is almost, I imagine, like a long lost piece by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, discovered and brought to us for the first time. It also goes to show that animation aimed at children does not necessarily have to have a happy ending and that, on occasion, bitter sweet tells the best tale.

Calanche – The Heart of Corsica

The beautiful Mediterranean island of Corsica is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. Just south of the small village of Porto in the west coast of the island lies the heart of Corsica. Literally.

When you see it...

The Eiffel Tower: Different Perspectives

It is one of the most well-known buildings in the world. It is, possibly for that reason, easy to take it for granted when seen from afar. After all, by 2010 over 250 million people had visited it. Yet up close it reveals another side to its character.  When seen from different perspectives, the Eiffel Tower regains the power to astonish.

Image Credit Flickr User David.NikonVsCanon

Robocoq

After a series of scientific experiments in 1986 a new type of chicken is produced – the first ever with teeth.  Unfortunately the roosters are not given teeth and so the balance of power in the farmyard turns inexorably towards the hens. By 2112 the chickens have all the power and the roosters are second class citizens, soon no doubt to be consigned to history.

A group of rebel roosters decide to create a robot capable of travelling in time to rewrite history. This very amusing animated short was created by Simon Cottin, Charline Courivaud, Quentin Prigent, Guillaume Ronteix, Nicolas Poupart, David Sossah, Frederic Marzullo and Jean-Louis Marco at ESMI in Bordeaux. These students are obviously movie addicts as they throw a very decent amount of visual references in to the mix here, not least of course Terminator. You need to watch the credits too - there is a little extra for you after them...

Origami

A young boy spends time with his grandfather and the difference between the generations cannot be more marked.  Yet combining skill and imagination is something that cannot happen without inspiration and the young boy must take a journey in to his mind’s eye to connect both to his art and his grandfather.

This visually stunning animation was created by five ESMA students, Joanne Smithies, Eric De Melo Bueno, Michael Moreno, Hugo Bailly Desmarchelier and Camille Turon.

The Lanterns of the Dead

At some point in the early part of the 12th century, people in the center and west of France began to erect strange constructions – effectively hollow towers with a hole for a lantern at the top - near or in their village graveyards (and before you ask, most were nowhere near the sea).  Although many were moved or destroyed during the revolution, about a hundred survive to this day.  Known as Lanterns of the Dead (Lanternes des Morts) their precise original use is still debated.  However, there are a number of theories surrounding these unusual and enigmatic constructions.

Fenioux - Images

Mont Saint-Michel as Seen by a Drone is Amazing

More than 3 million people visit Mont Saint-Michel each year yet none have seen it quite like this.  The island in Normandy, France is famous for the magnificent abbey which overlooks the town below.  It’s a stunning sight but this video by Freeway Productions goes one step further.  Using a NHK Tokyo drone their team captured Mont Saint-Michel in a way that has never been done before.  You even get close up and personal with the golden statue of Saint Michel at the very top of the abbey’s spire.  Simply amazing.

The Pont du Gard Aqueduct Bridge – Masterpiece of Ancient Building

The question what have the Romans ever done for us? Was famously asked in the Monty Python film Life of Brian and certainly you might think that a few thousand years later that question is potentially redundant.  However, a one look at the Pont du Gard aqueduct bridge may put paid to that idea.

Image Credit Flickr User zak mc

They certainly made things to last.  Although the Pont du Gard is no longer a functioning aqueduct bridge, the very fact that it isclose to two thousand years old and still standing is testament to the skills of its builders (although of course it has had renovations over time).  The fact that it has gone from being useful to simply decorative is neither here nor there.

Victor Noir: Still Pleased to See You (Even in Death)

Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris contains the graves of many famous people, including Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison. One person you may not have heard of, however, is Victor Noir. It is, in fact, his monument rather than his memory which draws people to his final resting place and for reasons you may not automatically associate with a cemetery.

Image Credit Flickr User MB Schlemmer

You may have already noticed that much of his face is the familiar grey-green of oxidized bronze you would expect from a monument dating from 1891 (Noir died in 1870). However, the lips and the nose are unaccountably shiny. Victor Noir’s mouth and nose are regularly caressed and kissed. Yet the host of women who descend upon his tombstone have more than Victor’s face in mind when they visit. Despite only the faintest trace of a smile across it, Victor Noir is, it seems, still very pleased to see you.

The Poitou - The Donkey with Dreadlocks

This is the Poitou Donkey. Only thirty years ago, less than thirty of these beautiful and friendly animals were left. Now, thanks to a conservation programme, it looks as if the dreadlocked donkey is set to stay awhile on Planet Earth.  Our sibling site, the Ark in Space, has its story.

Paris Hyperlapse

The time-lapse is dead, long live the hyperlapse!  This is perhaps not a completely truthful statement but one which could be argued over a glass of wine or two.  And where better to do that than the city of lights, Paris?  This remarkable hyperlapse by Kirill Neiezhmakov shows the city in all its spectacle.

The video shows some of the best examples I have seen of the hyperlapse techniques which involves moving the camera while still shooting at a speed normally associated with time-lapse.  It’s a new(ish) technique and one that has been evolving at some speed recently - Neiezhmakov and his ilk are comfortably taking it to the next level with some huge, sweeping shots that make you wonder exactly how they were done.  They  certainly make me scratch my head.  Have a gawp and see if you can work it out yourself.

Marais Poitevin: France’s Green Venice

Probably the best known and certainly the largest wetlands in France is the Camargue. Yet the second largest is, outside of the country, little known. Marais Poitevin in the south western region of Poitou-Charentes covers a huge area – over 370 square miles. Its name means the Poitou Marsh but the French also know it by a more venerable title - la Venise Verte. This Green Venice certainly lives up to its name.

Image Credit Flickr User vbernamont

Eguisheim: France’s Favorite Village

When people say that a place is picture postcard perfect there is usually the scent of slight exaggeration in the air, a hint of hyperbole which should perhaps be accompanied by a pinch of salt.

Yet Eguisheim, a charmingly picturesque village in north-eastern France can be said to be just that without any suggestion of embellishment.  Perhaps if the hobbits and the munchkins got together they would live somewhere like this. Little wonder that the place was voted France’s Favorite Village (Village Préféré des Français) 2013.

Take a look and discover why.

If you are a traveler heading for a particular destination then it is always a good idea to look at how the people of that country perceive their own towns and villages and where they head for a break: it can be very telling.  Why? Precious gems like Eguisheim can sometimes be hidden away by a nation for itself to covet.  Mes amis, you have the Eiffel Tower!  Leave us a little to call our own! 

Petit Paris

Sean Collins lived in Paris as a young man and returned there last year to make this amazing tilt-shift video. With the help of his girlfriend he filmed this from the Eiffel Tower, Tour Montparnasse, Notre Dame and Arc De Triumph.

You can’t say that many women will help their man compose a love letter, even if it is to a city but the result here is a beautiful, elegiac paean to Paris. Collins heads Bodhi Films, (Sanskrit for enlightenment) a film production company dedicated to creating enlightening works of art through motion picture.