There’s a moment on the TGV from Basel to Paris where the French countryside just opens up. Fields, farmhouses, the occasional church spire catching the winter light. And it moves past you fast. Very fast. My son and I were in the dining car. He had a curried pie. I had a German bier, which felt entirely appropriate given where we’d just come from. We weren’t doing anything particularly remarkable. We were just sitting there, watching Europe blur past the window at 250km/h, eating unremarkable train food, and talking. But for me, that was a moment. Getting There We’d spent the past week moving between Christmas Markets, using Basel as our base. It’s not a city that makes the top of most people’s Europe lists, and that’s partly what made it work so well.
Category: France
Paris: Seeing through Time
Photography, for me, has always been about framing a story. Sometimes that story is in the subject itself. Other times, it’s in the way the light, shapes, and shadows conspire to create something more than the sum of their parts. This photo, taken from inside the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, falls into the latter. History in the Museum The Musée d’Orsay’s grand clock face is one of those rare places where architecture and artistry naturally collide. From the inside, it’s not just a functional piece of machinery. It’s a window to the city beyond and, in its own way, perfectly imperfect. You can see the ferris wheel on the horizon, the rooftops, the soft grey sky. All of it is made more interesting by the bold sweep of Roman numerals and the spidery arms of the clock itself.
The Métropolitain Sign: A Parisian Portal
There’s something about Paris that refuses to be ordinary. Even its subway entrances have more personality than some entire cities. Case in point—this Art Nouveau gem, glowing in the winter dusk, as if it’s less about catching a train and more about stepping through a portal to somewhere a little magical. The “Métropolitain” sign is unmistakable. Those curling wrought-iron arms, designed by Hector Guimard in the early 1900s, were never meant to blend into the background. They were statements—architecture as poetry. Over a century later, they still stand there quietly showing us that even the most practical parts of a city can be beautiful. Seeing the Finer Details of a City You’re In One of the easiest traps when travelling is to tick off the big attractions and miss the heartbeat of the place entirely. I’ve learned that the real joy comes from slowing down—looking for the in-between details.
From Royal Palace to Global Icon: The Historic Journey of the Louvre
Ranking at the top of museums worldwide, the Louvre is impressive, even before you get inside. A royal palace to a global icon, it’s impressive from the get-go. The Parisian architecture that borders the notable glass pyramid in the plaza. It is immediately recognisable as a gateway to priceless works of art. Housed in a former royal palace, it offers visitors a journey through centuries of culture, making it a timeless symbol of global heritage. More art than you can shake a stick at The sheer scale of the Louvre’s collection is staggering. With over 35,000 works on display, spanning from ancient civilisations to the 19th century, it’s impossible to see everything in one visit. From the enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa to the commanding presence of the Winged Victory of Samothrace, every corridor leads to another masterpiece.
Paris in Winter: Stunning Landmarks, but Missing the Holiday Magic
The Eiffel Tower. Holding the title of the most photographed landmark in the world, it’s immediately recognisable. Towering over the iconic city of Paris, the grey beams – bathed in a golden light at night – reach skyward effortlessly. It should be awe-inspiring. And it is, but on our recent trip to Europe, and my second time to Paris, it’s not that I wasn’t impressed, but it just didn’t rank at the top of our Winter trip across Europe. But what about the landmarks? Paris has its moments—there’s no denying that. Watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle on the hour is a spectacle, and landmarks like the Louvre and Notre-Dame is steeped in history. But compared to the warmth and charm of the Christmas markets in Germany, Switzerland, and even Strasbourg, Paris felt… different, and that is what we were there for.
Marchés de Noël à Strasbourg (Strasbourg Christmas Markets)
Le Marchés de Noël à Strasbourg, or the Christmas Markets of Strasbourg are something to behold. Christmas Markets, in general, are a wonderful way to spend the short, cold daylight hours of December in Europe. But Strasbourg Christmas Markets ; they just hit differently. So why are the Strasbourg Christmas Markets so good? Maybe it’s the city’s claim as the Capitale de Noël, or the “Capital of Christmas”. Or perhaps it’s the blend of French and German influences, but Strasbourg doesn’t just host Christmas markets; it owns them. With over 300 wooden chalets scattered across the city, each square feels like a festive village unto itself. The heart of it all is the Christkindelsmärik at Place Broglie, one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe, dating back to 1570.