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Surprising Story: Nélie Jacquemart-André and the Chaalis Abbey

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Entrance, Musee Jacquemart-André

One of the most anticipated cultural events of this autumn season is the reopening of the Musée Jacquemart-André. Closed for one year for renovations, the sumptuous mansion of Édouard André and Nélie Jacquemart houses their impressive collection of Italian renaissance and eighteenth-century French art. The splendid inaugural exhibit Masterpieces from the Borghese Gallery will be on view until January 6, 2025. The reopening of the museum offers us a chance to share with you a new Surprising Story about the fascinating life of Nélie Jacquemart-André, her  career as a renowned portraitist, and her little-known acquisition of the Chaalis Abbey, an outpost of the museum, now a cultural venue under the direction of  the Institut of France. 

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Surprising Story: Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay

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A view of Mont-St-Michel, Photo: Johanneke Kroesbergen-Kamps / Unsplash

France has over 49 UNESCO World Historic Sites, five of which are in Paris, but perhaps the most exceptional is the Mont-Saint-Michel. Located on a tidal island off the coast of Normandy, the site has been captivating visitors since its construction in the Middle Ages. I recently participated in a European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (FEG) webinar to learn about guiding at World Historic Sites. Following this certification, Picturesque Voyages is pleased to announce that we are expanding our excursion offerings to include a day trip to Mont-Saint-Michel. In honor of this, we’re covering the lesser-known aspects of its history and heritage classifications in this latest edition of our Surprising Stories series.

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