S is for Sainte-Chapelle. In this episode, I'll take you inside this ancient royal chapel with its incredible stained glass windows. You'll hear from tour guide and Paris expert Amber Minogue, who gives us some insight into the 13th century chapel. You'll also hear my own thoughts about visiting the Sainte-Chapelle on a VIP tour when it was completely empty. Those tickets are unavailable for the foreseeable future, but you can book their Sainte-Chapelle skip-the-line tour on this link.) ...

R is for Richelieu. In this episode, we'll take you inside the newly renovated Richelieu Library, and then its incredible upstairs museum.  This episode is co-hosted by Lina Nordin Gee. Featured in the episode: Find the library and museum here. Address: 5 Rue Vivienne, 75002 Pariss The app we mentioned is called BNF Richelieu The museum room I loved was the La Galerie Mazarin Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get...

Q is for Queer. In this episode, I'll give you an insight into Gay Paris. And by gay I mean LGBTQIA+. Where is the gay quarter... or perhaps a better question.... what's happened to the gay quarter now that gentrifcation has hit the Marais?  Also: What's a gay bookshop? What do they sell and to whom? Featured in this episode: Bryan Pirolli from The Gay Locals, Boris from Le Ju' cafe, and Nicolas Wanstok from Les Mots à la Bouche bookshop. Find more from The Gay Locals here. Find the...

P is for Provence. In this episode, you'll hear some thoughts on the lovely southern French region, with the help of some great guests.  First, you'll hear from Suzannah and Hugh Cameron from the antique shop Chez Pluie Provence, sharing some practical travel advice.  Then it's my own mother, her first time on the pod, sharing her Provence ponderings.  Then it's Lina aka Parisian Postcards discussing her thoughts on her week in Provence.  Five towns/villages mentioned in this podcast...

O is for the Olympic Games. In this episode, you'll hear my first look ahead to the 2024 summer Olympics.  Given it is still so far away, this is more of a light intro to the topic, with the help of some great guests.  First, you'll hear from the American Ambassador to France, Denise Campbell Bauer, talking about Americans and their connection to Paris, then sharing some practical travel advice.  Then it's Coutume cafe owner Tom Clark, an Australian in Paris, who gives his thoughts on the...

N is for the Notre Dame. In this episode, you'll hear about where we're at with the restoration of the Notre Dame cathedral. Short answer: It will reopen December 2024.  Long answer: I chat to one of the carpenters involved in the restoration project, I visit the new Virtual Reality exhibition (which is exceptional), and I take a look in the crypt. Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras. Want to do a tour? Get in...

M is for the Marais. In this episode, you'll hear my thoughts on how I'd spend a perfect last day in the Marais district of Paris (in other words, the third and fourth arrondissements).  You'll also hear from Paul Barron, co-owner of Le Peloton Cafe and Bike About Tours, and then from tour guide Amber Minogue! Mentioned in this episode: Musée Carnavalet Musée de la chasse et de la Nature Musée des archives Hotel de Sully Place des Vosges Miznon restaurant A whole lot more Do you...

A bit of reflection as we reach the halfway point of this AB-Season. As I said in the episode, a big thanks to musician Pres Maxson, photographer Augusta Sagnelli, editor Eddie Gee, and occasional co-host Lina Nordin-Gee.  

L is for Lyon. In this episode, you'll hear about my experiences after spending 48 hours in Lyon with Lovely Lina.  There's also some local insights from Caroline Connor, who does wine tastings in Lyon, and runs the website and social media accounts by the name of Wine Dine Caroline. You can find more from her here: https://www.winedinecaroline.com/ Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras. The music in this episode is...

K is for Kylie the Crocodile in Paris. In this episode, you'll hear a brand new twist in the story of Kylie the Crocodile.  This episode was taken from a live show at Spilling the Beans.  You can find more from them here: https://www.spillingthebeans.fr/ To buy a copy of our childdren's book, Kylie the Crocodile in Paris, click here: https://theearfultower.com/product/kylie-the-crocodile-hardback/ Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this...

J is for Jewish Paris. In this episode, I take you walking through the Jewish quarter of Paris to try to understand what's going on there. Edith de Belleville, a licensed tour guide, author, and expert on Jewish history, writes me an itinerary of what to find, including: The Shoah Memorial The Museum of Jewish Art and History The As du Fallafel restaurant You can find more from Edith here: https://www.edithdebelleville.com/ During my cultural an culinary explorations, I bump into Jewish...

I is for Ile Saint-Louis - an island in the Seine. As far as I'm concerned, it features the most beautiful walk in Paris.  In this episode, I take you walking along the best bits of the island and share my favourite haunts. I also share my ideal route so you can do the same.  Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras, including a video walk of this very route. The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.

H is for Haussmann - Baron Haussmann that is. He was the urban planner behind the redesign of Paris under Napoleon III.  But what is a Haussmannian building? Who was Haussmann, really, and why was his work so important? Where can you find it in Paris? And what's his legacy? All those questions are answered in this episode, with help from tour guide Boris Petrovic from Paris in Person (find his Haussmannian Paris tour here). Do you like this podcast? Become a Patreon member of The Earful...

G is for Guimard - Hector Guimard that is. He is the architect behind the iconic Paris Metro entrances, several Art Nouveau buildings in Paris, and some very beautiful furniture and decorations in museum displays around the world.  But what is Art Nouveau? Who was Guimard, really, and why was his work so important? Where can you find it in Paris? And what's his legacy? All those questions are answered in this episode, with help from tour guide Boris Petrovic from Paris in Person (find his...

F is for Floods - that is, the floods of the Seine River in Paris. And today we're paying particular attention to the game-changing Great Flood of 1910.  Featured is the voice of Jeffrey Jackson, Professor of History at Rhodes College, and the author of "Paris Under Water:  How the City of Light Survived the Great Flood of 1910". You can find more about Jeffrey on his website here. Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras. The music in this...

E is for the Eiffel Tower, the most iconic landmark in France, probably Europe, and maybe the world.  This podcast episode features 10 facts about the tower, but you're going to have to try and guess them first. There are 10 points at stake, good luck. Featured is the voice two people very dear to me.  Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show and get extras. The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson. Lastly, book a walking tour of Paris, or indeed the...

D is for Deauville, a small town north of Paris on the coast of Normandy that has captured the attention of film-buffs, gamblers, beach lovers, and horse racing fans since the 1800s. We visited with the help of the local tourism board for this episode. Featured is the voice of horse-related storyteller and journalist Fanny Hubart-Salmon and then Annie Madet-Vache who is Director of the local museum Les Franciscaines. Become a Patreon member of The Earful Tower here to support this show...

C is for Chateaux - of which there are 45,000 in France. I've always been quite fascinated by French castles, and this episode takes a closer look at how they're financed.  We all know they're expensive to buy and to run, so I looked into some exciting modern ways people are making French chateaux work. Featured is the voice of Emily Jane Boeuf, the communications head of Dartagnans, a startup that uses crowdfunding to buy and preserve French castles.  Here are a few links for more...

B is for Bievre, the river that once ran through Paris. This episode is about our pilgrimmage to track it, how I walked through it with an immortal count, and a word on the exciting future of the river.  Featured is the voice of Lina Nordin Gee and the Comte de Saint Germain, who showed me the river in the suburb of Gentilly.  Become a Patreon member here to support this show and get extras - and to watch the Bievre walk replay (and to get invites to similar walks in the future). The...

A is for Arago, the name of the scientist who helped map out the Paris meridian line (François Arago (1786-1853)).  In this episode, I explore the "Rose Line" (as it was called in the Da Vinci Code), seeking out the bronze medallions along the streets of Paris, through the Louvre, and into the Paris Observatory.  Featured is the voice of Nicolas Lesté-Lasserre, a science historian and the community manager of the Observatoire de Paris. He showed me around this incredible 17th century...

Welcome to the ABCeason... or the AB Season... or the ABC-son. Haven't quite figured the spelling yet, but you get the idea, I hope.  Now you know what the next 26 episodes will hold. Support this show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theearfultower

It's our series finale on the French Riviera. This time, we're looking at art, especially through the lens of cinema (and the Cannes Film Festival) - and via the paintbrush of the impressionists.  This episode features author Edward Chisholm (Instagram here) and artist Johan Patricny (Instagram here). Cohosted by Lina Nordin Gee (Instagram video of the art here). Rolling Stone link: https://cornichewatches.com/rolling-stones-exile-ville-nellcote/  Music by Pres Maxson.  Become a member of...

After month in the French Riviera, here is the Earful Tower's tips for places we recommend in the area, from big famous towns to tiny and lovely villages.  Mentioned in this episode: Antibes, Juan-Les-Pins, Nice, La Turbie, Monaco, Biot, Cannes, Villa Kerylos, Villefranche-sur-Mer, and Eze.  Music by Pres Maxson.  Become a member of The Earful Tower here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower Happy travelling! (Find more here: www.theearfultower.com/riviera)

Author John Baxter is back - this time discussing literature from the French Riviera. We tackle a lot, with a bigger focus on F Scott Fitzgerald and Marina Picasso (and her tell-all book). Book a walking tour with John and find his books here.  Support The Earful Tower on Patreon and get the second half of this conversation.  Find more from this French Riviera miniseries here. Things we mentioned (to help you with spelling and searching...) First ten mins John tasted bouillabaisse in...

We've spent a month in the French Riviera. Here is The Earful Tower's introduction to the area via five golden rules for your own visit.  Mentioned in this episode: Bigger towns: Cannes, Antibes, Nice Much smaller spots: Villa Kerylos, Biot, La Turbie Book list to come, but Lina talked about Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan.  Music by Pres Maxson.  Become a member of The Earful Tower here: www.patreon.com/theearfultower More in the weeks to come, happy travelling!