Photo by ยฉ Joanna Maclennan
Welcome to the July/August edition of My French Country Home magazine!
Peak summer has arrived at last. With the Olympic Games coming to Paris this year, July and August promise to be exceptionally memorable. We are excited to have a front-row seat to this celebration of the human spirit and athletic excellence โ not to mention the epic showcase of French culture and hospitality!
This issue includes a quick overview of the main events taking place across France and notes of the highlights making this edition of the Games unique. Should you plan to explore France around the Olympics period โ or if you get bitten by the travel bug while following the events from afar โ we have also included a Discovery Guide to the Bay of Arcachon, a stunning coastal region just west of Bordeaux. You also wonโt want to miss our Portfolio, featuring Eric Sanderโs magnificent photographs of the fountains at Versailles.
Speaking of gardens…
We have some pretty spectacular ones to show you. The Domaine de Berville, a stoneโs throw from the chรขteau town of Fontainebleau, is a fragrant temple to the noble rose, where blossoms seem to burst from every corner. Further north, in the Pays dโAuge, we take you to a show garden designed by the talented owners of a nursery that deftly incorporates classic Norman architectural elements. We also take advantage of the splendid second bloom of roses in Sharon’s garden to share some ideas for pulling together a stylish summer bouquet.
As for interiors…
If itโs hot where you are, you might appreciate a tour of some breezy French interiors! We were completely seduced by a rambling 19th century estate in Charente-Maritime, expertly renovated and furnished by an antiques dealer and her husband, as well as the chic, contemporary look that Agence Vรฉronique Cotrel achieved with their restoration of a family apartment near the Eiffel Tower. The way that two members of the Pierre Frey family have integrated the brandโs iconic textiles into their Luberon vacation home is also an inspiration.
On the table…
Languid summer days afford us countless opportunities to entertain โ and MFCH is here for it. Our friends at La Compagnie du Mieux Boire (โThe Better Drinking Companyโ) in Paris have kindly contributed several intriguing cocktail ideas to this issue, while Franck Schmitt leans into peach season with some delightful savory and dessert recipes.
Wherever the season finds you, we hope it is relaxing and rejuvenating. Read on to take a peek at a few more of our July/August features, and click below to flip through a full preview of the magazine.
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A Provenรงal Palette
Lorraine Frey and her husband Patrick have reworked a farmhouse in the Luberon into a vacation home that both captures the sensations of Provence and integrates signature elements from their family’s storied textile brand, Pierre Frey. See inside their estate in the historic village of Cabriรจres d’Avignon in this “Interiors” feature.
Pipe Dreams
Versailles is the embodiment of French opulence, grandeur and audacity. From the moment Louis XIV first conceived of moving the royal residence from the Louvre in Paris to the site of his father’s favorite hunting lodge, it was clear he would need to enlist the era’s most inventive and creative minds. The ornate fountains that adorn its vast formal gardens are a testament to the Sun King’s zeal to tame the landscape and inspire awe, captured here in our “Portfolio” feature by photographer Eric Sander.
Portrait in Petals
A stone’s throw from Fontainebleau, France Jobert has created an extraordinary garden where old roses blossom in an explosion of fragrance and color. A little paradise in infinite shades of pink and white, the Jardin de Berville is an invitation to gentle mediation and beauty. Take a stroll through this bursting oasis in our “Gardens” feature.
Peach Perfect
The taste and color of perfectly ripened peaches are the embodiment of summer. In July and August, they practically spill from the fruit stalls at farmers’ markets across France. So for those who simply can’t get enough of this succulent, versatile fruit, we treat you to both savory and sweet recipes to share the season’s bounty.
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We hope this new issue brings a taste of summer in France to wherever you are in the world!