Photograph by © Fabienne Delafraye
Welcome to the 30th edition of the My French Country Home magazine! We are so thrilled to have reached this exciting milestone and extend extra gratitude and thanks to our readers, subscribers, and contributors for getting us here. We couldn’t do it without you!
In this final issue of 2023, we discover France’s romantic winter offerings. Our Discovery Guide transports you to the heart of our favorite neighborhood in Paris: Saint-Germain. We also whisk you away to the gardens of Prieuré de Vauboin in the Sarthe, glistening in winter frost.
Among the four interiors that we share in this edition, you will find an exciting new category featuring our favorite destinations available for you to book for your next vacation in France! Our first “Destination France” features a gorgeous property in Ménerbes that could be the setting for your next trip to Provence.
Unsurprisingly, at the heart of the holiday celebrations in France is food, and our pages are no different! We invite you to savor traditional French Christmas recipes with a creative spin created by Eve Cardi and unusual traditions such as Les Treize Desserts (the “Thirteen Desserts”) – a sweet feast with symbolic significance.
Continuing to enjoy the finer things this season, we admire the opulent interiors of the Château de Fontainebleau in our Portfolio and the delicate craftsmanship of Cristallerie Saint-Louis, renowned lead-crystal artisans. Finally, to ensure that your holiday season is filled with both ease and impeccable flair, we have curated a festive gift guide, brimming with ideas for the whole family.
Read on to take a peek at our embrace of the winter months and the joys they bring, and click below to flip through a full preview of the magazine.
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Christmas Cooking with French Flair
Whip up a fabulous holiday dinner and tablescape à la Eve Cardi, one of our favorite food stylists, featuring creative spins on traditional French winter flavors. You will find earthy mushrooms in a soup with chestnuts, salmon pie with spinach and leeks, and a selection of desserts including pear pavlova, butternut sugar cake and a madeleine Christmas tree that makes for a stunning table centerpiece.
Timeless Magic in Paris:
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Take a wintry stroll through the most romantic city in the world: Paris (of course). Typically our Discovery Guide captures the highlights or an entire region and its surroundings, but there is simply too much to list in a singular guide to all of Paris. So, we’re starting with a neighborhood at the center of it all and a personal favorite: Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Foraged Wreath
Instead of purchasing a pre-made wreath this year, why not go out and forage one yourself? Simple and fresh, creating your own door décor is a wonderful way to impart your unique style into the holidays and make the most of winter’s bounties.
Fitted for Kings
Stroll through the halls of one of the most underrated royal establishments in France, the Château de Fontainebleau. One of the greatest examples of decadent design, this historic palace, located just an hour southeast of Paris, was home to French monarchs, nobles and dignitaries for more than 700 years. Photographer Eric Sander shows us why it was given the epithet, “the true home of kings.”
SHOP THE NEW ISSUE
We hope this issue gets you in the holiday spirit as we head into the end of the year, inspiring you with a sense of joy, gratitude, and, of course, a little French touch.