MUSEUM ON THE HISTORY OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM

THE FRENCH SEDUCTION ™

If lucky, you're just a few happy miles
away from a nice all-in experience,
since this museum celebrates a sense
of place, the authentic, the unique,
the small, the historic and the local.

0000OO000OOOOOParaphrasing Daniel J. Boorstin's opening quote of his chapter
0000000OOOOOOO'From Traveler to Tourist: The Lost Art of Travel' in 'The Image -
OOOOOOOO0000OOA Guide to pseudo-events in America', 1961. The quote was from
OOOOOOO0000000an advertisement for the United States line: OOOO00000000000
OOOOOOO0000000000000000000"You're just 15 gourmet meals from
OOOOOOO0000000000000000000Europe on the world's fastest ship."

How come you landed on this page ? Did you read the 'la séduction française'-folder with this almost world famous poster picturing a woman in bathingsuite, symbolizing the turn, between the two World Wars, of winter tourism to summer tourism on the French Riviera? In that case, simply skip the next paragraphs and enjoy the images.
No, just read it again, I added a few extra facts.
Where do you come from.
What are you after?

'The French Seduction'?

So, what are you waiting for?
You will enjoy a double portion 'tourism', it's a sort of dialectical experience: you probably are tourist and here you get a double dose of 'travel' and 'tourism' ... .

This small museum and its unique collection offers a rich insight into the fascinating story of how France became the world’s most important holiday destination. But at first it was only warriors, crusaders, parading royalty and European aristocrats, pilgrims, tradesmen and students on their ‘Grand Tour’who travelled.

It was not till after 1766, following the travel writing of the Scot, Tobias Smollett, that the British aristocracy started flocking to the Côte d’Azur for the winter season. But it was only after 1894, when Stéphen Liégard published his book entitled ‘La Côte d’Azur’ that this strip of Mediterranean ooast got a name !

Thomas Cook introduced organized travel tours and Murray started publishing travel guides, not only just for Paris, but also for the French countryside. However, in the nineteenth century Paris and the French Riviera remained the hot spots for the well-to-do. Paris had a series of World Exhibitions and was the 'pleasure dome' for the British Milord. Others, who travelled the French countryside were, in a way, explorers.

Paid leave? In the UK, besides the short Bank Holiday introduced in 1871, a few days extra off were only added in 1938 and the beginning of mass tourism dates from not much more than 60 years ago. Now we’re witnessing an explosion.

----------

Open as of May 1 till October 31, between 10 h. 30 till 19.00 hrs.

For other moments, especially 'off season', just call.
You are welcome whole year round, also during winter or early spring.

00.33.(0)4.68436016

00.33.(0)6.49936049

The tour takes appr. 50 minutes. Price € 5,-. Free for minus 13 years.

2, Place de la Révolution
11700 Fontcouverte

N 43) 10' 4.46" ((())) E 2° 41' 14.93"

For further information, contributions and suggestions also: Gerrit Verhoeve

the french seduction

For French illustrations and a positive view on the potential of this small museum (in French only, unfortunately / translators are welcome):
'On the future of 'la séduction française'.

the french seduction

To the cover of
'de Franse Verleiding' (in Dutch this time, truly European, isn't it?

the french seduction Donkeys welcome too !