{"id":32606,"date":"2022-08-21T00:11:14","date_gmt":"2022-08-20T22:11:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/?p=32606"},"modified":"2022-08-26T18:58:27","modified_gmt":"2022-08-26T16:58:27","slug":"colette-pans-de-travassac-vezere-castel-novel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/2022\/08\/21\/colette-pans-de-travassac-vezere-castel-novel\/","title":{"rendered":"Follow the steps of Colette in Corr\u00e8ze, from her Jardins, the Castel Novel Hotel, the Pans de Travassac and of course the Festival de la V\u00e9z\u00e8re !"},"content":{"rendered":"
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..same appreciation for this pinky Lilas of the Indies<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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What a charming play of lights<\/strong> in this portal..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shortly after our various topics in the Creuse department, we focus this time on another interesting touristic territory, still belonging to the former Limousin region and nowadays Nouvelle Aquitaine.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Indeed, located in the south of the Massif Central, the green region of Corr\u00e8ze proposes countless opportunities of visits, from the famous Regional Natural Park of Millevaches, until Brive-la-Gaillarde, or even walks around the waterfalls of Gimel and Murel, eventually crossing the Causse and Dordogne valleys. You must be aware that various upcoming changes of sceneries, along a wide patrimony heritage. <\/strong>By AP<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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A mystic lavender<\/strong> welcoming path at the Ch\u00e2teau du Saillant<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Indeed, in this Corr\u00e8ze<\/strong> department, you may notably find five villages<\/strong>, registered as ones of the most beautiful villages<\/strong> in France<\/strong>, which are Collonges-la-Rouge<\/strong>, Saint-Robert<\/strong>, S\u00e9gur-le-Ch\u00e2teau<\/strong>, Turenne<\/strong> and Curemonte<\/strong>. Apart from those medieval<\/strong> localities, you could also visit many other hot spots<\/strong>, such as the Merle<\/strong> towers, the Pompadour Castle<\/strong>, the Aubazine Abbey<\/strong>, but also the countless local markets<\/strong>, full of quality products (photo credits: AP).<\/p>\n

In this article, we would mostly focus on some amazing attractions<\/strong> around the city of Brive-la-Gaillarde<\/strong>. By the way, don’t hesitate to let you guided<\/strong> by the friendly team of the tourism office<\/strong>, in order to give you the best visiting<\/strong> tips, according to your preferences. This office<\/strong> welcomes you in a surprising lighthouse<\/strong> in Brive-la-Gaillarde<\/strong> but also in 7 nearby villages<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Office de Tourisme de Brive Agglom\u00e9ration<\/strong><\/a>, Place Du 14 Juillet, 19100 Brive-la-Gaillarde (France) \/ Phone : 00 33 (0)5 55 24 08 80. More information on their official website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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..so does this old bridge<\/strong> over the V\u00e9z\u00e8re<\/strong> river.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Most of the houses<\/strong> in this area are made of local stones<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Therefore, the famous city of Brive-la-Gaillarde<\/strong><\/a> is surrounded by the luxurious V\u00e9z\u00e8re<\/strong> river, bringing its flow of water reflects<\/strong> and surprises<\/strong>. A good idea to start your tour would be to rent electric bikes<\/strong> to go sightseeing through its numerous hills<\/strong> or even a canoe<\/strong>, for enjoying some water sports<\/strong>, notably from the Base Sports Loisirs V\u00e9z\u00e8re<\/strong><\/a>, ideally situated in Voutezac<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This village<\/strong> is spread on several charming hamlets<\/strong>. Among them, you could count on Le Saillant<\/strong>, crossed by a beautiful medieval<\/strong> bridge with six ogival arches. This is also there that you could find an orientation table<\/strong>, located at 391m high, offering a breathtaking panorama<\/strong> above the V\u00e9z\u00e8re<\/strong> valley and its hydroelectric dam<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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..one of the Chagall<\/strong>‘s enlightened stained glass<\/strong> windows.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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This chapel<\/strong> wears a red sandstone<\/strong> and schist<\/strong> facade.. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the same village, don’t miss the Notre-Dame<\/strong> chapel, surmounted by a fancy bell tower<\/strong>, which houses six stained glass<\/strong> windows, pictured by the famous artist Marc Chagall<\/strong>. Those colorful masterpieces<\/strong> were realized between 1978 and 1982 by the glass painters Charles Marq<\/strong> and Brigitte Simon<\/strong>, in Reims<\/strong>, but were finalized by Chagall<\/strong> himself, to add his personal touch.<\/p>\n

Those stained windows<\/strong> just came back recently in the chapel<\/strong>, after a renovation time of more than one year in Metz<\/strong>! In order to celebrate this event, the music Festival de la V\u00e9z\u00e8re<\/strong><\/a>, which was born in 1981, in the nearby Ch\u00e2teau Du Saillant<\/strong>, paid a tribute this year to Chagall<\/strong>. Thus, for this 41th edition<\/strong>, the team hosted the cello<\/strong> artist Victor Julien-Laferri\u00e8re<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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..while the facade<\/strong> keeps numerous medieval<\/strong> architectural points.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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You couldn’t forget the magic facets of this Castle<\/strong>‘s park..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For instance, this talented instrumentalist<\/strong> played a series of musical<\/strong> pieces related to the painter<\/strong>, inside this Notre Dame<\/strong> chapel but also in the Ch\u00e2teau du Saillant<\/strong>, accompanied by the pianist Jonas Vitaud<\/strong>. As you can see, this Festival de la V\u00e9z\u00e8re<\/strong> is a real annual<\/strong> cultural summer rendez-vous<\/em><\/strong> in Corr\u00e8ze<\/strong>, along the pop music<\/strong> festival of Brive-la-Gaillarde<\/strong>, whatever you listen to.<\/p>\n

Thus, this festival<\/strong> reunites an eclectic selection of brilliant classical music<\/strong> artists, featuring an inaugural concert<\/strong> that usually takes place inside the Ch\u00e2teau du Saillant<\/strong>, before spreading to other pretty places<\/strong> around it. A good occasion to discover with the catering<\/strong> service, various local specialities<\/strong>, such as the Mique<\/em><\/strong> burger, based on a typical bread<\/strong>. This homemade dish is served in stalls<\/strong>, before entering the concert hall<\/strong>, possibly along the neighbor wines<\/strong> from the C\u00f4teaux de la V\u00e9z\u00e8re<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Ch\u00e2teau du Saillant<\/strong><\/a>, 2 Le Saillant 19130 Voutezac (France) \/ Phone: 00 33 (0)5 55 84 94 91 or 00 33 (0)5 55 23 25 09 for the ticketing of the Festival de la V\u00e9z\u00e8re<\/strong><\/a>. More information on their official website<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n

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..one good example of the soil composition<\/strong> in this appellation<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The choice between two wines<\/strong> from the C\u00f4teaux de la V\u00e9z\u00e8re<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Regarding those enunciated wines<\/strong>, they are produced in a recently born domain<\/strong>, created in 2003, at the initiative of various viticulture<\/strong> enthusiasts. Indeed, those vineyards<\/strong> from the C\u00f4teaux de la V\u00e9z\u00e8re<\/strong> aimed to revive a centuries-old vineyard<\/strong> that made the pride of the Brive<\/strong> basin and more globally of Corr\u00e8ze<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This domain<\/strong> is currently spread over 23ha, on shale hills<\/strong> which offer a true mineral<\/strong> side, for a little yield (less than 40 Hl\/hectare), producing 100,000 bottles<\/strong> for 23 hectares. Only three communes of Allassac<\/strong>, Donzenac<\/strong> and Voutezac<\/strong>, are concerned, where stand the properties belonging to 10 winegrowers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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One of the winegrowers<\/strong> of this cooperative sitting nearby his vines<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

They are only organized on organic viticulture<\/strong>, since 2017, concentrating the vinification<\/strong> of their clean juices<\/strong> in the Chai<\/strong>, located in Le Saillant<\/strong>. Apart from this, as seen earlier, the C\u00f4teaux de la V\u00e9z\u00e8re <\/strong>lay on a rich soil<\/strong>, composed of slate schist<\/strong>, cared with natural phytosanitary<\/strong> products. The result is a wide range of white, red and gray ros\u00e9 wines<\/strong>, available online<\/strong>, in stores<\/strong>, or directly at the cellar<\/strong>. This is where you could taste the various wines<\/strong> from this tiny appellation<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

Therefore, the Gamade<\/strong> wines are labeled IGP Pays de Brive<\/strong>, including white wines made from Chardonnay-Sauvignon<\/strong> and Muscat<\/strong>, red wines made from Merlot<\/strong>, Cabernet Franc<\/strong> and Pinot Noir<\/strong>, while gray ros\u00e9 wines<\/strong> are composed of Pinot Noir<\/strong> grape variety. In the other hand, the dry white, made from Chenin<\/strong> grapes, and red wines, made from Cabernet Franc<\/strong>, have been homologated in the AOC Corr\u00e8ze<\/strong>, in 2018.<\/p>\nngg_shortcode_4_placeholder\n

Coteaux De La V\u00e9z\u00e8re<\/strong><\/a>, Coteaux de la V\u00e9z\u00e8re La Jugie, lieu-dit, Le Saillant, 19240 Allassac (France) \/ Phone : 00 33 (0)5 55 25 24 60. More information on their official website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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..while in other parts, Nature<\/strong> has achieved perfect structures<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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In some points, you can feel being in a moonlike<\/strong> landscape..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Still around Brive-la-Gaillarde<\/strong>, we invite you to discover more about this ancestral slate culture<\/strong>, connected to the geological underground<\/strong> of this relief territory. For more details about it, the unique place would be to visit Les Pans de Travassac<\/strong><\/a>. Situated in the heart of the village of Donzenac<\/strong>, this fascinating place<\/strong> needs to be visited, in order to learn more about the exploitation of slate<\/strong>.  This essential premium construction material<\/strong> is still carried out here, and this for more than three centuries.<\/p>\n

This site<\/strong> is clearly spectacular and even sometimes vertiginous, due to its high cliffs<\/strong> of more than 100 meters, and eventually admire those numerous impressive peaks<\/strong>, manually shaped to extract those precious slates<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

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..where colors<\/strong> evolve throughout the different moments of the day.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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For sure, the panorama<\/strong> in real size is far more spectacular<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For your information, up to 250 workers worked in these slate quarries<\/strong>, even reaching a depth up to 100m, full of verticality mysteries<\/strong>. On top of that, guided tours<\/strong> are proposed from May until the end of October, for anyone willing to explore any corner<\/strong> of this unique<\/strong> place in the World.<\/p>\n

If you are patient, you could even attend the demonstration<\/strong> sessions of some technics<\/strong> about slate<\/strong> cutting<\/strong>, operated by craftsmen<\/strong>. Then, if you want to get more elements, there is a former workshop<\/strong> that has become a museum<\/strong>, where are exhibited plenty of historical<\/strong> documents, photos and worker’s tools. Then, maybe you would decide to reach the slate caf\u00e9<\/strong>, offering a bright panoramic<\/strong> view over the medieval<\/strong> village of Donzenac<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

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This view would include the bell tower of the Saint-Martin<\/strong> gothic church<\/strong>, from the 13th century, and the castle of the barons of Donzenac<\/strong>. Last but not least, this<\/strong> site as well hosted this year, for the first time, the Festival de la V\u00e9z\u00e8re<\/strong>, with a concert<\/strong> of Lola Descours<\/strong>, Elodie Soulard<\/strong> and Ulysse Vigreux<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Les Pans de Travassac<\/strong><\/a>, D25, La Rue Haute, 19270 Donzenac (France) \/ Phone : 00 33 (0)5 55 85 66 33. More information on their official website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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..perfect to learn more about the life <\/strong>of Colette.<\/strong> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The park<\/strong> is adorned with some information panels<\/strong>.. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the way, another concert<\/strong> from this festival<\/strong> occurred in a besides magical<\/strong> place… Therefore, Le Carnaval des Animaux<\/strong><\/em> occurred in Les Jardins de Colette<\/strong><\/a>, last July 20th. As its name suggests, this floral park<\/strong> of about 5 hectares, designed by the landscape<\/strong> architect Anouk Debarre<\/strong>, pays an honorable tribute to the famous eponym novelist<\/strong>. Organized around six thematic gardens<\/strong>, representing various French<\/strong> regions that inspired the books of Colette<\/strong>, represented here through several vegetal<\/strong> references.<\/p>\n

Therefore, let’s plunge in a Brittany<\/strong> atmosphere with small beach huts<\/strong>, unless you’re more into nostalgic of Paris<\/strong> with the same tree alleys as in the Palais-Royal<\/strong> square, without forgetting the colorful gardens<\/strong> of Provence<\/strong> and Burgundy<\/strong>, where this novelist<\/strong> was born.<\/p>\n

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The central alley<\/strong> is irrigated by an energetic fountain<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As far as we know, this botanic resort<\/strong> offers a pleasant moment to anyone wishing to get a green bowl<\/strong>, the time of a picnic<\/strong> or just entertaining your family<\/strong>. Thus, the path<\/strong> is punctuated by countless surprises<\/strong>, such as a giant 5,000 m\u00b2 maze<\/strong> with puzzles<\/strong>, along other full-scale games of skill<\/strong>, and even stagings<\/strong> to enter, inspired by the literary<\/strong> pieces of Colette<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Apart from this, don’t miss the countless animations<\/strong> and events<\/strong> organized in this park<\/strong>, all year long. The schedule<\/strong> is online, and you would have a Cornelian<\/strong> choice between paper chases<\/strong>, night watches<\/strong> and for sure many thematic<\/strong> occasions. Among them, you could count on Easter<\/strong> time, Halloween<\/strong> thrills and eventually Les Journ\u00e9es du Patrimoine<\/strong><\/a> or Les Rendez-Vous au Jardin<\/strong><\/a>! <\/p>\n

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Les Jardins De Colette<\/strong><\/a>, 1119 Route de Roland Garros, 19240 Varetz (France) \/ Phone : 00 33 (0)5 55 86 75 35. More information on their official website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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An extensive overview of this magnificent Castel Novel<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In case, you wish to pursue your experience with Colette<\/strong>, why don’t you decide to stay in the same castle<\/strong> where she lived 1911 until 1923 with her fellow husband<\/strong>, the journalist and politician Henri de Jouvenel<\/strong>? Thus, the castle of Castel-Novel<\/strong>, situated in Varetz<\/strong>, just ten kilometers away from Brive-la-Gaillarde<\/strong>, quickly became the backdrop of many of her novels<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This castle<\/strong>, perched on a rocky peak<\/strong>, originally dates from the 13th and 15th centuries, unless its Orangerie<\/strong> and the facade<\/strong> of the residence were remodeled in the 18th century. For your information, it has been the property of the Aubusson de la Feuillade<\/strong> family, since 1500s, for more than three centuries.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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..unless you prefer the eccentricity<\/strong> of those contemporary coaches<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Such a cosy and comfortable salon<\/strong> to enjoy some tea<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With its distinctive pointed towers and its facade made of red Collonges<\/strong> stone, this incredible edifice has been converted from 1956 by the couple Parveaux<\/strong>, into a magnificent hotel<\/strong> and a gastronomic restaurant<\/strong>, surrounded by a generous park<\/strong> of 17 ha. You would undoubtedly be seduced to live the castle life<\/strong><\/em> inside, in a fully renovated historical<\/strong> place and chic<\/strong> atmosphere.<\/p>\n

Therefore, it’s not a secret that this sort of bygone<\/strong> charm, visible in the lobby<\/strong>, the salons<\/strong>, the dining room<\/strong> and the 27 rooms<\/strong>, that counts this mythical Brive<\/strong> hotel, is somehow bewitching<\/strong>. Regarding the current renovation<\/strong> that still goes on, the Castel Novel<\/strong> only proposes 15 rooms<\/strong> nowadays, available for booking<\/strong>, all adorned with a splendid panorama<\/strong> over the valley<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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..while the rest of the dining hall<\/strong> is so much Sun<\/strong> drenched.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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This monumental firehouse<\/strong> would surely leave you blissful<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then, apart from their vintage wallpaper<\/strong> and furnitures<\/strong>, those rooms<\/strong> are naturally equipped with air conditioning<\/strong>, a desk<\/strong> for working<\/strong> moments, a flat-screen TV<\/strong> with satellite<\/strong> channels for leisure<\/strong> time and a safe<\/strong>, to preserve your precious belongings<\/strong>. Adding to this, take some time to relax in the old school<\/strong> bathrooms, including a bidet<\/strong><\/em>, a hairdryer<\/strong> and free toiletries<\/strong>, provided by the local cosmetics<\/strong> manufacture of Sothy’s<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

The morning after, a continental breakfast<\/strong> is served still in this bucolic<\/strong> atmosphere, starring many local<\/strong> products, such as dairy products<\/strong>, ham<\/strong> and viennoiseries<\/em><\/strong>. In summertime<\/strong>, don’t miss to use the outdoor swimming pool<\/strong>, nearby an outdoor bar<\/strong>, a tennis court<\/strong>, or simply through the wide park<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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The outdoor corridor<\/strong> to convey you towards the other rooms<\/strong> in the garden<\/strong> part..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whether you plan to stay overnight in this hotel<\/strong>, or not, you are allowed to enjoy at least a slice from this Castel Novel<\/strong> experience, notably through its bygone styled hotel bar<\/strong> and its restaurant<\/strong>, which used to be Michelin<\/strong> starred.<\/p>\n

Benefiting with a large panoramic<\/strong> terrace, where you could admire a breathtaking surrounding landscape<\/strong>, you may also use their free private parking<\/strong>, with the possibility to rent<\/strong> a car, to complete this wide hospitality<\/strong> offer.  <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Castel Novel Hotel<\/strong><\/a>, Castel Novel Castle, 19240 Varetz (France) \/ Phone: 00 33 (0)5 55 85 00 01. More information on their official website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Shortly after our various topics in the Creuse department, we focus this time on another…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":32494,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,69,1,926],"tags":[1089,632,534,1079,1258,1249,137,129,1204,1250,1259],"class_list":["post-32606","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","category-castle","category-hospitality","category-nouvelle-aquitaine","tag-botanic-garden","tag-boutique-hotel","tag-castle","tag-classical-music","tag-colette","tag-correze","tag-festival","tag-limousin","tag-mine","tag-nouvelle-aquitaine","tag-river"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32606","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32606"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32606\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33234,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32606\/revisions\/33234"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32494"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32606"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32606"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}