FINSE
EXPLORES FRANCE
Karine Hagen
Suzy-Jane Tanner
This book is dedicated to
my friend Paul Dawson with
thanks for taking such good
care of me when Mummy
needed to work.
THIS BOOK
BELONGS TO
“Finse Explores France”
The right of Karine Hagen to be identified as the author
and Suzy-Jane Tanner to be identified as the illustrator
of this work has been asserted by them in accordance
with the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Text copyright © Karine Hagen 2014
Illustrations copyright © Suzy-Jane Tanner 2014
FINSE
EXPLORES FRANCE
First published by Viking Cruises
83 Wimbledon Park Side, London, SW19 5LP
Second edition published in 2015 by Viking Cruises.
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright
reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in or introduced into a retrieval system in any form or
by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise) without the written permission of the above
publisher of this book.
ISBN 978-1-909968-05-9
www.finse.me
Produced by Colophon Digital Projects Ltd,
Old Isleworth, TW7 6RJ, United Kingdom
Printed in China.
Fuddlewuddle Puppy and its design are trademarks and/or copyrights of
Jellycat Limited. © 2014 Jellycat Limited.
All rights reserved.
Karine Hagen
Suzy-Jane Tanner
Normandy Beaches
Rouen
FINSE
EXPLORES
FRANCE
Épernay
Paris
Bayeux
Giverny
FRANCE
River Seine
River Loire
Chenonceau
Lyon
N
Sarlat
Bordeaux
River Dordogne
River RhÔne
River Garonne
ITALY
Avignon
Arles
2
Monte Carlo
3
I remember Grandpup telling
me about our brave Collie
Cross cousins who parachuted
into France for the Normandy
landings on D-Day in 1944.
Some paradogs were even
honoured with the Dickin
Medal for Gallantry.
I decided to visit Normandy
and to explore France.
4
5
The Bayeux Tapestry is a
huge embroidery telling
the story of the Norman
conquest of England
in 1066.
It is said that Queen
Matilda created it with
her handmaidens.
It is 230 feet long and
20 inches wide!
6
7
Then I sailed to Rouen.
In 841 this was the Viking
capital in France and the
Norse leader Rollo was
made the first Duke of
Normandy.
The great cathedral even
has Viking rune inscriptions
to prove it.
ROLLO
8
9
I visited Claude Monet’s
house and wonderful
garden at Giverny with
its beautiful rose arches,
bridges and ponds.
Monet painted many
large Impressionist
pictures of waterlilies
and more.
I imagined watching him
working in the garden.
10
11
The River Seine flows
through Paris, the capital
of France.
I went to the top of the
Eiffel Tower. Then I
visited many magnificent
museums and art galleries.
Fuddlewuddle and I
enjoyed shopping along
the wide boulevards too!
12
13
I visited Épernay, where
they make the finest
champagne.
This was first created
accidentally when
the bubbles made the
corks pop in a cellar.
It is very expensive,
so we only drink it on
special occasions.
14
15
The Jacquard loom using
punched cards to weave
patterned silk was invented
in Lyon.
The city is also the gourmet
capital of France.
There are more than 365
French cheeses. My friend
Didier Bouledogue showed
me how to choose the best!
16
17
In 1669, flood waters swept
away all but four arches of
Avignon’s old bridge.
I remembered the French
nursery song and danced
sur le pont!
Sur le Pont d’Avignon
On y danse, On y danse
Sur le Pont d’Avignon
On y danse tous en rond.
On the bridge of Avignon
We all dance there, we all dance there
On the bridge of Avignon
We all dance there, round and round.
18
19
Fuddlewuddle and I
sunbathed on the beach
at Monte Carlo, capital
of the principality of
Monaco.
We visited the beautiful
gardens outside the
Casino and met some
very rich and famous dogs.
Très chic!
20
21
The River Rhône runs
into the Mediterranean
near Arles, which was
the most important
Roman city in France.
The artist Vincent
Van Gogh lived here.
He painted sunflowers
and starry night skies.
Fuddlewuddle and I
visited the café where
he used to paint.
22
23
In Sarlat I learned how
to hunt for truffles from
Farrah, the world famous
trufficulteur.
Truffles grow under oak
trees. They used to be
found by pigs, but they ate
them so dogs are better!
They are very costly,
delicious and are used in
the finest French dishes.
24
25
Bordeaux is a historic port,
famous for shipping wine
all over the world.
I travelled through nearby
vineyards and helped with
the harvest.
Grapes are traditionally
pressed by treading on them.
We had to wash our
paws first!
26
27
There are many elegant
chateaux along the Loire
river. I visited one at
Chambord and then
Chenonceau.
Many have beautiful
formal flower gardens with
statues and fountains.
I enjoyed meeting the
gardeners, who were
planting out their
summer display.
28
29
The vegetables are grown
in elegant formal parterre
gardens too.
They reminded me of the
beautiful kitchen garden
at my puppyhood home,
Highclere Castle.
Goodbye France!
Au revoir France!
30
DOGOLOGY
Finse met her friends Farrah, Didier and
many other fine French dogs on her journey.
Page 4 - 5
Normandy Beaches
Collie cross
Page 6 - 7
Bayeux
Picardy Spaniel
Page 8 - 9
Rouen
Great Dane
Page 10 -11
Giverny
Briquet Griffon Vendee
Page 12 -13
Paris
Poodle
Page 14 -15
Épernay
Bourbon Pointer & Clumber Spaniel
Page 16 -17
Lyon
French Bulldog
Page 18 - 19
Avignon
Artois & French Waterdog
Page 20 - 21
Monte Carlo
Briard
Page 22 - 23
Arles
Beauceron & Dutch Smoushund
Page 24 - 25
Sarlat
Collie & Basset Bleu de Gascogne
Page 26 - 27
Bordeaux
Dogue de Bordeaux
Page 28 - 29
Chenonceau
Berger Picard
31
ISBN 978-1-909968-05-9