Martha Sessums

Los Altos, Paris, United States

Contributor at France Today

President of an educational non-profit in SF Bay Area; writing for France Today and Bonjour Paris; ex-VP Comms WFWA

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Articles

Rue des Vinaigriers Guide

2 weeks ago | bonjourparis.com | Martha Sessums

12 June 2025 by Martha Sessums 3 It’s about atmosphere. Canal St Martin is well known as an active, working-class neighborhood that I have explored before. But I have never walked Rue des Vinaigriers, a street that angles off the canal, and is bursting with local atmosphere. With information about the street provided by Jeffrey T Iverson in the Bonjour Paris Live webinar series, I could now walk the street as an educated explorer.
Discover the Île de la Cité

1 month ago | bonjourparis.com | Martha Sessums

21 May 2025 by Martha Sessums 3 The Île de la Cité is so much more than just Notre Dame. Yes, honoring the reconstruction work of the fire-devastated cathedral with a visit can be rewarding, but there is so much more on the island to explore and learn. The city of Paris started on Île de la Cité. It continues to be an active center of administration for the city, and visitors can also explore Paris’s oldest street, bridge and probably the world’s oldest hospital.
What Exactly is the Musée du Luxembourg in Paris

2 months ago | bonjourparis.com | Martha Sessums

24 April 2025 by Martha Sessums 6 Viewing the exhibitions at the Musée du Luxembourg is always on my “Paris To Do” list because I consistently learn something. I learn about artists’ viewpoints plus their influence on other artists and art trends of which I was unaware. But on my latest visit, I wanted to know about the history of the museum itself, and my knowledge base and appreciation of this small museum located in the Jardin du Luxembourg increased.
Caillebotte’s Men at the Getty

Mar 25, 2025 | francetoday.com | Martha Sessums |Chris Allsop

First published: March 25, 2025 by Martha Sessums The Getty Museum in Los Angeles presents a striking new exhibition dedicated to Gustave Caillebotte, showcasing his masterful depictions of men in moments of work, leisure, and everyday life in the 19th century. Gustave Caillebotte is considered by art historians to be an innovator.
Women Were a Major Workforce in French and European Mines

Mar 3, 2025 | francetoday.com | Martha Sessums |Keith Van Sickle

Women played a key role in mining communities across France and were often required to do hard, manual labour above and under ground. French history about women focuses on queens, Joan d’Arc and famous writers such as Simone de Beauvoir. While these women worked above ground, there were many nameless women in early history who worked the mines of France to support their families and provide access to minerals such as salt, iron, coal, chalk, gold and more.
Top Francophile Events in the US This Season

Jan 24, 2025 | francetoday.com | Martha Sessums |Ruth Fuchs Hallett

France Today ambassador Martha Sessums rounds up the must-see exhibitions and unmissable events for confirmed Francophiles beyond the shores of La Belle France…Direct from the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the Gustave Caillebotte exhibition arrives in Los Angeles. The collection examines how Caillebotte viewed masculine forms and created portraits of men from a perspective that radiates well today. He pictured men in their natural surroundings, doing work or sports. Oarsmen rowing. Floor scrapers.
Competition: Win a Père Magloire Apple Spritz

Dec 10, 2024 | francetoday.com | Justin Postlethwaite |Steve Turnbull |Dominic Bliss |Martha Sessums

Are you ready to add a little French flair to your festivities? Père Magloire Pomme Doublée is the perfect marriage of Normandy’s finest apples and a rich Calvados spirit. This exquisite apple liqueur is a treat for the senses, offering vibrant fruitiness with a smooth, warming finish—ideal for sipping on a crisp evening or jazzing up your favourite cocktails. And here’s the exciting bit: we’re giving two lucky winners the chance to take home a bottle of this luxurious delight!
To Finally Be French: Lessons in French Life

Dec 10, 2024 | francetoday.com | Kristin Espinasse |Justin Postlethwaite |Dominic Bliss |Martha Sessums

Kristin celebrates her 30th wedding anniversary and wonders if she’s a native French person now. My husband and I recently celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary, and I find myself wondering, after three whole decades, am I finally French? After all, I no longer snack, take long showers, or use a clothes dryer – habits I left behind in America when I came to France all those years ago. But times have changed, and so have I, especially regarding my obsession with becoming French.
The French Revolutionary Calendar

Dec 10, 2024 | francetoday.com | Keith Van Sickle |Justin Postlethwaite |Dominic Bliss |Martha Sessums

After the French Revolution and for just over a decade, France turned to a completely different calendar, even chossing to have a different clock, in an attempt to erase the influence of royalty and religion on every day life. A month called Fremaire? 100 minutes in an hour? Years marked with Roman numerals? What was going on? The French Revolution convulsed France. The Ancien Régime was toppled, heads rolled, and new leaders strove to remake the country.
Dismantled then Rebuilt, this is the Intriguing History of the Château de Pierrefonds

Dec 8, 2024 | francetoday.com | Justin Postlethwaite |Dominic Bliss |Martha Sessums

Nestled in the lush forests of the Oise department in northern France, near the Forêt de Compiègne, the Château de Pierrefonds is a masterpiece of medieval revival architecture with a fascinating past. This imposing castle’s story intertwines medieval grandeur, royal intrigue, and 19th-century reinvention. The origins of the château date back to the late 14th century.