Is this a case of misjudgment in the pages of history, based on one well-quoted phrase?

When John FitzGilbert broke faith with King Stephen, he knew full well what could happen. The king threatened to hang his 5-year-old son, who he was holding as a hostage, John is reported to have said “Hang him, I still have the hammers and the anvils with which to forge still more and better sons”

Was John FitzGilbert simply a man of his times, pragmatic and brutal? Was he a heartless and uncaring father, or was he instead a very clever and perceptive man who took a chance and played his cards right?

There are some histories that demand more than a straightforward telling.

The Albigensian Crusade is one of them.

This was not a brief eruption of violence, but a long and deeply unsettling period in the life of southern France, one that reshaped communities, beliefs, and landscapes over decades. It is a history marked by fear and loss, but also by resilience, conviction, and the quiet endurance of ordinary people.

When we look back on this period, it is tempting to focus only on the brutality of what occurred. To reduce places like Béziers, Carcassonne, and Montségur to the moments that sealed their place in history.

But these were living places long before they became symbols. And their stories did not end when the fighting did.

When it comes to Christmas, it can mean different things to different people, one thing for sure is that for most people, regardless of religious persuasion, it is a time of celebration, family and festivity. The holiday itself dates back to the 4th century when Pope Julius I declared December 25 to be the date of Christ’s birth. It was not long before believers all throughout Europe were celebrating the season with feasts, drinking and all sorts of revelry. I decided to go hunting and find out a bit more about some of the modern traditions we enjoy, and it seems a lot of them have come from the mingling of the Christian and the Pagan worlds to develop into what we all know today.

Europe and the UK are famous for their churches, cathedrals and abbeys, awe-inspiring architectural wonders that encompass so much history and so many stories. During our recent scouting trip for our Plantagenets In France tour, to my delight, we visited many of them. It has been very hard to choose my favourites, finally I was able to narrow it down to my top 5. They are not necessarily the grandest, but they are the ones in which I felt a real personal connection.

Enjoy!

What to pack can be one of the most challenging aspects of travelling, so I have put together what I consider the Ultimate Packing List. There will be changes based on where you are going, what you are doing, and how long you are going for but I feel it is a pretty good starting point. I hope it gives you some inspiration and please add a comment if you think I have missed anything really important.

Canterbury Cathedral, one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England was founded in 597 and has been the primary ecclesiastical centre of England since the early 7th century.

Were the Legendary Courts of Love real?

This is a topic that has divided historians for centuries and will probably go on to divide them for many more to come

Maubergeone Tower - part of the original ducal palace and seat of the former Counts of Poitou and Dukes of Aquitaine in Poitiers…. if only the walls could talk, what interesting tales they would tell.

The Middle Ages was a time full of myths, legends and superstitions, the Plantagenets (or the Angevins in particular) are the subject of the one I find most fascinating

The final resting place of royalty, a stunning example of historic gothic architecture and a façade made famous by the artist Claude Monet, make a visit here an absolute must

Themed Historical Tours of France and the UK… what a great idea but why choose the Plantagenets?

It’s a fair question, and one I’ve asked myself many times. Of all the dynasties, all the time periods, why this one? The truth is, the Plantagenets didn’t just shape history — they lived it with passion, ambition, triumph, and heartbreak. Their story reads like the most gripping novel, filled with powerful women, warring kings, impossible love, and castles that still stand to tell the tale.

For me, their world became more than just history — it became a journey. And now, it’s a journey I invite others to take with me.

Welcome to the Plantagenet Discoveries blog, after a lot of time, effort, and research, now is the moment to finally begin the journey of a lifetime.

Let’s start with a question…

Why do we have dreams?