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Jeffrey Weller | Travel & Lifestyle

@jeffreyweller

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NJ to LA 🗽➡️🌴
Now sharing my month-long solo road trip across France! 🇫🇷🚗
De-coding local culture, history, hidden gems & travel hacks.
@laalacarte 🌮

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Three nights in Bordeaux. 🏛️✨
After wrapping up the kickoff leg in Orléans and exploring the historic currents of Poitiers, the road trip moves southwest to the “Pearl of Aquitaine”.
Bordeaux is a city that immediately grabs you with its scale. Half of the entire city is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, built from a porous, golden limestone that catches the late afternoon light like nowhere else. It has the grand, classical symmetry of a mini-Paris, but with a completely unique, vibrant energy along the riverfront.
I’m using these first three days to get completely lost in the old quarters, hunt down the absolute best regional specialties, and map out the architectural history carved into these streets.
The deep-dives on where I’m staying, what I’m eating, and the hidden details of the architecture drop next.
Have you been to Bordeaux? What’s the one spot I shouldn’t miss while I’m here?👇
📍 Bordeaux, France by @jeffreyweller

🔊 Turn your sound up for this one.
When I stepped through the doors of the Église Saint-Jean-de-Montierneuf in Poitiers, the sudden shift in atmosphere was immediate. There were no tour groups, no city noise, and no other visitors. Just an absolute, echoing stillness.
To stand completely alone inside a massive, 11th-century monument and realize that the only sound in the entire space is the rhythm of your own footsteps against the stone floor is a completely grounding experience. In a world full of crowded travel destinations, finding a moment of pure, uninterrupted solitude like this is rare.
📍 Église Saint-Jean-de-Montierneuf, Poitiers by @jeffreyweller

🗺️ Sometimes the best discoveries happen when your original travel plans completely fall through.When I arrived at Poitiers’ famous Église Notre-Dame-la-Grande, I found the doors completely locked for a massive interior restoration. Instead of cutting the detour short, I decided to walk back to the car a different way and stumbled onto this quiet alleyway... (Keep swiping to step inside)

That path led me directly to the Église Saint-Jean-de-Montierneuf. Consecrated by Pope Urban II in 1096, the interior is a stunning, soaring space where massive, heavy Romanesque pillars seamlessly meet bright Gothic elements. The best part? There was absolutely no one else here. ⛪✨

But the ultimate reward was waiting near the altar. I noticed this historic 11th-century stone cenotaph and realized that this church was actually founded by William VIII, Duke of Aquitaine. If you’ve been following my recent posts, that name connects directly to a massive historical thread.

William VIII was the grandfather of Eleanor of Aquitaine. I had set out on this detour purely because of a casual connection to Eleanor’s history at Chinon—and by blindly pivoting down a quiet side street, I inadvertently walked right into the resting place of the man who built her family’s empire. As it turns out, this won’t be the last time her incredible legacy completely crosses paths with my itinerary on this trip... ⚔️📜

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It’s a perfect reminder that the best travel itineraries are fluid. When one door closes, keep walking—history has a fascinating way of wrapping itself completely around your journey if you let it. Next up: The absolute stillness of this space in video form, and then onwards to Bordeaux! 🚗🍷#poitiers #roadtripfrance #francetravel #historicplaces medievalhistory by @jeffreyweller

🚗 My favorite way to travel is following the invisible historical threads that link completely different places together.When I was driving down from Orléans to Bordeaux, I took a detour into the hilltop city of Poitiers. The spark that brought me here started on a previous trip to the Loire Valley... (Swipe to follow the thread)

Last year, while touring the breathtaking Château de Chenonceau, I learned it was originally gifted to the king’s mistress, Diane de Poitiers. Recognizing that historic name made me curious about the city itself. But the moment I dug into its local roots, a second, even more fascinating connection appeared. 📜

It turns out Poitiers was the seat of the powerful Dukes of Aquitaine—and the childhood home of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Hearing her name instantly connected to another memory: touring the massive fortress of Chinon, where she lived out parts of her extraordinary, turbulent life. 🛡️

Having that cinematic imagery in mind (and being a massive fan of Katharine Hepburn’s (career best in my opinion) performance as Eleanor in The Lion in Winter), I knew I had to pull off the highway and explore the very streets where her story began. 🎬✨ (keep swiping 😜)

My first stop was the Église Notre-Dame-la-Grande. While the church itself was closed for interior renovations during my visit, the exterior is a staggering, open-air gallery of 12th-century Romanesque sculpture. 🏛️

The sheer density of the stone carvings across the facade is unbelievable. Every arch, pillar, and capital is loaded with intricate, ancient artwork that has survived centuries of weather completely out of the mainstream tourist glare.

Stepping away from the church facade and walking into the surrounding square, the medieval history of the city continues to show itself in the architecture of the daily local businesses. 🇫🇷

Moving past the main square, the city drops down into steep, winding cobblestone alleys. There are zero crowds or massive tour groups here—just pure, quiet, historic atmosphere fading into the valley below.

Tucked along these inclines are remarkable timber-framed houses dating back to the late 15th century, featuring the classic overhanging upper by @jeffreyweller

✨ The view that made me completely fall in love with Orléans.
Turning the corner onto Rue Jeanne d’Arc and seeing the towers of the Cathédrale Sainte-Croix frame the sky is an architectural experience I won’t forget. It stops you completely in your tracks.

The sheer scale of French Gothic architecture up close is unbelievable. The intricate stone carvings and soaring lines make you realize just how much craftsmanship went into preserving this city’s history. 🏛️

Walking through Place du Martroi, you realize what makes Orléans so special: world-class historic landmarks, but a totally local, authentic vibe. No tourist traps, no massive tour groups—just daily French life against a medieval backdrop. 🇫🇷
A perfect final stop before hitting the road for Bordeaux. 🚗
👇 Are you more drawn to the massive grandeur of cathedrals, or the quiet charm of the historic side streets when you explore a new city?
#orleansfrance #loirevalley #frencharchitecture #travelblog #gothicarchitecture by @jeffreyweller

🗺️ History is hiding right in plain sight if you know where to look.
When you visit Orléans, the city’s connection to Joan of Arc is unmistakable. There are towering bronze statues in the public squares, monuments framing the city center, and even the rebuilt Maison Jeanne d’Arc celebrating her legacy.
But while those structural tributes are beautiful, I wanted to go a step deeper and look for the actual, raw physical remnants left behind by the 1429 Siege—the legendary turning point of the Hundred Years’ War.
That search led me straight down to the banks of the Loire River.
Because the water levels happened to be low during my visit, I managed to capture these incredible, submerged stone formations resting in the riverbed. These aren’t just random rocks; they are the actual surviving underwater foundations of Les Tourelles, the heavily fortified medieval bridge gatehouse.
This very spot was the focal point of medieval European history. It’s where Joan of Arc took an arrow to the shoulder, rallied her troops, and famously stormed this exact gatehouse to break the English hold.
Standing on the peaceful riverbank, looking at the literal physical baseline of that historic battle with absolutely zero crowds around me, was completely surreal. It’s a powerful reminder that while monuments preserve the story, sometimes the most profound connection to history is sitting quietly under the water.
👇 When you travel, are you more drawn to the grand monuments built in a city’s center, or do you prefer hunting down the raw, physical remnants left behind in nature? Let me know below!
#orleansfrance #loirevalley #francetravel #travelblogger #joanofarc

In the foreground are the actual underwater ruins of Les Tourelles—the heavily fortified gatehouse famously stormed by Joan of Arc in 1429.

The grand monuments in town honor her memory, but the riverbank holds the physical remnants of the battle itself. by @jeffreyweller

🏨 My go-to trick for cutting down the guesswork when booking hotels in France.
When planning my month-long solo road trip, narrowing down places to stay was a challenge. I’m definitely not a luxury traveler and am happy to rough it, but when starting my search in a new city, my first move is usually to filter directly to four-star hotels.
It’s not a luxury preference—it’s a practical shortcut based on how hotel ratings work over here. In France, star ratings are strictly regulated by the official tourism board (Atout France). To legally earn a 4-star rating, a hotel must meet a rigid checklist of modern infrastructure requirements.
For a solo traveler managing a massive driving itinerary alone, filtering for 4 stars helps me instantly lock in a few specific conveniences that can otherwise be hit-or-miss:
💨 Consistent Climate Control: Air conditioning is my top priority. While 3-star hotels can have AC, it’s not legally required. In a 4-star property, robust climate control is a guaranteed baseline (and keeping my Orléans room at a crisp 19°C was a game changer!).
🛗 Mandatory Elevators: Hauling heavy luggage and photography gear up narrow, winding historic staircases alone gets old fast. 4-star properties require elevator access.
🛎️ Bilingual Staff: The front desk is required to have English-speaking staff, eliminating friction if any logistical or driving issues pop up.
The Reality Check:
Of course, this isn’t a hard rule! Travel is all about flexibility. Sometimes, 4-star options are modern chains built way outside the historic walls because retrofitting medieval buildings with elevators and heavy AC units is incredibly difficult.
If it’s a choice between a 3-star hotel right in the heart of the old town or a 4-star hotel miles away, I will choose the 3-star every single time (and just double-check the listing to see if it has AC!). It keeps my focus exactly where it belongs: enjoying the journey.
👇 How do you filter your searches when traveling? Location first, or specific amenities?
#francetravel #solotraveler #hotelreview #orleansfrance #travelblogger by @jeffreyweller

I just returned last week from a month-long road trip across France, and I’m so excited to finally share everything I learned along the way. 🇫🇷✨
Orléans was my very first stop. I actually fell in love with it for a few hours on a previous trip and knew I had to come back to see it properly this time. It sits right on the edge of the river, making it the perfect gateway to everything the Loire Valley has to offer—from the iconic châteaux to canoeing.
But what really makes Orléans special to me is how authentic it feels. Unlike major tourist hubs, you can actually breathe here.
Walking down Rue Jeanne d’Arc and seeing the imposing towers of the Cathédrale Sainte-Croix perfectly framed by the buildings on both sides is a view I’ll never get tired of. The history of Joan of Arc is everywhere, and the energy is just so peaceful.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing my exact route, hidden spots, and the travel tips I picked up on the road. (Including a post coming up on a tiny local boulangerie here that served the absolute best pain au chocolat of my entire trip—maybe ever). 🥐
📌 Save this post for your own future France itinerary, and let me know in the comments: Do you prefer exploring massive historic cities, or do you look for quieter regional gems like this? 👇
#OrleansTourisme #LoireValley #ExploreFrance #HiddenGem #TravelReels by @jeffreyweller

#history in the making. Not your average #paris #vacation #liberteegalitefraternite #vivelafrance by @jeffreyweller

One of the most impressive aspects of the @southwesternlawschool #restoration of the Bullocks Wilshire building is the way it managed to maintain the integrity of the original design while creating functional spaces for use by students and faculty. Swipe to the last side to see how you can visit this beautiful #artdeco tome capsule. #losangeles #architecture by @jeffreyweller

So many incredible period details in the #bullockswilshire building in #koreatown, #losangeles. @southwesternlawschool #artdeco #1920s by @jeffreyweller