Articles Index
Guide to Rouen in Normandy
Rouen is a lovely city and is the historic capital of Upper Normandy. It’s one of France’s lesser known cities, and well worth a visit. Walk through the old part of the city, visit the cathedral and make sure you see at least some of the museums. Everywhere you see symbols and reminders of Rouen's most famous historic charactr, Jeanne d'Arc.
Ferries to France - Getting to France by Ferry from the U.K.
Getting to France by Ferry from the U.K.
Discount and Bargain Shopping in France
There are some great places to shop for bargains in France. Try the major outlet and discount malls dotted all round France and factory shops from manufacturers like Limoges porcelain. The brocante fairs that fill the towns and villages of France in the summer make good hunting grounds for bargains in household items, vintage clothes, while the amateur vide-greniers ('emptying the attic') can turn up gems.
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue in Provence
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a delightful town in the Vaucluse in Provence and a well known haunt for antique hunters. It’s a pretty town, located on the banks of the river Sorgue. There are many hundreds of antique shops here and the Easter and August antiques weekends are well known throughout France.
Saint Valentine and His Day in France
The origins of St. Valentine's Day in France
Guide to Cassel in Nord Pas-de-Calais
Charming little Cassel is perched on the top of Mount Cassel, looking out over the flat surrounding landscape of Flanders. There is much to recommend it and unusually for such a small town, has good hotels and a delightful local estaminet to eat in.
Juan-les-Pins on the French Riviera
Juan-les-Pins - a guide to the French Riviera town of Juan-les-Pins on the Cote d'Azur in the South of France region.
Guide to Angers in the Loire Valley
Angers in the western Loire Valley is less well known than the posher part nearer Paris where kings, queens, princes and aristocrats built their fabulous chateaux. But this secret part of the Loire Valley is delightful with its own hidden treasures.
Cannes Film Festival 2013
The Cannes Film Festival is the world's best known and most exciting film festival. It’s the occasion when the international stars gather here to see and be seen. This year, the 66th Film Festival takes place in May 2013 and promises much from the opening film of The Great Gatsby to Zulu which closes the festival. Here is a guide to the films and the stars.
Aix-en-Provence, City of Paul Cezanne
Aix-en-Provence is one of the most attractive cities in southern France. It’s elegant with wide boulevards, 17th and 18th century houses and fountains everywhere. Paul Cezanne was born and lived here, along with his friend the writer Emile Zola. It’s a big university town as well, with students from all over the world, and particularly the U.S.A. contributing to its lively nightlife and vibrant culture.
Renault Eurodrive Buy Back Car Leasing
If you want to rent a car in France or Europe for at least three weeks (minimum 21 days), you’ll find the Renault Eurodrive lease buy-back program an excellent way to save money and hassle. Here is a short guide to the pros and cons of the car rental program, an explanation of how it works and why it can be cheaper than traditional car rentals in Europe, plus a list of locations.
Travel Guide for Provence in Southern France
Provence-Alpes-Cotes d’Azur – a visitor’s guide to the south of France
The Loire Valley by Bicycle
The 800 kilometer (500 mile) Loire Valley Bicycle Route (La Loire a Velo) goes from the little village of Cuffy in the eastern Cher to the coastal village of St-Brevin-les-Pins on the Atlantic. A large part of the route lies within the UNESCO World Heritage Site along the banks of the Loire. This huge project took more than ten years to build, and it makes a wonderful holiday and the perfect way to see this beautiful area of France.
Visitor Guide to Calais in Nord Pas de Calais
Calais is mainly known as the gateway to Europe, the place you pass through quickly on your way to somewhere else. But that's a shame, and with the addition of the new Lace and Fashion Museum, some great new shops and good hotels and restaurants, this former fishing port deserves better. Whether you're staying the night or plan a longer stay, there's plenty on offer in Calais.
Best Nudist Beaches and Naturist Resorts in France
France has the best smart and stylish naturist resorts. And France has the coastline and the weather. So it’s not surprising that some of the world’s most popular resorts as well as nudist beaches are in southern France. Discover France's best naked beaches and naturist resorts.
Bourges Guide to the Cathedral, Hotels and Restaurants
The city of Bourges at the southern end of the Loire Valley has a world-famous cathedral, an old quarter at its heart and good restaurants. The wine-growing areas around Sancerre, chateaux and gardens are very near and all worth a visit.
Train Travel Guide to France
Information on train travel in France to plan your journeys. Find out about traveling by train from the six big stations in Paris to destinations all over the country and other European destinations, types of trains and how to buy tickets.
Nice for Food Lovers
Nice for Food Lovers. If you're a foodie, Nice on the Mediterranean coast is for you. Here is a guide to market shopping, dining and a great cooking class.
Guide and Attractions in Orleans in the Loire Valley, France
Orleans, capital of the Loiret department, is the Loire’s most northern city. At the heart of the Loire Valley with its chateaux, gardens and historic attractions, Orleans is easy to reach by train and car from Paris. It makes the city perfect either for a short break from Paris or for the start of a longer Loire Valley tour. Check out this guide to all the attractions in and around Orleans.
TGV High-Speed Trains from Paris, France
All major French cities are connected by the TGV, the high-speed train that is the envy of Europe. Check out this guide to the destinations and tickets for traveling by TGV in France.
Guide to Attractions in Tours and Tourist Information
The City of Tours stands at the junction where the Loire and Cher rivers join. It’s the chief town of the Loire Valley and is less than an hour away from Paris by TGV. It’s particularly known for good food and wine, historic attractions, and is a bustling, lively city with an old center.
Romantic France for Lovers
France is one of the world's most romantic countries. From beautiful scenery to historic cities, from wooded valleys to winding cobbled streets, it's got it all. Small intimate hotels or grand chateaus to stay in; low-lit restaurants with views over the sea to brasseries from a film set. Aphrodosiac oysters and ripe fruit, all sampled with the world's great wines. France is for lovers around Valentine's Day as well as all through the year.
The Best Beaches from the French Riviera beaches to Naturist Resorts
A Guide to the Beaches of France. Where will you choose to go? The French Atlantic coast? Normandy? Brittany? Or perhaps the Mediterranean, the most popular beach destination in Europe? Check the suggestions here to choose where to swim, sail, surf or just chill out.
Nude Beach Guide to the French Atlantic Coast
With its good weather and relaxed atmosphere, France is famous for its nude resorts where you go totally naked. You'll find many of these naturist resorts on the Atlantic coast in the Gironde. They stretch between the mouth of the Gironde river, past the Bay d’Arcachon down towards Biarritz. It’s an area of huge pine forests and a huge stretch of beach where going naked is the norm.
Springtime, Easter and Good Weather are Powerful Attractions
April is a wonderful month to visit France. Waking after the winter, the countryside is beginning to come to life with blossoms on the trees, lush fields and flowers everywhere. This is a great time for activity holidays: hiking, walking, and horseback riding. In town, the cafes are spilling onto the pavements. Easter brings wonderful displays in patisseries and chocolatiers. And for the romantic, April is ideal for a Springtime Paris visit.