Articles Index
La Coupole - Launch Pad for Hitler's V2 Rockets
La Coupole, built in 1943-44 is huge, a vast concrete underground dome designed to be used as launch base for the flying bombs (the V1) and the V2 rockets used to attack London. It was abandoned in 1944 after the D-Day landings. Now it’s one of France’s most impressive museums dedicated to World War II.
Normandy - Visiting Bayeux, one of Normandy's Top Destinations
Plan a Normandy visit to Bayeux. One of Normandy's top towns is home to the world-famous Bayeux tapestry and many important World War II sites.
The Lace Museum in Calais
The International Centre of Lace and Fashion of Calais is a super place, attracting visitors for the fashion element it has on show, the fascinating history of the lace making industry in Calais which goes back centuries, and the working machines. It’s in a converted 19th-century lace factory and makes a great 3-hour visit.
Charles de Gaulle at Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises
Places and Museums associated with Charles de Gaulle, President of France at Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, Champagne-Ardenne Region
The Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery in Nantes
Located on the banks of the Loire river, the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery in Nantes is an impressive, broodingly thoughtful place. Nantes owed much of its wealth to the slave trade and was the most active port between the mid-17th and mid-19th centuries and so the Memorial in this city e is particularly relevant.
A Three-Day Tour of the Western Front in North France
As the world approaches the hundred years remembrance of the start of World War I, interest in the war to end all wars is increasing. The French have produced a very good map and booklet on the First World War remembrance trails in northern France. Pick it up from any tourist office in north France and follow this guide to planning a trip along the Western Front.
Top Mediterranean Beaches from the Pyrenees to Hyeres.
The western part of the Mediterranean runs from the Pyrenees near the Spanish border to the charming Islands off Hyeres just ear Saint Tropez. Follow our guide to find the best beaches on this gorgeous stretch which offers long sandy beaches and charming headlands.
Carnivals in France
Limoux Carnival in Languedoc-Roussillon is the world’s longest running carnival, although it takes place at weekends twice a day and once in the evening until the last week when it becomes a daily feast. Limoux Carnival runs from mid January to just before Easter.
Top Attractions in Angers
There’s a surprising amount of places to visit in Angers, but dominating the whole of the town is the impressive Chateau. Not much is left apart from the walls and towers, but inside you’ll come across one of the great treasures of France –- the Apolaypse Tapestry.
Be photographed like a Hollywood Star at Studio Harcourt in Paris
If you want to be photographed looking like a Hollywood star, book a portrait session at Studio Harcourt in Paris and follow in the glamorous footsteps of Marlene Dietrich, Brigitte Bardot, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Michael Schumacher and John Malkovich.
Guide to Attractions in Reims, Capital of Champagne
There are plenty of attractions in Reims, capital of the Champagne Region from the gothic cathedral, one of France's finest, to the Automobile Museum, from Champagne tastings to the room where General Eisenhower accepted Germany's unconditional surrender in May 1945
Short Trips from Paris
If you want a short trip outside Paris, try any of these suggestions. You can go for a day trip, or stay overnight for easy sightseeing outside the capital. Perhaps combine some of them into an overnight or longer stay.
Guide to the Palace of Compiegne
The Palace of Compiegne is well worth a visit. This gracious, mellow stone, neo-classical building north of Paris and just far enough away from prying eyes, was where French Kings surrounded themselves in luxury, followed in almost indecent haste after the French Revolution of 1789, by Napoleon Bonaparte and his successors. It has three museums, the Historic Apartments, the Museum of the Second Empire, and the National Museum of Locomotion and Tourism.
Renoir and his life in Essoyes, Champagne
Pierre-Auguste Renoir is mainly associated with the south of France where he spent his last years. But the French Impressionist painter lived for a long time in Essoyes in Champagne. You can visit the new Espace Renoir, his studio and the cemetery where he is buried and walk the paths that the painter took for inspiration. It gives Renoir fans a real sense of the man and his private life.
World War I Memorials in France
A Guided Tour of recently discovered and constructed memorials and sites of World War I around northern France and the nord-pas de calais region
Top Attractions in Troyes, Champagne
Troyes is a delightful town with many attractions to visit, from the cathedral of St-Pierre-et-St Paul with its spectacular stained glass to the delightful apothecary. And not to be missed is the impressive Musee d'art modern (modern art museum) with its carefully selected personal collection of 19th and 20th century art.
Top Mediterranean Cities in the South of France
Stretching around the French Mediterranean coast, here are the top cities from Perpignan in the far west near the Spanish border, to Nice near the Italian border. Each city has its own very special character. All have old parts to explore, attractions ranging from museums to cathedrals, from festivals to markets, cafes for people watching, restaurants from bistros to top end dining –- and of course, many glorious days of sunshine, in summer and in winter.
Best Mediterranean Beaches from St Tropez to Menton
If you want to find the best beaches in the Mediterranean from Saint-Tropez to Menton follow our guide. The eastern part of the Mediterranean is a glorious stretch of beaches, villa-filled headlands and charming villages.
Guide to Saint-Tropez in the South of France
Discover what to do, what to see and where to stay in this guide to Saint-Tropez, the Mediterranean resort in the south of France. The former fishing village has attracted the rich, the famous, the curious and the ordinary vacationer since it was discovered in the 19th century, and today is as popular as ever.
Tour de France 2011
The Tour de France is the world's most famous and gruelling bicycle race. Followed by millions, it races through France every year in July. In 2011 it takes place from July 2nd to July 24th. Follow the blog coverage, map, stage list, Tour de France merchandise, details of the teams, and find out more about planning a visit to the tour stops along the route.
Six Best Sights & Attractions in Rouen, Normandy
Rouen is a lovely city with great sights and attractions to explore. This guide to the 6 best attractions and sights takes in Rouen Cathedral, Joan of Arc, and narrow little cobbled streets with half-timbered houses which have been restored to their former Renaissance glory. Rouen also has a superb Museum of Fine Arts, good shopping and excellent hotels and restaurants.
Winter Sports with a Difference in France
Winter Sports with a Difference in France - Different Winter Sports in France
A Tour of France's Best Cathedrals
France boasts some of the world's most ancient, stunning and captivating cathedrals. Each one is a work of art and has its own personality, marked by exquisite carvings and spires reaching to the sky. Follow this suggested itinerary for your own tour of France's best cathedrals. Along the way, you'll also see a blend of France's big cities and quaint villages. You'll get a chance to sample a variety of French regional cuisines. You'll get close to both Spain and Germany.
Gallery of Vintage Cannes Film Festival Posters
The Cannes Film Festival hasn't just produced six decades of fabulous films, but each year it has also created a unique and artistic representation of the world's most glamorous film festival. The Cannes Film Festival poster has become an iconic symbol of the history of this French Riviera city and its homage to cinema. Here is a gallery of vintage French Cannes Film Festival posters.
Winter Sports and Snow Scenes in France Picture Gallery
People don't automatically think of France as a spot for winter sports and picturesque snow scenes, but this is a Mecca for lovers of snow. France has both the Pyrenees and the Alps, both ranges of which become winter wonderlands each year. Here is a picture gallery of winter sports and snow scenes in France.