Articles Index
Visiting Champagne Cellars and Vineyards in Champagne France
Visiting a champagne house or a vineyard is one of the great pleasures of the region. You learn about the complex process that goes into producing champagne knowledgeable, English-speaking guides, and of course, taste the amber nectar at the end. Here is a guide to visiting Pommery and other champagne houses in Reims.
From Marseille to Montpellier - Top Mediterranean Cities
Perpignan, near the border of Spain in southern France, is also part of Catalonia, the region that takes in both France and Spain. And Perpignan still keeps its own identity, making it different from the other Mediterranean cities.
Tour de France 2013 Route Map, Stages, Teams, Riders and Fast Facts
The 2013 Tour de France runs from Saturday June 29th to Sunday July 21st. It starts in Corsica and has 21 stages until finishing in Paris. It's the most famous cycling race in the world. Here is the route map, details on each of the stages, the teams, riders and some interesting trivia.
Best Mediterranean Beaches from St Tropez to Menton
You'll find the best beaches on the eastern part of the Mediterranean between Saint-Tropez and Menton in this guide. Running along the Cote d'Azur, they range from small pebbled coves to sandy stretches.
Top Ten Chateaux in the Loire Valley
The Loire Valley is a wonderful place to visit, with its châteaux being the top attraction. From the Middle Ages on the French nobles and kings built their glorious palaces along the river banks. Here is my pick of the ten you should see along the banks of the Loire River.
Normandy - Visiting Bayeux, one of Normandy's Top Destinations
The Bayeux Tapestry has long been one of the world's great treasures. In a wonderful series of stories, like a medieval comic, it tells the story of the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066.
Top 10 Things to Do on the French Riviera
The French Riviera on the Mediterranean Cote d'Azur coast is one of the most popular visitor destinations in France. And it's easy to see why. From the hilltop villages of Roquebrune and St-Paul-de-Vence to the casino at Monte Carlo, Nice, Antibes and the islands of Iles d'Hyeres, there's something for everybody. Here is my list of favorite attractions on the French Riviera. These are all things to do on the Cote d'Azur.
Guide to Saint Tropez in the South of France
Saint-Tropez is a gorgeous resort on the Mediterranean coast. Discover what to do, what to see, its fabulous beaches and where to stay in this jewel in the south of France that has attracted the rich, the famous, the curious and the ordinary vacationer since the 19th century. Today it is as popular as ever.
Top Ten Attractions in Provence from the Verdon Gorge to Nimes
Discover the top ten sites in Provence from the mouth of the Rhone river to the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes that border Italy. See the Roman marvels of the area, the Pope's Palace in Avignon, and the glorious national parks, river gorges and abbeys set in peaceful fields of lavender.
Gardens in the Eastern Loire Valley
The Eastern stretch of the Loire Valley stretches from Nevers up to Orleans. Here you'll find both the Cher and the Loiret departments with some wonderful gardens. Some come with a chateau, others are private. Ainay-le-Vieil is a stunning privately owned chateau with a series of gardens taking you through every mood and style.
Gardens in the Western Loire Valley
The western end of the Loire Valley region is centered around Blois and Tours and takes in the Loir-et-Cher and Indre-et-Loire departments. Here you'll find gracious chateaux and some wonderful gardens. Chaumont is famous both for its beautiful white chateau overlooking the river, and for its gardens and annual international garden festival which takes place from April to October.
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.
TGV Train Route Map and Destinations in France
Check the TGV route map for destinations and times to major cities in France. The TGV high-speed train serves most major cities of France. It also connects with express and local trains taking you on to all cities and towns in France, and has connections on to Belgium, Switzerland, Italy and Spain.
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.
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.
Winter Sports with a Difference in France
Winter Sports with a Difference in France - Different Winter Sports in France
Top Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches and World War II Sites
Memorials and sites of World War II are dotted throughout Normandy, though the D-Day Landing Beaches are the most famous. Running along the glorious sandy beaches of Normandy, Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword each have their own story in the events of the last part of World War II. If you can, start at the Memorial de Caen to get an overview of the 20th century and its major world wars.
Information on Major Train Stations in Paris
There are six major train stations in Paris spread across the city. Each links to different destinations. Discover which train station you are traveling from, how to get there and which service the TGV high-speed train links to other French cities. Paris Gare de l'Est serves cities and countries to the east of Paris.
Blois Chateau in the Loire Valley
The Chateau at Blois is one of the Loire Valley's most magnificent castles. It stands high in the delightful town of Blois, which makes a perfect start for a tour of the other French castles and palaces in the Loire Valley.
Top Summer Jazz Festivals in France
France has a long tradition of jazz festivals. It all began in World War I with soldiers who were black musicians bringing their new music to Europe. Then musicians like Sidney Bechet and Archie Shepp settled in France; the 1934 the Quinetette du Hot Club de France was formed in 1934 and gypsy music became incorporated into the new sounds. In 19498 Louis Armstrong played at the first jazz festival in Nice, and the rest, as they say, is history.
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
The Village of Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises in Champagne was where Charles de Gaulle lived from 1934 to 1970. It's also the place of the Charles de Gaulle Memorial, a Cross of Lorraine, and the church where he is buried.
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.
Follow this guide to the western part of the Mediterranean to discover the top beaches on this gorgeous stretch of coastline. Running along the part of the Mediterranean known as the Golfe du Lion, they take in long sandy stretches, great windsurfing beaches and charming headlands.