A mere 800km of cycling along the Loire Valley
Although Dunkerque (59 Nord, Hauts de France) is not the most attractive of Channel ports, the DFDS ferry from Dover to Dunkerque has meant that many travellers now by-pass Calais…
At Lagrave (81 Tarn, Midi-Pyrenees) on the Gaillac wine estate of Chateau Touny-les-Roses you can stay either B&B (Chambres d'Hote) in an 18th Century chateau or self-catering cottage (Gite) on…
The town of Duras (47 Lot et Garonne, Nouvelle Aquitaine) boasts an impressive Chateau on a promontory overlooking the countryside. It is a walled town with a medieval centre in…
St Jean-Pied-diu-Port (64 Pyrenees-Atlantiques, Nouvelle Aquitaine) is a major gateway to the Pyrenees and is the confluence of serveral pilgrim routes on the way to St Jacques de Compostela (Santiago…
On the east of the Bordeaux Wine region, the Chateau de Claribès offers holiday accommodation on a vineyard. With views over the valley and vines, the newly renovated self catering holiday…
MIMOSA PARADE The town of Bormes-les-Mimosas (06 Cote d'Azur. Provence) hosts an annual provence Mimosa Parade (Corso Fleuri) each February (15 - 16 February 2025) This brightens the soul after…
Bordeaux Christmas Market 26 November - 28 December 2014
In the deepest south west of France lies the wine region of Madiran - renown for producing big red wines from the Tannat grape - and white wines under the…
Whilst not exactly "on a vineyard" you can stay in the heart of the pretty wine vilage of Chablis(89 Yonne, Bourgogne) in a 2- or 4-person apartment above Jean-Marc Brocard's…
Lyon (69 Rhône, ARA) hosts a special annual celebration with its Festival of Lights (Fête des Lumières) which runs 5 - 8 December 2024. This is no mere "decoration" with festive…
Strasbourg (67 Bas-Rhin, Alsace) is a major European city – on France’s eastern border with Germany and the Rhine, home of the European Court of Human Rights and one of…
Rain Heron of Sweet French Cottages near Entraygues-sur-Truyere (12 Aveyron, Midi-Pyrenees) shares her thoughts about France at Easter: Easter is known as Pâques in France. Although it is a religious…
If you've ever considered being part of the French wine harvest then have a look at RTE's video on Chateau Haut Garrigue in Saussignac west of Bergerac - see www.rte.ie…
As northern Europe settles into an unwelcome late autumn/early winter, memories of a balmy French summer fade. Which is why a missive from the Aveyron is so welcome - evoking…
Vichy (03 Allier, ARA) celebrates its Napoleon III Festival (Vichy Fête Napoleon III )- 14 - 16 June 2024 Le Lac d'Allier, Vichy Vichy has been tied to the Bonaparte…
Our occasional series of articles using local knowledge to help you get the best out of a visit to different parts of France - the Segala le segala logo The…
Saumur (49 Maine et Loire, Pays de Loire) Where to stay English/French family-owned Gite and B&B (Chambres d'Hote) - Le Bellevue on a vineyard run by Sarah-Jane Beaumont and her…
Although a rather small Languedoc village, Aniane has a world-wide reputation as the home of Mas de Daumas-Gassac where owner Aimé Guibert (who sadly died in 2016 aged 91) challenged…
The organic vineyard of Chateau Haut Garrigue in the village of Saussignac (24 Dordogne, Aquitaine) near Bergerac has it all - a wonderful situation overlooking the Dordogne valley; a self-contained…