Lille Christmas Market has to be worth a trip - at any time of year Lille is worth a visit, with its Vauban Citadel, Grand Place and Vielle Ville (medieval…

On the border between Provence and Languedoc and known as the birth place of denim ("de Nimes"), Nimes is a popular tourist destination due to its rich history dating back…

As you head down towards the Mediterranean, Aix is the perfect place to stop off. Visitors will be delighted by the colourful and vibrant street markets and the typical Provencale…

I can understand the attraction of fishing, but have never dabbled, always arguing that I do not have enough time to indulge in an activity which is so quintissentially time-consuming.…

Amanda Lawrence's new bookWhite Stone, Black Wine: focuses on part of deepest South West France, and although subtitled " Life Among the Ancient Vineyards of the Quercy Blanc" it is…

Mulhouse Carnaval (68 Haut-Rhin, Grand Est) 5 -9 March 2025 - the city holds a Carnaval with an international atmosphere, being so close to the border with Switzerland (Basel) and…

If you are a fan of the pungent Truffle then Lalbenque (46 Lot, Occitanie) south of Cahors in the heart of the Quercy Blanc is the place to head for…

Festival des Filets Bleus (Blue Fish Festival) at Concarneau 13 - 17 August 2025. Created in 1905, the Concarneau Blue Nets Festival, has become a much-anticipated festive event of the…

Another major French spectacle takes place on 6 October 2024 with the annual professional cycle race from Paris-Tours in the Loire Valley. The race starts in the outskirts of the capital…

Festival of the Wine Press In Chenôve (21 Cote d'Or, Bourgogne BFC) they celebrate the wine press from 19 September 2023 - Fete de la Pressée Some of the first…

There seems to be increasing evidence that the Loire Valley is producing ever better Sauvignon Blanc wines - especially from the Touraine (south of Tours) and east towards Sancerre (which…

The Salt Festival at Salies-de-Béarn (64 Pyrenees-Atlantiques, Nouvelle Aquitaine) is held from 12 September 2024 - see www.tourisme-bearn-gaves.com The name Salies comes from the "Sel" in the naturally ocurring saline…

The Independent (6 September 2008) reports on a legal battle which has been joined over a Whisky which is finished in France, but nevertheless is marketed under the title "Scotch…