Situated just an hour south of the Channel port of Calais , St Valery-sur-Somme (80 Somme, Hauts de France) offers not only a first or last stopover to/from more distant…
La Fête de la Gastronomie 23 September 2023 (Festival of Gastronomy) is a nation-wide event across France celebrating French cuisine, now recognised by UNESCO as a part of the" Intangible…
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…
South of Besancon lies the pretty town of Ornans (25 Doubs, BFC) which will be holding a traditional Christmas Market on 29 November 2024 with 60+ stalls offering a wide…
The Christmas Market (Marché de Noel) in Perpignan (66 Pyrenees-Orientales, Occitanie) takes place on Quai Vauban from 25 November 2024 - 5 January 2025 and celebrates in true Catalan style…
The main attractions of much of northern France are the impressive main squares of the principal towns – e.g. Arras, Lille and St Omer. The belfries and town hall spires…
Annual Festival of the Tomato at Chateau de Labourdaisiere near Montlouis-sur-Loire
The northern French city of Lille is one of my favourites for a weekend break - medieval old town (Vieux Lille) together with all the vibrancy, restaurants, shopping and other…
The French take hunting,fishing and shooting seriously - and have the space and isolated countryside to indulge - visit the Game Fair at Chambord to experience their enthusiasm!
Chaumont-sur-Loire (41 Loir et Cher, Centre-Val de Loire) between Tours and Blois on the Loire river, holds its International Garden Festival (le Festival International des Jardins) from 19 April -…
There has long been a connection between monastic orders and alcohol - just think of Chatreuse (made by Carthusian Monks, popular since the 1740s. It is composed of distilled alcohol…
BOVES d'ARRAS Each spring in Arras, (62, Pas-de-Calais), the underground city beneath the town (known as the Boves, originally chalk caves and used for shelter in the First World War)…
The birthplace of Impressionism, Normandy has already hosted four editions of the “Normandie Impressionniste” festival. Rouen (76 Seine-Maritime, Normandie) and the Seine Valley, have been important with their shared past…
To mark the end of Lent, the town of Vitré (35 Ile et Villaine, Bretagne)on various dates between 29 March and 26 April 2025 holds a funfair and 2 parades…
Arles has strong connections to Vincent Van Gogh who spent 15 months of his most productive period in the town; There is a new museum dedicated to Van Gogh opened…
Paris is a city full of culture and is home to some of the most recognisable tourist attractions in Europe – including the Eiffel Tower, the cathedral at Notre Dame…
The town of Albi (81 Tarn et Garonne, Occitanie) holds its annual Carnival celebration from 23 February - 2 March 2025. Albi is perhaps best known for its pink brick…
Charles de Gaulle was a controversial figure who made a significant impact on French and European history in the 20th Century until his death in 1970. Outspoken, obstinate, proud and…
Something of a detour from almost every other destination or route, high in the departement of Haute-Loire (ARA) is a rather stark and evocative clearing in the woods which houses…
One of the most important and well-known gardens in France - Villandry Gardens at Chateau de Villandry (37 Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire) has gone organic. No more synthetic seeds, chemical…