A major port for centuries, and France’s historic gateway to England, Calais hasn’t always been in the news for the right reasons. Many people rush by on their way to Paris or more picturesque places in northern France. But if you have an open mind there’s a lot to keep you occupied. The ever-present belfry …
Covering the Atlantic side of south-western France, Aquitaine is vast, with a multitude of landscapes, places to visit and things to do. On the coast the sand goes on forever and is washed by rolling waves that attract surfers from far and wide. This is a world away from the Dordogne and its medieval castles …
On the French Riviera you’ll tread a path beaten by some of the 20th-century’s most illustrious movie stars and painters. There’s a glamour about the region that no destination in the world can equal. You’ll glimpse this on the promenades in Cannes and Nice, or at the Place du Casino in Monaco. Some of the …
Call it a cliché, but if you want to know the real France then it’s the small towns you need to visit. In the best ones you’ll get to know about local savoir-faire, culture, cuisine and industry. You can visit the wine-growing villages of Alsace, Burgundy or Gironde to see how the terroir, built environment …
France’s mountain ranges are a skier’s paradise, but it can be confusing working out which resorts are better depending on how experienced you are and whether skiing with children. You might also be keen on lots of activities away from the slopes, or are more interested in spending all your energy off-piste, in the snowparks …
It’ difficult to encapsulate the sheer variety in France’s Northern Regions, and how somewhere like Brittany can have such a different character to its neighbour Normandy. If you’re pondering where to go, this list may give you some holiday inspiration. There’s a mixture of famous cities with spectacular monuments, and old villages in which hardly …
Spreading over much of France’s Massif Central, Auvergne is a region of hills, mountain peaks, pastures and lakes. Many of Auvergne’s biggest landforms were once active volcanoes, and this volcanic rock has even been used as a building material for its medieval monuments. See the dark spires of Clermont-Ferrand Cathedral, or the basalt that decorates …
An agricultural region north of Paris, Picardy has magnificent cathedrals and châteaux that have set the scene for many films and TV shows. One of the country’s big attractions, Parc Astérix lets kids and adults live the adventures of this beloved illustrated character and his friends. Picardy is also where the Somme Offensive, one of …
France may be Europe’s top camping destination. It seems like every beach, natural landmark and regional park is accompanied by well-presented places to pitch up. And these cater for all types of campers: You might travel light and prefer a rough-and-ready camping style with no frills. Or you could be high-maintenance, and demand every luxury …
The South of France is the embodiment of style and sophistication, and might make you think of the jazz age, the jet set in the 50s, impressionist painters, ochre-hued Provençal villages or Roman ruins. It’s all of that and a whole lot more, so we’ve tried to curate a list that ticks all the boxes, …