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, …
Nice’s unofficial anthem is Nissa La Bella, and you can’t help but agree with this sentiment when you visit the French Riviera’s largest city. Nice’s beauty comes from the 19th-century mansions on its promenades and boulevards, from the city’s Italianate old quarter and the rugged natural terrain that provides countless wondrous vantage points. Artists have …
It’s a difficult task, but we’ve tried to curate the best beaches in France. Included below are coves so hidden that many people don’t know they’re there, as well as beaches so vast you can’t see the sea when the tide goes out. Many shine for their architecture, and have grand promenades where Victorian aristocrats …
Just the name of this glorious city is eponymous with viticulture, and if you’re an aficionado you’re almost duty-bound to come to the home of wine. You don’t need to be told that there’s a world of prestigious châteaux and smaller wineries to locate and visit. But you might not be aware of the brand …
The capital of the northern Hauts-de-France region, Lille has a reputation as a hard-working industrial city, and has a fabulous historical centre. Until it was invaded by Louis XIV in 1667 Lille was actually Flemish, and this heritage is clear in the city’s architecture. Old Lille has an abundance of baroque buildings, with delicately gabled …
Even if you’ve never been to Paris you may feel like you already know the City of Light. And in most cities in the world you’d be scraping the barrel trying to find 75 genuinely worthwhile things to do. But that will never be the case in Paris. Such is the amount of world-beating museums …
The capital of the Alsace region has one of Europe’s largest medieval quarters. In Grand Île and Petite France cobbled streets weave between creaking timber-framed houses that have survived for hundreds of years. Strasbourg has been the subject of a centuries-long tug of war between France and Germany, and is all the more exciting and …
Here’s a list of the most sublime castles in France. Most of these are famous and will appear in every guide, but some are a bit more recherché and out of the way. All of our picks are rich in history, but everyone has their own idea of beauty: Some of the most handsome buildings …