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 …
It won’t shock you to hear that Champagne-Ardenne is the home of the world’s favourite sparkling wine. Many people will spend entire holidays touring the prestigious Champagne houses and descending into the cool Crayères, chalk caves where vintners have stored champagne for hundreds of years. The city of Reims is steeped in Champagne history, and …
Life in Cannes is turned on its head during those two weeks in May, when scores of paparazzi, industry bigwigs and the world’s biggest stars are in town for the famous film festival. The remainder of the year it’s a sleek pleasure garden for the world’s wealthiest people, and a honeypot for people seduced by …
It isn’t easy to sum up hundreds of kilometres of coastline in one blog, but we’ve put together a selection of what we believe are the best beaches in the South of France, both on the Atlantic and Mediterranean. There should be something for everyone in the list, whether you want epic natural spectacles and …
Lyon is one large World Heritage Site, with a big renaissance old town, Roman ruins, historic industrial districts and the regal 19th-century Presqu’île quarter. The city was founded 2,000 years ago at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône Rivers, and built its fortune on the silk trade. This industry furnished it with beautiful renaissance …
Nantes will always be known as the capital of Brittany, even though it’s now in a different region. The Dukes of Brittany ruled their lands from here until the Duchy was united with France in the 16th century and their former seat of power is still one of Nantes most commanding buildings. The Loire is …
The astounding walls of Carcassonne’s citadel protected the city for centuries and were left to decay, before getting a full restoration by the 19th-century architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Never mind that his work might not be the most historically accurate, they’re an architectural wonder all the same and draw visitors to the city from far and …
One of France’s prettiest medieval towns is right on the shore of Europe’s cleanest lake. It just doesn’t get much better than this. Annecy is laced with canals and the historic streets have fun passageways darting off to the sides. The lake is glorious, bordered on all sides by mountains and with crystalline waters that …
Reims is champagne-central, and all your favourite houses are lined up for you to tour and taste. What’s more, and you might not know this, but every single French King, from 987 to Charles X in the 19th century, was crowned right here at the Reims Cathedral. The city also sparkles with minor discoveries that …