Southwest of Paris, Rambouillet will always be synonymous with its resplendent château. Up to 2009 the estate was a home for Kings, Emperors and French presidents. The château nestles in dazzling grounds with canals and manicured formal gardens. There are also a couple of hidden follies to track down, including a dairy made purposely for …
In northern Gironde, where the Isle River merges with the Dordogne, Libourne is a venerable bastide town with mythical wine labels in its backyard. In medieval times the wine from Pomerol, Fronsac and Saint-Émilion was brought to Libourne’s river harbour to be exported to England, the Netherlands and the Hanseatic trading cities. Now, Libourne is …
To the west of Paris, Nanterre is a residential suburb that overlaps with some of the ultra-modern business district La Défense. Paris-Nanterre University is a local claim to fame as it’s rated among the best in the country. In Nanterre you’re a short drive or train ride from all sorts of cool places, whether it’s …
While its neighboring states take up lots of the prime lakeside real estate in the area, Illinois holds on to a little room for its own resorts. From riverside cabins and hunting lodges in the woods, to beachside rooms and spa getaways on Lake Michigan, there are plenty of places to get your fill of …
Welcome to the Emerald Isle! A land of rolling greenery, craggy mountains, mysterious Celtic ruins, crumbling castles, leprechaun-dotted forests, shanty pubs set to the ditties of Gaelic folk, rowdy beer bars and salt-sprayed coastlines, Ireland really is a wonder to behold. Here, we take a look at 15 of the top spots that every traveler …
Part of the Greater Toronto Area, Markham is a melting pot of cultures, a high-tech hub and a place where old meets new. It is a city of rolling hills, suburban neighbourhoods, towering skyscrapers and 19th century homes. Markham is a vibrant city with several cultural sights, recreational facilities, parks and heritage sights. However, for …
You’ll already know the name of this southern Parisian by the airport. And while that isn’t a poetic way to sum up Orly, it’s not really known as a holiday destination. But if you find yourself here you’ll be close to the centre of Paris and many underrated places in the Val-de-Marne Department. We’ll start …
This town in the Pays de Loire was caught up in the French Revolution worse than any other in the country. There was a cataclysmic battle here in 1793, when much of Cholet burned down. The battlefield has been marked with a orientation table, and the municipal museum will recount the battle and introduce the …
On the Scarpe River, Douai is a city that has reinvented itself many times. Up to the 1700s it grew rich trading wool, which was packed onto barges along the Scarpe. Then later, under French rule things got more sophisticated as the Parliament of Flanders and the judiciary moved to the city, furnishing Douai with …
Aubagne is a refreshingly un-touristy town a few kilometres from Marseille. But even if it doesn’t show up in many guides there are lots of little things to love about this place. First up is the author and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol who was born in Aubagne. The town and the raw landscapes of the Massif …