The south of France is a dream destination, with its pastel sunlight, romantic landscapes and rich heritage that has inspired artists throughout the centuries. Imagine yourself in a little-known gem of a village situated beneath the sacred Canigou mountains, where you can indulge your creative spirit. Here in a place known as “Paradise in the Pyrenees” you can write, paint, take photos or cook authentic french cuisine and Catalan dishes under the guidance of an international artistic team! Live, learn create! In the village of Vernet-les-Bains, sought out by Victorian royalty for its healing ..read more

For an area that takes up a relatively modest stretch of Brittany’s south coast, the Baie de Quiberon boasts some pretty powerful statistics. As the seagull flies, it’s barely 30 km from the mouth of the Etel river in the west to Pointe Kerpenhir in the east, but the shoreline of this captivating area stretches for an impressive 360 km around inlets and islands, river banks and ocean shores. Gillian Thornton explores this stunning shoreline of Brittany… On the waterfront Numbering just 24 communes, the Baie de Quiberon boasts 50 sandy beaches, 25 km of dunes, and 15 km of wild sea coast, whi ..read more

Paris is brimming with gorgeous gardens – grand public parks and historic plots. The gardens of Paris are part of the culture and history of the city, some were created by Kings and Queens, even an Empress. The Most Beautiful Gardens of Paris by Stéphane Marie, French garden expert and television presenter, reveals the histories and secrets of twenty-five gardens, open-air museums that showcase the botanical diversity of Paris and around the city. From the most famous gardens―Versailles, Luxembourg, or Tuileries – to the hidden leafy gems such as the Château de Saint-Jean-de-Beauregard vegetab ..read more

Now, I have to come clean and admit that a brioche ice cream sandwich is probably, ok it is, an Italian invention, but since brioche is a French favourite, I think it’s only right, and fair to include a recipe for a croque glacé as it’s called in French, on a website about France! It’s a really simple idea, you sandwich a splodge of ice cream between two pieces of brioche – either a bun or slices from a loaf. I use bakery-bought brioche, and shop-bought ice cream if I don’t have time to make my own and so this tasty little dessert takes just minutes to assemble. It’s such an easy thing to mak ..read more

France is a land of legendary landmarks known all over the world – from the Eiffel Tower in Paris to the blooming lavender fields of Provence. Around 90 million visitors arrive in France each year making it head and shoulders the most visited country in the world. They are seduced by the culture, the history, architecture, food and wine, they are beguiled by the many pleasures of France, and once is never enough. And it’s not just visitors that love to visit France, staycations are popular with the French, with some 80% taking holidays in their own country. In France you will never run out of ..read more

North of Lyon and south of Burgundy lies Beaujolais, an area whose name everyone knows but very few have visited. A secret place of hills and vineyards, of ancient gold stone-coloured villages where the local bistro serving the sort of grub that warms the cockles of your heart is at the centre of daily life, and where Romanesque style churches and majestic castles dot the landscape. Famous the world over for its Beaujolais Nouveau wine, it’s a part of France that the French know about, and the rest of us don’t – but should, says Janine Marsh. Beaujolais wines Beaujolais, in the Rhone-Alpes re ..read more

Embodying the Francophile dream, Carole Bumpus merrily depicts herself and her gang of travellers as enthusiastic and bumbling gourmands let loose in southern France, and she kindly packs us into her luggage so we can escape to the Côte d’Azur with her! Adventures on Land and Sea is the most recent instalment in Carole’s series Savoring the Olde Ways – a collection of culinary-travel memoirs roaming across the length and breadth of France (with a brief sojourn to Italy to slurp on pasta alla vongole for Book Three). Now we are firmly back in French territory, or should I say terroir, a theme p ..read more

What to see and do in Sarlat-la-Canéda in Dordogne, plus the the best things to see and do in the area around. The old town of Sarlat-la-Canéda, in the heart of the Périgord Noir in Southeast Dordogne, dates to Gallo-Roman times at least. But it underwent a period of growth during the Middle Ages, developing around the Cathedral Saint-Sacerdos, which is mentioned in records as early as the year 1081. Today, Sarlat is one of the most beautiful preserved medieval complexes in Europe with an exceptional heritage and wealth of architectural wonders. The best way to explore the town is on foot. Th ..read more

In this episode, we’re going to talk etiquette! The social rules that France has are quite fascinating. We’re going to look at the history of French etiquette, and some of the most common, unspoken rules that can enhance your experience if you’re visiting France – from dining at a chic Parisian café to greeting a local in Provence. Dive into the world of French etiquette, covering everything from table manners to tipping and some rather unusual rules in France! Whether you’re a tourist planning your first visit to France or just curious about French culture, knowing a few key etiquette rules ..read more

­ Bonjour, I hope that you and yours are well. Well the big thing this week is Bastille Day. The French don’t call it Bastille Day, they call it Fete Nationale (National Festival), or Quatorze Juillet (14th July). Bread Man, the man who delivers cakes, croissants and pastries to the little villages in my part of France, is nonplussed by our name for this most important holiday. “Why do you call it Bastille Day?” he said. “We French don’t say Bastille Day, and we find it very peculiar that you do!” “Peculiar” is his new favourite English word, it’s “very Donton Abbey” he says (everyone I know i ..read more