Early summer is the perfect time to head to Brittany. Discover bucolic landscapes and beautiful beaches in a land that’s brimming with culture and art. Chateaux galore, medieval towns, mile after mile of peaceful and picturesque countryside dotted with pretty little villages or oodles of long, golden sandy beaches. Local cuisine, boulangeries with fresh baked […]
Hone your photography skills on a seriously special tour amidst the scented lavender fields and in the most beautiful villages of Provence. You’ll experience the Provencal way of life, visit colourful street markets, celebrate Bastille Day, explore magical medieval villages and discover secret places. And you’ll capture this enchanting experience on camera with a superb […]
When it comes to living in France, there’s lots to tempt you. Wandering through a picture-perfect medieval village, sitting at a café with a coffee and croissant watching the world go by, an early morning stroll on a sandy beach, or watching the sun set over a craggy mountain. Sunshine, great food and wine, a […]
Take to the road in Gascony and discover some of its charms. From medieval villages, quirky museums and the most intoxicating gastronomy … The Gers – Gascony The Gers, or Gascony some call it, is one of the most rural regions in all of France. You’ll find it in southwest France, just west of Toulouse. […]
If you visit Paris, you can’t help but notice tall cylindrical dark green columns with advertisement posters plastered round their middle. Colonne Morris (Morris Columns) as they are known, are an iconic feature of the city’s landscape as much as the red post boxes of London and the fire hydrants of New York. And yet, […]
One of the main reasons we all love France so much is for it’s wonderful gastronomy. Those marvellous markets, the cake and bread shops, cheese and wine – they are as every bit as alluring as the enchanting castles, fabulous countryside and wonderful vineyards. French gastronomy is world famous. It’s UNESCO listed even. And in Dordogne […]
We’re known for telling you about the very best tours of France. But every now and again, something super special comes up. The Girls Guide to Paris Tour of the French Riviera, following in the footsteps of F Scott Fitzgerald, is nothing short of dazzling…. French Riviera Tour in the footsteps of F Scott Fitzgerald […]
If you’re looking for crowd-dodging, off the beaten-track, fabulous places to holiday in France – check out these inspired choices! French Connections, the UK holiday company that lists thousands of gites all over France, asked us to share three of our favourite secret holiday spots in France. Burgundy, Annecy Mountains and Brittany have it all: beaches, […]
There are some foods which epitomise the essence of gastronomic greatness – truffles are one of them. And good wine is another. The legendary “black diamonds” of Provence are revered as much top chefs as by local families. They’re added to artistic dishes by master chefs around the world and by keen cooks to enhance […]
Cherries jubilee is an old school classic French dessert though it was invented in England. It’s super easy to make and utterly delicious. The recipe is credited to the great French chef Auguste Escoffier, who created the dish in honour of the the Queen Victoria’s diamond Jubilee celebrations in 1897. The dish is made with […]
Flan Pâtissier (or Parisian) is a simple custard tart and a classic French recipe but it’s origins go back much further. “What have the Romans ever done for us?” The classic line from Monty Python’s Life of Brian got the answer “aqueducts… sanitation… roads… irrigation…” and a whole lot more. They didn’t say flans – […]
You can walk into any bar in France and be assured of a familiar sight – a sign or a jug (the type you see at every French flea market) advertising pastis. And if it’s a hot day, there’s sure to be a Frenchman or two sitting at a table watching the world go by […]
Sophie, a French-born but lived most of her life in the US chef, finds life really isn’t a dream come true. When an ex-boyfriend conspires against her, her whole life is turned upside down. Sophie needs to get a grip of herself if she’s to avoid a life doomed to fail on all levels. But […]
French style is famous throughout the world. Cultivated over hundreds of years of design and fine arts, it’s a seemingly effortless style that isn’t always that easy to achieve. But there are ways and means to make it easy! You don’t need to live in a Chateau, or in Paris, Provence or a rustic farmhouse […]
Julia Girard-Gervois of TripUSAFrance organises amazing tours of France. Though she now lives in the USA, she loves to bring a taste of French style to her table. We asked Julia for her top tips to create a French flavour at home… French table style Always make sure that the dinner table is dressed before […]
Vieux Lille, the old town of Lille, is a place of fanciful Flemish facades. Where bars, bistros, boutiques and shops line the cobbled streets which wind their way labyrinth-like around the central Place du Général de Gaulle, known as the grand’Place. Outdoor cafés abound in the ancient city centre, art of all kinds adorns the […]
The far north of France, known as Hauts de France comprising the departments Picardy, Pas-de-Calais and Nord is the perfect road trip destination. A land of castles, seaside resorts, forests and lakes. There are ancient towns and cities, gorgeous countryside and picturesque villages and even Champagne vineyards! If you’re after a road trip that takes […]
As you wind your way across the plains of the Vaucluse in Provence (all olive groves, lavender and vineyards), you see Oppède le Vieux hanging above you on the north face of the Petit Luberon. It looks haunting and beautiful… The rise… Oppède le Vieux dates back to at least the 12th century. At the […]
We have been receiving a lot of requests from readers since the start of the COVID pandemic, all asking the same question: “Is it possible to pack and move my personal effects and possessions from the UK to my new home in France during the Covid crisis?”. Well the simple answer is yes. We thought […]
An estimated 84,000 UK nationals moved across the Channel in 2019 – a 10 year high. Traditionally most home buyers were retired or looking to purchase second homes, but France is an increasingly attractive option for young families and people in their 40’s and 50’s. Affordable property, beautiful countryside and coastline, great food, wine and […]
You find your dream home in France, you can’t wait to move there and start living the good life but there are a few things you need to do first. You’ll need to fill in paperwork and notify authorities in the UK and France, sort out healthcare, maybe inheritance planning, savings, tax and whole host […]
Uzerche is a pretty, fortified town in the commune in the Corrèze department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Its origins date back to pre-Roman times. Today the town is vibrant and architecturally glorious. With its many towers, vaulted passageways and old houses adorned with carved door and a magnificent octagonal bell tower, typical of the Limousin […]
Montmorillon is in the department of the Vienne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine (formerly Poitou-Charentes) in south west France. The town is situated on the Gartempe river at the geographical crossroads of Indre, Haute-Vienne and the Vienne. Around 50 miles from the city of Poitiers and 30 miles from Limoges, both of which have airports with flights to the […]
French Connections are one of the biggest and longest running gite rental companies in the UK. But did you know they also sell property in France? If you’re looking to buy, they have plenty to tempt you with all over France. And if you’re looking to sell, they will list it for a flat fee […]
Sarah Daly hops on an electric bike and works up an appetite for a dining experience with a difference. As a resident of Montreuil-sur-Mer in Pas de Calais, I am a regular visitor to Le Touquet, just 10 miles away on the Opal coast. I love its bustling atmosphere, clean sandy beach, colourful beach huts […]
Bonjour, I hope that you and yours are well. Here in my village, the smell of fermenting apples is filling the air. Cider making is early this year as we had such a long hot spring through summer and the apples are bigger, rosier and juicier than I can ever remember. Claudette, who you would […]
We talk to chef and author Lisa Baker Morgan who splits her life between Los Angeles and Paris. As a Paris local with a love of food, culture and history, she shares some of her top tips for visitors the the city of light… What draws you to Paris – the things that make you […]
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Sarah Daly hops on an electric bike and works up an appetite for a dining experience with a difference. As a resident of Montreuil-sur-Mer in Pas de Calais, I am a regular visitor to Le Touquet, just 10 miles away on the Opal coast. I love its bustling atmosphere, clean sandy beach, colourful beach huts […]
We talk to chef and author Lisa Baker Morgan who splits her life between Los Angeles and Paris. As a Paris local with a love of food, culture and history, she shares some of her top tips for visitors the the city of light… What draws you to Paris – the things that make you […]
Visitors to the French Riviera between Nice and the Italian border can experience many heavenly hikes. Signposted walks take you alongside the glorious blue Mediterranean sea, past some of the richest real estate in the world and through gorgeous villages. Australian Susan McDonald has enjoyed many walks in the South of France and shares some […]
Some quotes from France are beyond famous. King Louis XIV saying “I am the state” or Napoleon’s “An army travels on its stomach” are known around the world. And, if you love quotes, you’ll enjoy these fun France sayings from around the world… “How can you govern a country that has 246 varieties of cheese?”—Charles […]
Located between the bustling city of Nice and the uber-opulence of Monaco, Villefranche-sur-Mer is a little corner of paradise. Pretty as a picture, in this ancient village visitors can experience history, culture and the glorious Mediterranean. Susan Macdonald from Australia says it’s the perfect place for a holiday when you’re travelling solo. Vive Villefranche Fashion […]
The prime summer vacation months in France are July and August, when school is out and the weather is beautiful. Which raises a question: when should a French person go on vacation? The french even have nicknames for those who take a holiday in the summer! Traditionally, most people went in August, when factories closed […]
As a poultry keeper, I’m always amazed by the antics of my birds. I have ducks, chickens and geese – they’re pets, not for the pot, despite the urging of my French neighbours. I love them all but it’s the chickens who for me are the most fascinating. Ducks fight it out to establish a […]
At No. 18, Rue de Paridis, close to the Gare de L’Est is a house of horrors that’s popular with Parisians and visitors alike. Le Manoir de Paris is a theatrical show that’s very unusual. If you want a very different sort of Paris experience from the classic Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre type […]