Dijon, capital of Burgundy, is a city of culture, history and exquisite architecture, a living museum in itself. There are so many cultural venues to visit, it’s hard to know where to begin. Surrounded by vineyards and stunning countryside, it really is an absolute jewel of a French city. Plus there are fabulous restaurants and wine […]
Bonjour I hope you had a great week. I can hardly believe how quickly this year has whizzed past, but here we are, almost at the end of it already! First, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for subscribing to my newsletter, for the lovely emails you send me in […]
Mulhouse in Alsace in the northeast of France is a master of reinvention. It was once a flourishing textile and manufacturing town but globalisation of industry has brought change – and for Mulhouse that means change too. The city is undergoing a metamorphosis – but with a nod to its powerful past. It boasts the […]
Bordeaux makes for an ideal winter city break with museums galore, a brilliant food scene and of course – fabulous wines… What to do in the city of Bordeaux in winter In the city of Bordeaux, the number one must see is the Cité du Vin – it is extraordinary. Whether you’re a wine lover […]
The medieval town of Dinan in Cotes d’Armor, Brittany, is like somewhere from the imagination of the brothers Grimm. It’s brimming with fairy tale pretty streets, guarded by a castle and full of enchanting houses, cobbled hills and pretty squares, surrounded by ramparts built between the 13th to 15th century. Perched on a hill above […]
Alsace is the quintessential winter destination with its fairy tale like villages, especially with a dusting of snow. Museums are less crowded, menus reflect the season with robust and tasty dishes and there’s not much that beats enjoying a glass of wine in a cosy café. We look at some of the best things to […]
Hope you had a great week. Though I am now in crazy writing mode finishing my next book (hugs, wine and chocolate needed!), I managed to sneak off to the Gers region for a few days last week. Many of us call it Gascony but that name actually hasn’t been used since before the French […]
Boulogne-sur-Mer is where you’ll find a beautifully preserved old town and the Basilica Notre Dame which has the longest crypt in France (dating back to Roman times). Cobble stone streets, ancient buildings, a chateau museum, quirky shops and fab restaurants. And, don’t miss the UNESCO listed Belfry where you’ll see cannon balls fired on the […]
Winter is a great time to visit Burgundy. Its vineyards are known throughout the world and a little chill in the air adds something to the sublime wines from Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits-St-Georges, Vosne-Romanée and Chablis, to name just a few. And, there’s plenty of things to do in winter in Burgundy… Dijon Dijon, the capital of […]
We look at some fabulously festive cities to visit in France at Christmas. You’re guaranteed a bit of Christmas magic here! Strasbourg Head for Strasbourg‘s Christmas market. Known locally as the Christkindelsmarik, it’s the oldest in Europe. From the end of November to the end of December it’s full of beautiful lights and decorations. There […]
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On summer evenings, the swallows dip and swoop in nervous arcs as if anxious to protect, or preserve, the close of day in its melancholy stillness. A light hovers over Collioure, on the Vemillion Coast in the Pyrenees-Orientales. Caught in a pale brushstroke of watercolor blue, a wash which holds the houses together as they […]
Paris is an ancient, time-shifting, secret society. I made it to the ripe old age of 61 by creating plans and organizing my life around them. This should come as no surprise. The clearest memory I have of my father is him sitting at the breakfast table looking from my sister to my brother then […]
In the centre of Paris you can visit a café that’s also a cosy refuge for abandoned cats. Highly recommended for cat and coffee lovers! Margaux Grandelon opened her first Cat Café in 2013 in the Marais district. I visited her second little establishment close to the Bastille monument at 9, Rue Sedaine and enjoyed […]
In August 2014, I gave up my job teaching English in Lyon to house-sit a farm in Vienne and write a novel. I wasn’t particularly looking for the literary good life. I just wanted a break from the city. Six months later I finished it. But the elation was short-lived. I didn’t like it at […]
We chat to Rosy Rabson, a British expat who retired to Burgundy and run a gite from which all proceeds go to charity. Based in the Morvan area, with its regional natural park, a land of ancient castles, picturesque villages, forests and lakes, it is a largely undiscovered by tourists part of France – and […]
Katharine Tasker from London upped sticks in the city and moved to the sticks in rural northern France. With her she brought a sprinkling of urban style to her new build home and thriving new business, a café and shop… Pas de Calais is a region of meadows and forests, the countryside is criss crossed […]
British stand-up comedian, mod, expat, goat whisperer (maybe) – and now Chambre d’hote host – Ian Moore’s unique insights into life in the Loire Valley will make you laugh out loud… Hosts, Goats and Chambres d’Hôtes There’s a point in my first or second book, probably both, where my wife, Natalie, and I sit down […]
Making friends in France isn’t difficult I’ve found. They don’t care if my French is not great or I get my grammar all wrong. They don’t even care that much that I am “Flop chef not Top Chef” and can barely grill a bit of French bread without spoiling it. But there are some things […]
