The department of Corrèze, in southwest France, region Nouvelle Aquitaine (formerly Limousin) is a land of outstanding natural beauty. Unspoiled countryside, dramatic rivers and forests as well as gentle farmland. It’s a great place to live says British expat Ann McCarthy, you can go skiing in the mountains, go to the beach, a day out […]
We asked Julia Girard-Gervois of TripUSAFrance who has run brilliant tours of the south of France for many years – when’s the best time to visit the south of France in the summer? “The last week of August is pretty good” she said, to our surprise. We asked her to tell us more… Why the […]
Hérault is in the region of Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées, southern France. It takes in the Mediterranean coast, with stunning fishing villages and renowned seaside towns. Capt d’Agde, La Grande-Motte and Palavas-les-Flots are just a few of its well known resorts. The countryside is glorious, covered in vineyards, with the Canal du Midi flowing through the department. And, […]
There are parts of France that are so authentic, so special, you feel as if you need to pinch yourself to believe they’re real… In the Gers department in the far south west of France, in the land known historically as Gascony, the locals make Armagnac, a world famous brandy. But this is not just […]
It’s official – these are the prettiest villages in Normandy according to the Plus Beaux Villages de France Association. They award the coveted recognition to a handful of villages that have to meet strict criteria. Culturally rich, population of less than 2000, rural location and of course exquisitely pretty! Normandy has six recognised Plus Beaux […]
There’s a legend in France that the Coq au Vin recipe goes back to the Romans. The story goes that in 52 BC Julius Caesar arrived in France with his armies, intent on victory over the Gallic tribes. One of the Gallic chiefs sent Caesar a cockerel, meant to taunt him, a symbol of Gallic […]
The Loir Valley is situated between Le Mans, Tours, Laval and Angers. The little Loir, a cousin of the larger Loire, into which the river flows, means ‘dormouse’. This conjures a very apt description of the area. Sleepy, rolling countryside, with charming villages and enchanting towns that seem to belong to a past era when […]
Situated to the south of Lyon on the eastern side of the Rhône river, the Drôme department is split into three main areas. The Provençal part is to the very south, the Valley – Diois, and to the north, the Plain of Valence. The Drôme is the number one department in France for organic production, […]
Chocolate mousse is a classic dessert of French restaurants. Served in glasses or parfait jars and topped with fruit, cream, crème fraiche, nuts, grated chocolate – whatever takes your fancy, it’s a really simple dish to make but oh so delicious. Chocolate mousse for four 6 egg whites 2 tbsp golden caster sugar 150g 70% […]
In 1787, 14 years before he became the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson toured France. He left Paris where he was based and made his way south, stopping en route at dozens of towns and cities, tasting wine, enjoying the food and writing about the people he met and the sights he […]
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As a chicken keeper, I’m always amazed by the antics of my birds. I keep 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 […]
A couple of years ago now, we went through a torrid time in what is now called “The Year of 52 ducklings”. It was all my fault. As a city slicker, moving to the countryside of northern France has been a bit of a learning curve to put it mildly. And when it comes to […]
Tarn-et-Garonne in south west France is one of the smallest departments in France but that doesn’t mean there’s not plenty to fall in love with. Named for the two mighty rivers which flow through it – the Tarn and the Garonne, it’s an area of outstanding natural beauty, gorges and forests, fields and vineyards pepper […]
History is full of horrible monsters. The Cyclops terrified the ancient Greeks, the Abominable Snowman haunts the Himalayas, and Godzilla stomps on Tokyo from time to time. The French have their own terrible creature and—unlike the others—this one was real. The mysterious Beast of Gévaudan ravaged the French countryside in the 18th century, killing so many […]
One grey dismal day, I took a day trip to northern France to buy some cheap wine with my dad and my husband Mark. My mum had died two years before and my dad, broken-hearted and bereft, turned to whisky to drown his sorrows. I thought getting him to drink wine would be better for […]
The French Mediterranean village of Collioure is nothing short of enchanting. Travel guru Rick Steves refers to it as “paradise reclaimed” – it’s hard to disagree. These gorgeous photos of Collioure, basking in the sun, are sure to make you want to visit… Collioure is everything that describes an idyllic postcard-perfect retreat from modern stresses… […]
The day came recently when I realised that this year, the year of Coronavirus, I would have time to do the garden and it’s probably going to be a very good idea to make my vegetable bed as efficient as possible. But I am a chicken mum and some of my chickens are as much […]