Strasbourg, the City Which Gave France its National Anthem
Gillian Thornton discovers the turbulent past and vibrant present of the UNESCO-listed city of Strasbourg
For the city which gave France its national anthem, Strasbourg has had something of a rocky ride across the centuries....
La Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin: Bacchanalia in Burgundy
Beaune, located in the heart of Burgundy’s Côte d’Or region and celebrated for its vineyards, brings a twinkle to the eyes of wine enthusiasts. It is also famed as the seat for La Confrérie...
Chapeaux for all in Caussade
Northeast of Montauban, on the road to Cahors, the hat industry in Caussade employed more than 2,000 people during the 19th century. Among its specialities was the canotier style of straw boater, as worn...
Les Demoiselles d’Avignon: Jacqueline Dürrbach’s Translation on Tapestry
If you’re a Picasso fan, seeing his painting Les Demoiselles d’Avignon is key. The nude prostitutes have angular and disjointed body parts, two have African mask-life features and the painting’s perspective is a flat...
Off the Beaten Track Around Burgundy
While it may be most famous for its celebrated wines, the region of Burgundy is also full of surprises, as Caroline Harrap discovers on a back-in-time tour of its lesser-known treasures
Standing atop a small...
Notorious Hotels with History in France
From Marie Antoinette’s execution to Coco Chanel’s eviction, they have been the offices of writers and the dens of thieves. Chloe Govan shares the stories behind some of France’s most legendary hotels
The guillotine has...
Finding Dora Maar: Building a Portrait of the Artist
A chance find in a second-hand Hermès address book led to a journey deep into the day-to-day life of one of the 20th century’s most talented–and difficult–women, as Lanie Goodman discovers
Call it improbable, a...
In the Footsteps of Jules Verne in Nantes
Chloe Govan reveals the remarkable adventures of world-famous novelist Jules Verne, whose literary ambitions first took shape in beguiling Nantes
Say the name Jules Verne and most people will think immediately of Around the World...
Read the Signs: Rue des Dames in Paris
The convivial Parisian street with many stories to tell
Word has it, it's the place to be when the clock strikes aperitif o'clock. Rue des Dames, in the Batignolles district, stretches from Avenue de Clichy...
Learn about the French “Secrets Under The City” in Laon, Aisne
On your way to South of France, on A26, stop and visit the beautiful medieval city of Laon with more than 80 historical monuments and an amazing labyrinth of underground passageways.
“Secrets under the city”...