The Lovely, Laid-Back City of Tours
Beneath the plane trees lining Boulevard Béranger, the twice-weekly flower market in Tours provides a splash of color and a heady whiff of fragrance to the thoroughfare, one of several that can justly be described as Haussmannesque. The imposing Belle Epoque City...
The Riviera’s Gardens and Parks: Best Botanical Sites on the Mediterranean Coast
The French Riviera is a garden-lover’s paradise, a sun-soaked horticultural heaven lined on its southern edge by the twinkling Mediterranean. From Antibes to Cagnes-sur-Mer, Gourdon to Grasse and Nice to Beaulieu there are some 80 gardens and parks open to...
Visit Le Paraïs, the Provençal Home of Famous French Writer Jean Giono
Le Paraïs, the home of writer Jean Giono in Manosque, is open only on Friday afternoons and only by appointment. Don’t let this deter you, for this is both a Provençal haven and a...
A Weekend in Calvados, Normandy
In the northwest of France, a couple of hours drive from Paris, Normandy’s Calvados department feels a world away from the capital city. The area beckons visitors with its spectacular seaside, tranquil rolling hills,...
Epicurean Paris: Top Specialty Food Stores and Gourmet Grocers
A new generation of gourmet grocers is helping food lovers rediscover France’s far-flung gastronomic pleasures in chic, welcoming spaces that raise food shopping – and no-fuss dining – to the level of art. Upgrading...
Travel to Clermont-Ferrand: Gateway to the Auvergne
Ask a Parisienne what she knows about Clermont-Ferrand, and her first response might be, “Well, of course I haven’t actually been there.” Then she might wrinkle her nose. “But isn’t it rather… industrial?”
The impression seems confirmed on the...
Great Travel Destinations: French Basque Country
Europe’s best surfing, the chic coastal town of Biarritz, the proud Basque culture and language, the rolling foothills of the Pyrenees, even a ski resort… the French Pays Basque is one of France’s most varied and distinct...
Château de Chambord: Francis I’s Incredible Loire Valley Palace
Approached by a long, tree-lined road, the Château de Chambord is a breathtaking vision to behold, rising up like the Mont Saint-Michel, but out of an ocean of forest. With dozens of chimneys, cupolas,...
Travel in Normandy: Treasures of the Seine Valley
When you think of Normandy, do you think of the D-Day landing beaches and Mont Saint Michel? Or perhaps Rouen’s gothic cathedral, the Bayeux tapestry, Claude Monet’s garden at Giverny and the picturesque port...
L’Huitrade: Guy Savoy’s Oyster Bar in Paris
Oyster -loving, three-star chef Guy Savoy has created a delicious grand finale to any stroll up the Champs Élysées. This charming little bar designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte is the perfect place for a casual...