Short Breaks

An ancient city that once stood on an important Roman road, Auxerre has always benefitted from trade and is now looking forward to the future with confidence. Guy Hibbert visits the capital of the...

Sitting on a bench beneath the towering ramparts of Provins, I can easily imagine I’m back in the Middle Ages. Gentlemen on horseback are showing off their falconry skills to ladies in flowing gowns, their hawks skimming over our heads...

The accessibility The Loire is easily accessible from the UK and is just a few hours’ drive from the Western Channel ports. Brittany Ferries offer a range of daily sailings from Poole, Portsmouth and...

1. Climb Mont Faron Towering over the city of Toulon, Mont Faron is a limestone mountain from which you can enjoy breath-taking views over the harbour and the Mediterranean Sea. This haven of peace offers...

Madame de Pompadour, Marcel Proust and a young Prince Philip have – respectively – lived, slept and played at this magnificent French castle. But if you were to guess that the château in question...

Whatever age you live in and whatever your line of work, it rarely pays to upstage the boss. Ask anyone in Bourges, third largest town in the Centre region and a great base for exploring the south-east corner of the ancient...

The popular tourist attraction now closes at 8 pm.

The capital of Brittany is a great city to live in for quality of life, but Rennes is a top tourist destination too. We explore its many charms… 1. Timber town Made from wood felled in the surrounding forests,...

Historic province and heart of castle country in the Loire Valley, Touraine is a region shaped by beautiful gardens, rich cuisine and, of course, numerous châteaux... A GARDENER'S PARADISE From the sweeping, manicured jardins of its...

Turning my car uphill towards the lofty town of Laon, my immediate reaction is to look up. The town stretches along a narrow limestone ridge that curves in a dramatic horseshoe above the rich farmland of eastern Picardy, and the road...