© Chensiyuan CCASA4 Aerial View of Sarlat A film set with probably the best market in France This magnificently restored Gothic and Renaissance town is situated deep in the heart of the Périgord Noir in a basin surrounded by wooded hills. Sarlat, officially Sarlat-la-Canéda, has been the location for two Hollywood films, The Duelists and...
Nîmes is one of the great cities of Southern France and should be on everyone’s itinerary for its spectacular Roman monuments, gardens, fountains, boulevards, shops, outdoor cafés, restaurants and bullfights. Although not technically part of modern Provence (PACA), the eastern half of the Gard département, of which Nîmes is the capital city or Prefecture, is...
A Travel Guide to fascinating Marseille Marseille is the oldest city in France. It dates back 2600 years when it was founded by the Phocaeans, or Greeks, from what is now Turkey. Named Massalia the town became very prosperous setting up trading posts in surrounding settlements. It remained independent of the Romans when they occupied...
Provence – a state of mind? Provence is one of those magical destinations that travellers dream about. Blue skies, warm days, balmy evenings, healthy cuisine, splendid architecture, fascinating heritage and the wonderful sing-song accent of the local inhabitants, the Provençaux. It is almost as much a state of mind as a geographical area. But where...
By Paul Shawcross No visit to Provence is complete without a visit to at least one of its many ancient villages and some of the best examples in France are to be found in sun-drenched Provence. Not only that, several of France’s most well known, officially designated, Plus Beaux Villages are here too. I have...
Founded by the Romans, birthplace of Cézanne and City of arts Birthplace of renowned artist Paul Cézanne, the university town of Aix-en-Provence is a vibrant place with the arts firmly at its heart. Aix, (pronounced Ex) as it is more commonly known, is referred to as the city of art and lights and has been...
Languedoc-Roussillon – the ‘Other’ South of France When people speak of the South of France they are usually referring to the Côte d’Azur. However, the travelling cognoscenti know that there is another part of the so-called Midi. One which also enjoys equally beautiful blue skies, arguably even better beaches and nearby high mountains. While the cities...
Collioure is all about art and inspiration – gastronomy – pretty harbour Nestled in a sheltered bay on the Mediterranean coast, Collioure is a charming seaside town at the very south of France, close to the border with Spain. One of the jewels of the Côte de Vermeille or Vermilion Coast which stretches from Argelès-sur-Mer...
Cité de Carcassonne © Xiquinho Silva CC2 Carcassonne – fairy tale castles – two UNESCO world heritage sites Floating among the clouds, the atmospheric Cité de Carcassonne sits majestically at the top of a hill. Lying north of the River Aude, many say it inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. And with its high walls, elegant...
Caravan holidays in France: how to take care of your foodie needs Now you’re on the road with the freedom of France and its vast road network ahead of you. Over half a million square kilometres to explore, with over a million kilometres of public roads. How much of France you’ll be able to explore...
Located in Morbihan, Auray is a picturesque town with a lovely old quarter, which enjoys mild short winters and long blissful summers. It is a good base from which to explore the Gulf of Morbihan, the Quiberon Peninsula and Carnac. The town is set in a bend in the River Lock, which is spanned by...
City, Coast and Mountains Fabulous Nice, capital of the The French Riviera, occupies a prime position on the graceful iridescent curve of the Baie des Anges, or Bay of Angels, which stretches from Cap d’Antibes in the west to Cap Ferrat in the east. Moreover, Nice’s Italianate charm, resulting from a long association with its...
Think Bordeaux, think wine. But not just any old plonk. Located on the River Garonne, Bordeaux is the largest wine-producing region in France, and possibly the most famous too – producing a range of wines that are considered among the best in the world. The Romans brought vines to the area as far back as...
France’s ritzy Atlantic resort of Biarritz is famous for many things, among them its love affair with Napoleon III’s wife, Empress Eugenie. On a visit to Biarritz in the 1850’s she fell in love with the city and built a palace on the beach – now the swish Hôtel du Palais – and stayed here...
Located on the river Garonne in the South-Western region of Aquitaine, Agen is a historic market town that dates back over 2,000 years. Once a bustling Roman trading centre, Agen’s prominent location between the cities of Bordeaux and Toulouse – and between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic – meant it provided a vital crossroads and...
An incredibly picturesque spot on the edge of the River Dordogne, Bergerac is embraced by rolling fields and lush vineyards, and of course is well-known as the birth place of satirist and dramatist, Cyrano de Bergerac. And even though it seems like there is an almost endless list of towns and cities throughout France that...
The town of Bayonne, barely 50 km from the border with Spain, nestles a few kilometres inland from the coast at the confluence of the rivers Adour and Nive (known as Errobi in the Basque language). An important tourist centre and prominent Basque town, Bayonne is one of the principal towns in the department of...
