Loire Valley, France
A dozen châteaux line the Loire Valley along the Loire River between Saumur, 75km west of Tours, and Chambord, the largest château 90 km east of Tours. We visited the 3 recommended by our Lonely Planet France guide: Villandry, Cheverny, and Chenonceau, and also Chambord. Only serious castle enthusiasts would want to visit more. Château [...]
Capu Rossu
French people we met around the world raved about Corsica. On arrival, we immediately recognized that our expectations were set too high. By French or Italian standards, Corsican food is mediocre. Their low craggy mountains, though at times pretty, lack the sense of awe. The infrequency and often unavailability of public transportation, especially after mid [...]
Vercors, France
The Regional Wildlife Park of the Vercors consists of 370,000 acres of protected natural resources. The park overlaps the departments Drôme and Isère. The mountain range, primarily made up of limestone, belongs to the prealpine massif. Thus the Vercors is an area of transition between Alps and Provence. St-Nazaire-en-Royans For many years our starting point [...]
Vaucluse, France
The Vaucluse is at the heart of the rural Provence. One part of the departement is sculptured at the feet of the Alps and the Mount Ventoux. The other part is more flat and irrigated by tributaries of the Rhône River and grows fruit, vegetables and delicious wines. The Vaucluse counts various charming hilltowns, for [...]
Côte d’Or, France
During the 14th and 15th centuries, Burgundy was a remarkable political force, even more powerful than the kingdom of France. Its wealth is reflected in the ancient castles, beautiful gardens and bountiful vineyards which have endured. The region has an enviable reputation for gastronomy. Côte d’Or Situated in the heart of Burgundy the Côte d’Or [...]
The Cévennes Mountains, France
The Cévennes offer a great variety of different soils in a mosaic of landscapes, from the Camargue coast and the Gard to the Garrigues around Nimes. A country of rebellion and tradition, the Cévennes gradually reveal a bit more of themselves at each bend in their winding roads where it is pleasant to drive and [...]
Alsace, France
The regions Alsace and Loraine are inextricably bound to one another. The region covers an area of 3,197 square miles and encompasses the départements Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin. Speaking of Alsace-Loraine the départements Meurthe-et-Moselle, Moselle and Vosges join them. The Vosges The massif of the Vosges extends from the Rhine River Valley into the Vosges-département in [...]
Ariège, France
The Ariège borders Andorra and is situated in the middle of the Pyrénées. It is not difficult to see why the more rural, isolated areas served as a refuge in the past for fleeing Cathars and French resistance fighters. The region offers many natural sites, mountains, prehistoric caves, cathar castles and churches and medieval villages. [...]
Ardèche, France
The Lower Vivarais district occupies the majestic Ardèche. This land has something about it that others lack. You never get enough of it. This land equaly pleases the dauntless as well as the quiet visitor. The natural beauty of the Ardèche gave it its widespread reputation, extending far beyond France’s boundaries. Aiguèze Some 160 feet [...]
Paris – The City of Light
Reading, learning, understanding about a world famous tourist destination and then narrating on its cityscape of course would not do much justice if you don’t personally visit La Ville-Lumière (The City of Light), Paris. As experienced last year spending long vacation over there, this testimony could be the tribute to this ever-shinning, most glamorous city [...]
