Situated in France’s Massif Central, Saint-Étienne lies between Lyon and Toulouse. Capital of the Loire, it developed into a market town during the Middle Ages. Saint-Étienne eventually became a city known for its industry, which ranged from ribbons and lace making to weapons. But when these traditional employment opportunities began to dry up, the city … Read more
Nimes has seen its fair share of ancient empires come and go. This could be down to its Mediterranean climate, which makes it one of the warmest cities in France. Or it could be down to its fine location, just 50 kilometres north of the Med in southern France. Of them all, it is the … Read more
A port city through and through, Brest has seen its fair share of empire builders come and go since it grew to prominence in the thirteenth century. Close to the westernmost point of mainland France in Brittany, the city developed around the mouth of the River Penfeld, which opens out into the mighty Atlantic. While … Read more
Le Mans is famed for its 24-hour motor race, which was born out of the city’s vehicle industry in the early 1900s. But the city’s foundation lies back in pre-Roman times. Birthplace of England’s Henry II, its ancient heart has remained largely intact, protected for centuries by walls built by Roman legionaries. Located on the … Read more
Situated within France’s Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, Dijon is located in the north-eastern quarter of the country, just 1.5 hours from Paris by high-speed train. Known since at least Roman times, it came to prominence during the eleventh to fifteenth centuries when it was the home of the Dukes of Burgundy. These men were either members of … Read more
Take the best aspects of Paris and the best of Provence and you probably end up with a city that looks and sounds a lot like Aix-en-Provence. Pronounced ‘Ex-on-Provence’, Aix is one of southern France’s chicest spots, in spite of some stiff competition from the likes of Nice and a large student population that has … Read more
Historically a part of the Picardy region of northern France, Amiens lies 120 kilometres north of Paris close to the Pas-de-Calais (Strait of Dover) and the border with Belgium. Its location has seen its streets occupied on multiple occasions over the past 500 years of its history, most notably by Nazi forces during the Second … Read more
Anyone who thought Le Havre was nothing more than a ferry terminus to the English south coast needs to think again. Divided into older upper town and newer lower town, Normandy’s biggest population centre has long been known for its culture, attracting everyone from Monet and Millet to Jean-Paul Sartre, who taught at a school … Read more
Dominated by its gothic cathedral, Reims is much more important to many as the unofficial capital of the Champagne wine region. Wine glasses aside, this city in north-eastern France has played a central role in the country’s history from its time as a town of the Roman Empire to the modern-day post-war period. Having welcomed … Read more
The attractive city centre streets of Tours have led to this city in Western France being given a series of celebratory nicknames, from Little Paris for its culture, to the Garden of France for its parklands. Situated on the River Loire as it makes its way towards the Atlantic Ocean, the city boasts a historic … Read more