Delightful Grenoble sits in south-eastern France, in a plain formed from the confluence of the Drac and Isère rivers. Surrounded by pleasant hiking country, it has adopted the mantel of ‘Capital of the Alps’ due to its proximity to these mountains, and has pistes as close as 15 minutes away by road. But Grenoble also … Read more
Split east-west into two roughly equal parts by the River Maine, Angers lies within the province of Pays de la Loire. Bordering Brittany and historically part of Anjou, it was the centre of the Plantagenet dynasty who went on to rule from England to the borders of Spain. Rich in culture, human habitation of the … Read more
Overshadowed by near neighbour Nice, Toulon doesn’t receive anywhere near the acclaim it deserves, despite having been the holiday destination of choose for French presidents. Capital of the Var department in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, the city has a fine setting on France’s Mediterranean coast. A major port and trading centre since its founding … Read more
The capital of Brittany in northwest France, Rennes is recognised throughout the country as a city of art and culture. Named the most liveable city in France by news magazine L’Express, it manages to successfully combine a long history with modern innovation. From medieval streets to modern museum spaces, here are the 15 best things … Read more
A sun-kissed southern French city, Montpellier lies between Perpignan and Marseille. It lies approximately ten kilometres inland from the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean Sea, which is a result, it’s said, of the risk of pirate attacks on this area of coast when the city was founded in the tenth century. Now one of the … Read more
The city of Bordeaux is like its wines – rich, colourful, complex, and ever-so desirable. Situated on a meander in the River Garonne in southwestern France, in Bordeaux life flitters between the left and right banks of the river, bistros tucked into attractive side streets, Europe’s largest public square, and submarine docks repurposed for a … Read more
Nudging the border with Belgium at the northern corner of France, Lille lies in French Flanders, having been territories of both England and Spain during its long history. When its traditional industries, including mining, came to an end in the post-war period, Lille was considered a little drab. However, the city was given a new … Read more
Unique among French cities in having spent as much of its history within German territory as it has a part of France, Strasbourg is the main population centre in Alsace, eastern France. Boasting an unusual Franco-German culture as a result, Strasbourg is awash with attractions, from its Gothic cathedral to the glass and steel architecture … Read more
A centre for Breton heritage (that’s no longer in Brittany after a controversial reshuffle of France’s regions after World War Two), Nantes is something of a link between the industrial northern and more Mediterranean southern halves of the country. Situated in the charming Loire Valley roughly 50 kilometres from France’s Atlantic coast, Nantes’ history is … Read more
Crammed into the list below are the places and experiences that a first-timer in the City of Light just can’t pass up. Some of these attractions are so rich and time-consuming that there’s enough for several trips. And not a moment would be wasted, in the thrall of some of the greatest art made by … Read more