Blog
In this section, you’ll find all the Oliver’s France posts: regional destinations, travel tips, France-wide activities, language tools, food, and much more. To go directly to regional destinations, click on the Regional tab on the menu, or click on one of the photos in the regional section on the home page. If you have something particular you want to find, there’s a search bar on the right side of the menu. And for a listing of all categories and posts, click HERE.
The Covered Passages of Paris: Step Into Another Era
The Covered Passages of Paris: Step Into Another Era Tucked between busy streets and hidden behind ordinary-looking entrances are the covered passages of Paris, elegant glass-roofed arcades that offer a glimpse into another era. Most of these passages were built...
Pau: A Château City in the Pyrénées
Pau: A Château City in the Pyrénées Pau, a southwestern city with a royal château at one end of town and the Pyrénées rising beyond the other, Pau (pronounced Poe) enjoys one of the most dramatic settings of any city in southwestern France. It sits on the...
Heatwave in Paris (and How I Coped)
Heatwave in Paris The last week of June, 2026, marked the worst heat wave Paris has known in the history of recorded temperature. (This in a non-verified statement from the man who fixed my AC three times during my week in Paris.) While I was there, the heat never let...
A Road Trip in Southwestern France (Part 2)
A Road Trip in Southwestern France (Part 2) In my last post I shared events of week one of my road trip through southwestern France. Several of the towns on the itinerary were new to me and every day felt like an adventure! I followed the road trip in my book,...
A Road Trip in Southwestern France (part 1)
A Road Trip in Southwestern France (part 1) Thanks for joining me on my Southwestern France road trip! it began on June 8 and I'm in my second week. But first, I'd like to give you a few highlights and lessons learned in week one. Then in my next post, I'll...
Follow my Road Trip to Southwest France!
My Road Trip to Southwest France On June 8, I’ll fly to Paris for my annual France trip (my 7th since moving back to the US.) As I have done for the last 4 years, I’ll follow one of my road trips in my book, Hit the Road in France: 9 Road Trip...
Shakeup for Tourist Housing in France
Shakeup in France for Tourist Housing In Paris and throughout France, seismic changes have hit tourist housing. Are tourists affected? Will prices increase? What will change? A summary of the changes Paris receives about 50 million visitors per year on...
Where Time Slows Down: Six Charming Towns in Normandy
Six Charming Small Towns to Discover in Normandy Normandy has a way of surprising you... With charming towns at every turn! Beyond its famous landmarks—Mont-Saint-Michel, the D-Day beaches, and Rouen’s cathedral—there are smaller towns quietly holding onto the...
The Loire Valley: An Updated Guide
A French Garden: The Loire Valley The Loire Valley offers an abundance of reasons to visit. Many people think of the sumptuous châteaux that dot the countryside. Those fabulous structures dwell in a lush landscape once coveted by kings and nobles. It’s more...
Where the Lavender Grows in Provence
Where the Lavender Grows in Provence Each summer, Provence turns purple. Lavender spills across plateaus, rolls over hillsides, edges country roads, and perfumes whole stretches of the countryside. But for travelers, one question is central: Where should you go to...
Packing and Preparing for Your France Trip
Packing and Preparing for Your France Trip You’re going to France! It’ll be great when you get there, but before? Preparing for an international trip can be daunting. Some careful planning ahead of time will save you headaches. Here are some tips for your...
Sarlat-la-Canéda, Dream Destination in Dordogne
Sarlat-la-Canéda, Dream Destination in Dordogne Southwest France contains new wonders you might not know about. One of these is the idyllic town of Sarlat-la-Canéda (or just Sarlat), one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe and France. In my...
