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.
Planning Your Trip to France
Planning and preparing well for your trip to France makes all the difference in maximizing your visit. PLANNING Plan the “skeleton” first. These are the most time-sensitive tasks that must be done on a deadline. After that, you can fill in the rest. Here's where to...
Rouen: Gateway to Normandy
If you are heading north from Paris to Normandy, you shouldn’t miss the historic and charming city of Rouen (pronounced Roo-on, with a nasal n.) This mid-sized town sits on the Seine River. Rouen is crisscrossed with medieval streets, dotted with half-timbered houses,...
Corsica, Island Paradise in the Mediterranean
Among the islands that bask in the sun of the Mediterranean Sea, the 4th largest is Corsica, a stunning natural paradise. It’s no wonder it was nicknamed the Island of Beauty. Corsica lies 100 miles from the French coast. Although the island is closer to Italy, it has...
10 (or more) Ideas for Your Next Trip to France
Happy New Year! You might need ideas for your next trip to France, since you're planning (or dreaming about) about it in 2019. I thought it would be a great time to bring up helpful previous posts you might read (or read again) to give you ideas! Here are 10 of them....
Toulouse: A Pink Jewel in the Southwest
In the southwest of France there’s a happening place… In fact, it’s the 4th largest city in France (but has kept many charming aspects) and has the most booming economy of the country. Where is this city? Toulouse, otherwise known as the Pink City, named for a special...
Champagne: A Pleasure and a Region
In France, the word “champagne” means two things. First, Champagne (capitalized) is a sizeable province in the northeast of France. It lies between Paris and Belgium. Within this area lies the champagne wine region, the second meaning, for which the area is known...
Dordogne: A Southwestern Wonder
Many regions in France are named for rivers or other natural features. Dordogne, a peaceful and wildly beautiful region, is named after the Dordogne River, a tributary from the Gironde River, which flows from Bordeaux and on to Auvergne. My last post covered the...
What do the French Eat at Christmas?
(See holiday recipe below!) The whole world instinctively understands that French cuisine is synonymous with delicious and elegant food. At holiday time, all the stops are pulled and holiday food rises to a new level. Usually, Christmas Eve is a more important time...
Le Jura, a Natural Wonder in the East
Tucked away in the east of France between Burgundy and Switzerland is a place you may not have heard of but must discover, le Jura. Breathtaking beauty surrounds you in this lake region, seventy lakes and basins, both natural and manmade, to keep you busy. The region...
Driving in France: What You Need to Know
At some point in your France travels you’ll likely want to rent a car. Driving in France is helpful for getting to those out-of-the-way detours in Brittany or Provence, and you certainly don’t want to miss those. And with a car, you aren’t bound by train schedules, as...
10 Unexpected Places to Visit in Paris
Maybe you’ve already seen the big sites in Paris and you’d like something a little more out of the way. Something unexpected. Maybe you are tired of crowds but know that there are more unexpected treasures to be found in Paris. Here is a list of 10, though there are...
Living in France
Reasons to live in France There are several reasons you might want to live in France for a while. You’ll be in good company: Over 4 million foreigners live there, about 30,000 of whom are Americans, with a third of these in Paris. Your company can transfer you there...
