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.
5 Treasures in Central France (and a road trip!)
Central France: 5 Towns and a Road Trip! If you think there’s nothing much to see in central France, think again! It’s here that you discover the eastern half of the Loire Valley, full of castles and vineyards. Central France is made up of four regions. The exact...
5 “Don’t Miss” Sights in Normandy
There’s no place like Normandy Normandy, with its serene coastlines, rolling hills, gentle pace, and rich history. Another advantage is it’s not far from Paris if you want to make it part of your France itinerary. There’s more to see than a lot of people realize,...
15 Memorable Beaches in France
Discover French Beaches What comes to mind when you think of French beaches? The Riviera? D-Day Beaches in Normandy? France is surrounded on three sides by the coastline and has hundreds of beaches. Here’s a list of 15 of them by region, all around the country,...
Oliver’s France News (Books, Language Courses, and Travel)
Hi, France travel fans! Whether you are planning France travel or not, you can dream, plan, and be inspired by checking out one of many posts to help you do that. Fortunately, many airlines want to promote travel and are waiving fees for changes and cancellations....
Flowering French Towns
Flowering French Towns . . . Villes Fleuries All across France, you’ll see towns and villages abounding with potted plants, gardens, and plots of flowers on street corners and intersections. Most of these are planned and planted by the town itself, not its residents,...
French Christmas Treats (With Recipes!)
French Christmas Treats Most people love French food (or the idea of it . . . sauces, cheese, snails) but at Christmas, it goes up a notch. Christmas food specialties in France include: Oysters (largest consumption of oysters in France all year is at Christmas) Bûche...
Menton, the Sunniest Place in France
A cheery thought as winter approaches . . . Menton, the sunniest place in France and one of the most colorful. It’s located on the southeastern edge of the French Riviera. Menton is near Nice and next to Monaco but also touches the Italian border. This medium-small...
Visiting France: What to know during Covid in Fall 2021
Can you go to France yet? The answer to that question changes continuously like a moving target. In October, one of my French students, a woman I’ll call Sharon, went to France with her husband. “Merveilleux!” she exclaimed upon her return. A marvelous trip! She went...
French Market Culture: Buying Fresh in France!
French Market Culture When I lived in Paris, I had a weekly routine for buying fresh fruits and veggies at the French market. I took my wheeled canvas bag down the elevator and headed out to the local bi-weekly market. I was consistently amazed at the lovely produce I...
Avignon: The 7 Best Things to Do
No trip to Provence would be complete without a visit to Avignon, often called the gateway to Provence. In fact, you will likely need to take a train from Paris to Avignon to get there before moving on to any other nearby city. You could also fly into Marseilles (via...
A Facelift for Oliver’s France, the Insider’s Traveler Website
CHECK IT OUT!! Oliver's France has a new look! You might say it's had a facelift, but still contains the helpful tips, articles, ideas, and resources you are used to seeing. Oliver's France has enjoyed 5 years of life, but it was time for an updated look and better...
Walking Tours in France
Anytime you go to France, you’re likely to be on your feet. Taking comfortable shoes is the first advice you’ll get, and good advice it is. Walking tours take your feet and experiences to the next level, as you observe close at hand and learn at the same time....
