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.
French Monuments: A Château, A Cathedral, and a Tower
French Monuments: A Château, A Cathedral, and a Tower French monuments embody centuries of culture and history, the actions and events that shaped present-day France. There’s a reason they are recognized and receive so many visitors each year. Today we’ll look at...
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...
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....
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...
Two French Monuments: L’Arc de Triomphe and La Sainte Chapelle
French Monuments and Two in Particular France attracts 70 million visitors a year. France would like to see this reach 100 million, though this goal was postponed for 2 years by Covid. Here in Spring 2022, we see monuments, museums, and almost everything fully open...
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,...
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,...
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...
The 10 Best Parks in Paris
Don't you Love Parks? Paris has the Best! In a city of 2 million residents, the need for more housing (not to mention financial opportunity) didn’t prevent the French government from prioritizing green spaces. Paris parks are not plots of grass or playing fields. The...
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,...
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...
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...
