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 Journey of French Cuisine
About French Cuisine (and big news below!) French cuisine is actually made up of many types of cuisine; there are special dishes from every region: Alsace, the Alps region, the Southwest, Brittany, Normandy, the middle (Auvergne, Lyonnais,) as well as Paris. Each...
Aside from Castles, Fun in the Loire Valley
Among travelers familiar with the Loire Valley, the first image that comes to many minds is castles. It’s true that the Loire Valley, just one and a half hours from Paris, is rich with history displayed in sumptuous castles. But there’s more. Much more. Turn your...
Gratin Dauphinois: A French Potato Treat
Here’s another opportunity, with this French Potato Treat, to get in your kitchen and whip up something French since you can’t go just yet. In this post, you’ll learn how to make Gratin Dauphinois, a beloved potato dish known all over France. It’s one of those recipes...
When Can I Travel to France Again?
As the world slowly unlocks itself after a long, tense period of illness and fear, people wonder, when can I travel again? This year, the travel industry, worth $8 trillion, teetered on collapse as the pandemic forced thousands of would-be travelers to abandon their...
Tours, Gateway to the Loire Valley
Tours, Gateway to the Loire Valley Tours, France is often called the Gateway to the Loire Valley, because it’s a great jumping-off point for visiting the many sites along the rich river valley…such as chateaux and vineyards. Despite this ideal centrality, you don’t...
France Memories
If you're like me, you're missing Paris right now. So, I found some images to show you. I hope you enjoy them. [video width="1920" height="1080"...
Cheaper Ways to Travel to France
It’s never too early to find cheaper ways to travel to France. That means that even if you can’t travel right away due to Corona, you can learn about ways to travel cheaper to France. Maybe you’re not a budget traveler. But if you can save money on your flight, you...
10 Non-Touristy Things to Do in Paris
Would you like to be non-touristy the next time you visit Paris? Maybe you've already participated in the Must-See crowds many times. Try some unusual spots in the City of Lights. There are Plenty! Here are 10 (in alphabetical order) to try! Belleville Neighborhood...
Cassis, France: the Petit French Riviera
Cassis If you’re hitting the French Riviera but want to avoid the big glitzy destinations, don’t overlook Cassis, France. It’s kind of glitzy in its own way, but on a smaller scale. You can find it just east of Marseille on the southern coast touching the...
Go East to Alsace
Alsace is an eastern region of France separated from Germany by the Rhine River. It's a region unique in its own way. Although it is thoroughly French, it bears outward signs of its nearness to Germany. History, also, ties these two countries together. Alsace-Lorraine...
20 Surprising Facts about Paris
There are many notable and surprising facts about Paris, France. Here is a list of 20 facts that maybe you didn't know! Why is Paris called the City of Lights? Paris was one of the first cities to have city lighting. Lanterns were used widely on street corners in the...
Nice: A Warm Heart in France
Nice, France Each time you visit a place it sets down new, deeper layers in your soul. My most recent trip to Nice, France, my third, was like this for me. The first two times I’d zipped through like so many tourists do, in a day or an afternoon. This last time I had...