At some point in your France travels you’ll likely want to rent a car. It’s 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 practical as they are. Before you hit the road, you should know the following LEGAL and PRACTICAL tips for driving in France. Legal You must be 18 years old to drive in France. You’ll…
Maybe you’ve already seen the big sites in Paris and you’d like something a little more out of the way. Maybe you are tired of crowds but know that there are more treasures to be found in Paris. Here is a list of 10, though there are many more, that you’ll enjoy. Les Galeries: what are they? These are the first malls in France, dating from the 1850s. Gas lighting was implemented right around that time. These are passageways often…
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 for a month, two, or more. You may study abroad. You may have a short-term assignment with a nonprofit, such as a ministry or other charity, you could be an au pair, a retired or self-employed…
Just over an hour south of Paris, France, is a place you might encounter in your dreams, yet you can go there and experience it for yourself. It’s the Loire Valley, known as the garden of France, a peaceful paradise of rolling hills covered by vineyards, fairytale castles, and charming, vibrant towns. So much awaits you to discover, eat, drink, and enjoy in the Loire River Valley. (from the book A French Garden: The Loire Valley.) For the last…
You’ve heard of Lyon, France, and maybe changed trains there. That was my only experience with Lyon, until recently. Many people told me how nice a city it is, how good the food, how much there is to do. I had to visit it for myself. Lyon is a sprawling city, the third largest in France, of a half million people, with more in surrounding suburbs. It’s also known as the second gastronomic capital of France, after Paris. Your stomach…
Imagine you’ve just spent a few days visiting Paris when you get the urge to get out of the city for a day. You don’t want to go too far, but you’d like to experience a smaller town, yet one with history, beauty, and things to do. You’ll find all of this in the town of Compiègne, about an hour’s drive (or 40 minutes by train) northeast of Paris. You might not have ever heard about it unless you’re a…
