Fresh Ideas for France Travel from Oliver’s France I hope your summer is going even better than you expected, with the Covid reality still with us. Some travel has resumed, but much international travel hasn’t yet. We travelers are impatient and eager to get going, aren’t we? But we sometimes have to wait. However, we won’t be idle as we wait. Oliver’s France won’t be idle, either. In the coming month, I plan to overhaul (and freshen up!) the appearance…
When people hear the name Versailles, they often think of the opulent château. The Château de Versailles is a must-see on many a tourist’s list! This was where King Louis XIV moved when he wanted to escape to the suburbs. But did you know that the town of Versailles is worth a serious visit as well? The two of them, town and château, make a fabulous day trip to the outskirts of Paris. In this post, you’ll learn the broad…
Many people know French specialties like foie gras, Bordeaux wine, croissants, and crêpes. You may even know about Tarte Tatin and Cassoulet. Some are national (and international) favorites and others are regional. But here are a few delicacies you may never have heard of. Prepare to have your palate educated! Sel de Guérande: In Brittany, there exists a very special kind of salt. It’s expensive, rare, and sought-after for gastronomic restaurants. Guérande is a medieval town in southern Brittany. The…
Do you have travel fever? With all the talk of France opening up, as it will soon to vaccinated or virus-free visitors from select countries, you may be thinking about what your next trip will be like. Will you head to the beaches, to Paris, to the Alps, or one of the wine regions? There are so many choices, so I’ve compiled over 25 regional and topical posts that will present some new ideas for you as you dream about…
Oldest in France One of the things we love about France and Europe, in general, is the history we see all around us. Many historical events are remembered with the help of the buildings that still stand, giving us the opportunity to view and imagine what it was like. In this post, you’ll have a quick survey of some of the “oldest” France has to offer, places still available to view or take part in. Enjoy! Oldest Monument: Les Arènes…
When you think of Provence, France, you might think of lavender fields, olive groves, rocky outcrops topped with walled villages. You’re thinking of an area called the Luberon, at the foot of the Luberon mountain range. This area was put on the tourist map by Peter Mayle with his book, A Year in Provence. People discovered the villages of the Luberon area and were enchanted. Pure Provence! Your Itinerary in the Luberon Here is a circuit of 8 towns you…
