Category: East and Southeast

Three French Christmas Markets: A Video Journey

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Come visit three Christmas markets in different regions of France! One of the wonderful things about Christmas in Europe is Christmas Markets. France has its share! Here are three of them, Alsace (the region closest to Germany), Provence (has its own southern style), and Paris. You’ll see some similarities and some differences. Hope you enjoy them. (These are not my own videos, but those of other travelers.) The first Christmas video is in Alsace, home of the most legendary Christmas…

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A French Alps Vacation

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If nature is in your soul, the French Alps are your paradise, with unparalleled beauty everywhere you turn. That’s why, for hikers, skiers, climbers, paragliders, campers, and walkers, the French Alps are a top destination and Europe’s highest mountain chain. This is the case in summer as well as winter. If lovely villages with mountain charm are more your speed, there are plenty of those as well. Or bigger towns. Or thermal resorts. The highest mountain in the French Alps,…

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10 (or more) Ideas for Your Next Trip to France

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Happy New Year! You might need ideas for your next trip to France, since you’re planning (or dreaming about) about it in 2019. I thought it would be a great time to bring up helpful previous posts you might read (or read again) to give you ideas! Here are 10 of them. (Just click on the link!) Eastern and Northern France Try Annecy, with its pristine lake and lovely canals. Annecy, Jewel of the Alps. In the Bourgogne region, head…

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Champagne: A Pleasure and a Region

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In France, the word “champagne” means two things. First, Champagne (capitalized) is a sizeable province in the northeast of France. It lies between Paris and Belgium. Within this area lies the champagne wine region, the second meaning, for which the area is known around the world. Wine has been produced here since the middle ages, and it’s the only place in the world where you can find real champagne. Any other sparkling wine has to have another name. In other parts…

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Discover the Land of Burgundy

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Burgundy (Bourgogne) is a word you’ve likely heard. Burgundy wine is perfect for Coq au Vin, and of course, yummy to simply sip on. But Burgundy is also a hilly, agricultural region in the east of France where these famous wines are born. The eastern part touches the  Jura mountain region. You can reach Dijon, a great jumping-off spot, by TGV high-speed train in about 1 hour 40 minutes from Paris. In Burgundy you find more than wine. There are…

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Le Jura, a Natural Wonder in the East

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Tucked away in the east of France between Burgundy and Switzerland is a place you may not have heard of but must discover, le Jura. Breathtaking beauty surrounds you in this lake region, seventy lakes and basins, both natural and manmade, to keep you busy. The region gets its name from the Jura mountains to the east. You come here to de-stress from the demands of life, while you hike, bike, sail, windsurf, ski, swim, rock climb, camp, visit unforgettable…

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