Happy New Year! You might be planning (or dreaming about) your trip to France in 2019. I thought it would be a great time to bring up some previous posts you might want to 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 to Dijon, where there’s much…
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…
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…
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…
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. There are a half million people, and more in surrounding suburbs. It’s also known as the second gastronomic capital of France, after Paris. Your…
It’s not too early to think about skiing, and who has better resorts than France? In recent years the level of French resort accommodations has become consistent in quality and comfort. France provides a huge variety of ski experiences with resorts of all sizes, types, and altitudes. From huge, glamorous resorts spreading out for miles across the Alps to the smaller, simpler, less pricey and more homey destinations, there is a ski “station”, as they are called, for every taste…
