9 Hidden Gems in Paris This is Oliver's France's 200th post! If you’re willing to get away from the tourist crowds and discover hidden gems in Paris, you’re in for a treat. Here are 9 hidden gems you’ll enjoy discovering. They are scattered throughout the city. The...
A Golden City in the South: Aix-en-Provence About 20 miles north of Marseille lies the golden city of Aix-en-Provence. (Aix is pronounced X.) No visit to Provence would be complete without coming here at least for a couple of days. That said, there’s enough to...
Villefranche-sur-Mer Villefranche-sur-Mer is one of my favorite places on the Mediterranean. It’s just two stops on the train from Nice, so it’s perfect for a day trip. All of the wonderful day trips possible from Nice are also near Villefranche. For a longer...
Amazing Eze Village...Perched over the Riviera No trip to the Nice area would be complete without visiting Eze Village, perched on the steep hillside between Monaco and St. Jean-Cap-Ferrat. It hangs over the Mediterranean like a medieval jewel, 1400 feet above sea...
Hyères, A Dream Destination If you’re looking for a dreamy destination on the Cote d’Azur, one that isn’t overrun by tourists, consider Hyères (pronounced Yaire). But it isn’t a village, either, with about 50,000 full-time inhabitants. You’ll see right away why...
The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics… it’s the big news in Paris, along with political upheavals. Paris is among only Los Angelas and London to host the summer Olympic Games three times: in 1900, in 1924, and one hundred years later in...
The Provence Adventure (with More to Come) Though I’ve been to Provence many times, there are places I still hadn’t seen and wanted to visit. This was not only to experience them, but as research for a Provence guide I’m planning to write. Although I intended to...
Brittany: An Array of Adventures Is Brittany, France on your radar? It should be if you love picturesque villages, serene landscapes, great food, and smaller towns. What’s not to love? You’ll find quite a few posts in Oliver’s France on Brittany. I’ll give you...
5 Islands Off the French Riviera What’s as great as the French Riviera? An island that captures the same magic, but on a smaller less touristy scale. Sound good? Read on! Here are 5 islands (and peninsulas) off the southern coast of France. In French, a...
Discover Fontainebleau About an hour’s drive south of Paris you’ll find an idyllic town that’s long been a favorite day or weekend trip for Parisians: Fontainebleau. You’ll want to learn more about this destination for several reasons and you’ll enjoy them all!...
9 Beautiful Streets in Paris Paris has many beautiful streets. You’ll likely see headlines such as “Paris’ prettiest streets” in travel blogs. Quite honestly, it would be difficult to say which streets are THE prettiest, but here are 9 of them you should visit,...
In Provence, the fairy tale is real! Provence is popular for a reason. An abundance of picturesque villages emerge from another century. Cobbled alleys, centuries-old towers, cliffside towns overlooking lush valleys of olive and cherry groves... What’s not to love?...