The Covered Passages of Paris: Step Into Another Era Tucked between busy streets and hidden behind ordinary-looking entrances are the covered passages of Paris, elegant glass-roofed arcades that offer a glimpse into another era. Most of these passages were built...
Heatwave in Paris The last week of June, 2026, marked the worst heat wave Paris has known in the history of recorded temperature. (This in a non-verified statement from the man who fixed my AC three times during my week in Paris.) While I was there, the heat never let...
Six Charming Small Towns to Discover in Normandy Normandy has a way of surprising you... With charming towns at every turn! Beyond its famous landmarks—Mont-Saint-Michel, the D-Day beaches, and Rouen’s cathedral—there are smaller towns quietly holding onto the...
Where the Lavender Grows in Provence Each summer, Provence turns purple. Lavender spills across plateaus, rolls over hillsides, edges country roads, and perfumes whole stretches of the countryside. But for travelers, one question is central: Where should you go to...
Is Paris Calling You This Year? You have a trip to Paris on your schedule this year… Or maybe you’re only dreaming about it. This may be your year to go! If so, this exciting news is for you! I have just published the 2026 Edition of Magical Paris: Over...
Grasse, Perfume Landmark of France Just a short distance from Cannes on the Riviera lies the town of Grasse. Grasse has been known as a perfume capital since the 19th century. In fact, as you stroll through the narrow streets of the Old Town, you might just...
Guérande: A Place and a Taste Guérande is a walled town on the edge of the Grande Brière marsh, west of the city of Nantes. It is on the southeast edge of the Brittany peninsula. There’s something special about Guérande: Salt. Earlier than the 16th...
Dinan: A Treasure Revisited The Brittany town of Dinan so impressed me that I posted on this town twice over the years. Well, it’s time for an updated post, since I just visited again this year. (My third visit… What does that tell you?) Although...
Vannes The Gallo-Roman town of Vannes was the second-to-last stop on my Brittany Road Trip. A highly recommended stop! Of course, you can always extend your trip further west if you have extra time. Check out this blog post for ideas on destinations. ...
Rennes, Gateway to Brittany (but worth a visit for itself too!) Brittany, France is on my radar. Is it on yours? Some people aren’t sure where Brittany is, like a woman I spoke to just today about France. In the past, Brittany wasn’t on my radar as much...
On the Road in Brittany Each year when I travel to France, I have a theme. Last year, it was Provence, and the year before, I went to Alsace. (And Paris is always in there too.) This year… it’s Brittany in northwest France. Brittany touches the English Channel...
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...