Category: Paris and Nearby

A French Festival Near You

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Whatever time of year you visit France, there will be a French festival happening somewhere. Even in the dead of winter, you’ll find a festive gathering, such as a music festival or a Christmas market. Here’s a summary of festivals in France throughout the year! Mid-February: If you’re near Nice, check out the Carnaval. If you like over-the-top floats, entertainment, and animation…and crowds, this is for you. Have a look at this video to get the flavor:  http://en.nicecarnaval.com/videos February (2nd…

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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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15 Things to do in Paris in the Rain

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Paris had record rainfall in the month of May this year. The rest of France was not spared, either. I was in the Languedoc region in late May and took my turn dodging raindrops. The weather in Europe can be touchy. Fortunately, the sun shines frequently in the late spring and summer, what do you do in Paris when the météo doesn’t cooperate? Here is a list of 15 things to do when it rains (and I purposely avoided the…

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10 Day Trips Under Two Hours from Paris

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You’re visiting Paris for a week or more. But wouldn’t it be nice to take a day trip elsewhere to get a different flavor? Here are some towns you can get to in two hours or less to enjoy a day trip from Paris that offers a different slice of this wonderfully varied country! Amiens In Amiens, you’ll see the 13th-century Cathedral Notre Dame, the largest Gothic cathedral in France. It is one of the main attractions of Amiens. Then…

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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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