10-Day Train Tour through Western France Taking a train tour is a great idea, especially if you don’t want to bother with renting a car and having to drive, navigate, and pay tolls. You may have seen the 10-Day Eastern France Train Tour in my earlier post. Here...
Rocamadour (Roh cah ma do er) Rocamadour is not just an exotic name. It's an exotic destination, a cliffside village built on three levels in the southwest of France. It's located in a region called La Dordogne, home to stunning views and historical...
The Atlantic Coast of France Most people have at least heard of the French Riviera, so these smaller glitzy beaches of the Mediterranean come to mind when you think of beaches in France. However, the Atlantic Coast of France consists of a multitude of memorable...
The Atlantic Coast of France is one long strand of hundreds of fabulous beaches. You may have already read about La Vendée, called the Sunshine Coast, but now we’ll take a look at Charente-Maritime, the department just below La Vendée. It’s here that you find the...
La Vendée is a department on France’s Atlantic coast that bears the nickname, La Côte de Lumière, or of the sunshine (Lumière means light) coast, with a greater number of sunny days than the rest of the west coast. If you look at a map of France, you’ll notice a very...
The Pyrénées Region Every corner of France contains landscapes, history, food, and unique treasures. The southwest corner is no exception. It may be off the beaten path, but well worth the trek. Go by train to Bordeaux or Toulouse then rent a car for your southwest...
The medieval village of St. Emilion The medieval village of St. Emilion, though small and nestled among miles of grapevines, is known around the world by its name alone. That name describes a sought-after wine that has been produced here for centuries. The wine is...
Dijon and Bordeaux In July 2022, I went to France for the first time in 3 years. Despite the heat wave, it was good to be on French soil, my second hometown! This post features visits to Dijon and Bordeaux. Two years ago, when Covid canceled everyone’s plans including...
Ancient and Modern You can enjoy modern France and be intrigued by Ancient France in two towns in southern France: Nimes and Arles. They aren’t far apart, so you can satisfy your historical curiosity alongside contemporary French culture on the same trip! (It’s like...
Cognac It’s not just high-end French brandy. It’s also a town of over 18,000 inhabitants. Cognac lies about 60 miles north of Bordeaux (100 km) and is close to the towns of Angouleme and Saintes. In Cognac, there is more there to see than only Cognac distillery tours...
The France side of the France-Spain border might be out of your way, but it’s well worth the detour. In this southwest corner, you’ll discover a wide variety of towns and experiences, from glitzy beaches to pilgrimage sites. Starting in the far southeast corner of...
When you hear the name Bordeaux, most people think of wine or vineyards… St. Emilion, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec…enough to make you reach for a stemmed glass and a chunk of cheese. But you might be amazed to know other outstanding features of this southwestern...