Walking in France’s ‘garden of Eden’: a new route in the gorgeous Gorges du Tarn Europe’s longest and most dramatic canyon is replete with exotic wildlife, including kingfishers and beavers, ruined castles and architectural oddities We’re sipping chestnut kir on a terrace overlooking the Tarn River in southern France when we hear excited voices from […]

‘Hearty fare, red gingham tablecloths and chalkboard menus’: my search for the perfect bouchon in Lyon These traditional restaurants are the culinary backbone of this gastronomic capital, but finding the real deal means tackling offal – and red wine – for breakfast I first went to a bouchon as a 20-year-old Erasmus student. I’d accidentally […]

‘Year-round sunshine practically guaranteed’: Le Mourillon is Toulon’s cool, beachy quarter Come for the sun; stay for the seafood, jazz festival, galleries and coastal walking in this laid-back village within a city South of the city centre, Le Mourillon is Toulon’s characterful and unpretentious seaside quarter. Once a fishing village, Le Mourillon is home to […]

Chic and cheerful: 15 hotels for affordable European glamour From a waterfront palace in Greece to a nonna’s house in Italy, these stylish boutique hotels offer character and comfort at a budget-friendly price Continue reading… Go to Source Author: Fiona Kerr

From cool Marseille to a photo-feast in Arles – an art trail through Provence The French cities of Marseille, Aix, Avignon and Arles boast a wealth of museums and festivals showing work by contemporary artists. Here’s how to make the most of a dazzling cultural summer My wife and I moved from London to Marseille […]

On the road with the kids: a family driving holiday in Spain and France Can a long road trip work with children? I set out to relive a classic journey from Bilbao to Saint-Malo I did in my freewheeling 20s The moment came on about day four. A cloud-like mist was drenching our faces, hair and […]

The return of France’s train of marvels: from the Côte d’Azur to the Southern French Alps The reopened Train de Merveilles route takes passengers from the glamour of Nice to a grandiose alpine landscape Nine-thirty on a sunny Tuesday morning, and the platforms at Nice-Ville station are buzzing. Office workers nudge their way past backpackers, […]

From mountain photography to ice-climbing – try it all at this summer festival in the French Alps Improve your mountain skills by day and party by night at the Arc’teryx Alpine Academy in Chamonix After a day spent hiking across the Col d’Entrèves glacier, a sugar hit is required. I descend on the cable car […]

‘A diverse and convivial village’: the urban eye candy of Notre-Dame du Mont, Marseille This buzzy quarter is best enjoyed on one of the many tree-lined terraces, eating gourmet wraps, sipping bio wine and listening to live jazz Named for its 19th-century neoclassical church, Notre-Dame du Mont was once a site where sailors who’d survived […]

‘Wheeling through vineyards and chateaux country’: an ebike tour of France’s Loire valley Gentle cycling is the perfect pace to enjoy the region’s sunflower fields and medieval towns – with gourmet food and fine wine along the way As I cycle in golden light through the Loire’s vineyards, I have the sudden wish to wear […]