La Rochelle: Part III, History and Practical Information
Following a winter wanderbout in La Rochelle by night and by day, a brief accounting of local history, some practical advice, restaurant tips and hotel suggestions for this town for all seasons, whether for a 1-, 2-, or 3-night stay, plus excursions to the nearby islands.
Drome: An Unmistakable If Frigid Air of Provence in Winter
Heading south in the Drome region of the Rhone Valley, the landscapes, agriculture and architecture of Provence gradually assert themselves. Even on frigid winter days we recognize glimpses of Provence in Valence, Grignan, Nyons -- in town squares, lavender fields, truffle plantations, vineyards and olive orchards.
Natural expedition in Vendée or Still life with children
Given the choice between an afternoon with screaming kids and a nature expedition in flat, damp Vendee, south of the Loire by the Atlantic coast...
The French Ardennes, Part 1. Charleville-Mézières: The Runaway Poet, Great Beer Bars and the...
Two hours by train from Paris, in Charleville-Mézières, capital of the French Ardennnes, near the Belgian border, the author glimpses the flight of Arthur Rimbaud, sets out to investigate beer and beer bars and encounters the giant lizard Mawhot.
The French Ardennes, Part 3: The Meuse, Sedan, More Beer and the Big Boar
In which the author continues his beer travels in the Ardennes and finds quirky bars, aspiring breweries, a magnificent view over the Meuse and an enormous boar named Woinic.
Drome Provencale: Medieval Towns, Castles, Olives, Lavender and Silk (Part 3 of 3)
Some impressions and practical information concerning the area covered in Parts 1 and 2 of this award-winning series about Drome Provencale, including Nyons, Taulignan and Grignan and featuring olives, lavender, silk and Madame de Sévigné.
Cycling in the Southwest: The Gorges of the Tarn and the Jonte
Walter J. Moore sets out on an 18-day self-guided cycling tour along the Gorges of the Tarn and the Jonte in southwestern France.
Sea views from the Grand Hotel de Cabourg, Normandy
Normandy's Flowered coast has much to offer in terms of fine hotels and recommendable restaurants. But the fit traveler also needs some exercise, the occasion for some expansive sea views.
Loire Valley: Where There’s a Château There’s a Garden Waiting to Be Discovered
The chateaux of the Loire Valley each tell a story, many stories in fact, mostly told in limestone and slate. But not all of its stories are written in stone. Some are also told in vegetation (gardens, parks, woods and forests) and water (rivers, streams, canals and basins).