Until recently, the Calanques – rocky inlets stretching from Marseille to la Ciotat – belonged only to locals and a few insiders. Today, they rank among the most iconic landscapes in southern France, attracting travelers in search of that idealized Mediterranean, where shades of turquoise and deep blue…

So, you are in Marseille. Maybe for a long weekend, a week, or even a month. And after exploring this vibrant city, sampling its incredible restaurants and even trying your hand at making traditional Marseille soap, you might be wondering where to go next … Don’t worry, I’ve…

We call Aveyron, la France Profonde—the France we rarely hear about, the places we don’t think to visit, yet a region full of hidden treasures. Even I hadn’t considered exploring it, until last autumn, when I finally ventured there. Nestled in what is often called the “diagonal of…

Toulouse may be France’s most overlooked major city – and that’s precisely what makes it so compelling. Lively, soulful and elegant, the Capital of Occitanie region, known as La Ville Rose for the warm pink brick that defines its architecture – typical for the region – is at…

Whenever I’m in Paris, I’m the first to head straight for the Louvre. It’s one of the most comprehensive museums in the world, with more than 30,000 works on display in 9 departments, ranging from Oriental, Greek and Egyptian antiquities to more modern collections of paintings and sculptures….

Often overlooked in favour of the South of France’s glamorous Cannes or multicultural Marseille, Avignon is a city unlike any other. Set along the banks of the Rhône River, this former papal seat was home to seven popes during the 14th century — a legacy still visible in…