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Headings Only

2008-10-23 7:26am

Take a virtual tour of France's noble and magestic northern shore region of Brittany. Wild waves lap against rugged shorelines. The local fare includes tasty crepes accompanied by tart cider....

Midi Pyrenees Picture Gallery

2008-10-22 9:34am

Take a virtual tour of one of France's most underrated regions with this picture gallery of images from the enchanting Midi Pyrenees region. The region boasts peaks of the Pyrenees...

Rodez, France - Little City Nestled in the Mountains

2008-10-20 9:41am

Situated as it is in the middle of the mountains, it can be surprising to come upon Rodez. Unexpectedly urban, this tiny city features wonderful shopping and dining. The citys...

Free Packing Checklist

2008-10-17 10:22am

There is a certain skill to packing well, to remembering the important stuff and knowing what to leave behind. Consult the Free Packing Checklist list before your trip to France...

2008-10-14 7:00am

France boasts some of the world's most ancient, stunning and captivating cathedrals. Each one is a work of art and has its own personality, marked by exquisite carvings and spires...

France Itinerary of Major Cities

2008-10-13 9:38am

This France itinerary is ideal for those who seek out urban adventures, taking travelers along a route that hits some of France's major cities. Start your France itinerary in the...

Cheat the Euro Exchange Rate

2008-10-10 8:16am

With the euro building strength, especially against the dollar, it can make a trip to France and other European countries too expensive. There are lots of ways to cheat that...

Travel Health Insurance Ins & Outs

2008-10-08 6:39am

Before you go to France, you may want to consider purchasing travel medical insurance. It can be helpful for any range of situations and medical emergencies. Still, there is much...

The Smart Way to Get Euros in France

2008-10-07 8:55am

If you visit France, one thing is certain: you will be spending money. Make sure you get the most bang for your euro by following these DOs and DON'Ts for...

Mende, France - Where Urban meets Outdoors

2008-10-05 10:53pm

Mende, in the rural and mountainous Lozere, is a small city of about 12,000 people. This is a wonderful destination for anyone who wants to be in a town, but...

Paris Shopping Picture Gallery

2008-9-25 2:29am

Want to wander the streets of Paris, but you don't have the time or money for a visit right now? That's OK. You cam virtually window shop with my Paris...

France Travel Time Map

2008-9-24 8:54am

Consult this detailed map, which is ideal for planning your trips throughout France between the major French cities. The map displays travel times both by train and by road. Get...

Paris Eiffel Tower Picture Gallery

2008-9-23 8:54am

The Eiffel Tower is easily one of Paris' most recognizable landmarks. It is also Paris' most popular attraction. It is practically an emblem for France. See a gallery of Eiffel...

The Rude French - Truth or Myth?

2008-9-21 8:13am

Anytime I mention France to people, I invariably here the same questions. "Don't the French hate Americans?" or "Aren't the French rude?" or inquiries along the same vein. It couldn't...

France on the Cheap

2008-9-20 10:53pm

Many people think France is just too expensive, but that isn't always true. There are tricks and tactics to make France travel fit within a budget and be affordable. Find out...

France Quotations

2008-9-18 12:43pm

France has captivated the minds of many for centuries. It has inspired writing and art. Quotations about France are a nice way to feel sentimental about France, even if you...

France Travel Packing Tips

2008-9-17 8:55am

There are few things more crucial to a successful trip to France than a well-packed bag. Make a mistake and you'll forget something important (like your passport or prescription medication...

Halloween in France

2008-9-17 1:54am

Halloween is a great time to visit France. The holiday, barely recognized just a few years ago, still has that young, fresh and enthusiastic feel in France. It isn't mainstream...

Using French Keyboards

2008-9-15 2:08pm

If you visit a cyber cafe in France, you may be surprised to find letters in all the wrong places on the keyboard. That's because the layout is different, which...

Weather in France

2008-9-14 9:18am

Weather in France can be important knowledge when planning a France vacation. Get detailed weather data on major French cities to help you plan your trip. For instance, find out whether...

Roadtrip to France

2008-9-10 7:58am

In one city, you visit a stunning gothic cathedral. In another town, you sip cafe au lait next to an outdoor market with lush fresh produce and intense cheeses. Then...

Peugeot Open Europe Buyback Lease Program

2008-9-09 11:11pm

If you will be renting a car in France for 17 days or more, you can save money, drive a brand-new car, rent even if you're under age 25, and...

Promenade des Anglais

2008-9-08 8:47am

Easily one of my favorite places on the planet is Nice's Promenade des Anglais. It was always easy to imagine this being the early 20th century playground of aristocrats. There...

Top Budget Paris Hotels

2008-9-06 12:12am

Paris is one of the world's most expensive cities, but it's also one of the top tourist attractions. Find out how to conserve your cash for the finer thinks, like...

Paris Cafe Picture Gallery

2008-9-05 1:14pm

Paris cafes are possibly the most well-known image of the City of Light. The Paris Cafe is more than a place to sip coffee. It is an institution in Paris,...

Disneyland Paris

2008-9-04 9:38am

Disneyland Paris provides a great family vacation, while allowing the family to also enjoy the city of Paris a few minutes away. Get all the basics you need before visiting...

French Table Etiquette

2008-9-03 8:17pm

When it comes to table etiquette in France, be sure there is nothing lost in translation. There are several differences between the French table manners and eating habits and American...

Avoid Looking Like a Tourist

2008-9-02 7:46am

When in France, if you do as the French do you will probably have a much more enjoyable experience. A few lessons in French culture will help you understand why...

France Travel in September

2008-9-01 9:00am

September is a simply divine month to visit France. The tourist season is winding down, but you still get most of the positive aspects of summertime like warm weather and...

France Travel Time and Distance Calculator

2008-8-29 9:06am

Check the travel times and distances between major French cities, including Paris, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon and Le Havre. A simple pulldown menu automatically show the distance in miles and estimated...

The French Schedule

2008-8-25 9:11am

If you arrive in France, you might be coping with more than jet lag when it comes to timing. You will also discover that dining, shopping and sightseeing must bend...

Logis de France, the Perfect Lodging Choice for Foodies

2008-8-24 9:56pm

Logis de France is an organization of 300-plus smaller hotels, mostly akin to an American inn, which are almost always connected to a fine restaurant. The Logis de France are...

French Lodging Spotlight: Gîtes de France

2008-8-24 9:17pm

Gîtes de France provide not only an inexpensive lodging option in France, but Gîtes de France are a choice that would be splendid to make even if money were no...

Subscribe to France Travel Newsletter or France Travel 101 E-Course

2008-8-19 10:04am

If you want to keep up-to-date on the latest France news, destination features and travel tips, be sure to subscribe to France Travel Newsletter. While you're there, brush up on...

Travel Budget Calculator

2008-8-17 10:28am

The Travel Budget Calculator allows you to enter your trip budget, including your spending money and all of your typical travel expenses, to determine if you have enough money for...

Learn French Street Signs

2008-8-13 8:26pm

If you plan to visit France, first you should consult my new visual step-by-step tutorial on popular and common street signs in France. It is very important to get familiar...

Albi, France

2008-8-08 6:27am

The pretty village of Albi France, with its old building facades and its quaint old town, is probably best known for an ugly chapter in its history. This was the...

France Travel in August

2008-8-01 12:36am

August is normally a great vacation month, but in France (and especially in the north) it can be problematic. Most people get the month of August off in France, meaning...

Capital Cities of the Languedoc

2008-7-29 1:01pm

The Languedoc region includes five departments, and each one has an amazingly diverse personality for such a small geographic area. You could easily plan an entire vacation around exploring each...

Tour de France 2008 Final Stage - Étampes to Paris Champs-Élysées

2008-7-27 9:03am

Today is the finale of the three-week Tour de France competition. I'm a little sad I won't be able to turn on the TV and see some amazing French countryside,...

Tour de France 2008 Stage 20 - Cérilly to Saint-Amand-Montrond

2008-7-26 2:57pm

Just one day away from the end of the Tour de France, the cyclists have a time trial in central France. The day's cycling begins in Cérilly (in its debut...

Tour de France Stage 19 - Rouanne to Montluçon

2008-7-25 11:24am

With the end in sight, the Tour de France today finally levels off, as cyclists travel from Rouanne to Montluçon. Here is the Tour de France description of Rouanne: Famous throughout the...

Tour de France 2008 Stage 18 - Bourg-dOisans to Saint-Étienne

2008-7-24 3:30pm

Today's Tour de France passes through some of France's amazing Alpine territory. It starts in Bourg-dOisans, cuts through Grenoble, and ends in Saint-Étienne. This should be a day to turn...

Tour de France Stage 17 - Embrun to LAlpe-dHuez

2008-7-23 11:09am

Today's Tour de France cuts through the stunning High Alpes, or Hautes-Alpes. It starts in picturesque Embrun, and ends in LAlpe-dHuez. The Tour de France description of Embrun: Many treasures from the...

Tour de France 2008 Stage 16 - Cuneo, Italy to Jausiers, France

2008-7-22 6:16pm

Today's stage crosses the Italian and French Alps, and cyclists are pedaling through the highest pass in all of Europe before a steep downhill race. The days' cycling begins in...

Tour de France 2008 Stage 15 - Embrun, France to Prato Nevoso, Italy

2008-7-20 11:45am

Today's Tour de France starts in the Alps of France, but quickly moves into Italy. This is all followed by a rest day in Cuneo, Italy. Today's route starts in...

Tour de France 2008 Stage 14 - Nîmes to Digne-les-Bains

2008-7-19 8:14am

Today's Tour de France route takes one of the more scenic journeys, one in fact made famous by the writings of Peter Mayle, through the lovely Luberon, into Provence and...

Tour de France Stage 13 - Narbonne to Nîmes

2008-7-19 8:00am

The Tour de France passes through one of my favorite areas of France, the Languedoc and Cathar Country. The day starts in Narbonne, a lovely Languedoc city and beach village,...

Tour de France Stage 12 - Lavelanet to Narbonne

2008-7-17 3:31pm

Today's Tour de France passes through the lovely Midi Pyrenees and Languedoc regions, riding from Lavelanet to Narbonne. Here is the Tour de France blurb about Lavelanet: Situated in Cathar country at...

Tour de France Stage 11 - Lannemezan to Foix

2008-7-16 2:54pm

Today's Tour de France should have some interesting scenery as well as challenges as the cyclists hit the beautiful High Pyrenees. The day starts on Lannemezan and ends in the...

Tour de France Stage 10 - Pau to Hautacam Argelès-Gazost

2008-7-14 7:38pm

Today's Tour de France route passes through one of the most magical, most awe-inspiring areas of France. The day begins in Pau, a city surrounded with breathtaking mountain peaks. It...

Tour de France 2008 Stage 9 - Toulouse to Bagnères-de-Bigorre

2008-7-13 9:12am

Today's Tour de France starts in a city that is just a must-see in France. Called the "pink village," I have fond memories of sipping coffee at the Place du...

Tour de France Stage 8 - Figeac to Toulouse

2008-7-12 8:28am

The Tour de France enters one of my favorite corners of France, the Midi Pyrenees Region in lovely and undiscovered Southwest France. The day ends in one of France's prettiest...

Tour de France Stage 7 - Brioude to Aurillac

2008-7-11 11:23am

Today's Tour de France continues through the challenges of the Massif Central, which is a lovely area to visit as a tourist for its expansive and impressive landscapes. The tour...

Tour de France Stage 6 - Aigurande to Super-Besse Sancy

2008-7-10 5:36pm

Today's Tour de France route cuts through the lovely and impressive Massif Central, or an elevated stretch from central to southern France. It starts in Aigurande and travels to Super-Besse...

Tour de France Stage 5 - Cholet to Chateauroux

2008-7-09 8:04am

Today's Tour de France stage is the longest of the 2008 tour, and features a straight and flat course of 232 kilometers from Cholet to Chateauroux. Here is the Tour de...

Tour de France Stage 4 - Cholet

2008-7-08 9:48am

Today's Tour de France is a short but intense individual time trial that starts and ends in Cholet, France. This is the official Tour de France blurb about Cholet: Situated in the...

Tour de France Stage 3 - Saint-Malo to Nantes

2008-7-07 8:01am

The Tour de France passes through some picturesque Northern France territory today, starting at the shore town of Saint-Malo and ending in the prefecture Loire-Atlantique city of Nantes. Here is the...

Tour de France 2008 Stage 2 - Auray to Saint-Brieuc

2008-7-06 11:14am

Today's stage travels 164.5 km of the lovely Brittany region, starting in the village of Auray and ending in the bay city of Saint-Brieuc. Brittany, along France's northern shore, is...

Tour de France 2008 Stage 1 - Brest to Plumelec

2008-7-05 8:10pm

The start of the Tour de France begins this year in Brest. Here is the official Tour de France blurb about Brest: Westernmost tip of continental Europe, a prow looking towards...

Tour de France 2008

2008-7-02 4:47pm

Tour de France 2008 will run Saturday through July 27th, and the 95th Tour de France will consist of 21 stages spanning 3,500 kilometres. We will have daily blog coverage,...

Nudism in Southwest France

2008-6-26 9:59am

Nudism isn't as shocking as you might think, at least not in an epicenter of getting naked in Southwest France. In fact, the Languedoc region even puts out an official...

Principality of Andorra

2008-6-24 8:09am

Andorra is its own little world, and not just because its a 290-square-mile independent principality (or a fifth the size of Rhode Island). Nestled atop some of the highest peaks...

Basque Language for Travelers

2008-6-21 1:07pm

You could easily visit French or Spanish Basque Country without knowing a word of Basque (called Euskara in Basque). Since the Basques are vehemently defensive of their culture, however, try...

Basque Country

2008-6-20 12:28pm

The French Basque Country has timbered row houses lining its river. If you have been elsewhere in Southwest France, the architecture can be a shocking contrast. Instead of sandy stonewashed...

Le Moulin Rouge Tickets and Packages

2008-6-17 9:55pm

The Moulin Rouge cabaret show is easily one of Paris' most famous nightlife activities, but it isn't always easy finding tickets once you arrive in the City of Light. I've...

Visit During the Tour de France

2008-6-13 12:07pm

Have you always dreamed of seeing the cool Tour de France action in person? It doesn't need to be a dream. You can still find rooms along the Tour de...

Cathar Country

2008-6-06 2:56pm

One of the bloodiest points in the history of this area revolves around the rise and eventual massacre of the Christian Cathar religious sect in the 12th century. Tourists can...

Rhone Valley Travel Planner

2008-6-06 2:53pm

My fellow About.com guide just returned from the fabulous Rhone Valley of France, and he has compiled an amazing Rhone Valley Travel Planner. Here is an excerpt: The first time I...

Southwest France

2008-6-06 1:39pm

In Southwest France, sunkissed rooftops blaze a burnt orange. There are sweeping vistas of both mountains and sea. The food is robust, and the wines dont mess around. The narrow...

France Destination Spotlight: Limoux

2008-6-06 1:26pm

Most of the world credits the invention of sparkling wine to the Champagne region, and to Dom Perignon. The legend, and possible real story, is far more interesting. According to...

French Sea Water Spas

2008-6-06 6:30am

A popular pursuit in France since the 1960s, the Aquitaine is a prime destination for pursuit of thalassotherapy. Thalassotherapie, translated to mean sea water cure, was discovered by a Tour...

Cannes Film Festival Today - Kung Fu Panda and Waltz with Bashir

2008-5-15 11:37am

There are two very different animated films being screened at today's Cannes Film Festival. Waltz with Bashir, in competition, is screening today at the Cannes Film Festival. The animated film...

Cannes Film Festival 2008

2008-5-11 8:18pm

Cannes Film Festival 2008 is from May 14 - 25. Each year, celebrities and tourists alike swarm this upscale French Riviera city for a celebration of the film industry. Follow...

Mother's Day in France - Celebrate Two Mother's Days

2008-5-05 7:03am

Think one Mother's Day a year simply isn't enough? American moms can get a second dose of attention a month later by celebrating France's Fête des Mères on May 25....

France Travel Deals of the Week

2008-4-25 3:02pm

Planning a getaway to France? Why pay more than you have to? Here are some of the hottest France travel deals on airfare, lodging, tours, you name it. Live like...

Worst 5 France Travel Rookie Mistakes

2008-4-25 7:30am

You're planning your first trip to France, and it's something you've dreamed of for years. But there are several rookie France travel mistakes that could make your visit less enjoyable,...