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Mussidan
Mussidan is a sizable town in the (less visited) north-west of the Dordogne region, north of Bergerac. Escaping from the impact of tourism is perhaps a good thing for a town – but tourism also brings with it facilities, and money for maintenance. Perhaps the best way to describe Mussidan is that it has escaped [...]
Les Restanques, holiday village – review
If you are looking for a family holiday somewhere on the Bay of St Tropez then the Pierre and Vacances holiday village, Les Restanques is well worth considering. I can say that with confidence because we just spent a week there ourselves and I’m very happy to recommend it, having had a great time! The [...]
Grimaud, Provence village
The action packed town of Saint-Tropez stands just a few kilometres from Grimaud, and in dramatic contrast! If you are visiting the Riviera and want to leave the car behind, why not take the train? It is possible to get to Grimaud on a little tourist train that parts from Port Grimaud, the coastal ‘twin’ [...]
Gorges du Tarn
Head inland from the Languedoc coast, and north into the Lozere department, and you will find one of France’s scenic highlights at the Gorges du Tarn. The gorges run for some 40 kilometres along the course of the Tarn River, starting west of Florac finishing near Les Vignes. There is a road that follows along [...]
South of France hotels
If you are planning your visit it is very likely that you will be looking for somewhere to stay! We’ve looked at various options before but I thought I’d list a few hotel options to make your life easier. Some regions have more hotels than others – Gascony has far fewer than the French Riviera [...]
Medieval market halls
One of the more unusual building types that you will come across in southern France – especially in the medieval and bastide towns of the south-west of the country – is the traditional market hall. These typically date back up to 700 years, and have long served as permanent ‘covered markets’. Because of this role [...]
Mont Lozere
Mont Lozere is in the Lozere department, northern languedoc-Roussillon. To the north is the valley of the Lot River, and to the south the valley of the Tarn. The road across the mountain runs from the village of le Bleymard, heading south for about 30 kilometres to eventually reach the town of le Pont-de-Montvert. Leaving [...]
Ardeche villages in photos
The most attractive Ardeche villages receive the award ‘village of character’ from the local tourist authority. Much like the national ‘most beautiful village’ award it is a recognition of the village itself and its attention to preserving the fabric of the village, and also a tribute to the setting of the village – typically running [...]
Ardeche Gorges
The Gorges of the Ardeche are located towards the southern edge of the Ardeche department (Rhone-Alps region) of France, north-west of Avignon. Running for approximately 40 kilometres, they are one of the most impressive scenic highlights in France. A visit usually starts from Vallon Pont d’Arc, an active town a few kilometres to the west. [...]
Fortified villages – Larressingle
Most Francophiles have heard of Carcassonne, the incredible fortified city in Languedoc-Roussillon. Incredible for two reasons – the size and quality of the medieval fortifications, and the knowledge that in the 19th century it was scheduled for demolition, and was only saved at the last minute by the newly appointed ‘Inspector of Historic Monuments’. But [...]