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Map of French accents: which do you prefer?

From the major division between north and south to the departments split in two - everywhere has one

SEE: The medieval 'bastide' villages of south-west France

Historian Dr Julia Faiers uncovers the story behind the grid streets and arcades that tourists love

Louis Braille’s life and legacy celebrated in French hometown Coupvray

Aged 15, Braille established a writing system that would transform the lives of sight-impaired people globally

Whistlestop weekend in Paris makes perfect ‘memorial tour’ finale

On her final French trip in memory of late husband Patrick, writer Sally Ann Voak enjoys a boogie at a traditional guinguette , views repairs to Notre-Dame, and sleeps in Toulouse-Lautrec’s brothel

Remote French village reinvigorated by women farmers and Basque pigs

A new generation of dynamic young farmers is moving into Urepel, but the telephone reception is not quite as vigorous

Visit magical Marseille and swap snow for sun this Christmas

The vibrant Provençal city that offers 136 hours of December sunshine is full of festive spirit and a wonderful Christmas market

Explore France’s fortified city that repels invaders but not tourists

The Hautes-Alpes outpost of Briançon, which overlooks five valleys, is now a Unesco World Heritage Site

Meet the French craft beer brewers taking wine drinkers by storm

We take you on a boozy tour of museums, fairs and micro-breweries where regional ‘terroir’ is still important

Ideas for autumn half-term holiday break with children in Toulouse

The cosmopolitan capital of Occitanie offers museums, adventures in space, play areas and cafés - we share money-saving tips

Armentières’ historic bridge and bawdy song make for inspiring visit

Journalist Sally Ann Voak continues working through her late husband’s travel bucket list by paying tribute to a beloved friend – and unpicking a saucy French legend

French legends part two: Giants and ghosts – stories from the east

We continue our myths and legends’ series with a look east to a mysterious mountain peak, a ghostly lady, a family of giants and a demonic horse

Five French towns for day trips into Spain, Switzerland and Germany

Walk over the Large Hadron collider or step into a different time zone, we share five places you can stroll from France to a foreign town

MAP: Dive into our 10 refreshing places to cool off in France

From beaches to glacier lakes to wine cellars, we pick out some refreshingly cool beauty spots in France

Royan: Visit this French sea town rebuilt with Brazil-inspired style

It was once known as the Pearl of the Atlantic but was ruined during World War Two. It has been redesigned in a new and innovative way

A tour of France's spectacular clocks

From Paris to Rouen, Bordeaux to Blois, France is home to some extraordinary ‘timepieces’, from the country’s oldest in Paris to restored gems off the beaten track. In no time you will be fascinated

What does the French sign ‘sauf riverains’ mean?

A 'Riverain' is someone who lives or owns land or property near a river, but these signs often appear where there is no river nearby?

The French village whose pocket knives are a cut above

The plateau-perched village of Laguiole in the south of France is where knives and cheese keeps its small economy booming

France's love of slow VW camper van holidays continues to grow

From VW lovers of a certain vintage to a new generation of tourists who love slow paced holidays, camper van rentals in France are hugely popular

Musée des Maisons Comtoises: See how people used to live in France

An open-air museum of traditional houses dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries shows how locals adapted their architecture to the conditions they were living in

A tour of French perfumes from Paris to Provence

The Provençal town of Grasse holds a special place in perfumery history. Join us on a fragrant tour of some special spots to immerse yourself in the industry

5,000 perfumes in the world’s largest archive in Versailles

The Osmothèque, founded in 1990, is the world’s largest archive of perfumes, even houses Napoléon's (recreated) scent

Exploring mountain refuges and cabins in France

Mountain refuges are simple lodges designed for hikers so you will need to walk to them. The rewards are total peace and quiet, plus stunning views

The French hills are just the tonic after a bustling summer

Autumn is the perfect time to explore the hidden villages and charming cities, mountain vistas and outdoor activities of France’s main magnificent and varied mountain ranges

This small French town was refuge to English throne heir until death

The town of Martel in the Lot is rich in truffles and royal history

City portrait of Nantes: Past is fused with present and machines rule

Nantes is shedding its skin to re-emerge greener in every sense of the word. We highlight what not to miss in this intriguing and constantly evolving Pays de la Loire city

Explore the Côte d’Azur in miniature in France's latest exhibition

Miniature worlds are made as realistic as possible, using multiple wall projectors, speakers and emissions of various scents to create a fully-immersive experience

Beautiful private gardens open for Autumn visits in France

The association Open Gardens/Jardins Ouverts, which raises funds for charity, has a colourful array of green spaces and floral corners to visit this autumn

The reason why this southern French village survived the great plague

Uncover the history of the village of Lautrec, which has a beautiful church, a majestic windmill and a special geological feature that helped its inhabitants survive the plague

A guide to fishing in France

From its fêtes and exhibitions to treasured angling spots, France is a country mad on fishing. Here is how to cast out and enjoy just like a local 'pêcheur'

Open Gardens / Jardins Ouverts has real treats in store this year

Explore a medieval style garden to visit at Pornic, Loire- Atlantique and an an eclectic garden in the Lot

This Normandy village is home to a 1,200 year old oak tree

The famous oak tree is so large that it houses two chapels and is 'central to the village in every sense'

France off the beaten path: Beaucaire's majestic fortress chateau

Just north of the Camargue in southern France, the fortress/chateau of Beaucaire - often called 'Sleeping Beauty' - is a commanding formation above its quiet town

Explore France by rail: Tour of the country's steam trains

If you are an enthusiast, do not hesitate to get in touch with your local steam train association. They do not care if newbies do not speak much French, as long as they speak ‘train’!

Saint-Malo: Exploring Brittany’s city of corsairs

Saint-Malo has a long love affair with privateering, so what exactly is the difference between a pirate, a corsair and a privateer?

A tour of circular villages in the south of France

The round villages of the Hérault, Aude and Gard departments in the south of France are first examples of mathematical medieval town planning in Europe

France in bloom: Gardens open to visitors in June

Privately owned French gardens all over the country will be soon open to visitors

3 books that will make you want to visit France

Life from 'Escape to the Chateau' in pages, exploring France by campervan and a love affair spanning decades, countries and genres

Explore the Alpine village in France where winter is only just ending

The picturesque village of Bonneval-sur-Arc near the Italian border endures eight winter months out of twelve

Jardin des Cinq Sens: Yvoire’s magical lakeside garden

A brief history of a special French medieval garden on the banks of Lake Geneva in Haute-Savoie

Cordes-sur-Ciel: The pretty French town in the clouds

A tour through time into the long history of one of southwest France’s earliest revolutionary ‘bastide’ towns

Abandoned, not forgotten: Urbex trend and the lure of French châteaux

Raphaël Lopez and Marie de La Roche have travelled to 15 European countries exploring empty buildings in the peaceful but unlawful ‘pastime’ of Urban Exploration

Secret history of France: Chemin du Puy

Pilgrims’ progress in search of salvation: in her series on the cultural history of France, art historian Julia Faiers explores the Chemin du Puy, a medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela

More to Champagne region in France than a glass of bubbles

From museums and historic buildings to grape-picking, the famous la Champagne that lies east of the Paris region has something for everyone

Vernet-les-Bains: Unique village is living arboretum

Connexion's Jane Hanks explores France's only 'Village d’Arboretum' in the Pyrénees-Orientales

Les Jardins d’Etretat: The garden of seven wonders

Connexion's Jane Hanks is in Normandy, where Monet and modern art vie for attention with stunning box tree configurations

Grandes Serres in Paris: Stepping into a tropical world

Jane Hanks heads indoors to explore the exotic plant collections housed in Paris and elsewhere around France

A window to heaven: 800 years of Metz cathedral

In her series on the cultural history of France, art historian Julia Faiers explores Metz cathedral’s turbulent and illuminating past

The scenic French village and its unusual claim to fame

Jane Hanks heads to Veules-les-Roses, in Seine Maritime, which boasts an unusual claim to French fame. One for future quizzes...

The joy of discovering France by driving: one reader's story

One Connexion reader shares her story of a 'relaxing stop off in the Vineyards of the Languedoc'. If you've made any discoveries, share them with us too...

Inventors remembered in the museums of France

The Connexion dons its thinking cap and tours the country in search of a Eureka! moment in museums and houses dedicated to the memory of great inventions and the minds that made them

Around the lighthouses of France in just 19 hours

Connexion reader Geoff Scott has seen more of France than most. He flew over almost every French lighthouse – in a light aircraft

Where to visit in laid-back La Rochelle

The Connexion advises you to pause for breath in the Atlantic coast’s relaxed ‘White City’

Start your engines to tour France’s motoring heritage

The Connexion sets out in search of car-lovers’ paradise – and finds there’s more than one

Béarning rubber...in southern France

Although Pau is a dream destination for anyone interested in historic cars, it has plenty of other attractions.

Strike up a note-perfect, melodious tour de France

Discovering new areas of France is always a joy, and following a theme can open doors to unexplored places and people you might not otherwise discover

Agri-tourism network gives taste of the country

Anyone wanting to find a new side to the country should try France Passion, a website and guide where farmers, vineyards and local artisans offer free 24-hour stopovers.

A 'grand cru' tour of southern France

A few months after sampling the wines of the north of France, The Connexion heads south in search of the best Bordeaux, Provence, Languedoc and the Côtes du Rhône have to offer

Secret history of buildings - March 2019

Jane Hanks discovers that Locronan, in Finistère, is much more than a perfectly preserved setting for filming historical dramas

Around France in seven engineering marvels

Whether they are ancient or modern, l’Hexagone boasts a fine array of man-made wonders. Samantha David presents a well-engineered selection.

Explore rural France with wine themed mini-break

As vignerons across France reap this year’s grape harvest. Samantha David selects some of her favourite wine regions to explore on holiday. There is something for all wine lovers...

Dordogne gem is always box fresh

Jane Hanks visits a Salignac-Eyvigues garden with 50,000 boxes trimmed and shaped to aesthetic perfection

What lies beneath these French subterranean sites

Away from the prehistoric caves that lure visitors in their droves, France has plenty of lesser-known underground sites to explore. Samantha David selects some of her favourites

Make a beeline for these French record-breakers

Biggest, longest, tallest, smallest, oldest and highest... From central Paris to the wilds of Auvergne, Samantha David picks some of France’s most exceptional locations to visit

Think outside the box for a memorable experience

If sitting on the beach reading a book seems a little too mundane for your summer break, try your hand at one of these unique or unusual activities, hand-picked by Samantha David

Canals calling: find your favourite ‘Little Venice’

Several French towns and cities boast the nickname ‘Little Venice’ thanks to their canals. Here are some of the best...