Explore France

Art historian Dr Julia Faiers wonders at the majesty of Saint-Pierre abbey

Voting is now open for the competition, which is part of a France 3 series. We take a look at the villages in the running

In her series on the cultural history of France, art historian Julia Faiers separates fact from fiction at two iconic nineteenth-century cafés in Moulins and Toulouse 

Montreuil may not be the obvious place to house orchards of Mediterranean fruit, but it has supported a booming industry and an unlikely man-made microclimate for nearly 400 years

The thermal spa village of Cauterets has a long history of welcoming France’s famous names, who came to relax and enjoy its stunning scenery

The villages are famous for their names - and especially popular with couples on Valentine’s Day

The town’s annual lemon festival, which takes places this month, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors but has to rely on imported fruits after the local industry fell into decline

In her series on the cultural history of France, art historian Dr Julia Faiers traces the fascinating past of this Mediterranean port city through three of its historic buildings

Story of a young girl and her kittens has influenced the architecture of La Romieu, classified one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France

Which French city was home to the earliest mechanical clock? Who was Jean-André Lepaute? We delve into France's history of 'timekeepers'