Explore France

France offers a vast array of great escapes, regions and cities to explore and world-leading visitor attractions. In this section you can find inspiration for everything from a grand day out to a holiday to remember.

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Brown cat and white cat on fallen tree in woods, brown cat is sitting looking up as white cat stretches over the top to pass

See France through the eyes of a cat

American cat lover Teresa Kaufman enjoys countryside walks and has spent 18 years travelling the country with her two cats

Gardens open for charity in 2018

As the Open Gardens/Jardins Ouverts gets set for another big year, founder Mick Moat spoke to Jane Hanks

Unique Lot beach full of dinosaur footprints

There is a special beach in central France that is unlike any other anywhere in the world and it has revealed new information about life on Earth 150 million years ago

God’s hostel still raises a glass for good causes

Emily Commander visits Beaune in Burgundy, where the town’s historic almshouse plays host to an annual charity wine auction

A bastide in true French style was built... in Sussex

Aquitaine’s fortified medieval ‘new towns’ called bastides are well known but Michael Delahaye discovers one in Britain and it has a singular link with the French originals

Green news in May

A tropical creation in the north and pioneering recycling in Paris

The steady rise of slow tourism in rural France

Every edition we assess an aspect of the French zeitgeist. This month: the trend towards less frantic holidays

Photo of the month: April

Every month we will be sharing a photograph of a place in France. This month we take a look at the Abbaye de Sénanque in Vaucluse, Provence.

Searching for the scariest place in France...

France is dotted with spine-tingling destinations, from creepy churches and chateaux to chilling museums

Ups and downs of historic Gothic giant in Beauvais

Emily Commander visits northern France, where the town’s behemoth, majestic cathedral has had a very eventful history

Unique Lot beach is full of dinosaur footprints

The site, which has neither sand nor sea now, has recently been opened to the public for guided tours

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

Photo of the month: Etretat

Every month we will be sharing a photograph of a place in France. This month we take a look at the Manneporte rock formation and beach at Etretat in Normandy

Sea takes its toll on historic device

The tidal gauge has recorded sea level in France for more than 100 years is in urgent need of repair, operators say

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

Pay a visit to France’s finest natural wonders

From spectacular waterfalls to sublime rock formations, mother nature’s best work in France is truly compelling

Departure point is a fine destination in its own right

Architecture: Created for the World Fair in 1900, Gare de Lyon in Paris harks back to the glitzy era of rail travel, says Emily Commander

Colmar beats Paris in European tourism poll

Picturesque Alsace town listed third in Top 20 European destinations for 2018

Photo of the month: La Rochelle

Every month we will be sharing a photograph of a place in France. This month we take a look at the historic Charente-Maritime port of La Rochelle.

Take a detour and pay a visit to a hidden charmer

When travelling through France this year, turn off the autoroute and drop in one of its lesser-known towns. Samantha David makes her selection of hidden gems to discover

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...

Why cycle cafes are a growing hit in France

They have been popular in the UK and America for a decade, but finally, venues for cyclists to enjoy a coffee and a chat have gained a foothold in France