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.

The Cx symbol denotes subscriber-only articles.

Got a question about where to visit in France? Get in touch at news@connexionfrance.com

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

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

Jardins ouverts: Explore a magical Mediterranean garden in Hérault

Catriona McLean and her husband Charles from Scotland transformed open uncultivated vineyard land into Le Jardin des Rossignols

Discover the sumptuous Hôtel de Beauharnais in Paris

The historic Empire style townhouse has a rich and illustrious history and today serves as the German Ambassador to France's luxurious residence

This French village sits between heaven and earth

Art historian Julia Faiers unpicks the threads that weave together the Roman and medieval settlements of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges in the Pyrenees

€180million facelift for WW1 bombarded French basilica

Notre-Dame de Brebières basilica in the Somme was hit by 2,000 bombs but its golden statue held true to 'prophecies' not to fall until the war ended

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

Rooftop snapper reveals private Paris

Connexion's Samantha David meets an amateur lensman whose images of rooftops and residents are an internet smash

The French village that celebrates Saint Valentine every day

The village of Saint-Valentin, in Indre, is a popular destination for lovers, partly because of its name and partly because of its international outlook

Rodez, a tale of two cities in the pink

In her series on the cultural history of France, art historian Julia Faiers marvels at the medieval treasures of Rodez, a city in Aveyron once split in two

A brief tour of France’s seasonal crèches and markets

Even though Christmas 2020 in France will be an unusual one, seasonal specialities will still continue where possible

The Paris church visited by royals and even John Lennon

The ‘hidden’ church of St Michael’s in Paris has been welcoming visitors since 1834, among them ambassadors, members of the British Royal Family and musicians

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

Nantes' new 1.2 hectare tropical oasis

Jane Hanks meets the visionary gardener in charge of turning an old quarry into a remarkable visitor garden

Small, light and simplified: My electric plane experience

Samantha David takes to the skies in electric plane Pipistrel’s Alpha Electro. Here’s what she thought of her first 'bat' flight

France has got great snow but will the skiers come?

What will the upcoming ski season look like in France with coronavirus and travel limitations circling?

Introducing Le Collectionist, the luxury rental home company

Le Collectionist: It’s not an ‘Airbnb for the rich’ but a luxury home experience...

Tide turns Mont-Saint-Michel into an island

Video shows how French World Heritage site was cut off from the mainland for several hours

Best festivals and events in France October 2020

What's on this month in France? A fashion exhibition, a festival about architecture, a day celebrating nature and more...