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

A window to heaven: 800 years of Metz cathedral

Photo: Stefan Jurca / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 licence

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 / As seen in The Connexion November print edition

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...

Thousands of Heritage Days events cancelled across France

Authorities concerned about the spread of coronavirus

Churchill's grandson: A love of France 'runs in our family'

In the Connexion September edition, Sir Nicholas Soames, the grandson of Winston Churchill, talks to columnist Simon Heffer about his family’s long and abiding ‘love affair’ with France.

Why is a French hamlet called Fleur d’Ecosse?

One reader asks: I was travelling in the Hauts-de-France region and was intrigued by a hamlet called Fleur d’Ecosse in the commune of Ennetières-en-Weppes. Do you know the history behind this name? H.D.

Discover Bordeaux's new art space, set in a former navy base

Seeing submarine basins in new light; Samantha David reports on the new art space in Bordeaux, set in a former navy base.

Historic French chateau to open for European festival

Heritage Loto grant-winning chateau will be open to the public as part of this month’s Journées du Patrimoine.

Events in France this month: art, nature and music festivals

Discover the events not to miss in France this September.

The Paris theatre saved by Marilyn Monroe memorabilia

The sale of a piece of memorabilia that once belonged to Hollywood royalty has wiped out a venue’s €300,000 debts. But the tale of the item’s journey to Paris is more remarkable still, as director Attilio Maggiulli tells Joanna York.

Village Jardin: the unique flower-filled French village

Jane Hanks reports from a unique, flower-filled village where pedestrians rule and 1,000 rose plants adorn the streets.

Vintage vehicles take to streets of Paris

Hundreds of cars, vans, buses, motorbikes and tractors are expected to take part in the 13th annual Traversée de Paris

The ex-Nato airbase where pandemic planes were stored

What do you do with aircraft grounded by the pandemic? Find a place to store them...

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...

Exploring Sigean safari park in southwest France

Samantha David learns about the important conservation work carried out at a safari park in southwest France.

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...

Trouville-sur-Mer: Building the Parisian Riviera

Exploring how the ‘nouveau riche’ built grand villas to display their wealth in France's Trouville-sur-Mer.