Avoid the crowds: Calmer alternatives to popular French sites to visit Swap queues and traffic for peace and quiet at these close-but-calmer options
Strong public support for new TGV lines in south-west France More than three quarters (78%) of people polled nationally support the Toulouse-Bordeaux and Bordeaux-Dax lines despite considerable local opposition
The pros, cons and subsidies of wine tourism in France Winemaker Jonathan Hesford reflects on ‘oenotourisme’ growth and the impact on his business Visas for France: how often are they refused and for what reasons? French tourist detained in Egypt over ‘4,500-year-old’ souvenir statue France maintains its position as world's leading tourist destination
Staff go on 'unlimited strike' at Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy Workers at the popular site are demanding better pay, improved working conditions and more staff
Are modern underpants really shown in medieval French church window? The Troyes tourist board had initially joked that a pair of men's briefs were added to the stained glass window during restoration
Anger from hotel industry at go-ahead for Paris to triple tourist tax Critics say the move will make the capital the ‘most-taxed’ in Europe and hurt competitiveness
Did you know? One French department does not have passenger trains Can you guess which? Clue: It has a low population density compared to the national average
US tourist who is Bordeaux botulism victim left unable to see or talk The 41- year-old architect, from Los Angeles, was among 15 clients who contracted the disease after eating sardines at a wine bar
What is ‘Paris syndrome’ and does it really exist? First identified in 1989, the culture shock that strikes some Japanese tourists is very real but overblown by the media
How virtual reality is creating new opportunities for French tourism Tourists can explore Notre-Dame, the Eiffel Tower and Juno beach without setting foot in the country
The amazing popularity of cycling holidays in France More and more people are taking to bikes - and are welcome, spending more in many cases than other tourists
French attraction moves to tackle problem over overtourism Mont-Saint-Michel will offer discounts to entice people to come earlier or later in the day
Boost in US, Canadian and Asian visitors to France this summer Campsite holidays are also proving popular with European holiday-makers, a new report shows Tourism reversal in France: southerners head north to cool off France overtourism: five alternatives to the most popular destinations Centre yourself in the wine-making, historical heart of France
EU Council confuses Mont Saint-Michel as being in Brittany The European Union body has apologised for any confusion Italian anger over the use of Tuscany in French tourism rebrand Eco-news France: one hour Vueling flight, €4m tourism fund, picnic ban 12 phrases every tourist must know before coming to France Anti-cruise ship protest in Brittany stops visitors from disembarking These are the French villages most searched on Google
Manche’s colourful cabins: Good for Instagram but bad for the beach? The multicoloured beach huts on France’s northern coastline look great in photos and videos, but their rising popularity is causing concern to local authorities
Tourism bounces back as France rakes in €58bn from foreign visitors New figures show France enjoyed a remarkable recovery after Covid, largely due to the return of European and American visitors
French village warns tourists to expect 'rural noises' The mayor has installed clear notices warning that tourists should "Enter at your own risk"
Tourism in France: The 2022 trends and outlook for 2023 Camping, theme parks, fewer nights away: We summarise how last year shaped up and look ahead as Paris is named the ‘most powerful’ tourist city in the world
Tourism tax: €148m paid to French communes from Airbnb stays in 2022 A significant part of the taxe de séjour income goes to Paris but almost 30% of the total collected is paid to rural communes with fewer than 3,500 residents
Normandy wins ‘most desirable region’ for British tourists The region's tourist board says it believed the British would return after Brexit and Covid and 2022 proved it
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
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
Updated: French ski resorts opening and closing dates 2022-2023 Missing dates for the 2022/23 ski season in France will be updated when they are announced
French theme park scoops three international awards The Futuroscope theme park in France was recognised for the green credentials of its new space-themed hotel, picking up more awards than any other park
‘First Plus Beaux Villages de France needs homes not more shops’ We discover the story of Collonges-la-Rouge in the Corrèze, where the mayor is trying to balance tourism with a village for residents
Tourist app uses AI to recognise French landmarks The ‘Shazam’ of landmarks allows users to take photos of monuments in Paris and Rennes and have instant access to information about the site
Low-rent lock houses in Brittany offered to tourism entrepreneurs The state-owned canal properties were empty until offered to businesses to boost tourism - an owner shares her ‘warts and all’ story
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
98-year-old mountain train to get new track in south west France The train de la Rhune welcomes around 350,000 visitors per year
Discover Bordeaux’s fountains through the man who worked on them Michel Cessateur has been involved with every fountain in the city since the end of the 1970s and now shows tourists his favourites
Eurostar to cancel direct London-Disneyland Paris train in June 2023 The company says it is focusing on financial recovery post Covid but that it will review its decision in 2024
French tourism sector largely back on track after pandemic years Train travel and campsites have been popular this year, while hotel bookings and flights are still slightly down on pre-pandemic levels
Road traffic alerts this weekend as summer holidays end in France The final weekend of August will be busy across France as people begin the return to school and work. Here are the roads to watch out for
Sale of ‘iconic’ tourism office in French ski town sparks controversy The traditional, chalet-style building in Courchevel will instead become a luxury jeweller
French armed forces regrets barring two Russians from tourist site The two women were denied entry to the Château de Vincennes because of confusion over an internal military directive
Tourists who spent night in French tree to escape wild boar fined €270 They called the gendarmerie for help but ended up having to pay a considerable price
Locals clash over win as crowds flock to France's favourite village Bergheim has been buzzing with tourists since its victory but will it lose its local charm over the next few months? Locals give their views
Residents’ anger after French court suspends short-term rentals rule The court halted a measure designed to balance holiday rentals with long-term rentals in Pays Basque, prompting calls for a march and more legal action
Why hotel prices in France are going to keep rising One quarter of hotel managers surveyed recently said they have already put their prices up, with a further 45% saying they plan to
French summer tourist season looks promising after ‘excellent’ winter One large hotel group has said summer reservations are up 37% on this time in 2019
No Britons, no problem: French ski resorts report successful season Covid rules meant that most British skiers were banned from France for around one month, but resorts have said that other factors have compensated
Dover Port: ‘Tourist passenger traffic back to normal’ after delays The port is preparing for another wave of Easter holiday traffic this coming weekend. P&O ferries, however, remain suspended on the Calais route
Explore France in a campervan or motorhome this summer Quality roads in beautiful France make motorhome holidays quick, easy and enjoyable. But what to drive, and where to stay?
The Pyrenees village where Napoléon III and Victor Hugo went to bathe 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
Hautes-Alpes: ‘Snow Plan’ launches in Briançon to keep access open Plans Neige involve measures to make it easier to visit winter resorts at times of heavy snowfall
French architecture: Pont du Gard is country’s most visited roman site It is the highest aqueduct built in the Roman Empire, and is situated just 20km from Avignon
BREAKING: UK-France travel restrictions will ease tomorrow People coming from the UK will no longer need an essential reason and will not need to quarantine on arrival
Financial aid for gîte and chambre d’hôtes owners I'm self-employed renting my chalet in the Alps but now have no income and no prospect of any bookings being made for at least the next three months. I'm counted as a micro-bic, not auto-entrepeneur or other. Is there any financial aid available for me? If people cancel their bookings, can we claim back our lost income from the government or are we entitled to compensation from the tourist board?
Can I holiday in France? Rules and what's open to tourists It is now possible to holiday in France – at least it is if you are coming from another European country.
Travelling UK to France by ferry: what are the options? Some ferry services are operating between the UK and France but crossings are much more limited than usual until at least June 28. Here's the latest on what's available.
What should I do if I get covid while on holiday in France? I’m planning a holiday to France this summer and as a precaution I’d like to know what I should do if I develop Covid-19 symptoms while there.
Dog daycare centre lets visitors sightsee and eat out in Strasbourg The initiative has won various awards since it opened this year
Does France’s tourist health pass QR code system work for Americans? France is now providing QR codes compatible with its health pass scheme to tourists fully vaccinated against Covid in non-EU countries.
Eure in Normandy turns negative visitor reviews into marketing tactic A humorous video shows locals reading out comments such as ‘Eure is rubbish’ in horror as they stand amid serene countryside and historic streets
Mountain life: 200 years of guiding us at Chamonix in the Alps Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix is the world’s oldest company of mountain guides. Its President, Olivier Greber, talks about their their mission to communicate their mountain passion to others
Foreign tourists to France still down but EU neighbours are visiting Spending by Dutch, German and Belgian visitors is up but number of people coming from UK has dropped
Do foreign visitors need a Covid booster to obtain French health pass? Visitors to France need a health pass – normally created through proof of full vaccination – to access a range of public spaces and services in the country
French pharmacies to convert non-EU vaccination data into health pass Visitors from outside the UK and EU who have a complete vaccination schedule have been struggling to get the necessary QR codes in time. Conversion will cost €30
Health pass requirement for French ski lifts ‘under consideration’ With Covid infection rates rising among potential ski holidaymakers in the UK, France’s Tourism Secretary wants to make sure that resorts can ‘stay open no matter what happens’
Could health passes be required when French ski resorts reopen? Tourism minister impressed by the way health passes give reassurance and keep firms in business. It comes as the prime minister announces he is to ask for a law extension so the health pass can be continued after November 15
Canadian cyclists cancel French trip due to health pass delays “It was a real downer for all of us” said Jeff Oates, who applied for his pass on August 10 ahead of his September 7 departure date
Flights to France below 40% of pre-Covid levels this summer France fared worse than destinations including Greece, Turkey and Iceland, but the tourism industry has been buoyed by domestic holidaymakers
French restaurant reveals secret of US tourist’s 'best-ever potato' La Pataterie chain is now trending on social media after the rave review of its Pom’ Au Four Savoyarde. We ask the restaurant about its ‘amazing’ baked potato dish
Booking system under review for Marseille’s Calanques national park If approved it would be a first in France with a possible limit of 400-600 people a day. The aim is to limit damage to plants and paths
‘I cancelled my trip’: French health pass delays hit non-EU tourists Several non-EU tourists to France - mainly from the US and Scotland - report long delays in getting a QR to prove their Covid vaccination, one way of getting a health pass in France to enter places such as restaurants and bars
French tourism industry celebrates unexpectedly successful summer Nine in every 10 French holidaymakers opted for domestic trips this year, with many looking to disconnect in rural or coastal areas
Gîtes in France: Insurance risk for guests who bring extra people Guests of gîtes who invite additional guests that exceed the number of bed spaces must ask the owner beforehand or their insurance cover could be affected
Netflix’s Lupin and Covid have made our Normandy tourist town ‘hell’ 15,000 people have signed a petition calling for better management of the 1.2 million plus tourists who flock to see Etretat’s cliffs every year. The mayor says the cliffs may have to be shut off to protect them
France’s first amphibious tour bus booked up until September Marcel le Canard took seven years to build and receive approval to be allowed to drive on Paris roads and into the Seine. It offers ‘wacky and original’ tours accompanied by comic actors, say its creators
France US travel: pressure is mounting for borders to open The US is still shut to vaccinated French travellers as travel bodies, advocacy groups and EU politicians call for a change in the rules
France health pass: The rules for tourists and hotels, gîtes and B&Bs The health pass is now required at many hotels, gîtes, bed and breakfasts and campsites. We explain the rules
Tarn: France’s ‘little Tuscany’ in demand among domestic holidaymakers Three other Occitanie departments were also included in an Airbnb list of trending summer destinations, reflecting a growing preference for holidays in the countryside in favour of city breaks
BREAKING: UK quarantine is ending for vaccinated visitors from France France is being taken off the UK’s amber-plus list, meaning travellers who arrive - or return to - England can skip quarantine if they are fully jabbed, the UK government has announced. The change will come into force from Sunday, August 8
France: 'Let vaccinated UK people make up own minds on travel' UK’s Covid traffic light travel system is a mess with ‘bizarre and often panicked decision-making,’ says tourist agency boss Paul Charles. It comes as all vaccinated people in EU - except for in France - are allowed quarantine-free travel to UK