ESSENTIALS >>
What to Know Before You Go
What to Pack
French Customs
Must-know Phrases
Must-Have Items
Museum Guide
Festival Guide
Eating on a Budget
Handicapped Accessibility

 

EDITOR'S note>>
Bonjour, France
" Charles de Gaulle once said, “How can anyone govern a nation that has 246 different kinds of cheese?” After completing a fairly thorough journey through France in 16 days, I find myself in total agreement with Gen. de Gaulle. I also find myself asking, “How can anyone govern a nation that has so many distinct regions in an area four-fifths the size of Texas?”

 

EXCURSIONS >>
Take a Train Ride Through the Alps
A train ride through the French Alps to the little town of Chamonix is the perfect way to start your Alpine experience. A trip to Chamonix allows you to leave all your travel woes behind and relish the beauty of the mountains and the crisp, fresh air.

 

travel guide >>
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
This small town just 25km from Avignon is near the big city, but retains its quaint feeling by staying in touch with its history. Explore the mossy water wheels and wander through the Thursday morning market next to the canal.


SEE IT ALL>>
Seven Hot Spots in Paris
Discover the quintessential Paris landmarks one by one. Allyson Angle takes a tour of the top sights and explains how you can, too.


insights >>
Museum of the Open Sky
Parisians take advantage of the largest canvas their city has to offer — its buildings’ walls. Some of the city’s most vibrant works are sheltered only by the sky, comforted by the rain and caressed by the wind.


culture >>
Thérésa: Queen of Socca
Thérésa is a middle-aged woman from Nice who paints herself up each morning with bright red lips and blue shadowed eyes. She is a one-woman show, acting as hostess, waitress and cashier. Locals and tourists alike have given her this worthy title, which she proudly accepts, saying “It is always number one in my place.”


before you go >>
The beaches of Normandy
Dozens of deep craters are gouged into the earth at Pointe du Hoc. Scattered on the scarred ground are German bunkers, some reduced to rubble but others well-preserved.
About 30 miles away at Utah Beach, the coast is pristine. Turquoise water crashes against the pale gold shore, and wind whips through tall thickets of grass growing on the sand dunes.

before you go >>
Vive la Republique
In 2009 France and the United States are facing surprisingly similar problems—an unsound economy, high unemployment, religious differences within the population and assimilating a large, immigrant minority.
While the problems are similar, the reactions could not be more different.

 

Escargot

dining GUIDE >>
Culinary history 101
Escargot, foie gras, crêpes and bouillabaisse - these dishes play an important role in the make-up of France’s culinary reputation, yet many people do not know how the dishes developed.
Each food is bubbling with its own tradition, and discovering these traditions is part of the fun of eating them.

 

sports >>
Skiing on the French side
“Welcome to my office,” said Denis Liegeois, an instructor with the Ecole du Ski Français, or French Ski School, as he spread his arms and looked at the panoramic view of Les Trois Valleys in the French Alps. Liegeois has worked in the Alps for 28 years, specifically at Méribel Resort in the Savoie region of France.

Méribel resort is unique in several ways, from how it treats first-time skiers to the new technologies employed there. In the Méribel Alpina area, first-time skiers are invited to try the sport for free.

From still life to real ife

arts >>
From still-life to real life
Roberte Clerico still catches herself stopping short at the surreal aura she feels every time she begins a round of daily tours after seven years as an informational guide at the Atelier Cézanne, or Cézanne Studio, in Aix-en-Provence, France.
“When we open the door, we feel it every time,” she said. “I hope you realize what all is in here.”