Boating in France - Ultimate Guide, Tips, and Experiences to plan the perfect Boating Holidays in France Boating in France - How we got started A number of people have asked us how we came to be boating on the canals and rivers of Europe. Here is the short version: In 1970 we visited Amsterdam. There I saw the live-aboard canal barges, and said to myself ”That looks like a really ... Read Full Article
Saorge: The Prettiest Little French Town You Never Heard Of
Saorge: The Prettiest Little French Town You Never Heard OfUp a road that winds back and forth across the French and Italian border, through the Piedmont mountains, just over an hour from Nice, lies Saorge - a beautiful French village. SAORGE RESEMBLES TIBET WITH ITS CASCADING VILLAGEYou see, if the word gets out about the magical village of Saorge, that very magic will be threatened. Then its ... Read Full Article
Exploring the Tastiest UNESCO Site in the World: Champagne Region in France
Champagne Region in France - The Tastiest UNESCO Site in the World The Champagne region in France is arguably one of the best-tasting UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe. In July, I was invited by European Waterways on board the Panache, a barge cruise on the Marne river and canal, right through the heart of the Champagne in France. You can read more about my first barge cruise in France ... Read Full Article
Barge Cruises in France – The Perfect Luxury Vacation
Luxury Barge Cruises in France Have you been thinking about exploring Europe by ship and are you looking for a luxurious experience that you will never forget? Then I have something for you: How about barge cruises in France? I was recently invited by European Waterways to join them on a barge cruise in the Champagne region in France, and it was my favorite cruise experience so far. We were ... Read Full Article
Rochefort France – A Maritime Town With a Lot of History and Charm
Rochefort France – More Than a Picture-Perfect Town It never fails to surprise me, that an apparently sleepy, provincial town like Rochefort France with only approx. 26.000 inhabitants can harbor such a great variety of history, monuments, art and even eccentricity. From the surrender of Napoleon in 1815 to launching ships and being the hometown of Pierre Loti, one of France’s most famous and ... Read Full Article
Secret Destinations in France
Secret Destinations in France With the summer fast approaching, our thoughts are turning to the warm weather and where to go on holiday. This thought brings with it an enormous range of options, abroad or not, from which to choose from. Wherever you are in the world, however, there is a good chance that Europe is one of the options. There are many great places to visit in Europe, like Spain, ... Read Full Article
Oradour-sur-Glane, France: The Martyrs’ Village
Oradour-sur-Glane, France: The Martyrs' Village As you enter the French village of Oradour-sur-Glane, the sign says, simply, "Souviens-toi." Remember. I assure you that you will not forget your visit to this remarkable town. Located about 15 miles west of Limoges, in the central west of France, Oradour-sur-Glane has been forever immortalized for one fateful day in its history: June 10, ... Read Full Article
Ferry Port Towns in France
Sponsored post 5 Ferry Port Towns In France Perfect For Short Breaks From UK Slowly but surely, more travelers than ever before are beginning to explore ‘alternative’ French town and cities, outside the usual tourist staples. France is an incredibly large, diverse and rewarding country for visitors, though as is often the case, some of the biggest delights of all take a little more tracking ... Read Full Article
Minerve, France: Village of Charm and History
The village of Minerve perches on a high ridge in the wild landscape of the Causses, in the Languedoc-Rousillon region of Southwestern France. No cars are allowed, so visitors park outside the village and walk across the bridge above the River Cesse. Water flows in the river only in winter. The rest of the year, it’s a dry, rocky ravine. Minerve, with its cobblestone lanes and flowery window ... Read Full Article
Mystery of the Black Madonna
The History of the Black Madonna The Black Madonna has been a figure of mystery for centuries. Some say she’s simply a statue of the Virgin Mary carved from black wood, or perhaps has soot on her skin from the smoke of thousands of candles. But speculation goes much deeper than that. Throughout Europe, especially in France, about 500 Black Madonnas, painted or carved in wood or stone, stand ... Read Full Article