2021: A year to rediscover Napoleon – Meanderings through France n° 220
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Whether we like him or not Napoleon surely leaves no-one indifferent. 2021 is the year of the 200th anniversary of his...
Add a French touch to your cocktails with Noilly Prat – Meanderings through France n° 218
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Noilly Prat is one of the finest, if not the finest French vermouth, made since 1813 in Southern France and a...
5 star glamping on the French Riviera – Meanderings through France n° 217
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny “Esterel Caravaning” one of the most classy camping site of the French Riviera was finally able to reopen on June...
Jean Cocteau and the French Riviera, an ever-lasting love story – Meanderings through France n° 216
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric Mouren Although Jean Cocteau died 57 years ago he still is a source of inspiration for present artists and beloved by many...
Dream trip with Robert Louis Stevenson in the French Cevennes
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny It all began with a broken heart in 1878. That autumn 28 years old Scottish author R. L. Stevenson decided to go...
Dream trip to Jelsa on Hvar Island – World Meanderings (n°81)
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Havr is one of the 1,244 islands of Croatia. They are spread like confetti on the Adriatic Sea, a...
The art of choosing the right bottle of wine – Meanderings through France n° 213
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Who has never felt lost and confused in front of wine shelves filled with dozens of different bottles all claiming...
Steve’s Sojourn’s : Allier France
Cradle of the Bourbon dynasty the department of Allier, in the Massif Central in the most northerly part of the Auvergne, is famous for its landscapes. Its also has...
Nimes boasts its Roman heritage – Meanderings through France n° 207
By Frédéric de Poligny & Annick Dournes Nimes is a French southern town created in ancient times by the Roman invaders. At only a few miles away from...
Christmas’ Magic in French iconic chateaux, part three: Chambord Château – Meanderings through France n° 206
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny Welcome back again to French chateaux festivities! This year for Christmas time we invite you in three different wonderful French chateaux,...
Christmas’ Magic in French iconic chateaux, part two: Château de Cheverny – Meanderings through France n° 205
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny Welcome back to French chateaux’ festivities! This year for Christmas time we invite you in three different wonderful French chateaux, Vaux-le-Vicomte,...
Christmas’ Magic in French iconic chateaux, part one: Vaux-le-Vicomte – Meanderings through France n° 204
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny This year for Christmas time we invite you in three different wonderful French chateaux, Vaux-le-Vicomte, Cheverny and Chambord. Each...
Provence forever at the foot of Sainte-Victoire – Meanderings through France n° 203
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Provence shelters a small valley stretching at the foot of the Sainte-Victoire Mountain. It’s called Vallée de l’Arc. Its...
Amboise, Royal city and Leonardo da Vinci’s last home – Meanderings through France n° 202
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny French king François I undoubtedly is the symbol of French Renaissance and during his reign he built and transformed...
Feed your body and soul in Conques – Meanderings through France n° 201
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Conques is a superb village east of Cahors and Bergerac in southwest France. Set in a remote semi-mountainous region,...
Celebrating Leonardo and Chambord 500th anniversary – Meanderings through France n° 200
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Once again Chambord was in the spotlight to celebrate the 500th anniversary of its foundation. Works began on September...
Sweet Indian summer in Nantes – Meanderings through France n° 199
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny According to opinion polls Nantes is one of French people favourite towns where they would love to live. Ideally...
Steve’s Sojourns – Allier France
Nine times out of ten if you took a map of France and stuck a pin in what you thought was the exact centre of the country you would...
A festive “grape harvest day” in Cheverny – Meanderings through France n° 197
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny For the ninth consecutive year winegrowers and winemakers of the Cheverny DOC organize a wine festival on Saturday 7...
Fort La Latte, Brittany’s most visited castle – Meanderings through France n° 196
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny Fort La Latte is an ancient medieval fortress built on top of a pink sandstone cliff overlooking the Channel, a...
Marmande, from Richard the Lion Heart to an iconic tomato – Meanderings through France n° 194
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny When asked about Marmande every French person will think and answer “tomato”! This tomato variety is the true emblem...
Blois, much better than a history book for a glimpse of French Royals’ life – Meanderings through France n° 193
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny Blois is only a two-hour drive from Paris and an ideal starting point to explore the Loire Valley and...
Obernai, all of Alsace in a single village – Meanderings through France n° 188
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny At only 25 km south of Strasbourg on the “Alsace wine road” Obernai is a concentrate of the Alsatian...
Bordeaux, an appealing town between vineyards and ocean – Meanderings through France n° 192
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny In less than 25 years Bordeaux has been going through huge works of renovation and innovation, turning this old...
How about taking part in the day-to-day life of Alsatian winemakers? – Meanderings through Francece n° 191
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny All summer and autumn long Alsatian winemakers organize an amazing great number of events during which tourists are invited...
The “Lot”, a bewitching French department (Part three) – Meanderings through France n° 187
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny Today is our last getaway in the Lot area. It will take us to Saint-Céré a charming little town...
The “Lot”, a bewitching French department (Part two) – Meanderings through France n° 186
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny After last week discovery of Rocamadour and the L’Ouysse Valley let’s go back to beautiful Lot and wander along...
The “Lot”, a bewitching French department (Part one) – Meanderings through France n° 185
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Located in southwest France the Lot is a land of contrast with a particularly rich and diverse natural and...
Throughout the year Rodez celebrates “Soulages’ century” – Meanderings through France n° 183
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Pierre Soulages, the French most distinguished contemporary artist still alive, was born on 24 December 1919. To celebrate this...
Lovely springtime in Chantilly – Meanderings through France n° 182
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny Spring is back and it feels good to get out in the countryside and enjoy nature’s rebirth. Being only...
Ségala, a land of contrasts – Meanderings through France n° 180
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Set at the foot of the Massif Central in between Rodez and Albi the Ségala has been a tough...
“Pech Merle cave”, an authentic prehistoric treasure – Meanderings through France n° 179
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Pech Merle cave is part of a group of 13 adorned caves in Southwest France in the Lot Valley. 29,000...
John’s Journeys: Bubbly and Battlefields
John Burke visits Champagne province That heady drink, Champagne, is synonymous with Gallic stylishness, something that can be appreciated by visiting cellars in either Rheims or Epernay, even during...
Adagio jazz up breakfast in all its Aparthotels – Meanderings through France n° 178
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny In recent years we all have become aware of the importance of a healthy breakfast in our daily routine. Whether...
“Le Fouquet’s”, a symbol of French glamour since 1899 – Meanderings through France n° 177
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny For over a century “Le Fouquet’s” has attracted handsome, rich and famous people. Is it for its unique location...
Early spring in Cannes, going beyond the clichés – Meanderings through France n° 176
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny Since 1946 in early May Cannes becomes the world’s film capital for a crazy fortnight. During the Film Festival,...
A genuine Parisian mood at “La Clef Champs-Elysées”- Meanderings through France n° 175
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny The Champs-Elysées district probably is the most glamorous one in Paris, one with “the most beautiful avenue of the world”,...
A journey to the centre of earth at the Pit of Padirac – Meanderings through France n° 171
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny If exploring the Pit of Padirac won’t quite take you to the centre of the earth, it will however...
The brand new Club Med Les Arcs Panorama opens in the French Alps – Meanderings through France n° 170
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny The opening of a new Club Med resort always is a great event in the world of top-level all-inclusive family...
Six of our best great meals of 2018 – Meanderings through France n° 169
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny All through the past year we have had the opportunity to dine in many restaurants in France and abroad....