France Travel Articles

 

Miscellaneous France Travel Basics

Regions and Departments of France France is divided into thirteen regions (not including overseas regions). Regions are further divided into departments. In total there are 96 departments (not including overseas departments). In some cases the department is better known than the region. For example, the Dordogne is a department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region but travel articles may refer to the Dordogne, not mentioning the region it is in. In this website we group France information by region. The thirteen regions of France. Base map from Chessrat at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons The Thirteen Regions of France as of 2014 In 2014 France made an administrative change to the regions, reducing from 22 regions...

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Pays de la Loire Wine tasting in the Loire

I have been living in the Loire Valley for over 5 years now, and I still find it amazing just how many little gems I find almost every week. A few friends and I created a group called the Loire Winos, of course, and we try and get out wine tasting at least once a month to try different regions within the Anjou/Saumur and Tourraine regions. Apart from finding very good wines at very reasonable prices, I am always astounded at the actual variety of wine styles in the area. In reality, the area uses two main grape varieties, the cabernet franc for reds and rose and the chenin blanc for whites. But with these two majestic grapes they produce almost every style of wine that your heart may desire. I'll post something about appellations...

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Provence Fréjus Aqueduct

The town of Fréjus sits on the western edge of the Estérel Mountains, on the Mediterranean coast. During ancient Roman times Fréjus was an important port town called Forum Julii and situated at the crossroads of Via Augusta and Via Domitia. There are various Roman remains in and around the town, but the most interesting are the remains of the Fréjus Aqueduct. The aqueduct, built in the 1st century AD, covered a distance of about 40km bringing water from the mountains to the town. Many parts of the aqueduct remain. The water for the aqueduct came from the Rivers Foux (near Montauroux) and Siagnole (near Mons) in the mountains above Fréjus. The aqueduct was 40 km long and came down 481 meters to the highest point of Fréjus. Much of the...

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Nouvelle-Aquitaine Loupian Roman Villa

Loupian Roman Villa (Villa-Loupian) is the remains of a 5th century Roman villa with beautiful and well preserved mosaic floors. The villa was discovered under a farm field and many parts of the mosaics were damaged, but they saved what they could and reconstructed the walls of the villa so you see the layout of the rooms. They put a building around the villa to protect it. Highly recommended - beautiful, detailed mosaics. We arrived in the late afternoon in time for the last tour and since we were the only ones there, the guide gave us the tour in English. The guide takes you into the big building and you walk around on a platform above the mosaics. Our guide gave us good information about the villa and how it was used and about the...

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Nouvelle-Aquitaine Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a city on the River Aude. Within Carcassonne are two historic areas: the Medieval City (La Cité) and the Bastide Saint-Louis (the historic center). La Cité, the medieval city, is the main attraction. It sits on a hill south east of the Bastide, surrounded by the modern town of Carcassonne. There has been a fortified settlement on this hill since the 6th century BC. What you see now is a medieval fortified town, with massive walls encircling the castle and the town and a fine Gothic cathedral. People still live in La Cité, but it is mostly set up for tourists, with restaurants and shops. It may look touristy, but this is a wonderful place to explore. Most of La Cité was built in the 13th century. The Castle was built in...

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Nouvelle-Aquitaine Lectoure Museum

Lectoure Museum (Musée de Lectoure or Musée archéologique Eugène-Camoreyt) has an important collection of Roman altars used in "Bull Worship" (ceremonies using bull's blood) in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. Some very good Roman mosaics found in the nearby area are also on display. Lectoure is a very pretty small town. We visited this museum in 2011 and enjoyed the displays. The Roman altars are fascinating and there are some good Roman mosaics. Location: France - Midi-Pyrénées - Gers - Lectoure The museum is located in the center of Lectoure, near Condom in Gascony. The entrance is off the main square by the tourist office, in the Hotel de Ville. The museum is in the basement of the building. Website: Lectoure Museum Roman alter...

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Nouvelle-Aquitaine Eauze Treasure

The Eauze Treasure (Le Trésor d'Eauze) is displayed in a small museum in the center of the charming town of Eauze, near Condom. The treasure includes 28,003 Roman coins and jewelry discovered nearby. Coins are displayed on shelves grouped by type. Upstairs they have a small display of other Roman finds. Location: France - Novelle-Aquitaine - Gers - Eauze The town of Eauze is interesting with many beautiful old buildings. There are restaurants, cafes and shops. There are other interesting historic sites nearby - Seviac Roman Villa, Biran Roman Tower, the museum in Lectoure. Website: Eauze Treasure Having seen this museum, I don't feel the need to ever search out Roman coins again. It was amazing to see the whole treasure displayed in...

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Nouvelle-Aquitaine Séviac Roman Villa

Séviac Roman Villa (Villa Gallo-Romaine de Séviac) is the remains of a Roman villa from the 4th century. There are mosaic tiled floors throughout the site. It is a large site with good information (they give you a book in English describing the parts of the villa). Séviac Museum is in the Tourist Office in the central square of nearby Montréal. Some of the best mosaics from the villa are displayed in the museum, along with other Roman artifacts recovered at the site. The Trees mosaic is exceptional. Location: France - Novelle-Aquitaine - Gers - Montréal The Roman villa is just outside Montreal. In the winter they close the site and cover the mosaics with sand. The associated museum, Seviac Museum, is in Montreal. Website: Villa...

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Nouvelle-Aquitaine Three Roman Tower in Gers

The Biran Roman Tower (Pile gallo-romaine de La Turraque) is one of a few Roman towers in the countryside in southern Gers. We sought out three of these towers near Biran, in the River Baise valley. The Michelin map for the Midi-Pyrenees #525 has three towers marked - Biran Roman Tower, Lasserre Roman Tower and St Lary Roman Tower. The Biran Roman Tower is the best preserved and easiest to find. Location: France - Novelle-Aquitaine - Gers - Biran On the day we were finding these towers we had a lovely lunch at Le Pas Pareil on the main street in Vic Fezensac. These are the three towers that we found: - Biran Roman Tower. This is the best example in the area and is easy to find. The tower sits in a field beside the River Baise. From...

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Nouvelle-Aquitaine Flaran Abbey

Flaran Abbey (Abbaye de Flaran), a Cistercian abbey founded in 1151, is one of the best preserved abbeys in the southwest of France. Inside the abbey is a permanent exhibition on the Way of St. James, the pilgrimage route that passes through Gascony to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Two interesting statues in the Museum show pilgrims wearing the traditional scallop shells. - Pelerin de Saint-Jacques, 18th century (estimated 1772) from Mezin (Lot-et-Garonne). Statue of a pilgrim walking, wearing scallop shells. - Saint-Jacques, 19th century from Church of Saint-Pierre, Auch. Pilgrim with scallop shell. The ancient pilgrimage path, the Way of St James (Les Chemins de Saint Jacques dans le Gers) starts in many places in Europe but all...

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Nouvelle-Aquitaine Prehistoric Cave Art

The Vézère Valley (La vallée de la Vézère) in the Dordogne (in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-west France) has some of the most significant archaeological finds of the Paleolithic period (200,000 to 10,000 years ago) and many are open to the public. It is home to several caves with prehistoric cave art. Lascaux, the replica of a cave showing the prehistoric cave art, is here. There are others caves where you can visit the original cave, not a replica. The main towns of the valley are Les Eyzies, where the National Prehistoric Museum is located, and Montignac, near the famous Lascaux Cave. The other cave art locations are in the area - Font-de-Gaume and Rouffignac. We spent a week in this area, saw several caves and visited the...

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Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Fontenay Abbey

Fontenay Abbey (Abbaye de Fontenay) was a Cistercian abbey founded in 1118. Guided tours are offered but you may walk around on your own. The grounds are large and beautiful. In the complex you can visit the large church, the cloister, and the forge (and a few other buildings). The Cistercian Order was a Roman Catholic religious order of monks and nuns founded in Burgundy, France in the late 11th century. It spread throughout France, Britain, Ireland and other European countries in the 12th century. The Medieval architecture is Romanesque, stressing simplicity and functional use. The monks and nuns lived a simple life based around manual labor and self sufficiency. In England the abbeys were dissolved in the 16th century by order of...

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Normandy Bayeux Tapestry

The Bayeux Tapestry (Tapisserie de Bayeux) is an embroidered cloth nearly 230 feet (70 meters) long. In about 50 scenes, the tapestry depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England, ending with the Battle of Hastings. It was created in the 11th century, possibly in England. Location: France - Normandy - Calvados - Bayeux The tapestry is exhibited at Bayeux Museum (Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux). In high season there will be a line, but it is well worth the wait. You are given an audio tour set which describes each scene. Everyone listens to it and slowly walks the length of the tapestry. Bayeux has a nice medieval center to explore. It is close to the Normandy Beaches (WWII). Website: Bayeux Museum (Musée de la...

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Normandy World War II Sites

World War II (also called the Second World War, World War Two, WW2, WWII) was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. Much of the fighting took place in northern France and you can visit some of the battle sites and graveyards. Normandy Landings and American Cemetery The Normandy Landings were the WWII landing operations that took place on 6 June 1944 (D-Day). This Allied invasion of Normandy started the invasion of German-occupied western Europe and contributed to an Allied victory in the war. The landings took place along five beaches: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. Old army bunkers, tanks and Atlantic Wall defences remain in the area. The beach at Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer was called Omaha Beach during the Normandy Invasion...

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Occitanie Ambrussum, a Roman Town

Ambrussum (Oppidum d'Ambrussum) was a Roman staging post and settlement along the Via Domitia. No new town was built in this location, so you can see it as it was. Part of Pont Ambroix, a Roman bridge, remains. You can see where the lower town or staging post was. Then you walk along Roman roads, with the imprints of cart wheels in the stone, to the upper town where you see remains of buildings and the ramparts. Location: France - Occitanie - Herault - Lunel Ambrussum is a bit hard to find. It is located on the west side of the River Vidourle, south of the Nîmes to Montpellier Autoroute. Find the D34 that runs north from Lunel in the direction of Sommieres. Before you get to the autoroute, turn right on a road that runs parallel to the...

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Occitanie Saint-Roman Abbey

Saint-Roman Abbey (Abbaye de Saint-Roman) is an ancient troglodyte monastery dug out of rock by hermits and monks. Excavations to create the abbey started in the 5th century but many parts were built in the 12th century. Parts of the abbey were created using a natural grotto which has been used by hermits before the monks arrived. Location: France - Occitanie - Gard - Beaucaire Access by car either from D999 or D2 west of Beaucaire. Well signed. From the parking lot it is a 15 minute walk uphill (gentle on a good pathway). Paid entry. Closed Monday, except in July and August. Only open on Sundays in winter. Check the website for details. Note that they usually close for an hour at lunch. Website: Saint-Roman Abbey The structure is...

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Provence Barbegal Roman Aqueduct and Mill

The Barbegal Aqueduct and Mill (Aqueduc de Barbegal) are the remains of a Roman mill and part of the aqueduct that ran from the Alpilles to Arles. In Roman times 16 water wheels powered the mill. This is not a well marked and popular tourist attraction, but is well worth a visit if you are in the area. Many parts of the aqueduct are well preserved and you can clearly see where the mill sat on a steep hillside, powered by the water from the aqueduct. Location: France - Provence - Bouches-du-Rhone - Fontvieille These remains are on a small road between Fontvieille and Arles. Take the D33 south from Fontvieille. Turn left at the intersection of D82. The road sign says "Aqueduc Romain". Website: Wikipedia - Barbegal Aqueduct and Mill...

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Provence Arles and the Roman Amphitheater

The Arles Amphitheater (Les Arènes d'Arles) was built in 90 AD. It is 136 meters (446 ft) long and 109 meters (358 ft) wide and seats up to 30,000 people. Originally three tiers of arches, only two remain, each with 60 arches. It is still in use today for bullfights and other events. The city of Arles sits on the Provence side of the River Rhone. It was a large center during the Roman Empire and there are several Roman sites to visit. Location: France - Provence - Bouches-du-Rhone - Arles Website: Arles Tourism The Arles Amphitheater is open for visits. It is located in the historic center of Arles, surrounded by medieval lanes. In the middle ages a small town was built inside the Amphitheater. This was removed in the 19th century to...

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Provence Ganagobie Abbey

Ganagobie Abbey (Abbaye Notre-Dame de Ganagobie) is Benedictine monastery sitting on a hill above the Durance valley. This hilltop has been occupied since prehistoric times (Bronze Age, 2000BC). You can visit the small Romanesque church, built in the 12th century but the rest of the Abbey is private. The entrance to the church has detailed religious carvings. Inside the church is a two-color mosaic floor from 1124. There are good views from here and walking trails. The setting of Ganagobie Abbey is spectacular with views over Haute-Provence and the Durance valley. The woods and fields surrounding the abbey are lovely. The church is small but very beautiful. The mosaics are outstanding. If you are in the area I recommend a visit to this...

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Occitanie La Lèque Standing Stone

The La Lèque Standing Stone (Menhir de La Lèque) is the tallest prehistoric standing stone in the Gard, standing over 18 feet tall (5.6 meters). The stone has been shaped and polished. It is near the village of La Lèque and is difficult to find but is well worth the effort. This is the best standing stone in the area around Uzes. Location: France - Occitanie - Gard - Lussan Signs may say Pierre Plantée. This translates to "standing stone". There are three ways to get to La Lèque Standing Stone: Drive. From Lussan, take D979 north to La Leque. Keep on D979 and turn right on D787, signed Malataverne and Verfeuil. You come to a hamlet called Beth. Turn left (north) on a lane with a small sign saying "Menhir". The road is called Chemin...

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Occitanie Pont du Gard and the Nîmes Roman Aqueduct

The Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman bridge, is part of the Nîmes Roman Aqueduct that carried water from Uzès to Nîmes. The bridge, which crosses the River Gardon, is essentially three bridges built one on top of the other to reach the required height. The lower bridge has six arches, the next has 11 and the top has 36 small arches (originally there were more on the top). The channel of water ran on the top of the bridge. Edwin Mullins in "Roman Provence" says "The Pont du Gard has been widely recognized as the largest and the greatest of all Roman bridges". It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Location: France - Occitanie - Gard - Vers-Pont-du-Gard This is a popular tourist attraction and can get busy in the summer. The main visitor...

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