Located at the heart of France’s hexagonal territory, Auvergne is a sparsely populated land of volcanic plateaus and large valleys. Unlike the Alps to the east or the Pyrénées to the southwest, its highest peaks reach only 6,000 feet above sea level and are free of snow in summer. The local authorities? efforts to safeguard the environment have made Auvergne one of the last protected zones in Europe.
Before going to Auvergne, familiarize yourself with its history and its gastronomy.
Paris has changed a lot over the past 10 millennia: the earliest evidence of human habitation dates back to around 9,800 years ago, when Mesolithic hunter-gatherers made their home in what is now the 15th arrondissement. Excavations at Bercy turned up fragments of three wooden […]
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Dating from around 4,800 BC, one of the earliest megalithic monuments in Europe is the Neolithic cairn at Barnenez in Brittany. It predates the oldest ancient Egyptian pyramids by more than two millennia, and is considered to be the oldest extant building in the world.
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By that I mean, wines from Nice. “But wine doesn’t come from Nice!†I hear you exclaim, “It comes from Champagne, and Bordeaux, and…†Mais oui, this is true… but it also comes from Nice. The only AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) within city limits, Bellet is […]
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Sandwiched between Monaco and Nice is Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat, which, according to a 2008 study by Citi Private Bank, and Knight Frank, is the most expensive peninsular in the world, and almost the most expensive place to buy property – beaten only by Monaco and London. Real […]
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Although not as well-known as its world-famous November counterpart, last weekend, Burgundy’s wine capital, the town of Beaune, held its annual Hospices de Nuits-Saint-Georges wine auction of over 100 barrels of local and premier cuvées in order to raise money for its 132-bed hospice. Now in its […]
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This month, on the 14th of July, the French will celebrate their Fete Nationale, know all over the world as Bastille Day
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The 39th assembly of UNESCO, held in Bonn Germany on July 4, saw five cultural sites accepted – two in Denmark, one in Turkey and two in France. Both French sites are recognized for their viticultural heritage; the hillsides, houses and cellars of Champagne around Reims […]
0 Read MoreFrance is renowned for its glittering, culturally rich cities, but its countryside is equally breathtaking. Mountains, beaches, caverns, and forests are all waiting to be explored. This summer, why not avoid the tourist crowd and strike out on a new path? Here are some beautiful hiking […]
0 Read MoreFoodies rejoice! Summer means the many thriving outdoor markets Paris has to offer are brimming with farm-fresh foods. Covered markets operate all year, whereas open air markets are seasonal and only on certain days, so you have to do a little research in order to catch […]
0 Read MoreA summer trip to Paris is a dream come true for many people, but a vacation there can certainly add up to a big expense. Have no fear—some of the best things in Paris, as in life, are free, so take advantage of these fantastic free […]
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