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.
On New Year’s Day in France (le Jour de l’An), it is usual for friends and family gather together to make New Year’s resolutions. Sometimes gifts and cards are exchanged as well. Bonne année et bonne santé! On behalf of everyone here at France.com, we […]
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In France, December 31st is known as la Saint-Sylvestre, and is named after Saint Sylvestre, who was a 4th century AD pope during the time of Constantine the Great and the conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity. The saint actually has little to do […]
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Since 1570, there has been a Christmas market in Strasbourg, and just as then, visitors nowadays can fill themselves full of Christmas cheer in the form of bretzels, mulled wine, candies, and pastries. These days, you can buy all the decorations for your Christmas tree as […]
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The tradition of decorating Christmas trees in France goes back to 16th century Alsace, when people would hang apples and nuts from the trees’ branches. However, in 1858, a drought caused the apple harvest to fail, so an enterprising glass blower from Goetzenbruck in Lorraine created […]
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As with many people across the world, the Christmas tree (le sapin de Noël) takes pride of place at Christmastide in French homes, schools, businesses, and factories. The first Christmas tree in France is said to have been put up in Alsace in the 1521 but it […]
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Did you know that when children write letters to Santa in France, it is the law that they each receive a postcard by way of a response? The law was passed in 1962.
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While France may come low on the list of vegetarian-friendly European countries, there is no need for vegetarians to despair; French cuisine does actually include a number of dishes which are actually suitable for vegetarians but because meat-free diets are not a big thing in l’Hexagone, […]
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In January 1897, several newspapers reported the story of Béatrice de Rothschild’s poodle, Diane, getting married La Petite Major – her father’s dog, also a poodle. An excerpt from the Washington DC Morning Times said: “There is a new fad among the rich – dog marriages. […]
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Foie gras, the goose liver pâté that is the staple of le Réveillon in some regions, actually originated in ancient Egypt 4,500 years ago. Around 500 BC, it spread to Greece but didn’t make it to France (or, as it was then, Gaul) until the Romans brought […]
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After midnight mass on Christmas Eve, le Réveillon, a fast-breaking feast, is served. Cafés and restaurants stay open all night to accommodate those who are not feasting at home. Le Réveillon comes from réveiller – to wake (hence reveille being the morning bugle call to wake […]
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