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.
Armistice Day – Armistice de la Première Guerre mondiale – (November 11th) is a national holiday in France, in remembrance of all those who were injured, and those who fell during the First World War and subsequent wars. This solemn occasion sees people attend memorial services […]
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Parisian food blog, FASTANDFOOD, has long been known as the go-to site for information and news about fast food in the City of Light. We’re not talking McDonald’s or KFC here (well, OK, maybe we are… but just a little bit), we’re talking about fast food, […]
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For some retailers in Paris, the 2014 Christmas season kicked off this week. Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, Le Bon Marché, and BHV will be unveiling their festive displays between now and the 15th. If you’re in Paris over the next few days, join in with the Parisian […]
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Denim is French. The tough blue cotton twill, which was used by Levi Strauss for his workers’ garments, originated in Nîmes, and was known as de Nîmes – ‘from Nîmes’. Even the word, jeans, has France to thank for its origin; Gênes is French for Genova […]
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With more options to ski than anywhere else in the world, it’s no wonder that skiers – and increasingly, snowboarders – flock to France every winter. Despite France’s reputation for astonishingly expensive ski resorts, January and March remain the best times to grab a bargain… just […]
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With a per capita consumption of around 60 liters per year (60% red, 25% rosé, 15% white), the French drink more wine than any other nation in the world. Along with drinking the wine, France also exports more wine than any other country in the world […]
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If you’ve never been on the Beaujolais Run®, you’ve missed out on a whole lot of fun… and some superb wine too. In 1970, celebrity chef, Clement Freud was sitting down to dinner in Romanèche with restaurateur, Joseph Berkmann, when they hit upon the idea of […]
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Last week we talked about minor scams in the City of Light but this week’s ones are far more serious. We’re not talking a couple of Euros here and there – with these scams, you stand to lose not only your wallet but potentially, your entire […]
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La Toussaint (All Saints’ Day), is celebrated on November 1st, and is a jours férié (public holiday). However, if la Toussaint falls on a Tuesday, then Monday becomes an unofficial day off too because it’s generally considered a bit pointless to have the weekend off, go […]
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Cider is not a beverage one usually associates with France but traditionally, it is the favoured drink for All Saints’ Day (November 1st) and All Souls’ Day (November 2nd). Historically, apples were the only fruit still around at this time of year, whether they were the […]
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