French Travel Blog

by Laura Crotet, Senior Trip Planner for France Just For You Because medieval times go back long before Columbus set his feet on American soil, there is always a feeling of wonder and romance when I am in medieval towns. There are many medieval towns and villages across France, and Europe. Carcassonne is probably the diamond in the crown, followed closely by Sarlat. But I would like to share a few of my personal, lesser-known favorite medieval towns and villages that feel like a real fairytale, and definitely are worth a detour. Provins Located about 60 miles...

by Laura Crotet, Senior Trip Planner at France Just For You Fall has always been my favorite season. When I lived in the United States, it meant football (Go Packers!), cute sweaters, and pumpkin spice lattes. Fall continues to be my favorite season now that I live in France, even though there is not much football going on. Each region is great to visit during this wonderful season. What I love about fall in France is: the vineyards exploDe in color ...turning the countryside into a true wonderland. And since so much of France is covered in vineyards, no matter where you are, you...

2020 & 2021 have had an impact on the travel industry. As travelers all over the world are starting to re-pack their suitcases, the way we travel has also undergone changes. Now more than ever, travelers want to get off the beaten track, away from the hordes of buses and huge chain hotels. How can France Just For You help? This is where France Just For You can help you plan a wonderful French itinerary based on our experience of crafting off-the-beaten track itineraries that provide you a local adventure and authentic, unique experiences in France . Our objective is to...

By Laura Crotet, Senior Trip Planner at France Just For You Normandy has so much to offer, it is difficult to decide the best places to visit. I used to live in Evreux, which is located towards the eastern edge of Normandy, about 1-1/2 hours outside of Paris. My family and I loved living there, and we even lived in a 200-year-old typical half-timbered thatched roof house called a chaumière . The Crotet family Chaumière, ©Laura Crotet We enjoyed discovering the region, and it is a large one. Running along the English Channel , from Dieppe...

Packing for any big trip can be complicated, and you can already find lots of general advice on the internet about not forgetting your tickets and such. So, I am going to give you my best and personal advice for how to pack for France specifically . On y va! A Visa or Mastercard with a chip and a pin code . This is the standard in France and will facilitate all payments while here. A credit card with a chip & 4-digit code will make life easier, ©Pixabay A smartphone with a good international plan Your phone can be helpful in many ways :...

Step back into the glamour of the Belle Epoque Riviera with a visit to the beautiful Ephrussi de Rothschild villa and surrounding gardens – the jewel of the Côte d’Azur . The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and some fountains, © Max Pixel The History of the villa and its creator Béatrice de Rothschild , daughter of the famous banker and art collector Baron Alphonse de Rothschild, was born in 1864. She was intelligent and charming, and enjoyed living in some of the most opulent homes from that time in Paris and around Paris. She married Maurice Ephrussi in 1883...

This year for Easter, we decided to do a brunch instead of dinner. I did however, want to make a Spring-themed dish using new Spring carrots. This is an easy recipe and packed with protein, so it is great for your vegetarian night. Ingredients For 4 people 1 cup green lentils 1 cup grains (I used barley, but you could use farro, quinoa, etc.) 1 bunch of Spring carrots (cleaned and trimmed) 3T butter 2T honey A few saffron threads A handful of roasted almonds ½ cup crumbled feta (or more if you love feta) 1T cidar vinegar French mint leaves Pepper to taste Instructions Cook the grains and the...

The area around the city of Bordeaux is a rich and wonderful spot to visit. And the city itself, France’s 5th largest, is an exciting and dynamic place to spend a few days. Over about the last 25 years, the city has come a long way with a very successful regeneration program launched by former prime minister and Bordeaux mayor Alain Juppé. In the 90’s, the buildings were black from pollution, the riverbanks were lined with abandoned warehouses, and the city seemed closed into itself. Things quickly changed, and in 2007, Bordeaux was listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site , making it the...

For a rare few, traveling to other countries as well as welcoming others into their own country is in their blood. This is true for the Loire Valley based Martinez - Thyebaut family. The dynasty starts with Florence and Philippe, Emilie’s parents who ran a wonderful B&B in a 15th century farmhouse near Chinon called Les Bournais. They shared their passion for the Loire Valley , as well as their kindness and joie de vivre , with all their guests. They are now newly retired and enjoying this chapter of their lives. Next of course is Emilie and Guillaume . Wanting...