French Travel Blog

The Hidden Gems of the French Riviera

I grew up in the Loire Valley, so my family didn't venture as far as the French Riviera for our summer beach vacation. We tended to head to the expansive sandy beaches of the Normandy coast, or to the beautiful Saint-Malo in Brittany. I was actually in my late 20s and seven months pregnant the first time I visited the Côte d'Azur. Guillaume and I had just started France Just For You and we wanted to visit the regions in France that we hadn't been to before. It was a long but scenic road trip through the winding mountain roads as we headed to the warmth of the Mediterranean. Truth be told, my...

3 days in Provence: Arles, Les Baux-de-Provence & St Remy de Provence

From Les Baux de Provence Castle - 3 days in Provence

On our self-guided tours , we take pride in sending our travelers off the beaten track. However, there are some places that, in spite of being very touristy, we recommend visiting nonetheless. Arles, Les Baux de Provence and St Remy de Provence are cases in point. Some of the most beautiful villages in France , Les Baux is an immense and superb stone fortress and without a doubt one of the must-sees on the Provencal tourist trail. Arles and St Remy remain very famous for their connection to Dutch artist Vincent...

After the Fire: Notre Dame de Paris will rise again

Inside Notre Dame de paris before the fire

As I write this post, I join the rest of France and millions of people around the world who remain in shock following the fire that started on April 15th, 2019. For us, Notre Dame is more than a landmark and a place of worship. It is a work of art that has born witness to our history for the greater part of the last millennium. It is a symbol of human accomplishment and endurance across many generations. “It’s the very soul of Paris, but it’s not just for French people. For all humanity, it’s one of the great monuments to the best of civilisation,” said Barbara Drake Boehm, senior curator at...

Trace your French ancestry & discover your WWI & WW2 family history

Pointe du Hoc fighting site during the battle of normandy - French ancestry - ww2 family history

France Just For You can organize tours that help you to discover your French ancestry and connections to French WWII history.

Current & Upcoming Paris Exhibitions [Updated January 2020]

Musée de l'Orangerie Paris Exhibitions 2020

This post is updated periodically to include current and upcoming Paris exhibitons and events. If you're planning to visit Paris in 2019 or 2020, you will surely be interested in finding out about the essential Paris exhibitions to check out this year. Here we have put together a comprehensive list of exhibitions we think people should include in their Paris itinerary, depending on the date of their visit and their specific interests. If you are doing a tour with us, be sure to let us know if you...

Menton Lemon Festival: 15 February - 3 March 2020

Menton Lemon Festival on the French Riviera

In 2019, the 86th annual Lemon Festival in Menton, known locally as la Fête du Citron , adopted the theme ‘Fantastic Worlds’ ( Des Mondes Fantastiques) . The theme for the 2020 festival will be ' Les Fêtes du Monde ' or ' Parties Around the World' . See below to check the dates for the events planned for the Menton Lemon Festival 2020. Menton is just a 10-minute drive from the Italian border, and it is easy to observe the Italian influences in the town’s architecture, colors and cuisine. If you were...

The Best Day Trips from Paris

If you're planning to spend a week or more in Paris, you may want to escape the city for a day during your trip. Here we suggest ten possible day trips from Paris. Bear in mind that it is better to have more than a day in some of these places. Normally we would recommend staying in B&B accommodation nearby so that you can arrive before or leave after the tourist crowds on day tours from Paris. Nonetheless, here are our top recommendations! Palace of Versailles The Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles ( Myrabella / Wikimedia...

Where to stay in the Loire Valley

The Loire region spans 175 miles, so naturally the first question on many travelers' minds will be where to stay in the Loire Valley. This post looks at some of the most central and popular locations in the Loire Valley, as well as locations which are a bit more remote or farther afield. We explain the pros and the cons of each location and their position in relation to some of the Loire Valley's main attractions. We hope this will help you to decide which area would suit you best during your stay in the Loire. To travel to the Loire Valley is to experience 'the good life' in France. Its mild...

Things to do in Honfleur, Normandy

If you're planning to spend a day in Normandy , the gorgeous little harbor town of Honfleur on Normandy's coast is a great option. The best of Honfleur can be seen in half a day, though you may like to stay longer and relax on Butin beach (la Plage du Butin) about a mile and a half from downtown. We found quite a nice short video that gives an overview of the lovely old town and the harbor. Video: Videoframe Vlog, YouTube Where is Honfleur? On the Normandy coast, Honfleur is located on the estuary where the River Seine meets the English Channel. It is just across from Le...

Essential French Phrases for your France Road Trip

French conversation - Essential French Phrases for your French road trip

If you've never studied French before, or your high school French is a little rusty, it’s helpful to learn a few essential French phrases before traveling to France. This will give you more confidence finding your way around in France. You will know how to greet people politely before asking if they speak English, and it shows you're willing to make the effort, and French people will appreciate that. It might also help you make friends! Although many French people can understand some English, they tend to find it harder to speak, so they will feel more at ease if you show your willingness to...

The Ultimate Guide to Driving in France

We know that driving in another country can be a daunting prospect. But if you want to explore all of France's hidden gems, driving is your best option. Here we share some tips and recommendations for driving in France.

7 beautiful French villages for your travel bucket list

Les Plus Beaux Villages de France Association consists of 155 of the most beautiful villages in France, worthy of any travel bucket list. These villages want visitors to experience the best of French culture and heritage beyond the most popular tourist sites. Most of these villages only have a population of a few hundred people, offering tourists a more intimate and authentic experience of our wonderful country. Here are seven of our favourite French villages. Gourdon, Provence The drive from Tourrettes-sur-Loup to the little French village of Gourdon offers some magnificent...

Hidden beauty on the French Riviera: The Lérins Islands

We visited the Lérins Islands on our first research trip of the French Riviera , during the early days of France Just For You. We knew that we would include this region in our self-drive tours of France, so it was essential that we knew it inside out. Our first port of call on the French Riviera was Nice, and the crowded pebble beach there was nothing to write home about, though I did enjoy our swim under the stars that night. Only in the French Riviera is the sea warm enough to bathe in at night in October! However, after a couple of days in this southern...

14 of the most beautiful gardens in France

Monet's garden in Giverny - best gardens in France

One of the real beauties of France is its many gardens open to the public. They surround medieval castles, baroque palaces, and museums, and are a delight to explore and enjoy. Here we list some of the loveliest gardens to visit in France – a garden tour de France , you might say! Scroll down to check out the gardens in the French regions you'll be visiting. We hope that these beautiful photos will convince you to visit some of them! In and Around Paris Jardins des Plantes If you want to escape the city without actually leaving the city, we recommend taking a visit...

France Wins the World Cup 2018

Twenty years after France won its first World Cup final at home in Paris, our team brings the golden trophy home for a second time , this time from Moscow. See this video of Paris paying homage to its national team. It was a dramatic end to an exciting month of football in Russia. The match against the strong Croatian team ended 4 - 2, including a stunning goal from Paris St Germain football club's latest star, 19-year-old Kylian Mbappé. making him the first teenager to score in a World Cup final since Brazilian legend Pelé in 1958. France's manager Didier Deschamps also goes down in history...

6 alternative places to visit in Paris

Most people who visit France will know about the most famous places to visit in Paris - the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Moulin Rouge, to name a few - and we agree that a visit to these places is a must! However, at France Just For You, we pride ourselves on sending our travelers to places that many tourists don't know about. We want you to have a truly unique and authentic experience of France. Here we suggest some alternative places to visit in Paris which you may not have thought of: MONET'S WATERLILIES AT THE MUSEE DE L'ORANGERIE The Musée de l'Orangerie is on the other side of the...

The 130th Anniversary of the Eiffel Tower

Any mention of France, and Paris in particular, will surely conjure up an image of the most iconic of icons, a symbol of romance and geometrical elegance. The Eiffel Tower in Paris (or Tour Eiffel de Paris, as it is called in French) , which celebrates its 130 th anniversary on March 31 st , 2019. With nearly 7 million people visiting each year and 250 million visitors in total since its inauguration in 1889, the Eiffel Tower is one of the world’s most popular attractions. But not many people know the history behind it, or how the Iron Lady has managed to stay standing for so long. Here are...

10 of the best beaches in France

Many travelers feel drawn to France by its rich history, castles, gardens, cuisine and landscapes. Some of our most beautiful summer landscapes are on the French coast, so for those who plan to visit France during the summer months, we’ve compiled a selection of some of the best beaches in France, which would make a perfect day-trip to include in your tour of France . Saint Malo, Brittany Saint Malo is an old town steeped in history, and was recently voted best beach spot in France . Walking along the town’s cobbled streets may feel like taking a step back in time. High...

France Just For You is awarded TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

France Just For You is delighted to have been awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2019 (and also 2018) for our tours of France. The Certificate of Excellence recognizes businesses that receive consistently great user reviews. We would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to all our travelers for leaving such kind reviews on TripAdvisor! Here are a few of our favorite quotes from our TripAdvisor page : “If you want to experience France, but are hesitant because you don’t speak the language, this company is for you. Emilie will prepare an itinerary that is so detailed that even the...

7 Summer Festivals in France You Shouldn't Miss

When it comes to summer festivals in France, visitors are spoilt for choice. From festivals dedicated to regional history and tradition, to popular and classical music festivals, we have something for everyone. You may like to read our post on French festivals you should experience , but if you know you’ll be in France in the summer-time, here are seven of our best festivals to add to your travel itinerary. Carcassonne Festival The Carcassonne Festival has been running annually throughout July in southern France’s Languedoc region since 2006. Around 250,000 people attend...

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