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What's New on Offbeat France
Aug 28, 2020
The Perfect One-Week French Basque Country Itinerary
You can adapt this one-week French Basque country itinerary to fewer days or even a weekend - and still see plenty.
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Aug 23, 2020
4 Chateaux of Loire Valley: Conspiracy Theories, Lust and Secrets
Behind the facades of the chateaux of Loire Valley lie secrets hidden by centuries of drama and mystery. Here are some of the more remarkable.
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Aug 10, 2020
7 Surprising Basque Products That Are Still Made By Hand
These 7 French Basque products could easily be made by machines, but this ancient land embraces tradition with a vengeance. Here, small is beautiful.
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Aug 08, 2020
23 Attractions That Are Off The Beaten Path In Paris
You could spend a decade exploring what's off the beaten path in Paris, so I've made it easier: here are 23 of the best.
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Jul 25, 2020
A Day In The Life Of Louis XIV, Sun King
Here's what a day in the life of Louis XIV at Versailles was like (he couldn't even go to the bathroom alone).
Jul 16, 2020
15 Weird French Foods You May Have To Be French To Appreciate
In France we love what some call weird French foods - which to us may not be weird at all. Here are 15 foods you may not have tried.
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Jul 06, 2020
Why Do The French Celebrate Bastille Day on July 14th?
What is the REAL reason the French celebrate Bastille Day? The answer is probably not what you think.
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Jul 01, 2020
Driving Tips In France: Coping With Mercurial French Drivers
These driving tips in France will help boost your driving confidence - but no sugar-coating. I'll tell it like it is.
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Jun 28, 2020
Lyon Murals: Monumental Naïve Art In Public Places
Lyon murals are so dazzling and popular the city is often called the mural capital of the world. Here's why.
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Jun 17, 2020
5-Day Lake Geneva And French Alps Road Trip Itinerary
This 5-day French Alps road trip itinerary will show you both the high points and some offbeat sightseeing ideas.
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Jun 17, 2020
Mysterious Prehistoric Caves: France's Leading Painted Cave Art Sites
If you're fascinated by prehistoric caves, France probably has more than any country (except perhaps Spain). These are the must-sees.
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May 30, 2020
Secrets Of The Eiffel Tower
Think you know ALL the secrets of the Eiffel Tower? Please click through If you love little-known facts and oddities - or if you're just curious.
May 24, 2020
Is This The Last Glove-Maker of Grenoble?
Grenoble was once the world capital of luxury gloves. Today, a single glove maker tries to carry on the tradition. Let's go meet him.
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May 19, 2020
Why Are These Called The Most Beautiful Villages In France?
France has thousands of gorgeous villages - but only 159 can call themselves Most Beautiful Villages in France. Find out which, and why.
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May 10, 2020
The Best France Flea Markets (Or Why We Love Our Brocantes So Much)
France flea markets and antique fairs can be tricky - here, a local gives you tips and tricks to make your flea market experience a memorable one.
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May 06, 2020
France's Unusual Brotherhoods of Food and Wine
France's wine and food brotherhoods are often crucial to a product's promotion, but some of the traditions are centuries old.
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May 06, 2020
How Queen Victoria Put Aix-les-Bains On The Map
It's not the first time the English make a French place famous - we look at Queen Victoria and how she put Aix-les-Bains on the map.
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May 06, 2020
French People: Stereotypes and Myths
When it comes to French people, stereotypes are common. Some are accurate, but others are myths that even make the French laugh.
May 06, 2020
The Rapidly Disappearing Enamels of Bresse
Once popular with the upper bourgeoisie, machine-made jewelry is overtaking centuries of finely pained enamels.
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May 06, 2020
Culture and Civilization of France: The Backstory
backstory
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May 06, 2020
Ze French: Why There Are So Many Interesting Facts About the French
There are many interesting facts about the French - some are even true. Here's how to tell the truth from fake news.
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May 06, 2020
Not All Bottled Water Is Equal - French Water Tasting Specialist
Water tasting isn't a myth: here I meet with a water sommelier in the French town of Evian to find out whether any of this is true.
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May 06, 2020
Harvesting Guerande Salt: Not A Disappearing Art. Yet.
Harvesting Guerande salt, considered France's best, is backbreaking and difficult. Yet the art isn't dying - quite the contrary.
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May 06, 2020
The Tragic Stories of Abandoned Places in France
Here are the most intriguing abandoned places in France, whether because of war or displacement or plague.
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May 06, 2020
La Cuisine: What is the Most Popular French Food?
Each region has its most popular French food - and no two French agree. Let's end this debate.
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Bonjour - je m'appelle Leyla!
But don't be fooled by my name... My Turkish father may have won the naming battle but my mother, with 10 centuries of Frenchness behind her, won the education war.
Born in Paris and brought up in Spain and Canada, I now live in the bucolic Alpine foothills of Eastern France, near the Swiss border.
Offbeat France is about the quirky, the not-so-common and even the mysterious. As I explore my country, I search out its backstories and legends. Here they are. (Along with plenty of food stops and many castles – I am French after all.)
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