Offbeat France Sitemap

1. Start Here

2. Historical Travel

Early and Roman France

• The Most Magnificent Prehistoric Caves of France
• 15 Magical Ancient Roman Ruins in France
• Meet Vercingetorix, The Chieftain Whose Gallic Warriors Beat Caesar

The Middle Ages

• In The Footsteps Of Joan Of Arc In Rouen
• 11 Masterpieces Of The Cluny Museum
• 8 Medieval Places in France Where the Middle Ages Are Still Visible
• Mur De La Peste: When The Epidemic Struck, They Built A Wall
• Explore 14 of the Best-Preserved Walled Cities in France

The Renaissance and the Enlightenment

• A Day in the Life of Louis XIV at Versailles
• Chateau Bussy Rabutin And The Salacious Story Of The Count Who Lived There
• Chateau D'Anet: The Love Nest Of Henri II And Diane
• Chateau de Maintenon and the Astonishing Rise of Françoise d'Aubigné

Revolution and Empire

• 10 Startling Facts You Need To Know About The French Revolution
• Napoleon Bonaparte: The Man The French Love To Hate
• Was France's Belle Epoque Really That Belle?
• The Quirkiest Dijon Museum: A Peek At 19th-Century Burgundian Life

Modern France 

• The Memorial Charles De Gaulle: Home, Life And Times Of A French Hero

3. Destinations

PARIS

• 5 Paris Museums That Are Rarely Crowded And Always Remarkable
• How to Plan Your Trip To The  Carnavalet Museum in Paris
• 10 Fascinating Monuments In Paris Not Enough People Visit
• Paris Sewer Museum: What You Need To Know Before You Visit
• Secrets Of The Eiffel Tower
• 15 Quirky Facts About The Most Famous Roundabout In Paris
• The Counterfeit Museum of Paris, Where Fakes Look Real
• The Haunted Catacombs of Paris
• Top 5 Tours of the Paris Catacombs 
• Tours about the French Revolution in Paris
• In the Footsteps of Napoleon III: A Walk Through Second Empire Paris
• Best Paris Ghost Tours
• 9 Eminently Haunted Places In Paris
• Dark Tourism In Paris: 6 Sites That May Unnerve You
• 8 Free Things To Do In Paris You Won't Find On Every List
• 24 Attractions That Are Off The Beaten Path In Paris
• 7 Non-Touristy Things to Do in Paris
• Best Paris Food Tours
• 22 Fabulous Day Trips from Paris by Train
• 10 Most Charming Hotels Near Versailles Palace, France
• The Best Giverny Day Trip From Paris (+ Orsay)
• 8 Best Spa Hotels In Paris With Perfect Location And Luxury
• 10 Cool Paris Hotels: A Zany Guide To Unique Hotels In Paris
• 10 Best Hotels With Balcony: Paris With A Glorious View
• 3 Dangerous Areas In Paris You Should Avoid
• Is Paris Safe? 4 Myths That Need Debunking
• Pickpockets In Paris: How To Avoid Getting Robbed

LYON

    Lyon City

• Halles Paul Bocuse Lyon Food Market (Where Top Chefs Love To Shop)
• Croix-Rousse, Lyon Itinerary: In The Footsteps Of The City's Silk Heritage
• Weird, Whimsical And Wonderful Facts About Lyon, France
• The Lyon Astronomical Clock: A Magical 650-Year-Old Timepiece
• Lyon Light Festival: The Exhilarating Fête Des Lumières
• What Is Lyon Famous For?
• The Monumental Murals of Lyon
• Antique Lyon Roman Ruins
• Fourviere Hill: Basilica, Ruins, And The Best View Of Lyon
• Irresistible Things To Do In Lyon France
• Uncover Famous Secret Passages: The Traboules Of Lyon
• The 7 Best Lyon Food Tours In France’s Gastronomic Capital
• How to Use Public Transportation in Lyon
• 8 Best Hotels Near Lyon Train Station

    Lyon Environs

• Perouges, The Medieval Village They Almost Razed
• 16 Terrific Day Trips From Lyon Into The Heart Of France
• Pierres Dorées: The Golden Stone Villages of The Beaujolais
• Things to Do in Vienne, France (From Rome to the Renaissance)
• 5 Remarkable Vienne Roman Ruins Hidden in Plain Sight

EASTERN FRANCE

Lake Geneva and the Alps

• What To Do In Annecy, France's Prettiest Town
• 17 Outstanding Day Trips From Annecy By Car Or Train
• Yvoire, France: A Most Picturesque Medieval Village On Lake Geneva
• 5-Day Lake Geneva And French Alps Road Trip Itinerary
• 16 Reasons Why History Buffs Will Love Grenoble
• How Queen Victoria Put Aix-Les-Bains on the Map
• Nostalgia In Evian-Les-Bains, Where The Belle Epoque Still Lives

    Burgundy

• Flavigny-Sur-Ozerain, Where Chocolat Was Filmed
• The Auxois: A Perfect Day Trip from Dijon
• The Dijon Owl's Trail

    Northeastern France

• France's Favorite Square: The Secrets Of Place Stanislas, Nancy
• 5 Unmissable Highlights Of The Ecole De Nancy Art Nouveau
• 9 Unexpected Things To Do In Haute-Marne
• Voltaire In Love: The Improbable Power Couple Of The Chateau De Cirey
• Discovering Langres, The Prettiest French Town You've Never Heard Of

NORTHERN FRANCE

• The Louvre-Lens Museum: How a Former Mining Town Got the Louvre
• Laon, France: The Crowned Mountain
  
• Saint-Quentin, France: The Art Deco City No One Talks About
• The Unexpected Side of Amiens, Historical Capital Of Picardy
• In The Footsteps Of Jules Verne In Amiens
• The Somme Battlefields: A Day Trip From Amiens
• Exploring The Hortillonnages: The Floating Gardens Of Amiens

SOUTH & SW FRANCE

• Enjoy These Exceptional Experiences When You Visit Provence
• Follow in the Footsteps of Vincent van Gogh
• Is Avignon Bridge The Most Famous Bridge In France?
• 6 Perfect Things To Do In Avignon In One Day
• The Arles Amphitheater: 10 Great Roman Monuments of Arles
• The Nimes Arena And Its Forgotten Roman Treasures

    Luberon and Alpilles

• Lacoste Village: Scandal, Style, And A Steamy History
• Don't Miss These 7 Spectacular Sights in Saint Remy de Provence
• Bonnieux, France: Heart of the Luberon
• Roussillon, Luberon, And The Magic Of Ochre
• The Best 5-Day Luberon Itinerary
• How to Visit the Luberon Villages Without a Car
• The Unexpected Charms Of Ménerbes, France
• Five Breathtaking Hilltop Villages In Provence's Luberon
• Myths and Legends of the Luberon
• 8 Hidden Luberon Villages (that are still authentic)
• If You Love Antiques, Head For Isle sur la Sorgue In Provence
• Oppède-le-Vieux, Luberon: Unpolished But Heavy With History
• Cheval Palace: How A Rural Postman Built His Dream By Hand

    Marseille

• 5 Unrivaled Marseille Museums That Are Worth YourVisit
• The Fascinating "True" Story Of The Legendary Chateau D'If
• How To Get Around Marseille As A Tourist
• Is Marseille Safe? Or Is The City As Dangerous As They Say?
• How To Make The Best Of One Day In Marseille

    French Riviera (Côte d'Azur)

• A Guide To Grasse, France: Perfume Capital Of The World
• Route Du Mimosa In France: Best French Riviera Winter Road Trip
• 10 Delicious French Riviera Food Dishes To Taste In Nice, France
• 10 Dazzling Towns In Southern France: First Trip To The French Riviera
• How to Plan a 10-Day South of France Road Trip
• The Baroness, The Gigolo, And The Villa Ephrussi De Rothschild
• The Escoffier Museum: An Ode to the Master Chef
• 11 Memorable Day Trips From Nice on the French Riviera
  

    Bordeaux south to the Basque Country

• 14 Tempting Reasons To Visit Bordeaux (it's not just the wine)
• Bordeaux Vs Lyon: 9 Factors To Help You Choose
• Bordeaux Roman Ruins: A Glimpse Of Rich Historical Past
• Things To Do In Bayonne: Culture, Cloisters, And Chocolate
• How To How to Tour the Basque Country Of France In A Week (Or Less)
• The Fearless Corsairs And Legendary Basque Legacy Of Saint Jean De Luz
• Things to Do in Biarritz If You Love History and Culture

WESTERN FRANCE AND BRITTANY 

• Rochefort, France: the country's most coherent city?
  
• Brantome, France: Venice Of The Périgord
• Best Things To Do In Brittany France
• Limoges, France: More Than Porcelain
• Angoulême: From Medieval Stronghold To France's Capital Of Comics
  
• Why Poitiers Is One of France's Most Underrated Historic Cities
  
• A Perfect Day In La Rochelle, France

CENTRAL FRANCE

• La Maison Picassiette In Chartres: The House Of A Million Pieces
• 3 Fascinating Castles Near Paris That Are Way Under The Radar
• The Chartres Cathedral Labyrinth (And Other Fascinating Wonders)
• The Ardeche In France: 7 Delightful Surprises
• Destination: Department Loire (Not The Loire You Think!)

NORMANDY

• 12 Things To Do In Rouen, Normandy That Will Enrich Your Culture
• Rouen, Capital Of Impressionism? Light, Shadow, And The River Seine
• 7 Thematic Ways To Explore Rouen Cathedral, A Gothic Masterpiece
• 4 Culinary Treasures Of Rouen
• How To Get To Mont Saint-Michel: The Ultimate Hassle-Free Guide
• Visiting The D Day Beaches? This Is The Only Guide You'll Need
• Bayeux, France:  Vikings, Conquerors And The Roar Of Tanks 
• Ouistreham-Riva Bella: Complete Guide To 6 Best Things To See And Do

LOIRE VALLEY

• How to Organize Your Loire Valley Day Trip from Paris
• Experience Christmas Magic At These 7 Enchanting Loire Valley Castles
• 4 Chateaux Of Loire Valley And Their Conspiracy Theories, Lust & Secrets
• How Two Remarkable Women Fought Over Chenonceau Castle
• Chinon Castle: Tales Of Heresy, Betrayal, And Liberation
• 9 Things To Know Before Visiting Chateau De Cheverny
• The Easy Way to See the Loire Valley from Paris by Train
• Visiting Chambord Castle, France's Most Ambitious Renaissance Château

FRANCE LESS VISITED

• 13 Unexpected Places the French Know - but you might not
• Why You Need To Visit These 4 Underrated French Cities In Spring
• 7 Less Visited Cities In France You Must Have On Your Radar

OVERVIEW AND PLANNING

• Famous Landmarks In France And Some Of Their Startling Backstories
• List of Regions and Departments of Metropolitan France
• The 101 Departments of France
• France's List of Lists: Tourism Labels and Designations
• 9 Sensational French Road Trips
• Planning The Ultimate France Itinerary: A Step-By-Step Guide
• France's Most Stunning Cities (with an urban buzz)
• The 3 Prettiest Cities In France (That Aren't Paris!)
• Most Beautiful Villages of France
• 7 Most Beautiful Small Villages In France To Visit This Summer
• Tragic Abandoned Places of France

GETTING AROUND

• Getting Around France: How To Travel France By Train
• The Pros and Cons of Renting a Car in France
• Driving Tips in France: How to Cope with Mercurial French Drivers

WHEN TO VISIT

• Visiting France In A Heatwave: What You Need To Know
• France In June: 10 Delightful Destinations For Early Summer
• How To Survive August In France (7 Ways To Take Cover)
• Tipping In France: What You Need To Know
• Should I Buy A Travel Adapter For France?
• Fall In France: How To Enjoy France In Autumn To The Fullest
• 30 Surprising Things You’ll See On A French Restaurant Menu
• 7 Reasons France In November Might Be A Great Decision
• Winter in Paris: Is This the Best Season to Visit?
• 6 Magical Ways To Experience Paris In Spring
• 7 Tempting Things to Do in Paris in Autumn
• 11 Festive Things To Do In Paris In December
• Lyon In December Or – What Is Lyon In Winter Really Like?

4. Culture and Civilizations

• Interesting Facts About the French (Many are true!)
• French People: Stereotypes and Myths
• The Best of Everything in France
• The Best Books About France You'll Ever Read
• How To Achieve Perfection: The Meilleur Ouvrier De France Competition
• Surprising Small Museums of France

Holidays and Traditions

• Why the French Celebrate Bastille Day on July 14th
• Valentine’s Day In France: How The French Celebrate
• What Do French People Eat for Christmas?
• 11 Surprising Christmas Markets in France
• Halloween in France: A Modern Tradition with Ancient Roots
• Sensational French Christmas Gifts I Found For You Online
• How To Celebrate April Fool's Day In France

Daily Life in France

• Why We Love Our Flea Markets
• 19 Weird French Laws Seen As Bizarre Even In France
• Loire Pronunciation and Other Loire-Related Peculiarities
• How Do You Say BREAKFAST in French?
• How To Ask For The BATHROOM in French
• Wellness In France: How To Choose The Perfect French Spa Stay
• The Art Of Shopping In France Like An Artiste
• Offbeat France Shop

Made in France

• 7 Surprising Basque Products That Are Still Made By Hand
• The Rapidly Disappearing Enamels Of Bresse
• Is This The Last Glove-Maker Of Grenoble?
• Harvesting Guérande Salt: Not A Disappearing Art. Yet.
• How The City Of Dijon Lost Its Mustard
• How Marseille Soap Is Making A Comeback - And Why It's A Problem

Gastronomy

• Apero Time: Why Is The Aperitif In France Such A Big Deal?
• "Let Them Eat Baguette", Said Marie-Antoinette, Never.
• The Magnificent Comeback Of The Paris Bouillon Restaurants
• The Food and Wine Brotherhoods of France
• How to Assemble the Perfect French Alpine Cheese Board
• France's Biggest Foodie Secret: The Wedge That Took Over The World
• 14 Obscure French Drinks You Can Try On Your Next Visit
• 25+ Irresistible French Pastry, Desserts And Sweets: An Insider's Guide
• Not All Bottled Water Is Equal, Says This Water Tasting Specialist
• 15 Weird French Foods You Might Have to Be French to Appreciate
• What Is Escargot? The Curious Story Of Snails In France
• A Typical Breakfast In France (A REAL Traditional French Breakfast)
• How To Prepare The Perfect French Picnic
• Unique Food Festivals In France By Season

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