Celebrating the Lemon Festival in Menton

The small sleepy town of Menton is overshadowed by its famous neighbours on the Côte d'Azur such as Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Nice. Located on the eastern edge of the French Riviera, just before the Italian border, the town has a stunning old town with medieval architecture, beautiful beaches, excellent restaurants and boasts 316 sunny days a year.

Menton

For many centuries Menton was one of the most important European centre of citrus fruit production. However, with time, the citrus orchards were abandoned and slowly disappeared. Very few farmers still grow the famous Menton lemon that has a very distinctive flavour. To celebrate its past, every February, Menton hosts the Lemon Festival (La Fête du Citron). Celebrated since the end of 19th century, the event attracts more than 200,000 people and is the second most important event on the Riviera after Nice Carnival. For three weeks, Menton fills up with the beautiful fragrance of oranges and lemons that are used to create spectacular decorations and sculptures. 145 tons of citrus fruits turned into the most spectacular designs by 300 professionals working for the festival.

Citrus Sculpture

Every year the festival organizers choose a different theme: Disney, Music of the World, China, Spain. This year’s theme is Cinecittà the Italian cinema of the 50s and 60s. 

The town’s gardens Jardins Biovès become an open air gallery filled with citrus sculpture, some of them up to 10 metres tall. At night time, the garden illuminates with light shows and fireworks. One of the most exciting event of the festival is the Golden Fruit Parade with giant citrus floats carried along the town’s streets accompanied by music, dances and cheering of thousands of excited spectators. 

Citrus Sculpture

There is also an arts and crafts show where local artisans exhibit their work: wooden sculptures, glass engraving, ceramics, pottery and food stands sell delicacies such as citrus liqueurs, lemon infused olive oil and many other. During the Lemon Festival local restaurants try to outdo each other with special selections of citrus-based exquisite dishes.

Photos by: Ian Britton/Flickr, Fête du Citron/Facebook.

The most beautiful parks and gardens in Paris

You have been busy strolling down Champs-Élysées, climbing up the Eiffel Tower, visiting museums, shopping and dining, so now it is time to relax, listen to birds and stretch on the grass. It is surprisingly easy to find beautiful green spaces in Paris to escape the city’s hectic rhythms. 

Jardin des Plantes

Jardin des Plantes

Created in 1626 as the royal medicinal plant garden, the Jardin des Plantes on the Left Bank is the main botanical garden in France. It has over 10,000 plant species, elegant glasshouses, rose, winter and Alpine gardens and even a small maze and a mini-zoo. 

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

Once an execution place for criminals and public waste ground, Buttes Chaumont was transformed into a romantic park by Baron Haussmann in 1867. Located in the 19th arrondissement, Buttes Chaumont boasts spectacular views of Paris, three miles of walking paths, a lake with a waterfall, grotto and large meadows where you can have a picnic.

Bois de Boulogne

This large public park was Paris’s answer the London’s Hyde Park. Covering over 2000 acres, the park includes woodland, English landscape gardens, a large lake with swans and ducks, two racecourses, restaurants and sports clubs. The Jardin de Bagatelle in the park is famous for its romantic Nymph Pond with water lilies and the prize-winning rose garden with 1,200 stunning varieties.  

Parc Monceau

Parc Monceau

Situated in the 8^th arrondissement this public garden covers 20 acres. It was landscaped in the 18^th century and later re-styled to look like an English garden with a pond, lovely shaded paths and beautiful statues. Parc Monceau is a great place to have a glimpse into Parisian life as it is popular with local residents.

Jardin des Tuileries

Jardin des Tuileries

This 17th century formal Garden of the Tuileries is the largest and oldest in Paris. It can get crowded in summer months but the views of the Place de la Concorde and Arc de Triomphe from here are unbeatable.

Photos via Flickr by: Tom Hilton, Guillaume Baviere, Steve Shupe, Norio Nakayama.

What to see in the Loire Valley

The land of romantic castles and excellent wine, the Loire Valley is one of the most visited destinations in France. Although, the majority of tourists go to the Loire to see the majestic chateaux, there are many more things to do and see in the region. Here are just a few highlights to consider when you are planning your visit.

Chateau de Chambord

Historic chateaux

With more than 100 historic castles open to the public, you can spend days admiring their splendour. The Renaissance Chambord, the largest chateaux in the region; Cheverny where the descendants of the noble family the Hurault de Vibrayes still live,  Chenonceau  spanning the river Cher, - apart from opulent interiors, they all have something unique to offer. 

Chartres Cathedral

Abbeys and cathedrals

Some of France’s most spectacular cathedrals are found in the Loire Valley. Chartres cathedral with its 12^th century stained glass windows, Bourges cathedral often described as a masterpiece of Gothic art, the elegant cathedral in Tours. Make sure to visit the splendid 12th century Fontevraud Abbey where Henry II king of England and his son King Richard the Lionheart are buried.

Charming towns and villages 

Visiting towns and villages in the Loire Valley is like travelling back in time. Narrow cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, splendid palaces and charming village cafes will steel your heart. Montrésor, Chinon, Le Grand Pressigny, Sancerre and many others are worth stopping for a day or two to soak up the atmosphere of joie de vivre.

Montresor

Fine vineyards

The Loire Valley might not be as famous as those of Bordeaux or Burgundy but it produces some fine wines such as Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé and Muscadet appreciated by connoisseurs across the globe. Many family-run vineyards around Nantes, Tours, Angers and Saumur are open to the public for tastings and cellar tours. 

Photos via Flickr by: Thomas Conté, Tim Rawle, Daniel Jolivet.

Rouen, the historic capital of Normandy

The historic city of Rouen lies on the Seine River in the region of Normandy. Although a large part of the city was damaged during the World War II, there is still a great deal of ancient buildings in the old town, which was painstakingly restored.  

Rouen 

Once described by the French writer Victor Hugo as the city of “a hundred spires”, Rouen boasts numerous architectural gems from different eras. The most famous of them is the Cathédrale Notre-Dame, immortalised by Claude Monet in many of his paintings. One of the largest and most impressive Gothic churches in France, Cathédrale Notre-Dame took almost 300 years to complete. Its 151-metre spire is the highest in the country.

Rouen Cathedral

A short walk away from the cathedral is the ornate Gros Horloge clock tower, which you can climb following a steep staircase to admire the clock’s mechanics and a magnificent view of the city. It is a real pleasure to wander along the winding narrow streets flanked by old half-timbered houses, stumbling upon Gothic architectural treasures. Check out the magnificent Palais de Justice with its detailed façade with elaborate gargoyles with a few shell holes left in the walls as reminders of an Allied bombing in 1944, which badly damaged the building. 

Another fascinating landmark is the medieval Aître Saint-Maclou with macabre carved skulls and bones. During a plague outbreak, which devastated Rouen, the lovely green courtyard served as a burial ground and the building served as an ossuary. 

Gros Horloge Clock Tower

The legendary Joan of Arc went on trial and was burnt at the stake in 1431 at the Place du Vieux Marché, which today is dominated by a striking looking modern Church Église Jeanne d'Arc.

Art buffs love Rouen’s excellent Fine Arts Museum with a large collection of paintings from the 15th to the 20th centuries that includes works by such masters as Rubens, Caravaggio, Corot, Modigliani, Monet and many others. 

Photos via Flickr by: Frédéric BISSON, Julien Lozelli, Marko Kudjerski.

Les Trois Glorieuses wine auction in Beaune, Burgundy

Every year, on the third weekend of November, the pretty town of Beaune, Burgundy, celebrate one of the most famous French wine festivals, Les Trois Glorieuses. The name means “The three glorious days” and that is exactly what it is: three wonderful days full of events, good food and excellent wine.

The Hospices de Beaune Museum

It all started in mid-15th century when Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor to Phillipe Le Bon, Duke of Burgundy, with his wife founded the Hospices de Beaune to care for the poor. The hospital continues to serve the area, albeit in more modern buildings, with the old one being turned into a museum. Over the centuries the hospital received vineyards as charity donations accumulating about 150 acres. In 1851, the first auction was organized to sell the hospital’s wines and the tradition continues to the present day. 

Inside the Hospices de Beaune

Les Trois Glorieuses starts with a street fair where artisans and artists sell their creations. Local wine cellars open their doors for wine tastings, a marathon race through the vineyards nearby is organized and a grand black-tie dinner is held in the Chateau de Clos du Vougeot.

The world-famous Wine Auction starts on Sunday morning with buyers bidding for the Hospices’ wines in barrels, each containing approximately 280 bottles. Bidders have a Burgundy negotiant lined up who will mature the wine and bottle it. Each bottle will have a unique Hospices de Beaune label with the appellation, the name of the person who donated the land and the name of the bidder. 

The Wine Auction

The Wine Auction in Beaune is the oldest and largest charity auction in the world with the latest one in November 2015 having raised over 11 million euros. The money goes to the new Beaune hospital, the museum maintenance and a chosen charity of the year. 

The weekend finishes with a huge lunch (paulée) in Meursault with winegrowers where tables groan under the weight of hearty local food and rivers of Burgundy wines flow.

Photos via Flickr by: Marcel Musil, Pierre Metivier, Hervé Corcia.

What to do in the Champagne region in France

Despite its proximity to Paris, the Champagne-Ardenne region is not over-run by tourists. Hop on the TGV high-speed train and in 40 minutes you will see gentle hills covered with neat vineyards where some of the most famous French wines are made. Here is our list must-dos in the region.

Krug

Enjoy the bubbly

The area around Reims and Epernay is home to the top champagne houses. You can visit such grand producers as Veuve Clicquot, Krug, Moët & Chandon, Taittinger to learn how the sparkling wine is made, see the impressive ancient caves where the wine is matured and taste some precious bubbly. There are many small producers in Epernay, who also offer champagne tours and degustations in a more intimate atmosphere.

Langres

Discover a gem

The small town of Langres, in the south of the region, is often called the "Carcassonne of the North", although fewer tourists know about this beautiful place. The charming Langres is picture-perfect with its ancient ramparts, beautiful churches, elegant palaces and a slow pace of life. 

Chateau de Sedan

Visit Château de Sedan

The formidable early-15^th century fort is the biggest in Europe. It covers covering an area of 35,000 square metres with some walls 30 metres thick. It has seen many battles and sieges and today houses a museum and hotel.

Watch birds at Lac du Der 

The largest artificial lake in Europe covering 19 square miles is an important area on the migration routes of water birds. Birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts from all over Europe come here to see spectacular flocks of cranes, geese, egrets. 

Le Park Restaurant

Enjoy fine dining

The region has some of France’s best restaurants. L’Assiette champenoise boasts three Michelin stars and offers an unforgettably delicious dining experience. For classic French cuisine head to the famous Le Parc, at the historic Les Crayères hotel, in Reims where you will be treated like a royal to an exquisite menu of veal, white truffles, sweetbreads and other delicacies.

Photos by: Krug/Facebook, Gerard Feron/Flickr, Château fort de Sedan/Facebook, Domaine Les Crayeres/Facebook.

Monte Carlo, the playground for the rich and famous

Chic boutiques, mega-yachts, fancy cars, opulent casinos, - all these and more can be found in Monte Carlo, the playground of for the rich and famous. However, you do not need to be of royal descent or a Hollywood star to enjoy the glitz and glamour of this tiny monarchy on the French Mediterranean coast. 

Port Hercule

Stroll along the Monte Carlo Harbour, Port Hercule, lined up with picturesque cliffs and docked mega-yachts of the super-rich where scenes for the James Bond movie GoldenEye were filmed. Above the harbour sits the spectacular royal palace, Palais du Prince, home of the Grimaldi dinasty for the last 700 years. It opens for public tours from June to October and guided tours of the luxurious state apartments are offered in various languages. In the palace, apart from opulent interiors you can also admire Prince Rainier III's collection of Antique cars, from horse-drawn carriages to classic and sport’s cars. Do not miss the ceremonial changing of the Monégasque Guard in front of the Palace daily at 11.55 am. Go for a leisurely wander in Monaco-Ville, the Old Town, to get lost in its charming cobbled streets and elegant palaces. Pop in to the imposing Cathédrale de Monaco where the modest grave of Princess Grace is.

Cathedrale de Monaco

There are five casinos in Monaco, but the most famous one is the lavishly decorated Casino de Monte Carlo. If you have some money to burn, it is a fascinating place to spend an evening! 

Monte Carlo is a great for quality shopping. High-end shiny boutiques sell big brands such as Hermes, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent. In Boutique du Rocher (1, avenue de la Madone), opened by Princess Grace in 1966, you can score hand-embroidered tablecloths, artisan ceramics, and other locally crafted housewares. All proceeds from sales go to local charities. For luxury tableware and porcelain candy boxes with the Prince of Monaco's personal seal head to Manufacture de Monaco.

Chocolates from Chocolaterie de Monaco

At La Chocolaterie de Monaco, the official chocolate maker of Monaco since 1920, you will find delicious handmade chocolates with lavender and other beautifully packed local delicacies. 

For a relaxing aperitif, sit down at the Belle Époque Café de Paris with the Monte Carlo Imperial cocktail in hand and watch Bentleys, Maseratis and Lamborghinis whooshing past you.

Photos by: Salvatore Freni Jr/Flickr, Christian Teillas/Flickr, Chocolaterie de Monaco/Facebook.