With a thousand castles and almost as many churches, France’s south-western Périgord region is a paradise for lovers of ancient stones. Aude, 32, has inherited the fortress of Commarque. The young Parisian left everything behind to protect this 12th-century monument. Gastronomy is also a key part of life in the Périgord. In this region that cherishes quality produce, chef Pierre Corre cooks black truffles like no one else.
Located west of the Baie des Anges, Antibes is one of the pearls of the French Riviera in the south of France. In the 1920s, US novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald took up residence with his wife Zelda in the Villa Saint-Louis to write his masterpiece "Tender is the Night". The villa is now a five-star hotel, the Hôtel Belles Rives. Antibes is also home to a yachting legend: the One Wave, a monohull designed in 1948 and fully restored by its passionate owner. Last but not least, the resort is a paradise for underwater photographers.
The Lot-et-Garonne is a south-western French department created from the union of the land and two rivers: the Lot and the Garonne. It’s therefore not surprising that some of the most beautiful gardens in France can be found here. The stories of these mini Edens are both astonishing and little-known. Impressionist painter Claude Monet came to one in Temple-sur-Lot to buy hundreds of water lilies for his garden at Giverny. Not far away, in Nérac, legend has it that another garden was the scene of a brief but passionate love affair between a certain Fleurette and Henri de Navarre, later King Henri IV, giving rise to the French verb "to flirt". Last but not least, Vincent Beylard's orchards have enabled this local man to become a world champion of jam.
The French region of Alsace is famous for its traditional half-timbered houses. But this centuries-old heritage is threatened by the passage of time and urban development. Every year, 400 of these remarkable old houses are demolished. But a few locals are trying to safeguard their heritage. One young couple have embarked on a project to renovate their old house, using ancestral techniques. Meanwhile, a company near Strasbourg specialises in dismantling the half-timbering of abandoned houses, renovating them and reusing them on new structures. We take a closer look.
Covering almost 9,000 km², the southern French department of Aveyron is one of the country's largest. With its limestone plateaus and vertiginous gorges, the area is full of contrasts: just like its iconic cheese, Roquefort. The blue-veined ewe's milk cheese – one of the oldest and most famous in the world – was born in this region. It became France's first cheese with AOP (Protected Designation of Origin) status in 1925. Making Roquefort requires special know-how, from milking the sheep to storing the cheese in cellars. We take a closer look.
Nestled at an altitude of 400 metres in the heart of the Alps, France's Lake Annecy is considered the purest lake in Europe. On its shores, the medieval old town of Annecy is nicknamed the "Venice of the Alps" for its picturesque canals. Out on the lake, fishermen catch féra, a delicate fish that Michelin-starred chef Jean Sulpice is particularly fond of working with. The forests that surround the lake are also a source of inspiration for the chef, who never misses an opportunity to stroll through them in search of new flavours.
In the creeks near Marseille, 37 metres underwater, lies the only submerged cave on the planet that's covered with cave paintings. On its damp walls, people have painted horses, bison, ibex and even penguins – animals that were present in the south of France during the Ice Age. The oldest paintings date back some 27,000 years.
In the vineyards of France's Anjou region, in the Loire Valley, a ritual takes place every year at the end of the summer. At harvest time, dozens of brave seasonal workers come from far and wide to pick the ripe grapes. Some of them have been regulars for several years and their experience is invaluable to the newcomers. The grape picking is done by hand and in a good atmosphere, but has its own rules. Once collected, the harvest heads to the winery. FRANCE 24 takes a closer look.
The French Mediterranean island of Corsica attracts two million holidaymakers every summer. To properly discover the so-called Isle of Beauty, what better way than on a cruise ship? Aboard a week-long cruise on La Belle des Océans, passengers explore Corsica's most beautiful beaches, as well as the local gastronomy and breathtaking panoramas – such as the medieval town of Bonifacio, perched 40 metres above the Mediterranean. FRANCE 24 brings you a little taste of summer.
In the skyline of France's Provence region, Mont Ventoux culminates at 1,909 metres. Each year, its steep slopes are the setting for an epic stage of the Tour de France cyling race. The bald mountain fascinates professional and amateur cyclists alike. The most determined of them even attempt the "Nutters' challenge": climbing Mont Ventoux three times in one day on the three different roads to the summit. We went to meet some of them.
In the Breton language, its name means "little sea". The Gulf of Morbihan, in the French region of Brittany, is made up of around 40 islands, all of them small paradises. The largest of them, l'Île aux Moines, is the most popular with tourists. Others belong to private owners, who live out their desert island dream. Oysters are farmed all year round on this storm-protected inland sea. We take a closer look.
Located in southern France, the Aubrac plateau is the scene of an explosion of colours and flavours in summer. The Aubrac dairy cows graze in rich meadows. Their cheese, tomme, is the main ingredient in the local specialty dish: aligot. The lush slopes are also home to the narcissus flower, which is harvested in the old-fashioned way with a raking tool. These delicate, fragrant flowers deck the region in white and are used by perfumers for their finest creations. We take a closer look.
Half of the one million oak barrels produced worldwide each year are made in France. French cooperage is a centuries-old tradition that dates back to the Gauls and plays a key role in the excellence of the world's finest wines. Choosing the right oak trees, cutting, seasoning and charring the wood are all delicate stages carried out by the cooper to create a made-to-measure oak barrel. We take a closer look at this expert craftsmanship.
Deep in France's southern Lubéron mountains lies a stunning red and orange landscape reminiscent of the vast plains of America: the Colorado provençal. This spot of wild nature is in fact a former open-cast ochre quarry. Every year, some 300,000 visitors venture through these 30 unusual hectares, between fairy chimneys and strange sculptures, to discover the remains of the site's industrial past. FRANCE 24 takes a closer look.
The southern Camargue region in France is known for its wetlands and flamingos. The region however holds a lesser-known animal sacred: bulls. The bulls of Camargue are reared by enthusiasts called manadiers for one purpose only, which is to become champions of the bullring in the regional bullfighting games. Consisting mainly of participants, called raseteurs, aiming to snatch rosettes tied to the bull's horns, the course camarguaise is harmless for the bulls that live in semi-freedom. FRANCE 24 takes you to uncover the region and its bulls.
Deep in France's Burgundy region lies the Boutissaint wildlife park. Within its 400 hectares of forest, several hundred animals roam free: stags, roe deer and boars, which visitors can observe as they wander through this natural setting with very few fences. The park is the brainchild of the Borione family, which purchased this former priory and its vast abandoned estate in the early 20th century. When it opened in 1968, it was France's very first wildlife park. FRANCE 24 takes you on a tour.
Beaune is the wine capital of France's Burgundy region. Above ground, the old fortified city is already beautiful. But the real treasure is hidden below the surface, down in the cellars. They contain two million bottles of wine, in a total of five kilometres of galleries, all linked together. One of the oldest cellars in Beaune has been occupied for four generations by the Maison Drouhin. It contains traces of the city's ancient past. Meanwhile, the cellars of Maison Champy were once frequented by Louis Pasteur and Gustave Eiffel. The much more modern Jadot winery has an unexpected skylight. FRANCE 24 takes you to discover these hidden treasures.
Agriculture in France is not immune to the digital revolution. More and more farmers are using IT tools to carry out their administrative and technical tasks. But some go much further: from fully robotic milking of cows, to connected cameras, to data gathering and even a digital fruit and vegetable market. FRANCE 24 went to meet some of these farmers for whom technology represents the future of their livelihood.
To discover France's Baie de Somme, on the northern Picardy coast, it's best to venture out at low tide. The River Somme's vast estuary reveals an archipelago of sandbanks and salt marshes: a paradise for migratory birds, but also for sheep farmers. During a canoe trip, tourists can get close to the stars of the bay: the seals. The largest seal colony in France has taken up residence here, much to the delight of visitors.
Of all the Renaissance-era castles that adorn France's Loire Valley, the Château de Chenonceau is perhaps the most refined. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it attracts almost a million French and foreign tourists every year. This success keeps a hundred employees busy at Chenonceau: ensuring the safety of the premises, restoring works of art and composing the bouquets that decorate the corridors. FRANCE 24 takes you behind the scenes of this beautiful château.