Travel France Online, French heritage for the explorer within
Travel France Online is a free travel resource that helps you explore France's rich cultural and architectural heritage.
You’ll find articles on some of the most acclaimed tourist sites, but we also take you off the beaten track to the discovery of France’s 'best hidden secrets', places and traditions often overlooked in many mainstream tourist guides.
Start your journey by clicking the images below, we’ll do the rest.
Colline de Fourvière – Lyon – Lugdunum
La Colline de Fourvière in Lyon, a hill that overlooks the Saône and Rhône rivers and the site where the Romans founded the antic city of Lugdunum in 43BC
Nougat de Montelimar, a French confectionery
The nougat de Montelimar is a honey and almond-based confectionery and renowned Provençal specialty that was invented in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) during the 10th century
Bouchons Lyonnais – bistros-restaurants
Bouchons Lyonnais are Lyon's unique bistros-restaurants that serve local specialties traditionally accompanied by a glass of Beaujolais or Côtes-du-Rhône
Le Puy Mary, a remnant of Europe’s largest stratovolcano
Le Puy Mary, the remnant of the largest stratovolcano of Europe, is one of the Monts du Cantal, a series of extinct volcanoes part of the Parc Regional des Volcans d'Auvergne
Hospices de Beaune, the Jewel of Burgundy
Hospices de Beaune, a 15th century former charitable almshouse and hospital for the poor, worldwide renowned for its annual charity wine auction
Alesia – a decisive battle of the Gallic War
The Battle of Alesia took place in Alise-sainte-Reine in 52BC and ended with the victory of Caesar over the Gallic chieftain Vercingetorix and his warriors
Abbaye de Cluny a major medieval spiritual center
Abbaye de Cluny, fully independent from the secular power and a major spiritual and intellectual center recognized throughout Europe during the Middle-Ages
La Roche de Solutré, a major geological and archaeological site
La Roche de Solutré in Burgundy, a limestone spur considered a rare geological phenomenon and the site of major archaeological findings
Nevez, from Anse de Poulguin to Port Manech
Nevez, a picturesque rural district located by the mouth of the Aven, boasts many tourist spots such as Kerascoet village, Hénan tide mill and Port Manech
Pont-Aven, Gauguin and La Cité des Artistes
Pont-Aven, a small seaport nestled in the Aven estuary and worldwide known for the School of Pont-Aven, an artistic group founded by the painter Gauguin
Pointe du Grouin, a rocky spur south of the Baie du Mont Saint-Michel
La Pointe du Grouin, a rocky spur and protected natural site on the Emerald Coast in Brittany, marks the south boundary of the Baie du Mont Saint-Michel
Colonne du Guesclin – La Motte-Broons
The Colonne du Guesclin was erected in 1841 on the site of the Château de la Motte-Broons, the castle of Bertrand du Guesclin that was pulled down in 1616
Loire Valley, the Royal Valley
The Loire Valley is also known as the Royal Valley because of the many chateaux the kings of the French Renaissance and their vassals built along the river
Chateau de Chinon – Loire Valley – History
Chateau de Chinon, restored ruins of the fortress built by Henry II of England where Joan of Arc came to serve King Charles VII during the Hundred years War
Cycling along the Loire River
The best cycling routes along the Loire River, a series of trails that follow the river from its spring in Auvergne downwards to its mouth in the Atlantic
Villandry Renaissance Chateau – Gardens
The Renaissance Chateau and gardens of Villandry in the Loire Valley, fully restored by Joachim Carvallo, and today registered as UNESCO's World Heritage
La Petite France – Strasbourg’s historic district
La Petite France, Strasbourg’s medieval tanners district, a prestigious tourist landmark renowned for its Alsatian architecture and a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site
Place Stanislas in Nancy, the Golden Gates City
Place Stanislas, a prestigious square built by the Duke of Lorraine, boasts a wealth of Classical and Baroque architectural features that earned Nancy the name of Golden Gates City
Reims, the City of the Kings and Saint-Rémi
Reims, the city where Saint-Rémi baptized King Clovis in the late 5th century AD, and where the French Kings were crowned for 10 centuries
Alsace former administrative region
Alsace is part of the Grand Est in Eastern France, one of the 13 new regions created by the territorial reform that took effect in 2016
Picardie former administrative region
Picardie is located in north-west France, and is now part of Hauts de Seine - Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie, one of the 13 new regions created in January 2016
Nord-Pas-de-Calais former administrative region
Nord-Pas-de-Calais is located in northern France and is part of the Hauts de France, one of the 13 new regions created by the territorial reform of 2016
Baie de Somme – Picardie Region
The Baie de Somme, an exceptional natural reserve and Grand Site de France located in western France, and ranked among the most beautiful bays in the world
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme – Baie de Somme
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, a walled city perched on the cliffs overlooking the mouth of the Canal Maritime de la Somme and an thriving sea and river port
Wilhelm Lubrich – Story of a Polish soldier of the Second World War
This is the story of Wilhelm Lubrich, a Pole from Silesia, who was forced to fight in the German army during WWII and died in Normandy
Coutances, the Unelles’ capital renamed after a Roman emperor
Coutances, the capital of the Celtic Unelles was renamed after a Roman Emperor and later became the seat of the Bishopric of Coutances and Avranches
Saint-Clair-sur-l’Elle paintings – Vlastimil Suchý
In the night of June 6, 1944 above Saint-Clair-sur-l'Elle, is one of the stunning WWII paintings by Vlastimil Suchý, a Czech artist and aviation specialist
Traveling to Normandy from the UK
Traveling to Normandy from the UK by air, rail and road is easy as the region is served by 2 airports, 3 ferry links and railway and road networks
Castel Merle prehistoric site in Sergeac – Dordogne
Castel Merle prehistoric site in Dordogne has been continuously inhabited for 83,000 years and boasts the highest concentration of prehistoric habitats in Europe
Abri du Poisson – Rock shelter adorned with an engraved salmon
Abri du Poisson in the Vezere Valley, a prehistoric rock shelter engraved with a salmon, the oldest representation of a fish known to this day in the world
Commemoration of the Centenary of the Bel-Air City
Boulazac-Isle-Manoire commemorates the 100-year anniversary of the creation of the base and hospital of the American Army in its district of Bel-Air City
Poitou-Charentes – Nouvelle Aquitaine Region
Poitou-Charentes is part of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region, and is situated in south-west France, between the Loire and the Gironde estuary in Aquitaine
Why do we call Toulouse the Pink City?
The historical capital of Languedoc is nicknamed Toulouse the Pink City because of its red-pink bricks and tiles produced with the local clay, a construction material introduced by the Romans 2000 years ago
Saujac – Saut de la Mounine – Lot Valley
Saut de la Mounine in Saujac, a spectacular viewpoint along the Lot and the origin of a legend involving a hermit, a monkey and the local lord's daughter
La Capelle Balaguier Templar Cross – Quercy
La Capelle Balaguier Templar Cross, an enigmatic stone Cross initially erected in a nearby village and moved to its current location in Aveyron in 1811
Gorges de la Jonte – canyons – Aveyron – Lozere
The spectacular canyons known as Gorges de la Jonte traverse the Grands Causses Regional Nature Park and delineate the Aveyron and Lozere departments
25 Paris churches you will enjoy visiting
A compilation of 25 Paris churches you will enjoy visiting, churches that might be less known but boasts a wealth of architectural and ornamental features
Maison d’Ourcamps – A vestige of medieval Paris
La Maison d’Ourcamps, one of Paris oldest houses, is home to the Commission du Vieux Paris, a committee in charge of the protection of the city’s heritage
Theatre du Gymnase Marie-Bell – Grands Boulevards
Theatre du Gymnase Marie-Bell, a theater inaugurated in 1820 on the Grands Boulevards and renowned for its superb original architecture
Porte Saint-Martin, a triumphal arch for Louis XIV
Louis XIV commissioned the triumphal arch Porte Saint-Martin in 1674 in order to commemorate his military victories on the Rhine and in Franche-Comté
Chateau de Commequiers, demolished by order of King Louis XIII
Chateau de Commequiers, the fortress of the Protestant lords of La Tremoille was demolished by king Louis XIII at the end of the Wars of Religion
Moulin de Rairé, a windmill in constant use since 1555
Moulin de Raire in Sallertaine, a windmill that has constantly turned and been exclusively powered by the force of the wind since its construction in 1555
Sallertaine – A former island among the salt marshes
Saint-Martin de Sallertaine, an Angevin Romanesque Church and only vestige of the 12th century abbey founded on a former island in the Baie de Bourgneuf
Angers, the former capital of the County of Anjou
The city of Angers, the former capital of the Counts and Dukes of Anjou, boasts a rich historical heritage that earned it the label City of Art and History
A visit to the Maeght Foundation – Saint-Paul-de-Vence
The Maeght Foundation, a contemporary art museum founded in 1964 in Saint-Paul-de-Vence with the collaboration of some of the most talented artists of the 20th century
Cemelenum – Archaeological museum – Nice Cimiez
Nice archaeological museum is located in Cimiez, a town that developed from Cemelenum, the Roman military garrison built in 14BCE on the Via Julia Augusta
Van Gogh – asylum in St-Remy-de-Provence
Vincent Van Gogh admitted himself to the asylum at the Monastery St. Paul de Mausole on the outskirts of St. Remy-de-Provence where he spent his last years
Bandol seaside resort and vineyard – Cote d’Azur
Bandol, the name of a seaside resort nestled in the heart of a bay sheltered by the surrounding hills and a vineyard that produces exceptional wines
Macarons de Saint-Emilion, an Italian recipe
Macarons de Saint-Emilion are biscuits made from crushed almonds, sugar and egg whites, an ancient recipe invented in Italy and improved by the Ursuline sisters of St-Emilion in 1620
Easter Eggs, a pagan tradition turned Christian
Easter Eggs, a Christian tradition that take its roots in paganism, when ancient people considered eggs as the symbol of renewal, life and fecundity
Violet of Toulouse, a fragrant flower from Parma
The Violet of Toulouse was imported from the Italian city of Parma in the middle of the 19th century and is today the official emblem of the capital of the Occitanie region
French fries versus Belgian fries
You all know what French fries are, but do you know the origin of their name and the country they come from, France and Belgium?
Lalande de Pomerol wines – Bordeaux vineyard
Lalande de Pomerol vineyard near Bordeaux produces wines considered the jewels of wines which have no ranking and are among the world most expensive wines
Beaujolais Vineyard – Wine Appellations
Beaujolais Vineyard is one of 16 great French vineyards, it spreads over 19,000 hectares along the river Saône and between the towns of Macons and Lyon
Beaujolais Nouveau – Basic facts
Beaujolais Nouveau, a primeur wine obtained from Gamay N grape variety and produced exclusively in the AOC Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages vineyards
French Vineyards – Simple Facts and Lists
The 16 great French Vineyards produce 3245 labeled wines over an area of 900,000ha that turn France into the largest wine-making country in the world
Commemoration of the Centenary of the Bel-Air City
Boulazac-Isle-Manoire commemorates the 100-year anniversary of the creation of the base and hospital of the American Army in its district of Bel-Air City
Your Story of the Great War – 1914-1918
Your story of the Great War is a compilation of the stories some of our readers sent us, the stories of their relatives who died on the battlefields of WWI
Monument des Marie-Louise – Hurtebise – Chemin des Dames
The Monument des Marie-Louise is located by the Ferme d'Hurtebise on the Chemin des Dames in the Aisne and commemorates the Battles of 1814 and 1914
Monument des Basques – Chemin des Dames
Monument des Basques, the memorial obelisk erected in honour of the men of the 36th Infantry Division, a division that suffered a huge death rate during WWI
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
Please enter your name.
Please enter a valid email address.
Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.
Please note: We will not sell or distribute your email address to any third party.