Tagged: france

Eiffel Tower in Paris to Be Painted a New Color for 2024 Olympics

Imagine how strange it would be if San Francisco decided to paint the Golden Gate Bridge lavender. Or if the Great Wall of China was redone in red shellac. A structure just as iconic…

A Facebook Page for Sharing Window Views from Around the World

"If you want the people to understand you, invite them to your life and let them see the world from your window!" So wrote Turkish novelist and playwright Mehmet Murat ildan. And while…

Europe Border Closures Almost Certain to Be Extended—But for How Long?

Most of Europe has been closed to foreign visitors since March 17. That's when the member states of the European Union and the Schengen zone (referring to an area in which internal…

Matterhorn and Eiffel Tower Lit with Messages of Hope and Gratitude

Two of Europe's most iconic sights are being illuminated each evening with words and symbols of encouragement amid the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. In Zermatt, Switzerland, projections…

Normandy Towns for Magnifique Side Trips from Paris

In Normandy, climate is destiny. Okay, maybe that’s true of every region on earth. But the fortunes of northwestern France seem to have been especially shaped by its strong winds,…

Budget XL Airways to Stop Operating Flights

XL Airways, a low-cost carrier based in France, has announced that it is ceasing operations. "Due to . . . financial difficulties," reads a message posted last week on the airline's…

New Paris Museum Chronicles Liberation from Nazis in WW2

Sunday, August 25, marks the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of Paris from its Nazi occupiers during World War II.On the same day, a new museum will open permanently to chronicle…

You Can Now Stay at a French Castle That Hosted Mozart and Voltaire

Some of the biggest stars in 18th-century European culture—including Mozart as well as Age of Enlightenment thinkers Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Denis Diderot—spent time at…

The Prettiest French Seaside Towns for the Perfect Vacation

France is known the world over for its picturesque villages and towns. While they can be found all over the country, there’s something extra magical about the ones located on the sea.…

What to Tip Waiters, Hotel Staff, and Taxi Drivers in France

The first thing you have to know about tipping in France is that customers do a lot less of it than in the United States. That’s not because Americans are more generous—it’s because…

Loire Valley Castles: The Best French Châteaux You Mustn't Miss

Reached by a 75-minute train ride southwest of Paris, the luscious Loire Valley is crowded with such sensational castles that it is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With…

Meet UNESCO's New Cultural Heritage Inductees: Reggae, French Perfume, and More

Reggae music from Jamaica, the Irish sport of hurling, Polish Nativity scenes, Korean wrestling, and about three dozen more arts, crafts, folk dances, foods, and festivals are the…

Cruising Down the Canal du Midi, France’s Rediscovered Wonder

Winding through the picturesque countryside and vineyards of southwest France, the Canal du Midi is one of Europe’s oldest canals still in operation. Built in the late 17th century as…

Paris Day Trips Beyond the Ordinary—And Without the Crowds

There are so many incredible places to visit in Paris, and you're not the only one who knows it. In high season, you'll definitely have company lining up at the Eiffel Tower,…

Skip Versailles and Go to These Amazing Castles Near Paris Instead

When Louis XIV summoned the French court to his sumptuous new palace at Versailles in 1682, he certainly didn’t foresee that three centuries later this call would be answered by 10…

The Best Paris Cafes: Where to Go, What to Know

It would be a crime to come to Paris and not stop for a coffee (or other drink) in a cafe. Cafe life is an integral part of the Parisian scene, and it simply won’t do to visit the…

The South of France Is Getting a New Picasso Museum

A former convent in the southern French city of Aix-en-Provence is being transformed into a museum to house a trove of works by Pablo Picasso. The driving force behind the project is…

Auch: Foie Gras and Brandy in the Corner of France the French Love

When the French feel nostalgia for the France of a bygone era, they dream of Gascony. This is a bucolic Southwest region bordering Spain, with silky green rolling hills, country…

Where's Everybody Going? The United Nations Provides Some Answers

If you've been feeling more crowded than usual on vacation this year, it's not your imagination. The United Nations World Tourism Organization just released its tourism barometer…

One Year After Paris Terror Attacks, French Tourism Still Struggling

November 13 was the first anniversary of the Paris terror attacks that killed 130 people—and France's tourism industry is still struggling to recover.After a promising start to…

French Tourism Still Struggling, Extravagant Holiday Offerings at Luxury Hotels, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Good morning, everybody! Here's the latest from the world's tourism boards, ancient ruins, and extravagant hotels.* ONE YEAR AFTER PARIS TERROR ATTACKS, FRENCH TOURISM STILL STRUGGLING…

Where Travelers Concerned About Safety Are Going (It's Not France)

Following the terror attacks in Paris, Brussels, Istanbul, and Nice that have taken place since November, we've heard a lot about how safety concerns are having a negative impact on…

"Game of Thrones" on a Beach in Spain, Harassed Baby Seals on Beaches in England, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Here's what's happening today in the world of travel.* WHERE TRAVELERS CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY ARE GOING (IT'S NOT FRANCE) (New York Times). Following the terror attacks in Paris,…

France's High Court Strikes Down Burkini Ban

As the United States has discovered in its own fight against terrorism, it can be difficult to combat militant extremists while preserving human rights.The beaches of the French…

Burkini Ban Struck Down, the World's Most Beautiful Transit Stations, and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Here's what's happening today in the world of travel.* FRANCE'S HIGH COURT STRIKES DOWN BURKINI BAN (Travel + Leisure).  As the United States has discovered in its own fight against…