Tasting the Wine in Beaune, Burgundy
I am not usually too interested in museums, and especially not when the sun is shining outside, but at the Cité des Climats et Vins de Bourgogne in Beaune, I…
Occi Beer Fest 2026, Toulouse, France
Toulouse dedicates a full week to craft beer with bar takeovers and a headline finale in the Cartoucherie district. Occi Beer Fest is from 31 March–5 April 2026, with the…
Bier Fest Douvrin, France 2026
Douvrin’s beer-and-flavours fair comes back for a spring weekend in Hauts-de-France. Bier Fest Douvrin, France (Salon de la Bière & des Saveurs) is held on 28–29 March 2026, and hosted…
Industrial Heritage in Creusot Montceau, Burgundy
Mark Bibby Jackson visits Blanzy, Montceau-Les-Mines and Le Creusot, as he follows the trail of industrial heritage in Creusot Montceau, Burgundy. I think it’s fair to say that attitudes towards…
Février Gourmand in the Dordogne Valley
On his travels through the Dordogne Valley, Mark Bibby Jackson takes part in the Février Gourmand programme. Overtourism is a term that is firmly back on the travel agenda. Many…
Discovering a Joie de Vivre in the Dordogne Valley
Mark Bibby Jackson drives to the Dordogne Valley in February bypassing the floods to discover a very sustainable approach to tourism and tries to understand what joie de vivre is…
11 Carnivals Around the World for 2026
Whether you call it the carnival, Mardi Gras or simply a fête, the approach of Lent brings with it a wonderful explosion of colour and exuberance. Travel Begins at 40…
Village de Noël 2025, Calais, France
Calais runs two festive hubs rather than one long linear market. The Village de Noël takes over the covered hall on Place d’Armes with a seasonal ice‑rink (30‑minute sessions), a…
Marché de Noël 2025, Calais, France
For classic chalet browsing, head to the Marché de Noël on Place du Grand Théâtre Roughly forty wooden stalls fill the square beside Calais’s historic theatre, selling regional delicacies, decorations…
9 of the Best Christmas Markets in France to Visit in 2025
France is home to some of Europe’s most magical Christmas markets, where twinkling lights, festive decorations, and the scent of mulled wine fill the air. From the charming streets of…
Colmar Christmas Markets – La Magie de Noël 2025, Colmar, France
Colmar’s old town becomes a glowing maze of six themed markets, from gourmet treats near Saint‑Martin to children’s delights in Petite Venise for Colmar Christmas Markets. Illuminated churches and canals…
Reims Christmas Market (Marché de Noël) 2025, Reims, France
Reims Christmas Market is one of France’s biggest markets along the Promenades, a short stroll from the Gothic cathedral. Expect rows of chalets with regional crafts and gourmet treats, plus light…
Noël à Metz (Christmas Markets Metz) 2025, France
Noël à Metz delivers one of France’s most inviting Christmas experiences, with chalets and attractions spread across five handsome squares. Shop for hand‑crafted gifts beneath the cathedral’s golden stone, ride…
Marché de Noël de La Défense (Paris) 2025, Paris (La Défense), France
Paris La Défense hosts the region’s biggest Christmas market, stretching along the esplanade beneath the Grande Arche. Expect hundreds of stalls with artisan gifts, regional produce and global street food…
Slow Walk on the Opal Coast from Escalles France
Mark Bibby Jackson stays at Hotel l’escale in Escalles and goes on a coastal walk along the Opal Coast France and returns to his youth for his mother’s birthday. Northern…
A Literary Weekend in Paris
Some cities are so intertwined with literature that to walk their streets is like stepping into a story. Paris is one of them. Writer Maria Boyle and her book-loving daughter…
All You Need to Know about ETIAS and New EU Travel Rules 2025
New EU travel rules for UK citizens will commence from 12 October 2025 under the Entry/Exit System (EES), which acts as a digital replacement for passport stamping, in one of…
Culture from the Ashes: Louvre Lens Museum, Pas-de-Calais
Mark Bibby Jackson explores the remarkable transformation of France’s former coal capital, Lens with its magnificent Louvre Lens Museum. Is it my imagination but I sense the scent of iron…
Timeless Tranquillity in the French Ardennes
In the industrial shadows of north-eastern France, Mark Bibby Jackson travels through the French Ardennes to discover a region of resilience, strong sense of community, and devastating natural beauty —…
Cutting the Mustard in Dijon France
Mark Bibby Jackson wanders through Dijon France, discovering Burgundy’s finest wines, and savouring the birthplace of real mustard in France’s gastronomic capital — the gateway to the Vallée de la…
The Art of Luxury Villa Rental in Saint-Tropez
A silly part of me was hoping to find the Saint-Tropez France my parents had described, even though I knew it was no more. A louche scene of artists and…
Star Treatment at the Hotel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes
Mark Bibby Jackson reviews his luxurious short stay at Hotel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes—where cinematic glamour meets real-world comfort on the Côte d’Azur. It was my first visit to Cannes…
The 4 Best Hotels in Le Touquet France
Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, a chic seaside town on France’s northern coast, has long been a haven for Parisians, and Brits, seeking a weekend retreat. With its sprawling beaches, pine forests and…
World Puppet Festival 2025, Charleville-Mézières, France
The World Puppet Festival 2025 will take place from September 19 to 28 in the charming French town of Charleville-Mézières, nestled in the Ardennes region. Over ten days, this quiet…
