For centuries, Burgundy has been known as one of France’s most enticing wine regions. With a distinctively deep flavor, its red and white wines are enjoyed globally. And many visitors come to Burgundy just because of the wine. But wine is not the only thing that you can find in this fertile soil of eastern France. This region also offers a wide variety of cultural experiences, ranging from history, architecture to culinary art.
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Nantes: Encounter with the Grand Elephant
Riding an elephant, the biggest mammal on land is perhaps the dream of every child. I was no different. As a kid, I used to like elephants and would love to ride one. But the cruel fact that elephants are abused in order to satisfy tourists’ demands really shrug me off. Fortunately, I found a better alternative in Nantes.
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Loire Valley: Playground of the French Kings
Rising turrets, lavish ballrooms, and beautifully manicured gardens, the castles of Loire Valley offer a glimpse into French high society hundreds of years ago. Kings, queens, and the bourgeois elite erected their own strongholds at this crucial frontier to express their power and affluence.
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On the Beautiful Wine Route of Alsace
With soothingly green vineyards extending as far as the eye can see, the Route des Vins d’Alsace or Alsace Wine Route is definitely one of the most picturesque drives in France. Established in 1953, this tourist route stretches over 170 kilometers from north to south, passing through some of Alsace’s most beautiful wine-growing villages.
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Strasbourg: The Crossroad of Two Cultures
Walking a fine tightrope between France and Germany, Strasbourg is undoubtedly a cultural one-off. The capital of the Alsace region looks like something out of a fairy tale, with half-timbered houses à la Grimms covered in flowers and Parisian-style mansions set in cobbled squares. Here and there, you can hear Germanic dialect in a delicatessen specializing in foie gras, and beer lovers sitting together with wine connoisseurs.
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Lyon: The Unique City on the Rhône
Since visiting Lyon, the phrase “Only in Lyon” has imprinted in my head. Lyon is indeed one of its kind and there are several things that you can only do in this wonderful city. From strolling the Vieux Lyon, visiting the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fouvière to dining at a Bouchon, each activity is an extraordinary experience.
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Dive into the World of Champagne
Perhaps everyone knows about champagne: the barely audible fizz, the tiny sparkling bubbles, the clink of glasses, and the bliss when a bottle is opened. But have you ever wondered, where does the name of this drink come from? Rolling on the chalk plains and hills of northeastern France, the Champagne region has proudly given its name to the world’s most renowned sparkling wine.
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Bayeux: A Stopover in the Town of Miracles
On the way from Paris to Mont Saint Michel, I made a stopover at Bayeux. It’s a small town in Calvados, just 10 kilometers from the Channel coast. As the witness of two cross-Channel invasions (the Norman Conquest of England and the Operation Overlord), almost 900 years apart, Bayeux certainly plays a decisive role in Western history. But the historical value was not the only reason that drew us to this town…
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Mont Saint Michel: The Marvel of Normandy
It’s one of France’s most iconic images: a monastery with its slender spires and stout ramparts and rocky slope seemingly rises from the depth of the sea. Said by Celtic mythology to be a sea tomb to which souls of the dead were sent, Mont Saint Michel is rich in legend and history.
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Versailles: The Palace of the Sun King
Château de Versailles – France’s most iconic and extravagant palace – does not need an introduction. With nearly six million visitors each year, its fame is hard to overlook. The grandiose estate was built in the mid-17th century for Louis XIV – the Ruler of the French Empire.
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