Cherries on Top

Provençal culture is deeply connected to the earth and there is no better way to experience the land than to seek out the current harvest. Many of the regions most historic villages come to life in the summer with traditional festivals celebrating the local crops. Complete with parades, horses, and cowboys, Provence’s summer festivals offer [...]

40 Years After May ‘68: The French Are Still Taking It To The Streets

By Jessamyn Embry
The spirit of revolution is alive and well in France this spring. Forty years after the massive student uprisings of May 1968, France is poised for large scale protests in the coming weeks.
Fisherman have blocked access to ports throughout the country in recent days asking for tax breaks due to the rising cost [...]

Parking in Avignon

If you’re arriving in Avignon by car, you’d better have a copilot. The ring-road outside the city walls is basically a giant roundabout and the street signs whizz by pretty fast when you’re trying to keep up with the locals.
The truth is, you absolutely don’t need a car while you’re in Avignon. Many of [...]

Hotel Casa Fuster – Barcelona, Spain

With a twist of old and new, five-star luxury hotel Casa Fuster is the ideal setting from which to discover moderniste Barcelona. Designed in 1908 by Lluis Domènich i Montaner (with Gaudì-designed furnishings and broken-tiled floors), this wonderfully designed hotel is situated at the highest point of Paseo de Gracia with spectacular views of the [...]

The Best of Barcelona

Renowned for its architecture, food, fashion, and music, it’s easy to see why Barcelona is one of Europe’s top destinations. Its buildings, especially Gaudi’s modernist mastepieces, are unfogettable. Its art, particularly the collections at the Joan Miro, Contemporary Art, and Picasso museums, will inspire you. Its sun-soaked food and wine will leave you blissful and [...]

Secret Spot: Baillardran (Bordeaux, France)

Be sure to check out this terrific baker during your next visit to Bordeaux. The house specialty is the Canelé de Bordeaux, a rum, vanilla and cinnamon flavored custard surrounded by a thin crispy shell…sort of like a crème brulée to go. Baillardran boutiques are scattered throughout the city.
As published in Art du Voyage’s [...]

Les Sources de Caudalie Hotel – Wine Therapy Spa

What better way to fully experience the land of Bordeaux than with a wine massage? Four star luxury hotel Les Sources des Caudalie, nestled in the vineyards of Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is home to the world’s first Vinothérapie Spa. The treatments, drawn from antioxidant rich grapes, grape seeds, and vines, have started a global [...]

Southwestern Hospitality – Aquitaine, France

Discover a beautiful, festive region with a strong identity, a long history and rich culture.
Dordogne Valley:
Calling all history buffs. Get in touch with your inner Cro-Magnon visiting the prehistoric sites of Périgord. Situated along the Vezere River, the Dordogne Valley is home to some of the best preserved prehistoric sites in the world. Start [...]

Secret Spot: Le Barbue d’Anvers

By Jessamyn Embry
This traditional Lille estaminet ( a Northern French café-bar) is located in the courtyard of a beautiful brick sixteenth century building just steps from the Grand Place. A local secret, this distinctly Lillois destination offers visitors the opportunity to take a load off after some serious shopping or sightseeing and sample some of [...]

L’Hermitage Gantois – Luxury Hotel in Lille, France

Located in the heart of Lille’s Old Town, the hotel L’Hermitage Gantois epitomized the sophistication of Europe’s Capital of Culture with its perfect pairing of old and new design. Housed in a fifteenth century building, the interior offers a combination of historical charm and modern convenience.
Highlights include:

The original vaulted ceiling of the chic Restaurant L’Hermitage [...]