toulouse rooftops

Toulouse: la vie en rose

I’ve just had a new short piece on Toulouse published on lonelyplanet.com, outlining some of the many reasons to explore this often-overlooked southwest city, known as ‘La Ville Rose’. From river trips to historic hôtels particuliers (aristocratic mansions) it’s one of my favourite French cities. I recently went back to update the latest Lonely Planet guidebook to France, and spent quite a few happy hours exploring the markets and soaking up the sunbaked vibe.

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dordogne chateau de beynac

A trip down the River Dordogne

The River Dordogne is one of France’s five great rivers, as well as one of the most picturesque parts of France. A rural region known for its rich food and gorgeous countryside, it’s a wonderful place to soak up the essence of the French lifestyle. This trip for Lonely Planet Traveller magazine covers five different experiences in the region: a river cruise aboard a traditional gabarre barge, the medieval castles around Beynac-et-Cazenac, the architecture of Sarlat-la-Canéda,  the prehistoric cave paintings at Lascaux and Périgueux’s weekly market.

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