Culture

The what, where and why of Biarritz

Some of the world’s greatest art can be found throughout France. The Gothic masterpieces secreted away in magnificent cathedrals, the baroque gems, the Renaissance treasures and the Impressionist confections by Monet, Manet, Sisley and Renoir.

Cocktails have a murky past; there seems to be no single eureka moment. Apparently, nobody tipped a few alcoholic ingredients into a glass, added some extras and declared it a ‘cocktail’. Definitions come and go, fast and loose, and although early mixed drinks were clearly being clumsily made and consumed during the 19th century, it wasn’t until 1917 that the first cocktail party was documented in Missouri.

The Volkswagen camper van is easily one of the most recognisable camper vans around. They're also a popular choice for...

Its Greek temples, Baroque style palazzi and Byzantine influenced churches offer a glimpse into its history, and its mild climate...

Like many a neighbourly relationships, the French and British have not always seen eye to eye. It’s not simply a case of not getting on, more a question of never-ending competition, perhaps the ultimate in one-upmanship or keeping up with the Joneses.

Spain is a popular winter destination thanks to its Mediterranean climate and low rainfall.

Paris is often regarded as the fashion capital of the world, with chic boutiques spread across the city and many top-end fashion houses headquartered there. Louis XIV, whose lavish taste, evident in the stunning Palais de Versailles situated just outside the capital, is largely to thank for France's love of fashion and luxury.

The centenary of the end of World War I is drawing many to the battlefields of northern France to learn...

It will come as no surprise that walking is a popular activity in Tirol.

For over a thousand years the area was an independent state ruled over by Venice, and enjoyed the material and...

From south of Nantes, down to the Gironde estuary, runs a flat, sparsely populated and rather unprepossessing region which draws in more holidaymakers than any other département on France’s Atlantic coast.

The beaches of Normandy saw the largest seaborne invasion in history - 6th June 1944 or D-Day marked the beginning of the Allied campaign to wrestle occupied Europe from Nazi control

If you’re planning on taking a short city break within the UK and Europe this year, why not swap that...

France has been at the epicentre of major conflicts throughout history and, for a country made up of such beautiful and tranquil landscapes, it has seen more than its fair share of bloodshed.

For many, a city break is a simple addition to a main holiday. So many of Europe’s finest destinations are...

Poets have often written of Ireland’s emerald hills and sparkling waters, lighting the imagination with depictions of the country’s beauty...

From Château d’Anet in the North to Culan in the South, they offer some of the most spectacular architecture in the world. A magnificent illustration of French thought and design, each of the Loire châteaux tells a story of the region.

Le Colombier is a real gem of a campsite, situated in the grounds of a Normandy château, which is home...

When in France, you will most likely come across the classic charcuterie platter. A wonderful meal which is so simple in form, yet wonderfully complicated, it’s a meal which has been eaten in France for hundreds of years. It was the way to preserve meat before refrigeration, it’s now become a delicacy in its own right.