The Ferme Saint-Simeon, a former farm, has been an institution for centuries. It has been an upmarket “hotel” and more importantly, a restaurant/bar where many famous artists would hang out.

Today, it’s a 5-star hotel / restaurant.

Transport Getting there Air: The airport, close to Dinard, is shared with Saint-Malo and offers international flights, particularly those of Ryanair. Other international destinations will require changing in London. Click here to access the airport’s website. Ferry: There is no ferry service from Dinard. To go to/from the UK, you will need to go to […]

For people who love great food, the name Paul Bocuse is as synonymous to food as the Eiffel Tower is to French landmarks. In other words, the 3 star Michelin chef is a name revered amongst foodies and he is considered the grandfather of the traditional French cuisine.   His primary restaurant (he has a few, […]

Transport Getting There By Air Although there’s a small airport, the biggest airport serving Amiens is Paris’s third airport: Beauvais. Within Amiens Amiens is quite large, but the interesting parts are all concentrated in the city centre. There is a bus service The service is called AMETIS, and although not very widespread, you can get […]

Transport Getting There Airport Lannion has an airport with regular flights to and from Paris Orly airport. Ferry The closest ferry stops are in Cherbourg and St. Malo. Getting Around Lannion Although they have an adequate bus service, the inner city is quite small and can be walked from one side to the opposite within […]

Trouville-sur-Mer is a fishing village, so it’s no surprise that there are many restaurants serving fresh fish. But despite the several very good restaurants, one jumps out; Chez Alain.   Don’t go looking for references of Chez Alain restaurant in any gastronomic guides such as the Michelin Red Book. You’ll not find any. And that […]

NOTE: Since writing this review, the restaurant has changed ownership but still retains the same name. Located in the Durdent valley, alongside the Durdent river itself, you will find a paradisiac restaurant called “Le Champetre”. Not a place where you will find gastronomic food, but you will find decent food in a tropical atmosphere. The […]

The Bec au Cauchois restaurant, with its upcoming superstar chef Pierre Caillet, is located just outside the town of Valmont on the winding road towards Fecamp. Situated in a long curve alongside the Valmont river and lake, the restaurant has been awarded a Michelin star, but they deserve two stars; they’re that good. This restaurant […]

The “Au Souper Fin” restaurant is located in the middle of nowhere, North of the city of Rouen, in a village called Frichemesnil. The village has some 400 inhabitants, but it’s enough to host a 1 Star Michelin restaurant. So you know you’re not going to see many locals in the restaurant but more people coming […]

In the small village of Veigne, close to the city of Tours, you will find a magnificent estate that towards the middle of last century was turned into a luxury hotel castle; the Domaine de la Tortiniere.   Although the first towers/turrets were built in the 16th century, the castle was built in the mid-19th century. Each […]

This absolutely beautiful castle is located close to many of the other more famous castles in the Loire valley. It is now a luxury, but affordable, hotel often used for weddings a winery. One of its biggest claims to fame is that the castle once belonged to the Marquis la Fayette, the man who went […]

The name is ominous for a hotel, since that is what the castle is. The Donjon means “the dungeon”. Located in the most popular tourist beachside resort town in Upper Normandy, Etretat, the Domaine Saint Clair Donjon is a castle that was combined with  villa.   The castle is quite new. It was built in the […]

Sassetot-le-Mauconduit is a little town in Upper Normandy that would go through history unnoticed if it were not that the Empress of Austria, the famous Sissi (remember the movie with Romy Schnieder?), stayed in the town’s castle during one summer holiday. The castle, built in the 18th century, is prominent in the town. Sissi is rumoured to […]

Transport Getting There Lyon is a major transportation hub in France, second only to Paris. It is easy to get there in almost any kind of transportation. Air: Lyon has a major international airport with flights from many European and French cities. Click here for list of all direct destinations served by the Lyon airport. Within […]

This is part 2 of the introduction of the city of Lyon. To read the first part, click here. As a recap, we are walking from the TGV (High Speed Train) railway station to the hills, a 2.5 km walk. Vieux Lyon – Old Lyon On the other side of the Bonaparte bridge, crossing the […]

Lyon is a city full of contrasts, particularly in its architecture. The city is big, Lyon itself is France’s 3rd largest city, but when you add the suburbs, then the Lyon metropole is France’s 2nd largest metropole (after Paris). It is also the world capital of gastronomy, the city where many of todays top chefs have […]

Transport Getting There Ferry: The closest ferry harbours to and from the UK are Cherbourg, Caen/Ouistreham and Le Havre. Air: The international airport for Caen (click here to access the airport’s web site) is very close-by with regular flights to the UK. Within Bayeux There is no useable bus service, but you don’t need one. When entering the […]

The hotel and restaurant “Le Manoir de Retival” is a very special place. First of all, it is located on the hillside between Caudebec-en-Caux and the Pont de Bretonne. The restaurant is in an old style Manor, the Manoir de Retival and it even has an adjacent chapel. They also have a few rooms available […]

Transport Getting There Train. There is a train link between Paris and the shared railway station of Trouville-sur-Mer and Deauville. There are several daily direct (and ones where you need to change) trains. Fastest time is 2 hours. Ferry: Closest ferry harbours from the UK are Ouistreham (Caen) and Le Havre. There is an irregular […]

Here are the things todo, to see, where to eat, to sleep and how to get there in/for Honfleur, Normandy.

Honfleur is the 2nd most popular tourist destination in Normandy, and for good reason; Although it has become very touristic, it’s still a pleasant trip for sightseeing and food.

Transport Getting There Ferry: Closest ferry from the UK arrives regularly at Dieppe. Within Veules-Les-Roses Veules-Les-Roses is so small you’ll spend more time trying to park than you would walk from one end to the other. Restaurants There are several reasonable, even good, restaurants in the village. The old coach inn, the Douce France, has a […]

What to do, what to see in Caen, Normandy. Tips where to go, how to get there.

Transport Getting There Air: From both Paris airports, many flights per day, direct to Marseille, 1 hour 15. The airport also as many international flights daily. Within Marseille There is a very good transportation system in Marseille, with a very good and encompassing bus route and two metro lines. Prices are cheap. Restaurants Marseille, particularly […]