After spending a few months basking in the tranquility of south-west France, I’d been craving a cultural rendezvous in a vibrant city; one last French indulgence before heading back home. We could’ve chosen Paris, about 90 minutes further north, but I wasn’t ready for the full hustle and bustle just yet. Orléans is more compact, easier to explore on foot and still offers plenty of grandeur and urban appeal. Despite its turbulent history (from being seized by the English during the Hundred Years’ War, to the devastation of World War II), Orléans enjoyed periods of great prosperity due in large part to its strategic location on the northern banks of the Loire.
Wealthy merchants and royals settled there after the Religious Wars of the 16th century, building stately mansions that can still be admired today. In recent years, many monumental buildings and facades have been restored to their original splendour, making Orléans a visual gem with plenty of historic cachet. It’s no wonder the city was named a Ville d’Art et d’Histoire in 2009.
Paindemic In Paris
For American actor and writer Alexander Burnett, a shortage of bread at his local boulangerie was one of the biggest challenges of lockdown in his adopted home city
VEULES-LES-ROSES
Between the white cliffs of the Côte d’Albâtre and the bucolic landscapes of the Pays de Caux, discover a village that combines coast and country,
Taking the BISCUIT
France is known for its exquisite pâtisserie and extravagant gâteaux but the not-so-humble biscuit deserves recognition too
PICTURE PERFECT PISTE
After a decade away from the slopes Janet Brice finds her ski legs in val d'arly, a hidden gem in the shadow of Mount Blanc
Let there BE LIGHT
Lyon’s annual Fête des Lumières brightens up the darkest of December nights in spectacular fashion, finds David Atkinson on a winter visit to the Rhône capital
Shop ‘til YOU DROP
In the first of our new Insight guides, Helen Parkinson delights in the French shopping experience
Floating YOUR BOAT
Spending a day on the River Seine in Paris, Heidi Fuller-love samples some of the city’s top entertainment that can be enjoyed afloat
Creamy Dijon Chicken With Bacon And Spinach
Enjoy this hearty dish from Bisous & Brioche, a cookbook shot on location in Burgundy
A Moveable Feast
Philip Sweeney embarks on a voyage gourmand along the Vallée de la Gastronomie travelling from Dijon to Marseille
BOND RETOUR 7
To celebrate the return of everyone’s favourite globe-trotting British intelligence officer in No Time to Die, Helen Parkinson rounds up five of James Bond’s top cross-Channel escapades
