Nimes – The French Rome

Provence has always had a rich legacy when it came to Roman influence and sites. Scattered throughout Provence are countless Roman monuments ,but none better than the Roman city of Nimes( that over Avignon and Arles, in my opinion).

Just the Amphitheater ( one of the best preserved in Europe) is a stunner, plus a dozen or so other well-preserved temples that line the city byways.

The brand new Musee de la Romanite ( Roman Museum) is fantastic, and a must when you visit this magical city.

Avignon is only 44 minutes away, a perfect day trip.

Bastille Day - 14 July - where to watch the fireworks

The fireworks on this day start at about 11:00pm ( it gets dark later in July)
Rather than to be in the throng of thousands of people crowed into 
the Champs Elysees, One of the best spots is south of the Champs in the Tuileries Gardens.

The Route Napoleon – some of the most staggeringly beautiful scenery in the south of France

In 1815, Napoleon left his exile in Elba and with a small band of loyal troops made their way from Golfe-Juan (near Cannes) to Grenoble and then Paris, and yet only a year later was to lose it all at the battle of Waterloo.

Today you can drive the route (all the way is 8 hours) but do part of it and retrace his secret march.

The drive is one of the most spectacular in all of Europe.

If you wish not to drive, there is a lovely tourist train from Nice to Digne-les-Bains , it's a 3  hour trip, but you can get off along the way and picnic and hike and then get back on the train going north or returning to Nice.

The Most Luxurious Speakeasy in the World, is of course in Paris! at the Shangri-la Hotel

The Le Bar a Ciel Ouvert is a summer, secret bar that only serves Krug Champagne and a few nibbles like center-cut smoked Salmon.

Open only in the summer from 6pm to 11pm, the bar ( housed in a private room with a terrace)   over looks the Eiffel Tower. 
The best time to come in around 8pm to see the Tower light up ( every hour on the hour) for 10 minutes.

Room holds  only 16 people on the terrace.

Reservations are a must in advance and you'll be given a password ( a la the 1920's) 

Stop at the hotel check in desk, give them the secret code and you'll be escorted to the private room.

A glass of Krug champagne starts at Euro 55 a glass and up..Expect to spend about Euro 300 for your stay. 

In the shadow of the French Pyrenees, a confection unlikely in any other part of France or maybe the world!

In the city of Pau (  in Southwestern France), you'll find a sweet treat known as Les Coucougnettes.

A coucougnette is a confection made with almonds, marzipan and chocolate. The sweet consists of a whole roasted almond coated in dark chocolate, rolled in a mix of crushed almonds, cane sugar, ginger brandy and Armagnac! WOW!!!!!

Be Backstage, experience the best of gastronomy, five senses in the Kitchen of a Michelin star chef in the hills behind the French Rivera.

In the hills behind the French Riviera, is the perfume capitol of France the village of Grasse. We can offer you to join Chef Jacques CHIBOIS who is keen to share this part of Provence with you to discover its gardens, its scents and olive trees and to taste Provencal homemade items before entering his kitchen.  

Here you will join him and his staff to observe lunch prep before service. Then you’ll be invited to dine at the chef table while you experience the rush of a Michelin kitchen first hand.  You’ll see the daily demands and determination that it takes to run a Michelin starred restaurant.

From Euro 1300 plus.

As with so many of France's most beautiful villages - the best views are from afar

La Roque-Gageac in the heart of the Dordogne can be best seen from across the other side of the water or by traditional sailing boat - La Gabarre.

Picture a spellbinding huddle of Medieval stone, lacing the Dordogne river and lorded over by Almighty golden cliffs - remarkable.

This village is only 15 minutes away from Sarlat. 

1 Hour west of Bordeaux city is a wonderful seaside area called Arcachon