Toujours France French Travel Specialists

19/02/2025

I haven’t posted for a long time (I hope someone noticed 🤣), because a month ago I had a bit of an accident and broke my arm and shoulder in 4 places(I’ve never believed in half measures 😣). It hasn’t been fun - I’ve had surgery and I’m now on the road to recovery… but it feels like it’s taking forever… and it bloody hurts!

However this post is not going to be about my woes! It’s about one of the many series that I’ve been watching on TV while I’ve been “incapacitated” - the wonderful “Rick Stein’s French Odyssey”. It’s actually been 20 years since this series was made and if you’re in Australia you can watch it on SBS On Demand and I highly recommend it!

20 years ago Rick Stein embarked on a journey from Bordeaux all the way through to Marseille on two of European Waterways’ barges, the “Rosa” and the “Anjodi”. These beautiful barges are both still cruising today and while they have been upgraded & renovated since the days that Rick travelled on board with his crew, they still retain their original charm and both still do gorgeous itineraries in the south of France.

When this series was made, I had already been barging for a couple of years with my clients, and the very first cruise that I ever did was on board the Belle Epoque with Captain Leigh Wootton who in the series French Odyssey is the captain on Anjodi. Leigh was and still is a great character and one of the pioneers of hotel barging. Thanks to Leigh and his fabulous crew, and the wonderful European Waterways, I became passionate about this unique style of travel!

So rewatching this series with the delightful Rick Stein is such a pleasure and brings back wonderful memories of those early days! It’s about everything that was, and still is, unparallelled about barging - the brilliant crews, the fantastic food and wine, the beautiful towns and villages that you discover along the way, and the fact that on a barge you’re only steps away from total immersion in the French countryside… it’s magical!

So for some great armchair travel, watch “French Odyssey”! And when your appetite has been whetted, contact me and I’ll introduce you to the joys of barging! 🥳🎉🍾

21/01/2025

For those of you who don’t already know, Australian and American passport holders now need to get an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK.

This is really easy to obtain but please BEWARE third party websites who are just going to charge an extra fee to issue the ETA and some are just outright scams. The only reliable source is the actual UK govt site gov.uk which advises you to download the UK ETA app and apply through that (see 2nd image). DON’T FORGET to organise this before you travel! 😳🇬🇧

What’s happening with the EU equivalent, the ETIAS? This travel authorisation, which covers 30 EU countries, was supposed to start up in 2022, then 2023, then 2024… they are now saying 2025! 🙄 But still no exact date. So stay tuned if you’re planning a trip to Europe this year! 🇪🇺

16/01/2025

Just thought I’d post this for the travel dreamers out there…

This is the booking I have been working on today, for some lovely clients of mine who have travelled with me many times on my tours and are off this year to do something a bit different!

Over the years I’ve been blessed with the most delightful repeat guests who, I might add, were my age when they first started travelling on my tours… so I won’t tell you what age that makes them now 😉 but needless to say, their passion for travel is alive & well, albeit the easier kind that small ship cruising provides… and I love that they still put their trust in me to organise an amazing experience for them! 💕

First I am flying them to Copenhagen on Emirates on their fabulous Business Class A380 service (my favourite aircraft). Then they are embarking on 2 back-to-back cruises with Ponant (see my previous posts about Ponant – they are the fantastic 5* French cruise line) on one of their “Explorer” ships, Le Laperouse. The first is “Cruise Secrets of the North Sea” from Copenhagen to London, dropping in to gorgeous northern ports along the coastline of Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. Then they stay on the same ship for “Cruising Europe’s Western Shores – with Smithsonian Journeys” from London to Lisbon, which stops off at an array of stunning spots: Caen & Saint Malo in France; Bilbao, La Coruna & Viga (Santiago de Compostela) in Spain; and then Porto & Lisbon in Portugal. Two absolutely gorgeous cruises!

Le Laperouse is a magnificent small ship that accommodates 184 people maximum. It’s luxury combined with a highly personalised and intimate level of service. Pre-cruise my peeps will be staying in Copenhagen for 2 nights at a beautiful 5* hotel, the Nobis, and doing a pre-cruise tour of the city including sites like the spectacular Christiansborg Palace, the house of Royal Copenhagen porcelain, & Frederiksborg Castle.

I’m also organising transfers all the way (which are complimentary when you fly Emirates Business) for a seamless and idyllic holiday. Are you all salivating?!! I am! And I am having such fun organising all this for them – I love my job… it’s the highest form of armchair travel! 🥳🇫🇷

14/01/2025

Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Just one last word on those French Popes!

You’ll all have heard of, if not indulged in, Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines. The name comes from the second “Summer” palace that Pope Jean XXII built during his reign in Avignon in the 14th century.

“Chateauneuf” means “new castle” and thus Châteauneuf-du-Pape means “new castle of the Popes”. The Popes loved their wine and the position of CDP, only 18 kms from Avignon, was just perfect as vines had already existed here since Gallo-Roman times.

Pope Jean granted the wines the coveted status of ‘Vin du Pape,’ which then graced the renowned table of the palace in Avignon. Consumption reached up to more than 3,000 litres per year! During the festivities held there, it was served to ambassadors and other foreign emissaries who loved it and promoted it in their own countries. Soon it was shipped in barrels to Italy, Germany and Great Britain. To this day, bottles of CDP wine must always be embossed with the design representing the Papal tiara above two crossed keys (keys of the kingdom); or a 2nd design which is a Bishop’s miter.

So… when Avignon got too stinky and putrid and disgusting over the summer months (remember this was the medieval era!) the Popes could just gather up their entourage and escape to the clear air of CDP and scoff delicious wine. Bliss! It was also a convenient, and safer, spot to retreat to when the Plague hit Avignon.

The palace began to fall into disrepair almost as soon as the popes left Avignon, and in the 16th century during the Wars of Religion it was attacked by the Huguenots who burnt part of it down. It was never fully restored. During the Revolution some of the remains of the palace were sold off to local citizens who used the stone to build houses in the village. And finally in 1944 the German army, who used the tower as an ammunition depot, blew up what remained as they retreated.

Nowadays only 2 walls remain… but it’s well worth a visit, as the views over CDP and the Rhone River are spectacular! And the village is very cute and full of wine cellars!

Image 1: What it may have looked like
Image 2: What it looks like now!
Image 3: The wine!
Image 4: The village! 🇫🇷

08/01/2025

The movie Conclave, due out this week, is about the intrigue and machinations within the Papal Court when a new Pope is elected. But let’s go back to the Middle Ages for an even better story!

Back in 1304 there were so many rival factions and turmoil within the Catholic Church that the newly elected Pope, Frenchman Clement V, felt unsafe in Rome and decided to move the whole of the Papal Court to Avignon, on the Rhône River in France! Why Avignon? Well, it already belonged to the Church, who had acquired it and the surrounding region (the Comtat Venaissin) in the C13th after the Cathar Crusades.

So… he could, and he did… and what was just a small relatively unknown provincial town suddenly became the centre of Catholic Christendom!

This period lasted until 1377 and became known as the “Papal Captivity” or “Avignon Captivity”.

There were 7 French Avignon Popes during those 73 years, and 111 of the 134 cardinals created during this time were also Frenchmen (hmm🤔)!

During this time the enormous papal palace, built by Clement V’s successor John XXII, was expanded and fortified, and the city surrounded by ramparts.

In 1377 the 7th Pope, Gregory XI, was persuaded to return to Rome… BUT in 1378 he died, and everything went into turmoil again! The Italian cardinals seized their chance and elected an Italian Pope, but the French cardinals spat the dummy and elected a RIVAL Pope, Clement VII - and returned to Avignon!

The Church was thus divided, and 3 more “anti-popes” elected, during the period up to 1417, which became known as the Great Schism. During this time the rival popes spent most of their time denouncing and excommunicating one another and trying to gain control of church revenues! Finally, in 1417 Pope Martin V was elected and brought the rival factions together.

The Church still kept its hold on Avignon. After the departure of the Popes, the city was ruled by a Cardinal legate until 1791, when the region again became part of France during the Revolution.

Avignon today is a stunning Provençal city and one of my faves - full of magnificent C14th buildings, beautiful tree-lined squares, cobblestone streets, and great cafes, restaurants & shopping! 🇫🇷

07/01/2025

BARGING AND BICYCLING IN ONE UNFORGETTABLE WEEK CRUISING IN FRANCE!

Hi everyone and I hope you had a fantastic Christmas and New Year with your loved ones!

As you know, I cover a lot of stuff to do with our barge cruises and you’ve probably gathered by now what a unique and memorable and fun French holiday it is! But did you know that you can up the ante if you’re a keen cyclist, and add more focus on bike riding to your cruise?!

On all cruises, the barges carry all-terrain bicycles for our guests. Crew members are there to offload them at whichever lock you choose, or at one of the barge moorings, and they’ll make adjustments to each bicycle to suit the rider.

BUT for more committed cyclists, we can offer biking charters for groups over longer distances on upgraded bikes, with ½ day guided itineraries that make the best of the local area each day. You enjoy the highlights of the normal cruise itinerary, but with dedicated time for cycling. You can also upgrade to e-bikes if you wish! There are two barges that offer this option: “L’Art de Vivre” in Burgundy, and “Nymphea” in the Loire Valley.

However, even if you don’t have enough people to book a charter, and there are only one or two of you, you can add a “Biking Plus” option to your cruise on many of our barges!

How does the “Biking Plus” option work?

Whilst others are relaxing on deck, or maybe enjoying a stroll, you can take a bike and follow an interesting route which has already been carefully researched.

You’ll have clearly marked maps for each route and a backpack with everything you might need so that you can explore the surrounding countryside & villages along the lanes, towpaths and byways.

The barge itinerary is arranged so that you won’t miss any of the organised excursions or much of the cruising, but you will have seen a little more of the people & places around you!

With pre – designed offline maps and directions that you can download to your phone, it’s unlikely you’ll get lost… but if you do, a crew member will come to fetch you 😊😊😊

Go to the link in the bio to see our cycling options and a fab video! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

25/12/2024

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year and good health and great happiness in 2025! Thank you for following my posts and I look forward to bringing you more adventures and stories in 2025! 🎄🍾🎉💕🇫🇷

14/12/2024

Hi everyone, please click on the link below to see some fantastic specials on our luxury hotel barge cruises in 2025! This is your opportunity to cruise on some of our most beautiful barges at exceptional prices... there are some rare summer dates available too, and "No Single Supplement" offers!

https://conta.cc/4gypgIp

Email from Toujours France Exceptional Discount Offers On Luxury Hotel Barge Cruises in 2025! There are now some some excellent specials on our fully crewed luxury hotel barge cruises, right through t

01/12/2024

GOODAY, BIDET!
Is there a French innovation that has been more widely adopted across the world than the bidet?! Or that’s handier during a pandemic - remember going crazy about toilet paper?!

Bidets are eco-friendly, hygienic, AND practical – great for refreshing those “bits and bobs” that toilet paper sometimes misses! 🤣

A few fun facts about these handy little wash basins that clean your nether regions, which I bet you didn’t know (you’re welcome)!

Bidets first appeared in royal bedrooms in 17th-century France (they didn’t have separate bathrooms till later). The word bidet meant “pony” in old French, referring to the pet ponies that French royalty kept… it’s thought to have later been adopted as the name because you straddled a bidet like a little horse! 😊

If they were good enough for the royal court they were good enough for the hoi palloi, and bidets quickly became a mark of hygiene & sophistication. Also, remember that the concept of daily baths was non-existent back then, so the bidet wasn’t just about post-poo hygiene! It was a practical solution to maintain cleanliness in an era when full-body baths were rare.

Mass-produced toilet paper was not around until the mid 1800’s, so this was the best option to have been invented for centuries (the Romans used a sponge attached to a stick)!

Bidets never caught on quite as much in the UK & USA. Why? Partly cultural perception: by the 1800’s bidets had become associated with French brothels, giving them a “naughty” reputation in Victorian-era Anglo countries. This view wasn’t entirely unwarranted – for prostitutes, bidets were a professional necessity! Repressed Victorian attitudes towards s*x & the human body implied that bidets were a product of loose morals … and scandalously FRENCH!

In Europe, no – they became “de rigueur” right across the continent. Even today, in Italy it’s legally required to have a bidet in your home!

They did catch on in hotels all over the world! Hotels became the ambassadors of the bidet! As well as being practical, hotels can use them as a subtle way to signal “luxury” (and they also usually have the bathroom space to install a bidet).

Thanks for the bidet, France! 🇫🇷

19/11/2024

TRAVEL SUGGESTION FOR 2025 NUMBER TWO: “HIDDEN TREASURES OF FRANCE” TOUR

30th August to 13th September, 2025

This is a very special trip that has been a favourite over the years… not just of my clients but myself too! Again, I am accompanying this trip and due to a cancellation, I have one room/cabin available. I have a really great group of guests (all 60-ish age group) and my lovely hubby on this so you will be in good company! I’D LOVE YOU TO JOIN ME!
😊🍾

This tour really is a beauty… it incorporates some of the most exquisite villages, stunning scenery and delicious food & wine that France has to offer.

For the full details, see the link in the bio! AND please note, the prices quoted are discounted by 340 euros (approximately $560) per person, with heaps of inclusions!

NORTHERN PROVENCE: 5 nights in the charming village of Grignan in a gorgeous little boutique hotel – unpack, relax & enjoy fabulous French food and wine; go truffle hunting; visit vibrant markets, charming villages, and the magnificent walled city of Avignon

THE ALPS: 3 nights in Annecy, one of the most beautiful villages in France, right on the edge of the French Alps overlooking Lake Annecy – visiting Annecy on its vibrant market day; cruising on the lake, overlooked by splendid mountain landscapes; driving through magnificent countryside to Chamonix; taking the cable car to famous Mont Blanc

BARGE CRUISE IN ALSACE: One of my favourite barge cruises – 6 nights on board “Panache”, taking in the most beautiful landscapes, towns, wineries & villages of picture-postcard Alsace.

It’s a unique and unforgettable French holiday, full of cultural, history and gastronomic highlights!

WANT TO DO THE BARGE CRUISE ONLY?

Now, I said one room/cabin available... BUT if the whole trip does not fit in with your timing or budget, I can offer the barge cruise portion of the trip only.

You would meet us in Strasbourg (easily reachable by train from Paris) and the barge cruise on “Panache” is 7 days/6 nights, from 7th to 13th of September, 2025. All the details are at the “Hidden Treasures of France” link in the bio!

Call me, DM me or email me! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

18/11/2024

TWO EXCITING TRAVEL SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR!

Not quite “Black Friday” specials but there are some great discounts available! I’m posting the first now and the other one tomorrow, as I don’t have enough room to adequately rave about both in one post!

PONANT CRUISES “MYTHICAL ISLANDS AND WILD LANDSCAPES OF THE HEBRIDES”

As you may already know, I’m almost as passionate about Scotland as I am about France. I’m very excited about accompanying this 8-day cruise and I’d love you to join me!

As you will recall from previous posts about Ponant, they are the superb 5* French cruise line with fabulous small ships. For you single travellers, Ponant are offering a “FREE SOLO SUPPLEMENT” on this departure on 22nd May, 2025! Think about it… enjoying sumptuous surroundings and delectable French food & wine while cruising the glorious Hebrides archipelago! With me! Price starts at $7,880 and is all-inclusive. You don’t have to be single though - obviously couples/friends sharing are welcome too!

Here’s the rundown on the itinerary:

The cruise starts and ends in Glasgow – if you wish, I can organise extra nights to explore Glasgow and/or Edinburgh. We’ll be seeing:

Stunning, spiritual Iona - the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland.

Volcanic Lunga, a small island that is a protected home to colonies of puffins and guillemots. Yes, it’s PUFFIN SEASON!

Canna, a charming islet inhabited by twenty or so people and nicknamed “the garden of the Hebrides”, with vestiges of Christian, Celtic, Nordic and Scottish settlement.

The Outer Hebrides – Callanish, on the Isle of Lewis, which takes us back to 2900 - 2600 BC, when the island’s stunning megalithic circle of standing stones was created.

Beautiful Ullapool in the western Highlands, a former herring fishing port & picture-postcard destination.

Portree, the largest town on the Isle of Skye, a stunning spot with its harbour lined with colourful cottages & enticing shops!

And finally, Tobermory, a charming fishing port with multicoloured houses & distillery that produces a renowned single malt.

DM me or email (link in bio) and I’ll send you more information, and any other discounts I can offer! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

17/11/2024

After the events of not only the last ten days, but the last year, it’s easy to become disillusioned and disheartened. But there are always great words, by great writers, to be read and absorbed and to remind you of how to live your best life. And how to make life better for others around you.

What a dude this guy was… and so wise!

“Eat at a local restaurant tonight. Get the cream sauce. Have a cold pint at 4 o’clock in a mostly empty bar. Go somewhere you’ve never been. Listen to someone you think may have nothing in common with you.

Order the steak rare. Eat an oyster. Have a negroni. Have two. Be open to a world where you may not understand or agree with the person next to you, but have a drink with them anyways.

Eat slowly. Tip your server. Check in on your friends. Check in on yourself. Enjoy the ride.”

Anthony Bourdain

13/11/2024

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCUXwyjo055/?igsh=MWttbXAxNmNwOGQ2Mg==

The best bar in the world… and the best walking safaris in Africa! Stay tuned to be part of my trip in 2026!

11/11/2024

11/11/2024

LES BAUX-DE-PROVENCE (PART TWO)
There are two other very enticing reasons to visit Les Baux, apart from those mentioned in Part One. L’Oustau de Baumanière et les Carrières des Lumières… I would travel a long way to visit either !

Located in the valley below Les Baux, L’Oustau de Baumanière has been a French institution in Provence since 1945, since Raymond Thuilier realised his vision of “natural elegance and simplicity” at his restaurant and hotel. This continued under his grandson Jean-André Charial, who continued to develop the establishment’s hotel, spa, wine cellar & grounds. I have taken guests on my Provence tours to this beautiful establishment many times and M Chariol, who always graciously greeted and thanked my guests personally at the end of a meal, was a real French gentleman who ensured the continuation of the Michelin star standard, which was first recognised in 1949.

The restaurant currently holds 3 Michelin stars (under chef Glen Viel) and while I don’t go to Michelin starred restaurants just for the sake of it, this one I would always recommend not only because of its exquisite food and service, but because of its quintessentially Provencal location – on a stunning garden terrace shaded by plane trees where the scents of lavender and herbs fill the air. It’s a little slice of French heaven!

The hotel is superb too, if you want to treat yourself even further… and one of the highlights for me is (surprise!) the boutique, which sells beautiful homeware, kitchenware and clothes.

Around the corner is the Carrières des Lumières, an extraordinary digital art/sound and light show located in an ancient stone quarry. This is a MUST-NOT-MISS when you visit Provence! It immerses visitors into the art of different artists and periods (exhibitions change seasonally) at a truly jaw-dropping scale and is better than any others of its kind that I’ve ever seen.

My idea of a dreamy day in Provence would be to treat myself to a long lunch at L’Oustau de Baumaniere, a little shop in the boutique, see an exhibition at Carrières des Lumières, and then a wander round the ancient cobblestone streets of Les Baux in the evening after all the tourists have gone home! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

07/11/2024

LES BAUX-DE-PROVENCE (PART ONE)

I have been to Les Baux-de-Provence more times than I can count, and many of those times the village has been heaving with tourists, as it’s one of the most visited historic sites in France with 1.5 million visitors a year… BUT YOU STILL NEED TO GO! Here’s why…

Les Baux is one of the most picturesque medieval villages in France, and one of the most dramatically placed, high up on the cliffs above the rocky “Val d’Enfer”, said to have been an inspiration for Dante’s Inferno. The views from the plateau at the top of the village, where you will also find the ruins of the old castle, are extraordinary.

There are plenty of fantastic stories attached to Les Baux... It was the power base of the House of Baux in the 10th century, whose Lords claimed to be descended from Balthazar of Bethlehem, one of the 3 kings who attended Christ’s birth. Because of this descendancy they put the star of Bethlehem on their coat of arms. You still see the star in strategic spots all over the village today!

The Lords of Baux were a vicious lot who waged war incessantly – eventually gaining control over 79 surrounding towns and villages. One of the barons of Baux gained notoriety for his habit of making condemned prisoners leap to their deaths from the walls of his chateau. When you see the drop into the valley below, you will see how terrifying that would have been!

Fun fact: Since 1642, the Lord of Baux has been none other than the Prince of Monaco! Displeased with the villagers, Louis XIII gave the marquisate of Les Baux to the first Prince, Honoré II Grimaldi. Their chateau was sacked during the French Revolution (villager’s revenge?!) and it’s the ruin of this chateau you see today.

Fun fact 2: Bauxite takes its name from the village and was first mined in the area in 1822. The word “Baou” in Provencal means “rocky spur” or “cliff”.

So… how do you avoid hordes of other tourists? Easy. Go in the evening after about 4 pm (don’t worry about missing the shops – there are better all over Provence) or early in the morning. The cobblestone streets will be almost empty, and the atmosphere evocative of those medieval times long past. It’s fantastic! 🇫🇷

30/10/2024

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO DO A LUXURY HOTEL BARGE CRUISE IN FRANCE?!

If you find it hard to imagine what a cruise on a hotel barge looks like, here's a little glimpse of life on board!

It’s one of the most unique and exciting ways to visit different regions... and it encompasses everything that is great about France!

• Spectacular Countryside
• Fascinating History
• Picturesque Villages
• Delicious Cuisine
• Superb Premier Cru & Grand Cru Wines
• Colourful Country Markets
• Curated private experiences with local winemakers & chateau owners…
The list goes on and on. And you experience all this from what is effectively a small, intimate floating hotel!

Look good? Contact me via the link in the bio or drop me a line at [email protected] and before you know it, you'll be looking forward to your stunning floating getaway in 2025! See more beautiful images and video at www.frenchbarging.com.au

Individual cabin bookings are available, or private charters for groups of friends or family.

REMEMBER, I'M YOU'RE EXPERT ON ALL THINGS BARGING! 🇫🇷