French Mystique Tours

19/11/2025

Hello everyone. French Mystique Tours will be featured in the upcoming (on-line) December edition of the "Secrets of Paris" newsletter. For those not in the know, this website/newsletter is hosted by professional travel writer Heather Stimmler. Among her many travel writing credentials Heather was once the Travel Editor for the website of ELLE Magazine and she has worked as a freelance travel journalist for many international travel publications and websites including Fodor’s Guides, Michelin Guides, Maison de la France’s France Magazine, Robb Report, Expedia.com, Time Out Guides, United Airways inflight magazine, The Guardian (UK), Rick Steves, Hotelier International, ELLE, L’Officiel, Monocle Travel Guides, and was the Paris correspondent for easyJet inflight magazine for over a decade.

In her December newsletter she has included a list of trusted Paris tour guides that she can personally recommend. French Mystique Tours is honored to have been included in this list. I suggest that everyone check out her upcoming December newsletter where not only will you see a recommendation for French Mystique Tours but other Paris tour guides who you can contact to enhance your Paris visit. Her website also has extensive information to assist with your Paris visit. Definitely check out the "Secrets of Paris" website and below is a link to the upcoming December newsletter where you can do so:

https://secretsofparis.com/activities/tours/trusted-paris-tour-guides/

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Heather's personal recommendations for Paris tour guides specializing in museums, history, food, wine, fiber arts, architecture, literary history, romance, local gossip, and getting around town in style.

11/09/2025

The Gorges de l'Ardèche.

10/09/2025

More vacation pics.

09/09/2025

Some pictures of the villages of Banne and Naves in the Ardèche département of France.

03/09/2025

Panoramic mountaintop views today from the Rocher de Sampzon in the Ardèche département.

31/08/2025

Saw some scenic countryside and charming villages today.

30/08/2025

Went for a lovely hike in the hills near my vacation rental and saw a chapel, dolmen, stone walls, field clearing piles, shepherd's huts, a château, countryside scenery and village views.

26/08/2025

Today I visited the lovely village of Balazuc, which is listed among the most beautiful villages in France. It was beautiful and from there you can walk to Viel Audon. The latter is a hamlet that was abandoned probably in the 18th century and fell into ruin. Between the 1970's and early 2000's volunteers rebuilt the hamlet and it's now an eco-friendly and thriving little utopian rural hamlet. I only took a few photos but sadly didn't take any in Viel Audon but I highly recommend hiking there. In the hamlet is a gorgeous little café/bistro/snack place/gift boutique. They have artisanal ice cream and I got 3 scoops consisting of peach, fig and rasberry (though I thought about getting the thyme flavor).

24/08/2025

French Mystique Tours is on vacation in the Ardèche region in the south of France until mid-September. Although I am unavailable for bike tours until then I will make up for that by posting lovely vacation photos.

Today I hiked from my vacation rental to the lovely village of Labeaume where I explored the village and, had a bite to eat and a drink, then went for a swim in the adjacent river.