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offbeat france Starts Here!

Welcome to Offbeat France, written for the Francophile who seeks to veer off the beaten path! We'll explore the workings of French culture and history, and uncover the backstory of France. Some things will be practical, others quirky, and the rest, at times, utterly unbelievable. All written by a local, yours truly, who strives to go beyond the cliché.

Hello and welcome!

If you're here, it's probably because you love France and want to know even more about us.

While this site has plenty of information for the first-time visitor, if you're a seasoned francophile, you'll discover plenty as you flip through all the stories you'll find here – stories about people, lifestyles, destinations, major landmarks, legends, culture, history, foods...

But before we get started, here's a peek at my view, a glorious sunrise seen from my office window: I (and Leo, one of my six cats, two dogs and four chickens) overlook the Rhône River, in the hilly rural valley that lies somewhere between Annecy and Lyon...

Leo the cat sitting on my roof

How to navigate this site

Practical tips for your France visit

And a bit about this site's owner, Moi

There are several ways you can find information on Offbeat France, and since I don't want to lose you down a rabbit hole, I'll try to organize things for you a bit.

By destination

Offbeat destinations: those which are less frequented by international visitors. You'll find them here.

Popular destinations: those places most people want to see when they visit.

And if you like your travels organized, you can have an overview of France

By theme

  • the culture and history section: to feed your deepest curiosity about our past, who we are as a country and what made us this way (and why we try so hard to hang on to it all!)
  • the planning section: for all your practical needs, from driving to weather to accommodation to itineraries － the nuts and bolts of your trip

By era 

France has such a rich history that every era has its attraction.

These are a few examples and there are many more, but it's a start.

By skill

France has a long tradition of handicrafts and manufacturing, of artistry in many fields, and we love to showcase the workmanship involved.

Practical tips for your France visit

A trip to France requires planning, and I didn't leave that out.

Planning your trip, which includes plenty of tips about traveling to and in my country:

What you'll find on this site

My goal is to set you off on a journey of discovery: of stories behind the scenes, unlikely places, or unfamiliar foods.

I hope to make you gaze in wonder, but also to laugh out loud because (contrary to popular belief) we DO have a (slight) sense of humor.

You may or may not appreciate mine, but you'll be subjected to it nonetheless.

And now, it's time for another lovely photo, this time of lavender. Can't you just smell those rows?

lavender fields Senanque Abbey in ProvenceThe lavender fields around the Senanque Abbey in the Lubéron region may well be in the top 10 places to visit in France - but did you know that the abbey contains a fabulous library with a collection of books on Provence, French history, religious architecture and historical novels? It's a wonderful place to hide away and discover...

A bit about this site's owner, Moi

Why should you believe a single word I say?

Because:

  1. I'm French.
  2. I live in France.
  3. I'm passionate about my country.
  4. I spend every spare moment traveling, exploring, discovering it.
  5. I shall smother you in meringue and macarons if you don't!

I was born in Paris but spent most of my youth abroad. I returned in my thirties and have since had a home base on the edge of southeastern France, in the foothills of the Jura Mountains, a half hour's drive from the Swiss border.

Mine is a rural area, typical of that deepest, often forgotten France, even though it is this country's backbone (and has more cowbells than honking horns).

This is a France of rolling hills and cooperative tractors and of neighbors who know each other's business because, far from many government services, we often have to call on one another for help. 

For example, in winter, my minuscule mountain road can imprison me for days. But my farmer neighbor usually spots my predicament and trundles down with his tractor to clear a path for me.

And that's what neighbors are for!

That doesn't mean I don't appreciate the city – on the contrary, I am absolutely a city girl! I have a direct train to Geneva in Switzerland, and my nearest French towns are Annecy (which many of us believe might be France's prettiest) and Lyon, which I've adopted as my own and is just over an hour by train. This is where I go to get my urban fix whenever the cows and chickens become overwhelming. (You can read more about me here.)

Please stay in touch!

I mean it! I love hearing from you so don't be shy:

There are many ways to stay in touch or ask questions! So... please do!

And a final little gift from me, in case they're of use – a few free resources I've put together that you might like.