France travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises spa and resorts

If you’ve strolled in the sunny Barcelona you will came across magnificent modernist buildings gaze proudly over the tree-lined boulevards, sleek furniture, elaborate tapas, chic couture and handmade chocolates. Hidden from view, there are gardens and courtyards that offers shelter from the urban rush and an intimate view of everyday Barcelona life.
Continue reading Barcelona’s Hidden Gardens

One  mountain landscape, which spans the contemporary national borders of France and Spain, centered around the peak of Mount Perdu, a calcareous massif that rises to 3 352 metres. Mont Perdu(meaning lost mountain) is the third highest mountain in the Pyrenees. The mountain is approached by two of Europe’s deepest canyons on the Spanish side. The landscape is a stunning mix of bleak mountains, pastoral countryside, lakes and forests. Mont Perdu site is registered on the Worldwide Heritage list since 1997.

Continue reading Mont Perdu, Pyrenees

A mixture of colorful gateway into Paris’ ancient and arty Marais, the Pompidou stands out among the crowd; Renzo Piano and Richer Rogers’ winning design exposes, literally, the guts of the museum cultural center for all to see. Lovingly referred to as “Beaubourg” by many Parisians and the “gerbil cage” or “cruise liner” by foreign visitors, the Pompidou testifies to France’s surprising sense of architectural adventure, and bien sûr the lasting personal marks of its presidents.
Continue reading Centre Pompidou, Museum of Modern Art

This  is an eye-catching, sustainably designed building created for festive celebrations, entertainment and leisure. The Sport & Leisure Center’s facade is a burst of pixilated color. I reckon this use of color more as a physical manifestation of color-block video games such as Tetris… which works nicely if you consider the space as intended to draw kids away from electronic devices, allowing them to play inside one instead.
Continue reading Sport and Leisure Center in Saint Cloud

These Lagoons are of exceptional natural beauty. The New Caledonia Barrier Reef is located in New Caledonia in the South Pacific. It’s the third largest coral reef structure in the world.
Continue reading Lagoons of New Caledonia

Ile de Noirmoutier is located off the west coast of France and has long been a summer playground. Stretching 20 km out into the Bay of Biscay, the island caters well for visitors, although tourism does not dominate. Salt marshes continue to be worked and there are still thriving farming and fishing communities. Photo by: Irish251
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At first look, there is nothing so attractive about flat and wooded Oleron, in spite of the fact that it is, at 175 sq km, France’s second largest island. It sits in the Bay of Biscay, die west of Rochefort and is linked to the mainland by what was France’s longest road bridge, when it was built in 1966. But if you are lucky to visit the island you will understand why so many holidaymakers flock there during the summer months. Photo by: K r y s
Continue reading Ile d’Oleron