Educational

Thanks to the strong legacy of its textile and paper industries, the Rhone Alpes region has an abundance of technical museums many of which reflect the diversity of the region’s skill base.

Champagne-Ardenne has a Cutlery Museum as well as a War & Peace Museum that tells the history of the area in the First and Second World Wars. The Domaine de Vendresse explains the history of cast-iron making and the secret universe of the region’s rivers – a typically eclectic mixture of subjects.

Produced in collaboration with the Cité des Sciences de la Villette (La Villette Science Centre) in Paris, this science and technology discovery centre covers an area of more than 5000 m² and is chiefly aimed at children aged between 3 and 15.

The history of Poitou-Charentes has been shaped by many notorious people: Charles Martel, Eleanor of Aquitaine, François I, Richelieu, Rabelais and Vauban. Each of these illustrious figures left his or her imprint on the region's history.

The Baroque in Savoie

During the 17th and 18th Century, the Counter Reformation brought about new ways of expressing one’s faith, both colourful and theatrical in style. The Savoyard valleys boast about 60 Baroque churches, brimming with golden cherubs and multi-coloured painted saints, with their massive shining reredos.

Historic museums of all differing types: comic books in Angoulême, automobile and motors in Châtellerault, marine in Rochefort, furniture and regional objects in Saintes or Niort, Beaux-Arts (fine arts) in Poitiers, La Rochelle, Niort, Saintes, Cognac, Angoulême., peasant traditions in Ranton , silver mines in Melle and more.

Discover the Alsatian plain at first hand, get a bird's eye view of the Vosges Forest or glide across the vineyards... There are many excellent reasons to discover Alsace from the air.

Chef Jill Dupleix gets to grips with burgundies and beaujolais on a gastronomic river cruise from Lyons on the Saone. We are here for the food and the wine, and fully expect to eat too much and drink too much,” says Ben, 80, from Cornwall, sipping his welcome cocktail of sparkling wine. “And we would be very disappointed if we didn’t.”

France's only British mayor is to launch his campaign to enter party politics next week after two successful terms as head of a rural village in lower Normandy. Ken Tatham - known by the 150 inhabitants of St Céneri le Gérai as "Monsieur le maire" - is putting the finishing touches to his manifesto before kicking off his bid next Friday.

A new transport link is expected to have a marked effect on the property market in the French city of Nice. The Capital of the Cote d’Azur is about to announce the official opening of their new tram line which has taken over six years to build at a cost of 370 million euros.It will bring more homes within easy access of the central shopping area and beach.

The Monaco Government Tourist and Convention Authority (MGTCA), which recently conducted road shows in India, will be launching its international product, 'Passport to Monte-Carlo', in the Indian market by mid-2008.

Eastern Airways launched its first route to France yesterday (November 15) with its latest service departing from Southampton International Airport to Angers Loire. The three times a week service will operate on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.