WELCOME
The utterly elegant Le Lys cocktail bar has quite the river
view at the Château de Cognac (p34)
Bienvenue!
Salut, mes amis, and welcome to your autumn edition of France Today, the only coffee table publication devoted to bringing you the fi nest French travel and tourism news and ideas, cultural and historical insights, tasty food and drink titbits, language learning tips and, above all, a passion for all things Francophile-friendly. I write to you as I ease myself into what the French call la rentrée – the post-summer return to work and school that defi nes in many ways fresh beginnings and a ‘new year’ in September. I can refl ect very fondly upon a long, hot French summer that culminated in a weekend spent exploring a delightful corner of the Gers department with my ‘slow tourism’ chapeau on. You can read all about it on page 70. Whether you are currently making plans to travel to France this autumn or next spring/ summer, we hope to provide lots of inspiration. For the coming months there’s plenty to explore, from Nord to Vaucluse: our in-depth guide to French remembrance sites is perfect for a late autum/winter visit to pay one’s repects, while the
WEBSITE EXTRAS We simply cannot fi t everything into the magazine. So for more unique travel features, city-break ideas, off-the-beaten-path getaways and an up-to-the- minute events calendar, head to our website: •
www.francetoday.com
ever-eye-pleasing Mont Saint-Michel (1,000 years old this year) is probably best marvelled at during the off-season when it’s quieter. Cognac, our city focus destination, is ideal for the cooler months when you can duck into a friendly spirit cellar for a warming snifter; while the wide array of super towns and villages of Les Deux Charentes – the adjoining departments of Charente-Maritime and Charente – hold year- round attraction both seaside and inland. Those already eyeing a summer 2024 sojourn will love Jennifer Ladonne’s guide to swanky new places to stay in Provence, while Sophie Gardner- Roberts’ very personal links to the Canal du Midi make for a stimulating boating guide. Alors, wherever you go exploring in France, I wish you all bon voyage… and do email me with your travel tales and photos. À la prochaine!
Justin Postlethwaite Editor
justin@francemedia.com
letters@francetoday.com
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Oct/Nov 2023 FRANCE TODAY ❘ 3
IMAGE © LE LYS CHÂTEAU DE COGNAC
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