20 fun facts about France

There are certain things that passengers have come to expect while traveling by plane: long security lines, a small treat after takeoff (if you're lucky), and seats that face forward. 

If you didn’t know that Pablo Picasso had spent a sizeable amount of time in the Cote d’Azur village of Mougins, you’re made aware of it walking through the main square, site of a large and pretty realistic sculpture of his head. The nearby café and ice cream shop, named, respectively,Pablo and Paloma, give a hint as well of this past resident who spent the last 12 years of his life here. As the region celebrates the artist, marking the 50th anniversary of his passing, there are Picasso related sites and exhibits on view here through October including an exhibition of photos of the usually glowering artist in lighthearted moments with his famous artist friends. But that’s not the only reason to come to Mougins.

This year our national neighbors to the north celebrate their 150th anniversary and we’ll be celebrating with them as they do. Each month we’ll focus on one part of their magnificent country and share it with you. From sky-high trees and brown bears in British Columbia to kitchen parties and codfish-kissing in the Maritimes, our toast to Canada will give you well over 150 reasons to make this the year you take the trip. This month, we’re kicking things off in Manitoba, home of the Churchill polar bears and northern lights, plus fun winter festivals in Winnipeg.

United Airlines or United Apologists? If you were to judge by recent media coverage of the carrier, you might think United’s core business was issuing apologies for blunders and misdeeds made in its secondary business, commercial air transportation.

Last year when Italy’s Cinque Terre decided to limit the amount of tourists that visit each year, overtourism once again came to the forefront of many people’s travel plans. While other popular landmarks and cities also had tourist caps or were exploring crowd-limiting options, iconic Cinque Terre’s cap has gained a lot of attention, and is part of a rising trend.

A number of low-cost European airlines have shown signs of trouble since budget airlines Primera and Cobalt shut down in late 2018. The newest addition to the list of small European airlines to fold is the millennial-focused Joon—Air France’s budget venture.

When Martha Stewart is home on her 156-acre farm in Bedford, New York, she's knows exactly how to prep and fine-tune the flavors she wants to achieve. But as soon as she's off her home turf, she's all about sitting back and discovering the cuisine of a locale, as far-flung as it may be. 

Mama Doris is running late, as to be expected. She is the queen of the bingo hall, after all. 

Liv Cycling, official partner of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and sponsor of the white jersey for the “Best Young Rider Classification” is hosting a global series of watch parties to get more viewers engage with the race, now in its second year. Founded in 2008 by Giant executive Bonnie Tu as part of the Giant Group, Liv is the only comprehensive cycling brand in the world dedicated solely to women. Liv’s sponsorship of the race aligns with the brand’s mission to empower all riders, from beginners to pros, and to get more women and girls on bikes. The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is an inspiring showcase of the awesome athleticism of some of the world’s best cyclists.

We hope you love the Palmito hotel! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

Travel journalist James Marsh is not immune to the charms of France's Côte d'Azur and gets why that may be your first choice for a beach holiday in France - but here's why he thinks you should consider visiting the Vendée region instead. 

Last year, my mom suggested we take a river cruise called the Viking Skaga. Its eight-day "Paris & the Heart of Normandy" itinerary along the Seine starts and ends in Paris and includes small towns in Normandy — such as La Roche-Guyon, Vernon, and Rouen.