From Beaujolais races to leaning houses: 7 things we learned about France in the November 2020 issue of FRANCE Magazine

Enjoy a sneak peek of our new issue, our family-friendly France special!

1) There’s a lively race from London to Beaujeu every November to collect the new vintage of Beaujolais Nouveau – and it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year

The brainchild of Clement Freud and The Good Wine Guide’s Joseph Berkmann, the Beaujolais Run sees teams compete to be the first to bring the bottles back to London, with various challenges along the way.

Buckle up and join the rally with Adam Hay-Nicholls on page 18.

2) Paris comes into its own in autumn and the Bois de Vincennes is one of the best places to see the season’s colours

Take advantage of the free entry from October to March and make a beeline to the arboretum to the south east of the park, home to 1,200 trees.

Find out where else to see the fall colours with Brigitte Nicolas on page 34.

3) Forget Switzerland – Besançon is a paradise for watch lovers

A must-visit is the city’s watch museum in the gorgeous setting of the Palais Granvelle.

Spend some peaceful time in this university city with Lara Dunn on page 38.

4) Don’t miss the Alps’ very own ‘leaning house’

It’s not quite Pisa but it’s certainly unusual! La maison penchée in the Haute Maurienne Vanoise valley is a wartime bunker whose tilted frame was caused by an explosion in 1944.

Discover the charms of the Haute Maurienne Vanoise en famille with Ben Moore on page 56.

5) There’s a now whole tourist trail dedicated to France’s amazing gastronomy

The Vallée de la Gastronomie stretches through some of the country’s top foodie hotspots, from Dijon to Marseille via Lyon.

Enjoy a journey to savour with Philip Sweeney on page 66.

6) Matisse, Picasso and Modigliani were just some of the artistic greats who loved Saint-Paul de Vence

This stunning haven for artists in Alpes-Maritimes attracts both everyday holidaymakers and the world’s top artists thanks to its picture-perfect looks.

Stroll along its picturesque streets with Lara Dunn on page 46.

7) During the Roaring Twenties in Paris, there was a group of intellects called Les Hydropathes who claimed to be afraid of water and only drank alcohol!

They frequented Le Chat Noir, the nightclub that inspired the world-famous poster.

Find out about the history of the iconic lithograph with Helen Parkinson on page 80.

So what are you waiting for? The November 2020 issue of FRANCE Magazine is out now: order your copy here.

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