On a recent trip to France I stopped off in the medieval town of Dinan having heard that it was a place well worth a visit.

Apremont-sur-Allier and it's Park Floral are beautiful and well worth a visit.

If, as we found on a recent trip to Languedoc, the weather proves a little unpredictable and you are searching for an indoor interest, there is always the Aquarium in Banyuls-Sur-Mer.

Bellac is a small market town in the north west of the Haute Vienne department of Limousin

Troyes (pronounced Twah), a lovely town in the heart of the Champagne region. In this slightly autumnal looking picture a local cafe lies quiet before it opens.

OUR VILLAGE, Olargues, is officially classified Un des Plus Beaux Villages de France, which I suppose I'd better get 2011 off to a charitable start by translating for those still overcome by festive season torpor as One of the Most Beautiful Villages of France. There are only about 160 Most Beautiful Villages in all France, so I suppose it's a privilege to live in of them.

The market town of Cluny in Burgundy has the remains of a once great abbey. However, even in its broken-down state the abbey is still immensely impressive and well worth a tour

Port-Rhu in Douarnenez has been turned into a living maritime museum. where you can see a collection of more than 200 old ships.

The village of Estaing in the Aveyron is dominated by a 15th century Chateau which is the home of the former president of France Valery Giscard d'Estaing.

Set between Grenoble and the Italian border, this sunny corner of the Alps has a wealth of friendly villages, some spectacularly high peaks and fantastic winter sports. Yet the Hautes-Alpes are delightfully unspoilt and offer less crowded ski holidays than better known ski areas of France.