Other AF websites

The Alliance Française USA-
www.afusa.org

L'Alliance Française de Paris -
www.alliancefr.org

Fondation Alliance Française-
www.fondation-alliancefr.org

Sites for learning French

About Dot Com French site -
http://french.about.com/od/francophonie/a/daily.htm

Homepage for the Laura Lawless /About Dot Com French language section. This contains info on books, courses, tapes, and links to lessons. Excellent daily grammar lessons, vocabulary lessons, and French quotes.

University of Louisville Department of French -
www.louisville.edu/a-s/cml/French/index.htm

Sometimes the best stuff is close to home. The U of L French department has a site loaded with good links.

Professional Translation Company -
http://www.ineverylanguage.com

Here are some useful sites for planning your next French vacation.

French railways and bullet trains -

Reservations for ordinary local trains aren't usually necessary, but the TGV (bullet train) requires them. Reservations are also a good idea for coastal destinations during peak season. You can get French train tickets online while you're still at home from the Eurail organization. You can also contact them by phone at 1-800-4EURAIL.

Regular train ticket info:...
www.raileurope.com/us/rail/fares_schedules/

TGV ticket info:...
www.raileurope.com/us/rail/tgv/tgv_med.htm

Online travel maps -

There are quite a few map sites out there. Here's a sample site that will print maps and directions of virtually any location in France. Type in the address, and it displays maps that zoom to whatever level of detail you want - great for out-of-the-way locations, or for showing the taxi driver how to find your favorite small hotel. You can also type in itineraries for driving directions between any two addresses. Lots of other travel research capabilities too.

www.mappy.fr/direct/mappy/accueil

French hotel reservation services -

There are many. Here are just a few. Note that some of them are helpful for making other types of reservations, e.g. Pariserve will reserve an airport shuttle for you.

www.pariserve.com

www.123france.com

Château lodgings -

This site specializes in country châteaux that have been renovated as inns. Many of the places listed are in la France profonde. The locations can sometimes be a little out-of-the-way, which of course, is the whole point of going there. Usually, you will need to rent a car.

http://www.chateauxhotels.com/public/recherche/
index.php?PHPSESSID=4c37e07096ae5f539b520c596dc66ca6

Here's an individual listing below. Truly a magical spot in the heart of Brittany!!! Typically only half a dozen guests at any one time. Very international clientelle. Hard to find, but worth it.

http://www.chateaudulaunay.com/

Bed & Breakfast Accommodations -
There are zillions of these too, Here are a few to get you started.

www.fleurs-soleil.tm.fr/france.htm

www.bedbreak.com

Here's an individual B&B site from an inn located inside a charming Normandy farm compound ideally situated for visiting the D-Day historical sites. The owners, Dominique & Alain Marion are two of the nicest and most interesting people you would ever hope to meet.

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/alain.marion/index.htm

Sites to help plan your trip -

www.routard.com

This is the website of the famous budget traveler's guide the Guide Routard.

French newspapers online -

Le Monde -
www.lemonde.fr

Le Figaro -
www.lefigaro.fr

L'Equipe -
www.lequipe.fr/

L'Humanité -
www.humanite.presse.fr/

Le Parisien -
www.leparisien.fr/home/index.htm

Libération -
www.liberation.fr/

La Tribune -
www.latribune.fr/

French magazines online -

Le Journal Permanent -
http://permanent.nouvelobs.com
Web version of the Nouvel Observateur.

France Amerique -
www.france-amerique.com
American edition of Le Figaro for French expatriates.

Courrier International -
http://www.courrierinternational.com/gabarits/default_online.asp?ord_id=38

L'Express -
www.lexpress.fr/express/

Elle -
www.elle.fr/

L'Enterprise -
www.lentreprise.fr/

Le Monde Diplomatique -
www.monde-diplomatique.fr/

Paris Match -
www.paris-match.com/

Le Point -
www.lepoint.fr/sommaire.htm

French radio online -

France Info -
www.radiofrance.fr/chaines/france-info/accueil/

Listen to the latest breaking news from France via streaming audio.

Food and dining -

Patricia Wells website -
www.patriciawells.com

Patricia Wells started out as the Paris restaurant critic for the International Herald Tribune. Over the years, she has become something of a french culinary institution. She continues her food column in the Herald Tribune, but has added a website, a cooking school in Provence, a cooking school in Paris, and is the author of numerous books, including the famous Foodlover's Guide to Paris.

Her website features a list of top restaurant picks in Paris. It's always up-to-date, and it pays to check it when planning a Paris trip.

General interest sites -

French Ministry of Culture -
http://www.culture.fr/

The official site of the French Ministry of Culture - lots of useful news and general info about cultural events and institutions in France.

France Voyage website -
http://www.france-voyage.com/english

Travel guide for France: photos, landscapes, information, culture, monuments, architecture gastronomy and more.