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Auvergne-Massif Central
roquefort cheese

The Secret Behind Roquefort – my Favorite Cheese

The secret behind Roquefort cheese can be found in the fields. Lacaune sheep, whose milk is used for the cheese, graze on hillsides that are literally rampant with herbs. These herbs impart their flavor to the ewes’ milk. Each ewe yields only 16 gallons per season. Milk used for the blue-veined Roquefort comes from sheep ...

tour de france 2016

Tour de France 2016, recapping Stages 1-9

Recapping the Tour de France 2016 – what have we seen thus far in this 103rd Tour de France? It’s been an exciting week! A favorite rider withdrew and there have been several photo finishes. Today is a rest day so it’s a good day to take a look back at a few of the highlights. [caption id="attachment_4352" ...

French Spa Town Vichy France is a Marvel of Delights

Read my story in French » French spa town Vichy in the Auvergne Region is an all-inclusive spa town about an hour drive north of Clermont-Ferrand. We learned so much during our visit as we knew nothing about the variety of hot springs and the mineral benefits of the different waters. Historically speaking, it was also the ...

vichy saint-blaise

Vichy St Blaise and its Captivating Frescoes

Vichy St Blaise is actually two churches. Église St Blaise grew too small  for the congregation. Thus, we have the building of Notre Dame des Malades against St Blaise. Église St Blaise dates from the late 1600s and Notre Dame des Malades dates from 1931. The Virgin tops the outer dome of the church at 138 feet from the ...

Cheese Caves of Saint Julien are Hidden in the Hillside

Read my story in French » Hidden among the vines and built into the mountain walls, the cheese Caves de Saint Julien are just a short distance from the town of St Nectaire south of Clermont Ferrand in the Auvergne Region of France. Originally intended to serve as a warehouse for wine, the Caves of Saint Julien later served ...