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Few places capture the imagination of travelers quite like Chamonix. Located in a spectacular valley in the French Alps near Switzerland and Italy, this historic mountain town is one of the most famous alpine destinations in the world – no kidding! Whether you visit in summer or winter, Chamonix offers breathtaking scenery, outdoor adventure, and…
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The black truffle from the Drôme is one of France’s most prized gastronomic treasures. Grown naturally beneath oak and hazelnut trees, the Drôme black truffle—scientifically known as Tuber melanosporum—is celebrated for its intense aroma, refined flavor, and strong connection to terroir. Often called black gold, this truffle plays a central role in the culinary identity…
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From Isère (Saint-Luce) .𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆ ˚❆ to the Hautes-Alpes (Massif des Écrins) If you’re looking for a winter adventure in the French Alpes that doesn’t involve crowded ski lifts or technical skills, snowshoeing is what to do. Why not go to an insolite part of the Alpes and only two hours from Lyon, you…
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Discover Morestel, the cité des peintres in Isère. Explore La Muette, Saint-Symphorien Church, and the artists who made this village famous. Up above the curving Rhône Valley in Isère, is Morestel. Yes, another pretty village! This one however has just a bit of insolite making it so much more interesting. Even in the midst of winter it’s…
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Recipe follows 😉 What is the Galette des Rois? The traditional version is a round, flat pastry made of puff pastry and filled with frangipane, a rich almond cream. In France you can find it in every bakery from early January until the end of the month. In recent years, many bakeries have started offering insolite flavors. You…
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Tucked away in the French Alpes, near Grenoble, lies the rugged and peaceful Chartreuse region – a place of forests, cliffs, and silence. It is here that one of the world’s most mysterious liqueur was born: Chartreuse. The perfect herbal digestif after several holiday meals ! Those Behind the Recipe Chartreuse is made by Carthusian…
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A New Year, a Thank You, and Stories to Come As we begin a new year, I would like to take a moment to welcome you and thank you for being here ✨ my couple of followers! This blog was launched in December as a natural extension of Insolite Tours, a very small business in…
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In Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the holiday season is when French cuisine proudly goes Christmas 🎄 A festive celebration centered on rich seasonal food and shared at the table with family and friends. In our region the meal often reflects the region’s mountains, farms, and long culinary traditions. The Entrée (Starter or as we often say the apéro)…
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A “Village” Atmosphere, Not a Mall “This outlet village was built on land that was never meant to be a village at all. It’s a place without a past, designed entirely for movement, shopping, and modern lifestyles; making it one of the most unusual insolite ‘villages’ in France” Unlike traditional indoor shopping centres, The Village…
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The market where time never throws anything away. ⏳https://www.instagram.com/insolitetours/ Welcome to the Marché aux Puces du Canal — Lyon’s flea market. You will find the best vintage gifts possible and an insolite place for Christmas shopping !⋆꙳•❅🎄❆•꙳⋆ What is the Marché aux Puces du Canal? It’s one of the biggest and most beloved flea markets…
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The legend of Lyon papillotes – only available during Christmas 🎄🤤🎄 Révillon Chocolatier, founded in Lyon in 1898, played a major role in spreading the papillote throughout France and making it an essential symbol of Christmas in Lyon and elsewhere in France. …… escargots papillotes #Révillon The story of the papillotes from Lyon is a…
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This tradition dates back to 1852, when Lyon was preparing to unveil a new statue of the Virgin Mary on the Basilica of Fourvière. The city had chosen Mary as its protector centuries earlier, especially during outbreaks of plague. For the Lyonnais, Mary protected the city and its population from the plague, so yes this…
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Rue des Trois-Maries is a narrow, cobbled, pedestrian street in the 5ᵉ arrondissement of Lyon (Le Vieux Lyon), running between the place de la Baleine and the rue du Palais-de-Justice. The street dates back to the Middle Ages, while most of the existing buildings — including the noteworthy doorways — reflect a Renaissance-era urban fabric. …