The "salle des fêtes" of France's Élysée Palace is a place of power, pageantry and prestige. As well as press conferences and official dinners, it's here that the French president is sworn in. This ceremonial reception room has barely changed for more than a century and recently began to show signs of age. To give it a makeover, 150 French craftspeople were chosen for an exceptional job lasting two months. Tapestries, chandeliers, curtains and gilding: nothing was left to chance. We went behind the scenes.

In France, each region is proud of its own local soup. Simple and satisfying, cabbage soup from the village of Queyrières, in the Auvergne region, has passed down through the generations. Old photos and poems even testify to its importance. Meanwhile, in the southwest region of Béarn, the garbure is served at all times of the day. Although it's full of vegetables, its meat differentiates it from other soups.

The white blanket of France's eastern Jura Mountains stretches out for 340 kilometres along the Swiss border. Trekking across this wilderness is an unforgettable journey. We follow a small group of cross-country skiers for a three-day hike through pine trees, frozen lakes, gentle slopes and sunny peaks. At night we stop off at a chalet to sample rösti, a local Jura specialty. At the Franco-Swiss border, we discover a passage where Resistance fighters and Jews risked their lives to flee occupied France between 1941 and 1945.

Located in France's eastern Vosges region, the Champ du Feu is a stunning patch of wildlife; a giant meadow that stretches out 1,099 metres above sea level. This vast area can be crossed on Icelandic horses during magical wintry treks. But during the harsh Vosges winters, some locals prefer more indoor activities such as fruit distillation, which produces different kinds of alcohol. The result is a pure concentrate of the Vosges: a wild region brimming with natural beauty all year round.

It's a scattering of French soil off the coast of Canada. For two centuries, the archipelago of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, with its fish-rich waters, attracted people from Brittany, Normandy but above all from France's Basque country. Their descendants still keep Basque heritage alive, such as pelota and traditional songs. FRANCE 24 takes you to discover these islands with their pretty seascapes and rich biodiversity. We also set sail with some fishermen to catch halibut.

We take you to discover France's central Auvergne region, starting with the Cantal area. Its crosses are relics of the past that tend to be ignored. There are nearly 3,000 of them at the side of the roads. Archaeologist Aurélie Aubignac gives talks about their history. Further north, we meet Stéphane Larzat, who has spent two decades restoring traditional dovecotes. A little further south in the Puy-de-Dôme area, the valley of Courgoul is full of weather-beaten bridges. Aurélien Lebrun, a mountain guide, is passionate about showing them to both tourists and locals.

Surrounded by 16 peaks, the cirque de Gavarnie is a must-see for lovers of hiking. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it's one of the natural wonders of France's Pyrenees. Philippe loves these mountains and spends all his time here. He appreciates the peace and quiet that nature offers. Philippe is also the manager of one of the region's hostels, where he welcomes passing hikers. Next door, we meet farmer Pascal and his flock of sheep.

For 25 years, the Marion Dufresne has been the only regular link with the most remote French territories. The ship's silhouette stands out among the albatross and elephant seals of the far-flung Kerguelen Islands and the Macaroni penguins of the Crozet archipelago. The Marion Dufresne is a supply vessel and a helicopter carrier. But each time it heads out to sea, it takes on board a handful of tourists. The French ship is not only a means of transport, it's a chapter in maritime history. We take you on board.

Roumazières-Loubert is known as the "city of clay". This small town in France's western Charente region has been turning the precious raw material into tiles for more than a century. For 40 years, Bernadette has been passionate about working with clay and says the local factory has become her second home. A little further south, the town of Chalais boasts opulent villas along the railway line: a unique architectural heritage. Jean-Louis shows us the impressive medieval castle, while Joël takes us to discover the world of traditional cattle farming, with calves fed under their mothers.

The vegetable garden of the Château de Villandry, with its 27,000 spring vegetables, is one of the stars of France's Loire Valley. For more than 20 years, it's been a UNESCO World Heritage site. The gardeners will soon need to plant the summer flowers: it's a race against the clock. Meanwhile, at the Château de Rivau, visitors can discover the beautiful scents of some 460 different varieties of roses. We also check out other charming gardens in the Touraine region, in Beaulieu-lès-Loches and in Chaumont-sur-Loire. An unforgettable sensory experience.