In the Breton language, its name means "little sea". The Gulf of Morbihan, in the French region of Brittany, is made up of around 40 islands, all of them small paradises. The largest of them, l'Île aux Moines, is the most popular with tourists. Others belong to private owners, who live out their desert island dream. Oysters are farmed all year round on this storm-protected inland sea. We take a closer look.

Located in southern France, the Aubrac plateau is the scene of an explosion of colours and flavours in summer. The Aubrac dairy cows graze in rich meadows. Their cheese, tomme, is the main ingredient in the local specialty dish: aligot. The lush slopes are also home to the narcissus flower, which is harvested in the old-fashioned way with a raking tool. These delicate, fragrant flowers deck the region in white and are used by perfumers for their finest creations. We take a closer look.

Half of the one million oak barrels produced worldwide each year are made in France. French cooperage is a centuries-old tradition that dates back to the Gauls and plays a key role in the excellence of the world's finest wines. Choosing the right oak trees, cutting, seasoning and charring the wood are all delicate stages carried out by the cooper to create a made-to-measure oak barrel. We take a closer look at this expert craftsmanship.

Deep in France's southern Lubéron mountains lies a stunning red and orange landscape reminiscent of the vast plains of America: the Colorado provençal. This spot of wild nature is in fact a former open-cast ochre quarry. Every year, some 300,000 visitors venture through these 30 unusual hectares, between fairy chimneys and strange sculptures, to discover the remains of the site's industrial past. FRANCE 24 takes a closer look.

The southern Camargue region in France is known for its wetlands and flamingos. The region however holds a lesser-known animal sacred: bulls. The bulls of Camargue are reared by enthusiasts called manadiers for one purpose only, which is to become champions of the bullring in the regional bullfighting games. Consisting mainly of participants, called raseteurs, aiming to snatch rosettes tied to the bull's horns, the course camarguaise is harmless for the bulls that live in semi-freedom. FRANCE 24 takes you to uncover the region and its bulls.   

Deep in France's Burgundy region lies the Boutissaint wildlife park. Within its 400 hectares of forest, several hundred animals roam free: stags, roe deer and boars, which visitors can observe as they wander through this natural setting with very few fences. The park is the brainchild of the Borione family, which purchased this former priory and its vast abandoned estate in the early 20th century. When it opened in 1968, it was France's very first wildlife park. FRANCE 24 takes you on a tour.

Beaune is the wine capital of France's Burgundy region. Above ground, the old fortified city is already beautiful. But the real treasure is hidden below the surface, down in the cellars. They contain two million bottles of wine, in a total of five kilometres of galleries, all linked together. One of the oldest cellars in Beaune has been occupied for four generations by the Maison Drouhin. It contains traces of the city's ancient past. Meanwhile, the cellars of Maison Champy were once frequented by Louis Pasteur and Gustave Eiffel. The much more modern Jadot winery has an unexpected skylight. FRANCE 24 takes you to discover these hidden treasures.

Agriculture in France is not immune to the digital revolution. More and more farmers are using IT tools to carry out their administrative and technical tasks. But some go much further: from fully robotic milking of cows, to connected cameras, to data gathering and even a digital fruit and vegetable market. FRANCE 24 went to meet some of these farmers for whom technology represents the future of their livelihood.

To discover France's Baie de Somme, on the northern Picardy coast, it's best to venture out at low tide. The River Somme's vast estuary reveals an archipelago of sandbanks and salt marshes: a paradise for migratory birds, but also for sheep farmers. During a canoe trip, tourists can get close to the stars of the bay: the seals. The largest seal colony in France has taken up residence here, much to the delight of visitors.

Of all the Renaissance-era castles that adorn France's Loire Valley, the Château de Chenonceau is perhaps the most refined. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it attracts almost a million French and foreign tourists every year. This success keeps a hundred employees busy at Chenonceau: ensuring the safety of the premises, restoring works of art and composing the bouquets that decorate the corridors. FRANCE 24 takes you behind the scenes of this beautiful château.