Lined by magnificent French castles frozen in time, the Loire is nicknamed the royal river, with its breathtaking views of these jewels of Renaissance architecture. But the river is also a place to escape, to get back to nature and to discover a lesser-known heritage.  In Chaumont-sur-Loire, an association is bringing traditional flat-bottomed boats back to life, in order to offer tourists an exceptional view of the region's castles. Meanwhile, thanks to the development of a network of cycling paths, the most athletic visitors can now choose to admire the beauties of the royal river by bike.

Once important seats of Christian worship, and now treasures of the country's heritage, French abbeys often have surprising histories. That’s the case of Fontevraud abbey, in the former duchy of Anjou. Run by a woman during its heyday, the abbey was turned into a prison after the French Revolution. In Alsace, the abbey of Mont Sainte-Odile is famous for its supposedly miraculous spring water. Finally, on the outskirts of Montpellier, Valmagne abbey used to be a wine cellar. Visitors can still observe the gigantic barrels that were once used to store thousands of litres of wine.

The most beautiful gardens in France are the fruit of monumental work by men and women, in partnership with Mother Nature. In the north of Corsica, the magnificent floral paradise of Parc de Saleccia was born from the ashes of a terrible fire in 1974. Much further north, near Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, the Château de La Ballue is most remarkable for its listed gardens, where geometric shapes abound. Finally, on the French Riviera, the luxurious Eilenroc villa is especially famous for its rose garden, with varieties named after film stars.

Some artists' palaces are worthy of every superlative. Straight out of the boundless imagination of their creators, unique buildings now fascinate visitors to France: Postman Cheval's Ideal Palace in Provence, the estate of Robert Tatin in Mayenne and the "Bubble Palace" (pictured) on the French Riviera. FRANCE 24 takes you on a journey to the confines of fantasy to discover three palaces that share the fact they are unlike any other.

With its chalk cliffs and its bright green meadows, the French region of Normandy offers stunning scenery but also iconic local produce. It's in this unique landscape that cider producer Guillaume Capelle grows apples, the local fruit, to make the world-famous Calvados brandy. Meanwhile, Pierre Marie is hoping for a good season for scallop fishing – another emblematic product of Normandy, along with Isigny butter and caramels. For the latter two to see the light of day, dairy farmer Pierre Aubril pampers his Normandy cows, who produce up to 1,200 litres of 100 percent organic milk every day.

Thanks to their architecture, history and exceptional heritage, some French villages are the pride of their inhabitants and a joy for tourists. Perched on its Corsican hilltop, the village of Sant'Antonino is not easily accessible. Here, people still ride donkeys and cultivate olives the old-fashioned way. In Brittany, the charming village of Pont-Aven has inspired artists such as Paul Gauguin, earning it the nickname of "city of painters". Finally, down on the French Riviera, flowers have brought renown to the aptly named village of Bormes-les-Mimosas.

Located near the Spanish border, France's Basque Country has no fewer than twelve Michelin-starred restaurants, born of the marriage between local produce and the know-how of top Basque chefs. In Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, regular market-goers easily recognise chef Philippe Arrambide. Another of the region's Michelin-starred chefs is Cédric Béchade, an adopted Basque. FRANCE 24 went to meet them and discovered some of their cooking tips.

Glaciers are increasingly threatened by climate change. The French Alps are home to more than 4,000 of these fascinating natural monuments, of which 80 to 90 percent are set to disappear by 2100 due to global warming. Among the most emblematic glaciers is the Mer de Glace, or Sea of Ice, which retreats a little more each year, under the watchful eye of tourists. Meanwhile, the Bossons glacier reveals aircraft debris that was thought to be lost forever. FRANCE 24 went to meet some of the guardians of the glaciers.

In the northern French city of Dunkirk, thousands of people look forward to carnival season every year. As Mardi Gras approaches, the carnival transforms the city: the Black Cat Ball, fancy dressing and herring throwing from the town hall balcony are all part of the two-month-long festivities. The tradition dates back to the 17th century, when shipowners would host a big party for fishermen before they sailed off to Iceland for six months to fish for cod. Today, the tradition continues and is prepared weeks in advance.

The rose is the top-selling flower in France, with more than 22 million bunches sold every year. It has been grown for four generations by the Meilland family on the French Riviera. A symbol of lovers, the rose is also a favourite of perfumers. François Demachy, a perfume designer and famous Dior "nose", swears by it. Finally, the flower's fragrance and colours may be sensational, but its taste is too. In the medieval town of Provins, in the Seine-et-Marne region, rose petal jelly is a must for discerning palates.