Since 2018, a strange creature has been stalking the streets of the south-western French city of Toulouse. Standing 13 metres tall and weighing in at 46 tonnes, Asterion the Minotaur is a giant wood and steel puppet who has become one of the city's emblems. This unusual artistic language is made possible thanks to extraordinary mechanics: a French-made exoskeleton controlled by five operators who move the minotaur's arms, torso and head. The hard work put in behind the scenes by the designers, technicians and operators turns this giant puppet into a genuine work of art.

More than 20 years ago, a community of men and women in the French region of Burgundy set themselves a massive challenge: to build a castle using the techniques of the Middle Ages. The site in the town of Guédelon is open to visitors, offering them an immersion into the 13th century. Today, nearly 40 people work every day on this medieval construction site. Stone quarrying is the first step in building a castle. And to transport the stones to the site, modern machines are banned: everything is done like in the 13th century, with horsepower.

The French port of Rouen hosts some of the biggest cargo ships in the world. But to get there, these giants of the seas have to be guided over the 80 kilometres of the Seine estuary. Navigating the river is risky for these huge ships. To guide them, expert pilots board the cargo ships at sea and take them to port. We go on deck with them.

Some 300 million pairs of socks are sold in France every year. Although most are made in China, some small French firms are carving out a market with their "made in France" offerings. One of them is Broussaud. For three generations, this family-run business based in the Limousin region has been constantly innovating, with increasingly complex designs. FRANCE 24 went to find out the secret of its success.

We take you to discover some of France's most remarkable trees. In the village of Lucheux, in the northern Somme region, two triple-centenarian lime trees have intertwined over time to become one. They have even played a part in village history: for the past 300 years, they have shaped the future of married couples. Meanwhile, in the Seine-et-Marne region east of Paris, a Japanese sophora (pictured) arouses wonder and curiosity in observers. It stands in the grounds of a school for teenagers with learning difficulties, who regularly draw the tree.

In the French region of Burgundy, home to the city of Dijon, it's not just the grapes that are famous. The region's other star fruit is the blackcurrant. A whole market has emerged based on the cultivation of this small berry. Today, the precious black fruit is transformed in many ways. Its best-known use in France is in the production of the famous liqueur known as crème de cassis, but blackcurrant is also used in cooking and even in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. We take a closer look.

A masterpiece of classical architecture, the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, located outside Paris, was the forerunner of Versailles. Contained within its walls are three and a half centuries of history. That legacy is now the responsibility of the three brothers who inherited it on the death of their father: Ascanio, Alexandre and Jean-Charles. The château is regularly the scene of construction sites but some restoration must be done by hand, for instance to restore the central wrought iron gates to their former glory. FRANCE 24 takes you behind the scenes.

The River Seine is the beating heart of Paris. The banks of the river attract 8 million visitors each year, making it one of the busiest places in the French capital. We meet those who take care of the Seine seven days a week, from the technicians checking water quality to members of the river patrol, who respond to emergency call-outs and use radar to explore the river's depths.

Every second in France, 57 kilos of cheese are produced; that's nearly 2 million tonnes a year. In the French city of Tours, the cream of cheesemakers from around the world compete to win the title of World's Best Cheesemaker. From choosing food to go with their cheeses, to blind tests, to putting together a cheese platter, they put their expertise to the test. The Belgians, Dutch and Japanese regularly make it to the podium, providing stiff competition for the French cheesemakers.

The Negresco is a legend in the world of luxury hotels. Located on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, just opposite the Mediterranean, it's emblematic of the French Riviera city. The hotel is not owned by a tourism or hotel group, making it one of the few totally independent luxury hotels in France. From the ground floor all the way up to the top, works of art are everywhere: Eiffel stained glass, a Baccarat chandelier and an official portrait of Louis XIV. We bring you a behind-the-scenes look at this jewel of the Belle Époque.