We bring you the story of the Royal Palace, a family dance hall in the eastern French village of Kirrwiller that has become the country's third-largest cabaret after Paris's Moulin Rouge and Lido. Now famous throughout Europe, the Royal Palace attracts 200,000 visitors every year. Behind its success is Pierre Meyer, a former cook who took over his parents' dance-floor restaurant. On stage, Alla Samorodska, a 35-year-old Ukrainian, excels as the lead lancer.

The city of Bourges in central France is famous for its UNESCO-listed cathedral and medieval city centre. But the capital of the Berry region has another historic asset: its marshes, a labyrinth of vegetable gardens. Located a few minutes from the city centre, the people of Bourges have enthusiastically maintained them for more than a century. This small corner of paradise is now attracting more and more city dwellers looking for peace and quiet. FRANCE 24 takes you to discover this unique but fragile ecosystem.

Strictly regulated for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Guadeloupe Carnival is usually an unmissable event on the French Caribbean islands. From January to March, Guadeloupeans live to the rhythm of the parades, led by dozens of groups of volunteers. For participants, it's often the consecration of a year of hard work. FRANCE 24 went to soak up some of the Carnival atmosphere.

Located on the border with Switzerland, France's Jura region is a wild open land, a paradise for cross-country skiers and snowshoers. Only a few hardy souls come to attempt the Grande Traversée, a hiking-skiing route more than 100 kilometres long. It sets off from Mouthe, the coldest village in France. Meanwhile, from makers of Comté cheese to those who create wooden cladding known as "tavaillons", the region's heritage is lovingly preserved.

The eastern French town of Lunéville has played a key role in France's fashion history. It's the birthplace of Lunéville stitch embroidery, which features on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list. To teach it, there is only one person left: Aude. Her students come from all over the world to learn the techniques passed on to her by her grandmother. We also take you behind the scenes at Hermès, whose square silk scarves are made by a highly skilled team near the French city of Lyon.

With its 2,500 castles, the Loire Valley is the cradle of the French Renaissance. But this priceless heritage requires constant maintenance. With state-of the-art technology, as well as historical research and know-how, French artists and craftspeople are innovating to return these gems of the past to their original state. We take a closer look.

In the heart of France's Burgundy vineyards, where villages bear the names of grands crus such as Pommard, Nuit-Saint-Georges and Chablis, preparations are underway for the Saint-Vincent tournante wine festival; a tradition that goes back to the Middle Ages. Every year, in the last week of January, some 20,000 people are expected for the two-day festival. This time, the villages of Gilly-lès-Cîteaux and Vougeot are the lucky hosts. We catch up with Élisabeth, the head of the not-for-profit organisation, but also Bernard, a volunteer winegrower.

Every year, almost half a million visitors flock to Chantilly, one of France's most beautiful castles. Located an hour from Paris and built in 1358, its princes greeted Louis XIV for sumptuous banquets. In the 19th century, Henri d'Orléans, Duke of Aumale, restored the château and turned it into an exceptional museum, containing the second-largest collection of paintings in France after the Louvre and more than 45,000 books. From restorers to gardeners and horseriders: behind the scenes, more than 100 people work every day on the upkeep of Chantilly. FRANCE 24 takes you to meet them.

Marie-Hélène Poisson is the only craftswoman to be entirely dedicated to Boulle work. This French technique, invented at the end of the 17th century, consists of inlaying antique furniture with decoration made of brass or tortoiseshell. Marie-Hélène learned the trade from her father and is now passing it on to her daughter. The future of Boulle inlay is safe in their hands. FRANCE 24 takes you to the town of Vendôme, in France's Loir-et-Cher region, for a closer look at this special craft.

Located in Paris's famed Montmartre district, the Moulin Rouge is the most famous cabaret in the world and has entertained revellers for 120 years. Home to the French cancan, it recruits the best dancers, who wear the best costumes. Each show requires 1,000 costumes at a budget of €4 million. Some of them are the most expensive in the world, due to their feathers. We go behind the scenes with dancer Olga.