MARIANNE groaned as the sound of the shutters being pushed open woke her from a fitful sleep. She half-opened her eyes, but the sun streaming in was too strong. Turning over, she buried her face in th

HIDDEN WITHIN FRANCE’S Auvergne volcano country is a school like no other: a racing school at which you drive only historic cars. It’s the brainchild of Julien Chaffard, a competitive skier who grew u

ROSALIE’S heart was pounding. Tall and formidable in dark coat and breeches, Thomas Charrel stood in the chapel doorway, his eyes on her for what seemed an age. His expression was grim, his gaze as co

We’re going slightly off-piste here this month by moving into the world of fiction. Rather like the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson seemingly being tasked with writing and arranging a new album every few wee

Historians claim Nice was named after Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, following a military triumph over the local Ligurian tribes. But sitting on my seafront terrace, watching the evening sun sett

8 MARCH