Don't miss "Mimosa Season" in Southern France, where relaxing along the Riviera comes second to all the celebrations and festivals in the area.

Between the dense snows that douse the Alps and the brisk winter winds of the open sea ... sun-seekers should set their sights south to France's Mediterranean coast. Since the mid-18th century ...

but with global warming the French reservoir has become an attractive winter retreat. Tens of thousands of the majestic birds ...

The recent spell of sunny weather in the Dordogne has encouraged cranes, known in French as grues cendrées, to start their ...

Tens of thousands of the majestic birds now spend Europe's coldest months around the 48 square kilometre (19 square mile) expanse of water south ... the winter on an artificial lake in France's ...