Author: StickyMangoRice

Let's combine art and travel! I'm an avid traveller, illustrating and sketching the amazing things I've seen from around the world.

Illustration of Beaune France polychrome rooftops

Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region of France – Burgundy Wine and Hilltop Castles

March 7, 2022

A large rural region in the east of France, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté is most famous for its prestigious Burgundy wine country, and is the ancestral home of the Dukes of Burgundy. The prefecture is Dijon, a historic town of grand palaces, perhaps best known for producing the mustard of the same name. Meanwhile, cities such as Beaune … More Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region of France – Burgundy Wine and Hilltop Castles

Illustration of Mont Saint-Michel Normandy island cathedral

Normandy Region Of France – Rugged Beaches, Romantic Châteaux And Camembert Cheese

February 28, 2022

Located west of Paris and stretching along the coast of the English Channel, the region of Normandy is one of France’s most important historical regions. It is the region of the majestic fortified island of Mont Saint-Michel, one of France’s most iconic sights. It is home to the white cliffs of Étretat and Atlantic resort … More Normandy Region Of France – Rugged Beaches, Romantic Châteaux And Camembert Cheese

Sketch of Biarritz beach front surfing in Nouvelle-Aquitane

Nouvelle-Aquitane Region of France – Basque Country, Bordeaux Wine, and Elegant Atlantic Beaches

February 21, 2022

Located in the south-west of France is the region of Nouvelle-Aquitane, the country’s largest region. It borders Spain to the south and the Atlantic coast to the west. Nouvelle-Aquitane is an incredibly diverse region that ranges from long, sunny beaches perfect for surfing; vast farmlands of strawberries, plums and tomatoes; colossal sand dunes; and the … More Nouvelle-Aquitane Region of France – Basque Country, Bordeaux Wine, and Elegant Atlantic Beaches

Illustration of Carcassonne castle city walls France

Occitanie Region of France – Pyrénées Mountains, Sunny Beaches and Roman Ruins

February 14, 2022

Bordering the Mediterranean Sea and Spain along its southern border, Occitanie is a region of sunny beaches, vast wine regions, spectacular mountains, and Roman architecture. Its capital is Toulouse, nicknamed La Ville Rose (the pink city), named for the distinctive pink-hued brickwork which is used in many of the city’s historic buildings. With its wide … More Occitanie Region of France – Pyrénées Mountains, Sunny Beaches and Roman Ruins

Sketching Ajaccio illustration of Corsica capital beach front

Corsica Region of France – The Mediterranean Island of Beaches, Mountains and Citadels

February 7, 2022

Corsica is a large island in the Mediterranean Sea, and France’s only metropolitan region that isn’t part of the mainland. Corsica is an island of sparkling seas and sunbaked beaches, grandiose coastal fortresses that top sheer clifftops, and dramatic jagged mountain ranges. The vibrant capital of the region, Ajaccio, was the birthplace of France’s first … More Corsica Region of France – The Mediterranean Island of Beaches, Mountains and Citadels

Sketch of stork nests on chimney platforms in northern France alsace region

Grand Est Region of France – Medieval Towns Meet Champagne Vineyards

January 31, 2022

The home of colourful medieval villages, German-influenced cuisine, and the cellar doors of Champagne vineyards, Grand Est is one of France’s most diverse and alluring regions. Occupying the north east corner of France, Grand Est borders Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg, creating a historic crossroads region that fuses Germanic and Romantic European cultures. It is made … More Grand Est Region of France – Medieval Towns Meet Champagne Vineyards

Sketch of Calais architecture town hall and belfry clock tower

Hauts-de-France Region of France – Belfries and Battlefields of the North

January 24, 2022

France’s northernmost region is Hauts-de-France, home of strong beer, world war battlefields, incredible Gothic cathedrals, and some of Europe’s busiest ports. The region borders Belgium in the north, and the Atlantic coast on the west, with connections to England via the Channel Tunnel. The region has a strong Flemish influence, with UNESCO listed Belfry towers … More Hauts-de-France Region of France – Belfries and Battlefields of the North

Sketch of typical Parisian Haussmann buildings

Île-de-France Region of France – Paris, Palaces, and Disneyland

January 17, 2022

Île-de-France is the name of the region that includes Paris and its surrounds. Sometimes known as the Région Parisienne, Île-de-France is the smallest region of mainland France, but also by far the most populated and most dense. It is one of the most touristic regions in all of Europe. The city of Paris is the … More Île-de-France Region of France – Paris, Palaces, and Disneyland

Illustration of Nantes Les machines de l'Île mechanical elephant ride

Pays de la Loire Region Of France – Loire Valley Châteaux Meets The Atlantic

January 10, 2022

Pays de la Loire is an administrative region named after France’s longest river, the Loire. Beginning at the rugged Atlantic coast at Saint-Nazaire, it stretches over 1000km (621 miles) through much of central France. The region is home to part of the Loire Valley, a region of some of France’s most opulent and incredible châteaux, … More Pays de la Loire Region Of France – Loire Valley Châteaux Meets The Atlantic

Drawing of Chartres cathedral ceiling ribbed vaults Gothic design

Centre-Val de Loire Region of France – Wine And Chateaux Of The Loire Valley

January 3, 2022

Welcome to châteaux country! The region of Centre-Val de Loire, located just south of Paris, is known for its wonderful Loire Valley, a leisurely region of great wines and lavish Rennaissance castles that traces the 1000km (620 mile) river Loire through rolling green farmland. The kings, queens and nobility of France built some of the … More Centre-Val de Loire Region of France – Wine And Chateaux Of The Loire Valley