The Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc Festival of Humor celebrated its thirthiest edition in March 2014. Young talents are encouraged to try their luck on stage and compete for the much-coveted prize, the Saint-Gervais Henri Salvador prize, named for the famous French singer-songwriter. Many big names in French show business were there for the occasion.

It is common knowledge that French people love their wine, but did you know that France is only the second largest wine consumer in the world, just behind China? As you will see in the video, winegrowers from the Savoie region put a lot of love and passion into winemaking. It's very often a family affair passed on from generation to generation. Long may it continue... and remember—enjoy your wine in moderation!

In an effort to promote ecotourism, the town of Echelles has constructed one of the largest natural bathing areas in France. Its filtration system is 100% natural, powered by thousands of plant seedlings.

Global warming is threatening the ski industry in the French Alps. Many operators have to resort to snow guns to keep the slopes open as snowfall has halved in the last fifty years.

On two summer nights per year, the small town of Nieul-le-Dolant transforms into “Nieul, Village de Lumière” (“Nieul, Village of Light”) and captivates both its residents and its visitors with a dazzling display of illuminated buildings and monuments.

Henri Griffon, an art enthusiast, puts his passion to work and brings together an amazing collection of contemporary artwork featuring the best artists from the Vendée.

Losing weight is one of the most common New Year's resolutions, probably due in part to the richness of holiday feasts. As you'll see in this video, a lot of French people switch to a diet of fresh fruit, vegetables, and soups as they get ready for the new year or recover from holiday indulgences. Clementines are an especially popular and low calorie wintertime snack.

Over thirty French bakeries from the Vendée region show off their skills in a galette des rois (Kings' cake) contest. The lucky judges, whose onerous task is to taste those delicious galettes, go to great lengths to explain their choices and make our mouths water. The galette des rois is traditionally served at Epiphany and is notoriously difficult to make. It comes in two varieties, flaky or brioche, and is available at French bakeries throughout the month of January.

Laurent literally takes sand castles to new heights with his giant sand sculptures, and he's sharing his love of beach art with the next generation. In this video, Laurent teaches a group of kids how to build a giant turtle out of sand.