France

France hold their nerve to beat South Africa by just two points, winning 21-19 at the Stade de France, to make it four wins from five in the Nations Championship and putting the home side in a strong position to top the northern hemisphere standings.

READ MORE: France hold nerve to edge past South Africa in thriller

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It’s one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe, dating back to 1570

A recent study by mobility specialists at Muick Sandy named Europe’s most accessible Christmas markets. The research examined the proximity to accessible toilets, parking and step-free public transport, surrounding terrain conditions, and the accessibility amenities on offer to guests.

According to the research, Strasbourg, in France, tops the list as Europe’s most accessible Christmas market. Visitors were found to be a mere 23 metres from step-free public transport, the shortest distance of any market examined.

Strasbourg also scored nine out of 10 for accessibility facilities, making it perfect for older travellers visiting the famous Christmas market this winter.

Strasbourg is known as the “capital of Christmas”, and its festive market ranks amongst the oldest and most enchanting in Europe, with roots stretching back to 1570.

It is also considered one of the most stunning in the world, set against the backdrop of its magnificent cathedral. Strasbourg recently featured in TripAdvisor’s Traveller’s Choice Top 10 French destinations.

Boasting timber-framed houses and charming canals, this picturesque city makes for an ideal winter escape.

Strasbourg Christmas Market runs from November 27 to December 24, 2026.

Birmingham came second and was named the UK’s most accessible Christmas market, scoring a perfect 10 out of 10 for accessibility facilities. Guests are situated just 110 metres from an accessible toilet, 158 metres from accessible parking and 133 metres from step-free public transport.

The experts explained: “Just 5.7% of the surrounding ground assessed was rough or uneven, contributing to Birmingham finishing comfortably ahead of the remaining markets.”

Birmingham Christmas Market runs from November 5 to December 24, 2026.

Ben Kenny, director at Muick Sandy, said: “Christmas markets are a huge part of the festive season for millions of people, but something as simple as uneven ground, a long journey from accessible parking or a lack of suitable facilities can make visiting much more difficult for somebody with limited mobility.

“Anyone with mobility needs planning a Christmas market trip should check the accessibility information available before travelling, particularly the location of parking, toilets and step-free transport.”

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Most accessible Christmas markets

1. Strasbourg, France
2. Birmingham, United Kingdom
3. Baden-Baden, Germany
4. Frankfurt, Germany
5. Vienna, Austria
6. Rotterdam, Netherlands
7. London, United Kingdom
8. Dresden, Germany
9. Nuremberg, Germany
10. Manchester, United Kingdom

Michael Olise gives France the lead, but double from Pio Esposito and one from Davide Frattesi secures win for Italy.

Francesco Pio Esposito struck twice to inflict a first defeat on Zinedine Zidane as France’s head coach, while Italy stormed back to win 3-1 at San Siro and top their Nations League group.

Michael Olise profited from a Gianluigi Donnarumma error to put the visitors in front after 10 minutes on Thursday, but Italy hit back through Esposito and Davide Frattesi either side of half-time.

Inter Milan striker Esposito’s second came from the penalty spot after his brother Sebastiano had earlier fired a spot kick wide, while France were twice denied by the woodwork in an entertaining encounter.

The result sent Italy top of Group A1 on 10 points, level with France but above them on head-to-head record, while Belgium are third on nine points after inflicting a fifth straight defeat on rock-bottom Turkiye.

France were without star attackers Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele through injury, but it did not show as they made an electric start in pouring rain in Milan.

Desire Doue hit the side netting and first-time captain Adrien Rabiot tested Donnarumma before Lucas Da Cunha’s rasping half-volley flew narrowly wide.

But the opener was gifted to France when Donnarumma passed the ball straight to Olise, who skipped past a defender before firing home his fifth goal in five Nations League games – a record only bettered by England captain Harry Kane’s seven.

The hosts struck back in the 26th minute with their first chance of the game when Nicolo Cambiaghi drove to the byline and cut back a cross, which Esposito converted with a deft touch.

The goal brought San Siro to life as the older Esposito sibling, Sebastiano, threatened a quickfire comeback two minutes later, forcing a sharp save from Mike Maignan.

Bradley Barcola came closest to a third goal before the break with a curling shot from the edge of the box that struck the foot of the far post.

The end-to-end nature of the game continued in the second half as Rayan Cherki’s rasping strike was tipped onto the post by Donnarumma before Italy charged up the other end and forced Maignan into a point-blank save from Cambiaghi.

Italy had a glorious chance to go in front when Cambiaghi was tripped by Malo Gusto to earn a penalty, but Sebastiano Esposito failed to join his brother on the scoresheet as he hammered his spot kick wide on the hour mark.

The Azzurri did not dwell on the disappointment for long, taking the lead just three minutes later when Frattesi drilled in a shot from a Federico Dimarco cross moments after the Inter Milan wing-back was brought off the bench.

Fellow substitute Antonio Vergara earned the home side another penalty when he was tripped by Dayot Upamecano, and this time Francesco Pio Esposito stepped up to drill a shot into the bottom corner.

The result continued a strong start to Roberto Mancini’s second spell as Italy coach as his side stretched their unbeaten run to four matches and notched their first home win over France since 1962.

Belgium host Italy and Turkiye travel to France in the final round of group games on Sunday.

Elsewhere, captain Harry Kane celebrated his record 126th cap for England with a match-winner from the penalty spot as England beat Croatia 2-1 at Wembley on Thursday to qualify for the Nations League last eight.

The 33-year-old followed a script that seemed destined to happen when he stepped up in the 64th minute to put England ahead in front of an 80,400-strong crowd after the hosts had conceded a sloppy equaliser five minutes earlier.

It was the Bayern Munich forward’s 92nd England goal, and there was never any doubt from the moment he placed the ball and sent it straight down the middle as goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic dived to his left.

Kane had started a night of celebration as the centre of attention, handed a commemorative token by former goalkeeper Peter Shilton, the previous record holder since 1989, when he surpassed Bobby Moore’s 108 caps.

Zemmour wants to kick out ‘foreign unemployed people’ after last month’s violent protests.

French far-right Eric Zemmour, known for his anti-Islam and anti-immigrant stance, says he’ll be standing in next year’s presidential election.

“I can confirm to you that I will indeed be ⁠a candidate in the presidential election”, Zemmour told TF1 TV, adding that he was running to “keep a France that is French”.

Zemmour, a 68-year-old Jewish author and veteran television commentator, finished fourth in the 2022 presidential election.

This time, he says he wants to expel foreign offenders who are in prison, as well as “foreign unemployed people who have been out of work for more than six months”, even if they are legal residents.

He says he wants “two million fewer immigrants” in France, who are seen by many among the far right as key instigators of violence during last month’s student-led cost of living protests.

Last month’s violence has led to the soaring popularity of frontrunner Marine Le Pen, with whom Zemmour will be competing against in April 2027.

Le Pen, who is the leader of the far-right National Rally party, is widely projected to win the election to replace Emmanuel Macron, who will end his term as president of France.

Meanwhile, far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon of the France Unbowed party, who has been accused of encouraging the unrest, unveiled his programme on Saturday to some 17,000 supporters.

The French government said it is seeking tough sanctions to deter further cyberattacks across Europe.

France says it has summoned Iran’s ambassador to Paris “to lodge a very strong protest” after it accused Tehran of carrying out a major cyberattack targeting supermarket fridges last month.

“It marks the first large-scale cyberattack aimed at sabotage on our national territory, and it constitutes a major attack on the nation’s interests and the security of the French people,” Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday.

“I can also tell you that we rule nothing out and will take all measures – including those we may not disclose publicly – that we deem proportionate and necessary to deter any further attacks,” he added.

Barrot, speaking on France Info ‌‌television, said the government would push for European Union sanctions in response to what he called an “attack of unprecedented scale and aggression in our country”.

He said firm measures would be taken “to deter anyone who might be tempted, in Iran or elsewhere, to do it again”.

On Monday, Barrot said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was behind cyberattacks targeting more than 700 French supermarkets on October 11 and 12, when refrigerators were remotely accessed “to initiate abnormal, indefinite defrost cycles”.

Raised temperatures in fridges forced the supermarkets to throw away all perishable food.

Millions of euros’ worth of food was spoiled, according to retailers. In some cases, the raised temperatures sparked fires or melted equipment.

French supermarket groups E-Leclerc, Intermarche, Carrefour, Monoprix and Cooperative U were all hit.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said on Monday she had opened an investigation into Shahid Kaveh, a cyber unit of the IRGC, over the attacks.

The prosecutor’s office has requested international arrest warrants be issued for two Shahid Kaveh officials.

Similar incidents have since been reported in other European countries.

In a suspected cyberattack on November 2, temperature spikes were recorded in stores in Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Luxembourg and Sweden.

Jody Westby, chief executive of Global Cyber Risk LLC, said tracking down the group directly responsible for the attacks is “very difficult” because of poor cooperation on international cybercrime investigations.

“It’s been a problem for 20 some years, and now it’s a little better, but only marginally so,” Westby told Al Jazeera. She said that it was difficult to track and trace the origin of such attacks “because of the nature of packet switching”.

In recent days, European air traffic has also been disrupted by false bomb alerts against dozens of flights, although the origin of those threats has yet to be determined.

Unions slam the increase as insufficient, as the government seeks to defuse the unrest ahead of upcoming elections.

The French government has announced it will move a planned rise in the minimum wage forward by a month as it seeks to quell mass protests over the cost of living.

French ⁠Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced on Monday that the 1.6 percent increase in the minimum wage, originally planned for the start of 2027, will now take effect from December 1, 2026.

The move comes amid weeks of student-led demonstrations that started with calls for greater investment for the country’s underfunded schools but have morphed into broader protests and serious unrest – part of a wave across Europe.

The minimum monthly wage in France currently stands at 1,477.93 euros ($1,656); the increase raises it by 24 euros ($27) to 1,502 euros ($1,683).

“Regarding the SMIC [minimum wage], we have decided two things: to bring forward the increase to 1 December as opposed to 1 January, and to raise this increase to 1.6 per cent,” said Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou at a press conference.

This increase represents “the second-largest rise in 20 years; it should not be underestimated”, Lecornu told reporters, stressing that this boost is “not merely symbolic”.

“This increase has been carefully planned to ensure it does not lead to job losses,” the PM said.

The last rise came in June, when inflation levels triggered a 35-euro ($39) hike.

Despite the accelerated increases, the minimum wage still falls short of union demands. The CFDT, France’s largest union, has called for a 100-euro ($112) increase, while the left-wing CGT union is demanding a 10 percent rise, equivalent to around 150 euros ($168) a month.

CFDT head Marylise Leon said the increase was “insufficient”. ⁠CGT head Sophie Binet described it as “crumbs”.

Election tension

The government is concerned about mounting social tensions five months before presidential elections.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen is the frontrunner in the polls. Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon of the France Unbowed party, who has been accused of encouraging the unrest, unveiled his programme on Saturday to some 17,000 supporters.

He pledged to boost the economy by capitalising on consumer spending and “through billions [of euros] that already exist”, adding that these savings “must be channelled towards our country’s environmental and social needs”.

France has opened an investigation and accused Iran of being behind recent cyberattacks targeting refrigeration units in supermarkets.

French authorities said on Monday that it is probing a cyber unit affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps over the attacks, which caused fires and food waste.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that the Iranian ambassador had been summoned and that sanctions would be brought against Iran at a “European level”.

The Paris prosecutor’s ⁠office said ⁠it has requested international arrest warrants against ⁠the leader ⁠of Shahid Kaveh, ⁠an offensive cyber unit affiliated with the Revolutionary ‌Guards, and his two ‌deputies.

More to come…

Tear gas fired in Paris and Lyon as interior minister warns authorities are ‘ready and waiting’ for rioters and looters.

Tens of thousands of people have protested across France for a fourth consecutive weekend, in another show of anger against the government.

About 146,000 people rallied across the country to protest against the rising cost of living on Saturday, including 46,000 in Paris, the Ministry of the Interior said.

Unions put the figure at 250,000 protesters nationwide, with 75,000 in the capital.

The demonstrations come just days after an estimated 575,000 people took part in a rally organised by trade unions.

About 70,000 security personnel were deployed across the country on Saturday, with Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warning that authorities would be “ready and waiting” for anyone engaging in rioting or looting.

Clashes broke out between police and some protesters in the capital, Paris, despite a lower turnout than in previous weeks.

Footage posted online by the CLPRESS news agency showed police charging at protesters and using tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowds. A police officer was also seen hitting a protester with a baton.

Police said a group of 200 individuals attacked officers as they were arresting a man who had set fire to a rubbish bin in a square in Paris, the AFP news agency reported.

In the southeastern city of Lyon, police also fired tear gas to disperse several hundred people in the city centre who were blocking a road during an unauthorised gathering.

Reporting from the French capital, Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler said people working in a variety of jobs attended Saturday’s demonstrations in support of the student-led movement.

“I spoke to one railway worker who told me it was really important to be here today. He said not only was it important to protest against the cost of living, but that it was also important to support young people,” Butler said.

“There is no doubt that the trade unions, who’ve been weakened in recent years, really feel there is a sense of momentum,” she said. “Many of the workers that I’ve been speaking to say this is their time to really press the government for higher salaries and better facilities.”

The demonstrations in France began in September over poor conditions and a lack of resources at French high schools. The protests later expanded to encompass a host of grievances, linked to worsening living standards. The movement continues to be led by France’s students, but people of all ages have been taking part.

This weekend’s protests take place against the backdrop of France’s upcoming presidential election, due to be held in April. Polls put far-right candidate Marine Le Pen of the National Rally first, followed by far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon of the France Unbowed party.

Melenchon unveiled his programme on Saturday to some 17,000 supporters and promised to do the opposite of incumbent President Emmanuel Macron.

He pledged to stimulate the economy by capitalising on consumer spending and “through billions [of euros] that already exist”, adding that these savings “must be channelled towards our country’s ecological and social needs”.

THERE aren’t too many places where your ski run can be interrupted by a singing troll taking a poop, or by a giant snowman slaloming past.

But this is just part of the regular experience in Sälen, Sweden.

I’ve skied in numerous places across France, Austria, Italy and Andorra but have never seen anywhere even close to what the biggest resort in the land of Abba has to offer for beginners of all ages.

Sälen (pronounced either Say-learn or Sah-learn by locals) is like skiing on easy mode.

The snow is consistent, with few moguls or icy patches, the slopes are wide, mostly not too steep or too long, and it’s rare you have to wait for other skiers or don’t have room to manoeuvre.

For kids (and adults, who’ll want to visit at least once for novelty value), there’s the Troll Forest, with troll figures both large and small lurking in the trees to murmur and croon at you.

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The main ski school is Northern Europe’s largest — and the relatively cheap kids’ ski school, for ages three and up, has its own mascot, Valle the snowman, who regularly comes out on the slopes with the instructors to lead a trail of nippers down.

I’m told Valle did once fall over mid-run and his head came off, which must have traumatised a few pre-schoolers.

And talking of unique experiences, there’s even a world-first ski-through McDonald’s for when you get peckish.

All this is spread across Sälen’s four ski areas — Lindvallen, Hundfjället, Högfjället, and Tandådalen — and they are each covered by the same ski pass. which includes free ski-bus access between the different areas.

We stayed in the smallest of these areas, Högfjället, at the ski-in, ski-out Högfjällshotell — a 20-minute transfer from the refreshingly small and relatively new Scandinavian Mountains Airport, where it’s snow-covered as soon as you land.

If you pre-book, you can even hire a husky sled to transfer you and your luggage.

The hotel contains everything you could need, including a Skistar ski shop to get your gear, adjacent nursery slopes — and even its own cavernous nightclub in the basement, where the Swedish youth congregate for nights of excess.

I heard one young businessman racked up a tab of about £35,000 for vintage champagne a couple of nights before our arrival, and his group didn’t even finish the bottles.

Overall, my limited experience of aprés ski in Sweden was notable for the good-natured boisterousness of the locals, who were soon linking arms with us to sing Swedish songs and pulling us up to conga round the room to I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers.

So, any downsides? Well, if you’re an advanced skier, there are only a few slopes that will offer much of a challenge (I would normally steer well clear of black runs but comfortably managed three here and they felt more like moderate reds elsewhere).

Also, the lift network is fairly old-school compared with better-known European rivals — there are quite a few button lifts and T-bar lifts involved in getting from area to area.

The main thing you need to be prepared for is the toe-numbing levels of cold that are the norm in Sälen.

During our days there it was -13C to -15C, with temperatures expected to dip to -20C the weekend after our departure.

I would recommend thermal gloves within your ski gloves, and maybe wool-lined socks and regular stop-offs for hot chocolate.

As well as the skiing, there is snowmobiling, which was great fun if a little scary (driving licence required).

We motored along, through falling snow, up to a remote mountain cabin where we enjoyed local-style waffles and hot chocolate.

The next evening saw us take a horse-drawn sleigh deep into the forest, warmed by reindeer skins on our laps and with flaming torches on the back of the sleigh.

We eventually arrived at a cluster of teepees, in one of which we enjoyed a dinner of blueberry soup (delicious) in an edible bread bowl and moose stew (soft and tasty) — with a home-made knitted beer mitt to cradle my drink.

The final mode of transport the next day was husky-driving, and after I got used to standing on my narrow perch at the back of the sled and controlling the speed on the narrow track by hopping on a large plough-style brake, I was able to admire the trail the eight yelping hounds were so excitedly pulling us along.

As is par for the course on the ski slopes, there are tall, skinny Norwegian spruces everywhere, and if you talk about a ski resort being blanketed in snow, this is more the full, heavy-tog duvet of snow.

The forests look, to a tree, like they’ve been liberally sploshed with icing sugar — giving wintry vistas unlike anywhere else I’ve seen.

However much Sälen might chill your fingers, its easy, freezy, trolls-in-treesy fun will leave you with a warm glow inside.

A string of hoax alerts causing flight diversions across Europe this week have broadened to include newsrooms.

A new series of bomb threats caused more flight diversions across Europe on Friday, while also expanding to target a number of media organisations.

British broadcaster Sky said it was one of a number of newsrooms that received a bomb threat. “We have carried out a security assessment and reported the matter to the relevant authorities,” a spokesperson said.

Bulgaria’s Nova TV and the Irish public broadcaster RTE received emailed bomb threats from a purported “Mikhail Andropov”, headlined “Message to the West”, portraying the threats as a prelude to more disruptions across Europe.

RTE briefly evacuated staff, including radio and television presenters, in Dublin after an email was received on Friday morning. RTE Radio One presenter David McCullagh later told listeners that the threat warned that a bomb would explode within 45 minutes.

The Irish government said hoax bomb claims were also sent to Virgin Media, Newstalk radio and The Irish Independent newspaper and that it was unclear who was behind them.

“However, these threats come on the heels of the ongoing disruption to aviation around Europe caused by similar threats, and it seems likely that this is a coordinated campaign of disruption,” it said in a statement.

The incidents come a day after hoax bomb threats disrupted more than two dozen flights across Europe on Thursday, and days after other aircraft and a cruise ship received bomb alerts.

‘Hoax threats’ increasing

On Friday, jets escorted airliners flying from Brussels to Sofia and from Prague to Bucharest and Cyprus through Hungarian airspace due to bomb threats, Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said.

He also said NATO had ordered an air patrol near the Hungarian-Romanian border, the first report that the Western defence alliance had become involved.

Danish police said threats were directed at traffic at Copenhagen airport but that there appeared to be no danger to passengers. The airport said it was “operating normally”.

Czech police registered bomb threats to nine flights departing from or arriving in Prague. An airport spokesperson said no flights had been ⁠⁠cancelled as a result.

France said four new bomb threats were made to aircraft flying over French territory, and that all landed safely.

A Ryanair flight from Rome landed as scheduled in Lisbon, CNN Portugal reported.

About half a dozen ‌‌flights were disrupted on Tuesday and more than two dozen on Thursday, some of them making unplanned landings or being escorted to their destinations by fighter jets.

Al Jazeera’s Frances Read, reporting from London on Friday, said that while the threats have not been credible so far, disruptions appear to be widening.

“The number of hoax threats this week is making governments sit up and take notice about where this might be coming from and also think of solutions for how to deal with it,” she said.

The study considered six key factors: life expectancy, income per person, income equality, recreational and cultural amenities, internet speed, and housing costs

A picturesque European city has been crowned the “most liveable destination” on the planet by the Global Cities Index, thanks largely to its walkability. The research examined six crucial elements: life expectancy, income per person, income equality, recreational and cultural amenities, internet speed, and housing costs.

While European cities command the rankings, an Australian city also secured a place on the list

10. Nantes

Nantes, a lively city in western France, is celebrated for its rich history, cultural attractions, and bustling urban life. The Château des Ducs de Bretagne, once home to the Dukes of Brittany, now hosts the Nantes History Museum.

It provides a window into the city’s medieval past with its well-preserved architecture and exhibitions, reports the Express.

9. Ghent

Ghent, a charming city in Belgium, is famed for its medieval allure, vibrant cultural scene, and stunning architecture. It’s also the country’s most pedestrian-friendly destination. The town’s scenic canal-side streets are ideal for a leisurely wander. The historical buildings along the canals create beautiful reflections in the water, offering iconic views of the city’s historic architecture.

8. Zurich

Switzerland’s largest city is famous for its high quality of life, stunning surroundings, and rich cultural scene. Residents can enjoy strolls along Lake Zurich’s shores, embark on a boat tour, or unwind in one of the lakeside parks.

7. Reykjavik

Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, is consistently ranked as one of the world’s best places to live. The city centre is home to Tjörnin, a picturesque pond surrounded by charming buildings, offering a tranquil spot for leisurely strolls and bird-watching.

6. Luxembourg

Luxembourg City, the capital of Luxembourg, boasts low crime rates and impeccably clean streets, contributing to a strong sense of safety and well-being among its inhabitants. The city’s public transport network is highly efficient and extensive, with the recent introduction of free public transport further enhancing accessibility and convenience for residents.

5. Basel

Basel, a Swiss city, is lauded for its high standard of living, combining a vibrant cultural scene with practical, top-quality living conditions. The city is home to world-class healthcare facilities such as the University Hospital Basel, renowned for its high standards and innovative treatments.

4. Bergen

Bergen, located in Norway, is famed for its stunning natural landscapes, including fjords, mountains, and coastal vistas. The city offers a plethora of outdoor activities, from hiking in nearby mountains like Mount Fløyen and Mount Ulriken to sailing and kayaking in the fjords.

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3. Bern

Switzerland’s capital city, Bern, is renowned for its well-preserved medieval old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its charming cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and landmarks such as the Zytglogge clock tower and the Bear Park add to its unique charm.

2. Canberra

Canberra, the capital city of Australia, is recognised for its high liveability due to its unique blend of natural beauty, modern amenities, and well-planned urban design. Known for its high standard of living, Canberra boasts clean and safe environments, well-maintained public spaces, and efficient public services. The city’s low crime rate and high levels of personal security significantly contribute to its liveability.

1. Grenoble

Nestled in the French Alps, Grenoble is a gem that combines natural beauty, a vibrant cultural life, and a high quality of life. It’s also a hub for scientific research and technological innovation, particularly in the fields of nanotechnology and biotechnology.

Grenoble is particularly known for its bike-friendly initiatives, including extensive bike lanes and rental services.

LOOKING for a holiday where your cash goes further? These destinations have been revealed as the best value for money.

Skyscanner recently unveiled its list of top spots across the world where the price of flights has dropped the most – and in some cases, hotels too.

At the very top of the Skyscanner list is the city of Bilbao which has seen a 66 per cent drop in flight prices from last year.

It’s a great choice for Brits too as it’s the closest Spanish city to the UK taking less than two hours to get there.

One-way flights to Bilbao can be as little as £20 with with the cost of hotels down by 63 per cent from last year, rooms start from £29 on Booking.com.

If you fancy booking a whole trip, with loveholidays the cost of a seven-night break to Bilbao in April 2027 starts from £42pppn.

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As Bilbao is that it doesn’t get as many tourists as lots of other Spanish cities, it’s a lot quieter than its neighbours.

In 2025, just 1.6 million visited Bilbao last year compared to 16 million in Barcelona.

There’s lots to see too like the neighbourhood of Iralabarri which has been compared to Notting Hill thanks to its colourful town houses.

Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey who visited earlier this year suggested heading its top attraction, the Guggenheim Bilbao museum which is filled with modern and contemporary art.

When it comes to food, Kara attempted the art of txikiteo which is where you hop between tapas bars for snacks and drinks.

Kara added: “My number one spot was Cafe Bar Bilbao for its tasty pork sliders, as well as Taberna Ona for freshly sliced Iberian ham. 

“The most famous Bilbao drink is txakoli, a Basque white wine which you can find pretty much anywhere.

“Squeeze into the family-run Taberna Basaras, a tiny bar with barrels for tables and bottles from floor to ceiling, for a hearty glass. You might also spot the locals ordering a mariano, a vermouth “daytime” cocktail that’s lighter than a negroni.”

The second city on the list is Wrocław in Poland which has had a flight price drop of 47 per cent.

One writer who recently visited called it one of Europe’s ‘best-kept city-break secrets‘.

The Polish city has colourful market squares with cobbled streets and tall pastel townhouses.

It’s known as a city of festivals with lots going on throughout the year from films and jazz to classical music.

If you fancy visiting during the festive period, Wroclaw’s Christmas market is one of the largest in Poland.

One-way flights to Wroclaw start from £27.

With loveholidays, a three-night break in the city starts from £149pp or £50pppn.

Another place not far from the UK that has seen a drop in price is Bordeaux in France where air fares have decreased by 34 per cent.

The port city in southwestern France is known for its 18th-century architecture and wine culture.

Make sure to pop into Bassins des Lumières – a former World War Two submarine base which has been transformed into a digital art installation.

If you’re planning a summer holiday next year, a trip to Rhodes in Greece shouldn’t put a dent in your wallet.

The beautiful island is the largest of the Dodecanese and is known for having pretty beach resorts, ancient ruins and it has highs of over 30C in the summertime.

It’s seen a drop in flight prices by 22 per cent and on Skyscanner, one-way tickets are as cheap as £28.

Pula, which is considered the ‘Rome of Croatia‘ came in seventh spot.

The city on the tip of the Istrian Peninsula got its nickname from its ruins – the amphitheatre is one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in the world.

The spot on the Adriatic coast has lots of history and it’s under three hours from the UK too with flights having dropped in price by 20 per cent.

Fez in Morocco came in eighth on the list with a drop of 19 per cent when it comes to flights, which are as cheap as £15.

The city in northern Morocco is known for its vibrant markets and attractions, including its ancient medina.

It’s a popular winter sun city with highs of 20C in November.

For more on Fez, Travel Reporter Jenna Stevens recently visited the city to try out cooking classes and pottery.

For more travel inspiration, Skyscanner has also revealed the 10 holiday destinations that are set to be huge next year.

This includes far-flung Kyrgyzstan to Hurghada in Egypt and pretty Greek islands.

Top 10 destinations where airfares have fallen the most…

1. Bilbao, Spain (-66%)
2. Wrocław, Poland (-47%)
3. Bordeaux, France (-34%)
4. Zürich, Switzerland (-33%)
5. Ancona, Italy (-31%)
6. Rhodes, Greece (-22%)
7. Pula, Croatia (-20%)
8. Carcassonne, France (-20%)
9. Fez, Morocco (-19%)
10. Krabi, Thailand (-15%)

It started with one house for £12,000

A couple who couldn’t afford to buy a house in the UK bought an entire French hamlet for £26,000.

Yip Ward and Paul Mappley, both 52, were living in a caravan in Tunbridge Wells when their friends offered them a chance to buy the property in Normandy. They went out to visit the home in Normandy and bought it straight away for £12,000 – funded by selling their belongings, including an old tractor of Paul’s.

Since then, the couple have snapped up the adjacent buildings and now own seven cottages, two barns, a workshop, a cider press, two traditional bread ovens and various other outbuildings – all for £14,000. They began restoring the hamlet building by building in 2020 and have now spent around £100,000 so far – completing the original cottage, which is a holiday rental, alongside a horsebox they brought from the UK that is “booked out”.

Restoration work

They have made their dreams a reality through fundraising efforts by their followers on social media and are set to have their second cottage complete by summer 2027. The pair reckon they have saved more than £100,000 doing the bulk of the work themselves with the help of builder friend Ian, 62.

Yip said: “People always say how did you find the village and it’s not that we were looking, it was a chance meeting with a friend who had got a place and was selling it. We definitely see it as the planets aligned.

“We went and sought out a wreck that had been abandoned 30 years ago and pieced it together. We’re really cracking on now.

“We say to ourselves we can’t believe this whole place is ours. Coming from where we come from, I don’t think the gratitude for being here will ever run out. It blows my mind.”

How they got started

The sellers had changed their minds about the property due to the huge amount of restoration work that needed to be done when they offered it to Yip and Paul. With the rules in France meaning they did not need to hand over the entire sum for eight months after purchase, they set to work during Covid, earning money through their jobs as landscape gardeners to seal the deal.

They even documented their restoration journey and appeared on Channel 4’s ‘Help! We Bought A French Village!’. Husband Paul said they were now in “full restoration mode” after working for years to transform their hamlet, called La Buslière.

He said: “I can’t express to you enough that, apart from cottages one and two, the other three cottages were covered, the whole roof in ivy. They were literally being swallowed by nature.

“We’re saving so much money doing it ourselves. We’ve got a friend we met here; he’s been in the trade for 47 years in building restoration and stuff.

“We knew of him and in 2019 he did repairs on cottage one. He did the roof repairs, minor works and then we didn’t see him for four years and he, unbeknownst to us, was watching our YouTube channel.

“We had a massive two-tonne roof thing that needed to come out as it was rotten on one end. We didn’t have anyone, machinery or money and we were sharing on YouTube saying ‘we don’t know what to do’.

“He saw this video and arrived one day and said ‘come on boys let’s get this beam out’. For the first six months he worked for no payment.”

Earning money

The couple are now able to pay Ian £1,000 weekly through the money they earn on YouTube.

Paul said: “We have five people turning up every single day to donate things – they bring bits of furniture or materials for the roof. I can’t tell you what a community we’ve built somehow.

“Every week we’re donated £400 worth of materials for free we can use. All of this saves us so much money.

“For example one side of the roof of cottage three was really bad and we were quoted £13,000 to fix it and we did it for £2,000 because we did it ourselves.

“We saved £11,000 just on one side of a roof. Take that per cottage doing it ourselves, that’s £22,000 per cottage, seven cottages, which is instantly saving us over £100,000.”

The couple plan, once they have all been restored, to try out and live in every single cottage in their hamlet.

Yip said: “People say ‘once all seven cottages are done you’ll rake it in’. That’s what a capitalist would say.

“We don’t want it to be a metropolis. Every single guest who stays here says they can’t believe how quiet it is.

“There is no light pollution, it’s a fantastic place and we don’t want to ruin it with seven cottages populated with people. The other buildings we’ll turn into workshop spaces.

“We’d like to do summer fairs here and markets. Once a month we’d like to do an outdoor cinema and do pizza making – we have two original pizza ovens.

“There won’t be things like TVs in the cottages. There won’t be UPVC windows. It’s an exciting, amazing place and we want to make sure people are transported back.”

You can follow Paul and Yip’s restoration journey on YouTube @helpweboughtafrenchvillage.

What in the name of common sense is a 16-year-old who lives in Venice dreaming about competing in the Olympic Games as a snowboarder instead of a skateboarder or surfer?

“I really liked skateboarding but needed something more exhilarating flying into the air,” said Tristam Henkels, who’s been spending this month training in Switzerland and Austria as a member of the U.S. snowboard rookie team for halfpipe.

He used to spend nine hours a day skateboarding at a park in Santa Monica. He watched snowboarder Chloe Kim compete at the Mammoth Mountain World Cup shortly before her gold-medal performance at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.

Then his mother, Judy, decided to become his chauffeur when he was 10, taking him to Big Bear to practice snowboarding. She’s still traveling with Tristam, who’s enrolled in an online school but prefers snowboarding over everything else. He previously attended Canyon Elementary School in Santa Monica.

He’s so obsessed with being the best that three broken arms suffered from falls, along with a compression back fracture, hardly deters him to think twice about flying through the air trying to perform tricks. He did admit that hitting ice feels like hitting concrete, so he has learned to be careful and hasn’t had any major injuries in the last three years.

“If you fall and get back up, you’re going to be stronger the next time,” he said of his philosophy during a phone conversation from Switzerland.

There will be lots of competition for a 2030 Olympic team berth in France. Henkels is working his way up in a sport filled with talented athletes who have to maneuver their bodies like a gymnast in pursuit of a perfect score of 100 from the judges.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.