 France is the number one tourist destination in the world and the
largest country in Europe. It is connected by rail to nearly everywhere else on the continent (make sure to check out the
France Railpass) and it has everything that you could ever want to see on your
holidays: a great city like Paris, good beaches, more monuments than any other country, lovely nature,
and incredible mountain scenery. It has good food, great wines and people enjoy their lives. And the best thing is, maybe
apart from Paris, living in France does not have to be expensive.
Weather wise, France is at its best in Spring. It is beautiful and alive in the summer, but with warm weather come battalions of
tourists. Autumn is pleasant, but the days are fairly short and the temperature gets chilly towards the end.
Regional and rural life has remained very unique and varies tremendously from one region to another. France has been home to
some of the greatest historical events, most influential artists, art movements and writers. The North of France consists of the
flatlands around the town of Lille and the Channel. The area will
remind visitors in many ways of Belgium and the Netherlands.
The Grand' Place in Lille for example is a lot like that of Brussels.
Paris, the "City of Lights" and its surroundings are one of the most visited areas. The luxury, culture,
learning and economic power in Paris can be mind boggling. Paris is without a doubt one of the prettiest cities on the planet.
If you're going to Paris for the people, don't go in August as they are all on vacation...
The West of France is dominated by the Atlantic Coast. In the north
Normandy & Brittany have rolling hills, sandy beaches and quiet little harbour towns. Normandy & Brittany has a more rugged
coast and many Neolithic sites. It has quite a distinct atmosphere from the rest of the country; you can still sense the Celtic
origin of the region and its inhabitants. Nantes and Bordeaux
are the biggest cities on the west coast.
Bordeaux is a stylish city famous for its wines and its 18-th century architecture.
The Pays Basque is the southernmost part of the Atlantic Coast of France. The resort of Biarritz is
posh, but pretty.
The East of France consists of the Alsace, Lorraine and Burgundy. The landscape has rolling hills and many
beautiful cities, such as Metz, Strasbourg and
Dijon. This region produces famous white wines.
The Center is in many ways the most quiet part of France. But the great treasure of this region is the Loire
Valley, with many great castles and beautiful towns. Chartres with its famous cathedral and
Tours rate among the most beautiful French cities.
The Alps
are great for skiing in winter and hiking in summer. Albertville, Grenoble and Chamonix have all hosted the Olympic games.
But the Alps also have nice towns to visit, such as Lyon or Grenoble.
The South with its lovely nature, good food, roman ruins and of course the Riviera draws a lot of visitors every year.
Towns like Orange, Arles but also big cities like Marseille and Toulon are must sees.
The Provence is dotted with pleasant small villages. In the South the Dordogne is one of the most quintessential
French regions. The valley is so pretty, the towns are so cute and the food is so good, that it is hard to believe that the people who live here
go somewhere else for their holidays. The Languedoc has its own language and culture. In the south of the Languedoc
you find the Pyrenees, a great mountain range, where you can hike and ski. The towns of
Toulouse and Montpelier are nice and the medieval town of
Carcassone is a top destination.
The island of Corsica has beautiful nature and a very special atmosphere. The Corsicans speak their own language and
have a great sense of freedom.
There's so much more to learn... Check out our Facts For The Visitor or read up on our reviews of everything about France:
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