France Guide
How can anyone govern a country that has two hundred and forty-six different kinds of cheese? (Charles de Gaulle, French president, 1oct. 1962) . If would be alive today, General de Gaulle would revise his statement - France now boasts with over 400 varieties of cheese, suggesting the country's cultural variety. Most of the french originality is because its territory is found in all major regions of the continent, each with its own personality. Both the diversity of landscape and tumultuous history of political leadership, formed the customs, language and attitude of people. Stereotypes die hard, so the French are still represented in white striped shirt, black and Basque, Gauloise smoking a cigarette and having a string of onions round the neck. Of course it is very unlikely to meet such a thing in France, but the countryside still...
ins centuries-old traditions and lifestyle of the old days. You can rediscover the charm of the old France in its villages and markets, traditions and regional specialties. Its charm transpires in the chic boulevards of Paris, the sparkling ski slopes of the Alps, sunny vineyards and golden beaches, a game of Boules or the coffee and the croisant in a hidden village. If you have all the time in the world, you can stroll through France living an unforgettable experience, but if you have
a limited time, you should not miss the most important
attractions like:
Beautiful Paris and
its famous Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees,
Sacre Coeur in the heart of Montmartre and Louvre pyramid.
Take a step back in time at the castle of Versailles and
enjoy the fireworks show of the summer.
Visit one of the many castles of the Loire valley like Blois, Chambord,
Chenonceau, Azay le Rideau and Chinon.
Watch out the tide when you visit Mont St Michel in Brittany.
Admire rough atmosphere of Corsica, the island consists of two departments
of France, with picturesque towns Bastia and Ajaccio ,
famous because of Napoleon.
Discover the Millau bridge,
designed by British architect Norman Foster.
Visit 2000 years old Pont du Grant. The roman aqueduct is one of the greatest
architectural achievements of humanity.
In the south you can admire the roman and gallic ruins of Languedos-Roussillon
region. Maison Carre, Diana's Temple and Roman Arenas of Nimes, "Rome of
Wales", are among the finest examples of greco-roman architecture.
Visit Papal Palace in Avignon and
nearby is the Roman amphitheater and the ruins of Orange .
Visit Marseille ,
the most important commercial port of France on the Mediterranean. Other
places of interest include the old port, church Notre Dame de La Garde on
top of the hill, several museums, asylum from the Vieille Charite and Chateau
d'If.
Visit the cathedrals of France, one of which is that of Reims ,
where the first French king, Clovis, was baptized, Chartres and Tours.
Relax in the 80 museums and 200 art galleries of Paris - visit the Orsay
Museum housed in a beautiful restored train station, Louvre Palace Modern
Art Center George Pampidou or Rodin Museum. Relax in the Luxembourg Gardens
in Paris, near the perimeter Latin (boulevards St. Michel and St. Germain),
student activity center.
Discover the future in the Town of Science and Technology in Villette or
the Futuroscope in Poitiers .
Take a visit to Mickey Mouse in Disneyland Resort Paris in Marne
la Vallee . Find cheapest
hotel rates in Disneyland Paris that will sure meet your low
cost accommodation needs, or check the availability for a particular
date using the booking engine on the left.
Enjoy a wide range of water sports on the 3.000km coast of France. Some
famous resorts include St. Enogat and St. Jacut the Emerald Coast in Brittany
and Cannes , Nice , St
Tropez , Antibes and Menton on
the south coast.
Admire the luxury of Cote d'Azur - Walk on the Promenade des Anglais in
Nice, famous due to Carnival of Flowers in January, or spend some time among
the celebrities at the Cannes Film Festival held in May.
Navigate to or from La
Rochelle , a popular port placed in the Charente Maritime .
Nearby, the islands of Oleron and Re linked to the mainland by bridges.
Discover winter sports in the French Alps and Pyrenees.
Let yourself be pampered at a spa in Biarritz ,
Contrexeville or Vittel.
Make a pilgrimage to Lourdes situated
in the southwest, a place made famous by the visions of Bernadette Soubirous
by the mid-nineteenth century.
Watch an arenas bullfight in Arles in
the south-west.
Try your luck at the casino in Monaco or at the Deauville ,
famous for the golf course and racetrack.
If you have the chance, take part in a grape harvest - there are 10 main
wine growing areas, among the most important are Alsace, Burgundy, Champagne
and the Rhone Valley, each with its own identity based on grape varieties
and soil.
Watch Tour de France in cycling, attend to an opera performance in Paris
near Roland Garros and bet on a horse at the Prix de l ~ Arc de Triomphe.