France is a country of warm, friendly and welcoming people where village life goes on much since it has prepared for decades and where the pace of its cities may be frenetic, but is maintained with a specific panache. France is also a landscape of incomparable beauty and contrast, punctuated with chateaux, vineyards and all of those other aspects which make it so unique.
Here are 10 reasons to see France, to help you with ideas on how best to plan and have a French holiday.
Cities:
Paris epitomises France. It oozes Gallic spirit and charm from its iconic attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame to the road artists of Monmartre and the cafes and bars of Monparnasse. Also take a look at monument-filled Lyons, France's largest seaport, Marseilles, and Nice - grande dame of the Cote d'Azur.
Nightlife:
The French are night owls. They eat late and the nightlife often doesn't progress until a great many other nations would be setting up the shutters. Even shopping malls stay open until well into the night time, and there many night markets.
Food:
France's gastronomy is a national treasure. It's the conventional where other country's cuisines are judged, culminating in the much-coveted Michelin stars for folks who attain the greatest levels. Even we Brits no more joke about frog's legs as we try to beef up our personal cooking. Try searching out local food markets, wherever you are.
Wine:
What better to clean down the best dishes with a number of the world's best wines? Its Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux wines are peerless, as are these products of numerous other wine regions - despite growing global competition. Have a leisurely tour of a vineyard, and savour the nectar.
Art:
With the Louvre France's biggest cultural attraction, it is no real surprise that the French take art to their hearts vacances pas cher en france. After all, cave paintings date back again to Palaeolithic times, as the Impressionism movement was initiated in France after Monet painted Le Havre in the mist.
Nature:
France has probably the most diverse environment of any country in Europe. It's six national parks, four of which come in Provence plus the Pyrenees and one in Languedoc, and 43 regional parks such as the Auvergne volcanoes.
Beaches:
A coastline of 2,000 miles bordering the English Channel, Atlantic and Mediterranean ensures that France has beaches on three sides. While a lot of its most famous ones along the Cote d'Azur are in fact more shingle than sand, you will find long stretches of glorious, sandy beaches in Normandy and Brittany, in the Vendee, along the Aquitaine coast and in Languedoc.
History:
France's chequered history has left it positively littered with vestiges of days gone by, going back again to Roman times. The 30-plus UNESCO-listed world heritage sites include the historic centre of Avignon with the Palace of the Popes and the bridge from the song, with other treasures including Gothic cathedrals in the north and ornate chateaux the Loire and beyond.
Shopping:
Whilst the capital of haute couture, it goes without saying that Paris is also a shopper's heaven. Its most famous department store is Galaries Lafayette. Head to Lille's Christmas market by Eurostar for many pre-Christmas gifts and local produce.
Touring:
France is close enough to take your personal car over by ferry or the Channel Tunnel and hit the roads. Popular touring areas include Brittany, the Loire, Normandy and Provence.
Cheap flights to France from the UK are always easily available, and the country is well served with flights from throughout Europe (and obviously, excellent rail links), and so a vacation in France remains affordable - and possible whether as a planned longer stay, or an impulsive short break.
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