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France


Video courtesy of France.fr Atout France tourism

France is permeated with style and joie de vivre! The French claim credit for developing the Gothic style of architecture and cathedrals that stand as legacies of soaring stone for future generations. Creators of everything from palaces to subway stations, painting, literature, cuisine, fashion and savoir-faire, France’s contribution to culture is unsurpassed.

The Arc de Triomphe is probably one of the most famous focal points, also known as the Etoile. It is the site of the grave of the Unknown Soldier and stretches into one of the most famous boulevards in the world, the Champs Elysees. Of course, the most famous symbol of Paris is the Eiffel Tower, named after the engineer who designed it, Gustave Eiffel, while Notre Dame ranks as one of the world’s most famous places of worship. The Paris Opera in its day was the largest theatre in the world with a stage that could accommodate 450 performers. The vast Louvre is the world’s largest palace and greatest museum, showcasing the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.
Located in the heart of the town of the same name. Built for the glorification of the Sun King, Louis XIV, Versailles was the political capital of France and a glittering focal point of social and cultural life in Europe from 1682 to 1789.
Rich historical sights and diverse landscapes make it ideal for touring. Inland there are vast expanses of cultivated land, traditional cider orchards, and lush cattle pastures. Mont St. Michel is situated in Normandy on a 260-foot granite rock. Honfleur, also worthy of a visit, is a charming fishing port with a historic seafaring past. Deauville is a prosperous seaside resort with white beaches, duckboard promenades, and turreted villas that extend along the coastline.

At the Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux, one will find the town’s most cherished treasure, the Bayeux tapestry. The embroidery on a 200-feet band of linen tells the story of the conquest of England by William the Conqueror.

In the early hours of June 6, 1944, a long-planned invasion of Normandy (the D-Day Landings) erupted along the normally flat shoreline of Calvados. This invasion was the first step in the battle to overcome Nazi occupation. A fleet of over 4,000 vessels converted the beaches into beachheads with such illustrious code names as Gold, Omaha, and Utah. Today this entire region is a focus of pilgrimage for the veterans of World War II landings.

Where you will discover winding river froths through a valley of vineyards, famous chateaux and castles deep in France’s heart. Today the Loire is blessed with architectural wonders ranging from medieval, Renaissance, and classical chateaux to Romanesque and Gothic churches. There is even the chateau that inspired the fairy tale legend of Sleeping Beauty! The Loire’s rich soil is another blessing, known to nurture asparagus, strawberries and the grapes that go into their world-famous red and white wines.
Bordering the Atlantic on the west and Spain to the south, this lovely rural region of France has quiet farms of sunflowers, quaint coastal port towns and medieval pilgrimage sites. It is home to only two large cities: Bordeaux, with its famous wines and cognacs, and Toulouse, a lively university city.
Has been called a bridge between the past and the present, where yesterday blends with today in a quiet, often melancholy way. The Greeks and the Romans first filled the landscape with cities boasting Hellenic theatres, Roman baths, amphitheaters and triumphal arches. Aix-en-Provence, once the capital of Provence, is today a delightful blend of old and new. This beautiful Provencal village is the birthplace of the astrologer Nostradamus.
The French Riviera has long drawn sun lovers captivated by the azure sea, clear sky and palm trees. Nice is France’s fifth largest city and the largest resort on the Mediterranean coast. Its famous Promenade des Anglais is lined with boutiques and luxury hotels and villas. Eze is one of a number of delightful medieval villages and is perched on a narrow rocky peak overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The leisure port of St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is in a beautiful location, on a peninsula jutting into the blue Mediterranean between Nice and Monaco, the world’s smallest sovereign state. Monaco’s citizens pay no taxes – hence the famed Casinos – and have their own dialect of Provencal French, Monégasque. Monaco is also famous for its iconic Grand Prix where the Formula One cars race around the streets every May.
Lying between the Rhine River and the Vosages Mountains, the Alsace Region borders both Germany and Switzerland and shelters beautiful cities, superb vineyards and cosy restaurants in its forests and hills. Having been occupied by both France and Germany throughout the centuries, this fiercely traditional area reflects a fascinating mix of both cultures, including its own unique dialect and gastronomy distinct from other French regions.

Strasbourg, the capital of the region, plays host to the famous Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame, with its animated astronomical clock, and a maze of interlocking waterways lined by brightly painted half-timbered houses. The historic leather-tanning district of La Petite France is a picturesque must-see, but Strasbourg also boasts a 14th-century wine cellar which keeps a barrel of the world’s oldest wine, miraculously preserved since 1472!


Known as the mountain in the sea with 120 peaks that soar above 2,000m, and which remain snow-capped right up until springtime. The 25 rivers and streams that criss-cross this land make it the most well irrigated island in the Mediterranean. What is more, Corsica is blessed with the richest and most diverse coastline that stretches for more than 1,000km. the infinite diversity of its pearly beaches borders some of the most translucent waters in the world. It hosts in its heart the highest mountains of the Mediterranean. And wherever the eye arises, its preserved nature grants peace and protection to a rare wildlife, vast forests where more than 2,000 plant species thrive. With a Natural Regional Park that covers two thirds of its surface area, Corsica is an island that is largely very well preserved. This park covers 3,500 km² and is dotted with nature reserves and classified sites on land and sea. These are the mainstay of the constant conservation work that is carried out by various bodies.

The green isle: from the forests of Laricio pines and mountain lakes, emerald in colour, right through to the aromatic maquis scrubland, the refreshing highland pastures and the vineyards of its wine growing regions.

France has a pleasant climate with long hot summers and cool winters.

Summer from June to August is peak season when you will experience warm weather and lots of sunshine over most of the country.

Southern France is pleasantly warm from March to May and September to October. Winter December to March is when the ski season is in full bloom.

The isle of Corsica is fortunate to enjoy an exceptional climate all year round. The influence of the sea and the nearby mountains serve to regulate the temperature throughout the year, and result in a climate that is mild in the winter while remaining warm and dry during the summer months.

Generally, April through August sees the greatest rainfall, with May and June being the wettest months. Summer in Paris and the surrounding region sees maximum average temperatures of 24°C to 25°C, with daytime temperatures in the 30s not being uncommon.

Other Top Regions in France to visit – Champagne, Corsica, Burgundy, Lyon, Alps-Mont Blanc, Biarittz- Pays Basque, Brittany, Languedoc-Mediterranean, Toulouse-Pyrenees.

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