France is a nation of warm, friendly and welcoming people where village life goes on much because it has prepared for decades and where in fact the pace of its cities may be frenetic, but is maintained with a particular panache. France can be 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 visit France, to help you with ideas on the best way to plan and like a French holiday.
Cities:
Paris epitomises France. It oozes Gallic spirit and charm from its iconic attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame to the street artists of Monmartre and the cafes and bars of Monparnasse. Also have 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 could 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 all the country's cuisines are judged, culminating in the much-coveted Michelin stars for folks who attain the greatest levels. Even we Brits no further joke about frog's legs as we attempt to beef up our personal cooking. Try searching out local food markets, wherever you are.
Wine:
What better to wash down the very best dishes with a few of the world's best wines? Its Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux wines are peerless, as are the products of several other wine regions - despite growing global competition. Take 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 with their hearts vacances pas cher en france. In the end, cave paintings date back once 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 natural environment of any country in Europe. It has six national parks, four that are in Provence in addition to 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 means that France has beaches on three sides. While many of its most famous ones across the Cote d'Azur are in reality more shingle than sand, there are long stretches of glorious, sandy beaches in Normandy and Brittany, in the Vendee, across the Aquitaine coast and in Languedoc.
History:
France's chequered history has left it positively littered with vestiges of days gone by, going back once again to Roman times. The 30-plus UNESCO-listed world heritage sites are 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 can be a shopper's heaven. Its most famous department store is Galaries Lafayette. Head to Lille's Christmas market by Eurostar for a few pre-Christmas gifts and local produce.
Touring:
France is close enough to take your own 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 usually readily available, and the country is well served with flights from all over Europe (and needless to say, 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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