France is a country of warm, friendly and welcoming people where village life goes on much because it has prepared for decades and where the pace of its cities may be frenetic, but is maintained with a particular panache. France is also a landscape of incomparable beauty and contrast, punctuated with chateaux, vineyards and all the other aspects which make it so unique.
Here are 10 good reasons to visit France, to help you with ideas on how 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 road artists of Monmartre and the cafes and bars of Monparnasse. Also check out 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 many other nations could be putting 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 typical by which all other country's cuisines are judged, culminating in the much-coveted Michelin stars for folks who attain the best levels. Even we Brits no longer joke about frog's legs once we make an effort to beef up our own cooking. Try searching out local food markets, wherever you are.
Wine:
What better to clean down the best dishes with a few of the world's best wines? Its Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux wines are peerless, as are the merchandise 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 not surprising that the French take art with their hearts vacances pas cher en france. After all, cave paintings date back once again to Palaeolithic times, while the Impressionism movement was initiated in France after Monet painted Le Havre in the mist.
Nature:
France has the absolute most diverse natural environment of any country in Europe. It's six national parks, four that come in Provence as well as the Pyrenees and one in Languedoc, and 43 regional parks including the Auvergne volcanoes.
Beaches:
A coastline of 2,000 miles bordering the English Channel, Atlantic and Mediterranean implies that France has beaches on three sides. While many of its most famous ones along the Cote d'Azur are in fact more shingle than sand, you can 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 the past, 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:
As 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. Check out 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 always readily available, and the nation is well served with flights from throughout 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment