Travel to France

Paris - Aaaah, Paris. What can one say that hasn't already been said about the City of Light and luminaries? The Quais, the Quartier Latin, Montmartre, the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Boulevards, the Arc de Triomphe, the food, the language, art and culture, just one or two of these things would be sufficient in another city. Paris has them all. Paris is synonymous with France itself. In fact, for many people Paris IS France, and the rest of the country is dismissed as les provinces.

Northern France - is considered to be an uninspiring region and, hit hard by the industrial depression and the gloom that descends when it rains, it can be difficult to get very enthusiastic about it. The French, who are renowned for being passionate propagandists when it comes to their own country, are often less than kind when talking about France's northernmost region. The English tend to associate the area with cheap and cheerful booze cruises, a quick dash to the gargantuan supermarch's to stock up on wine and tobacco, then back onto the ferry or train and home to imbibe the spoils of the journey.

Normandy - is divided into Haute (upper) Normandie and Basse (lower) Normandie. The River Seine flows from Paris and through Basse Normandie before reaching the channel. Normandy comprises the d'partements of Calvados (14), Eure (27), Manche (50), Orne (61) and Seine-Maritime (76).

Brittany - is one of France's most popular holiday destinations for both French and foreigners alike: 3 million French and 700,000 foreigners flock there every summer. It is easy to see why so many Brits go there because it is well connected with the UK via ports at Roscoff and St-Malo in Brittany, and Cherbourg, Caen or Le Havre in the neighbouring region of Normandy. Airports at Brest, Rennes, Nantes and Dinard link Brittany to Paris and London, and trains from Paris take between two and four hours to reach the main towns in Brittany.

Alsace and Lorraine - are two separate regions joined only by a common border in the Vosges mountains, but they are often referred to in the same breath because they share a lot of history and were much fought-over by France and Germany before being returned to France after WWII.

The Alps - is France's third most popular tourist region, following Paris and the C'te d'Azur, and it is Europe's largest mountain range. The Alps spread over France, Italy and Switzerland, with the highest peaks being on the eastern edge and forming a formidable natural barrier with Italy. Is're (38) is the highest d'partement, followed by Hautes-Alpes (05), Savoie (73), Haute-Savoie (74) and Dr'me (26). Mont Blanc in Haute-Savoie stands at 4,807m (15,767ft) and is the tallest mountain in Europe. There are tunnels all through the mountains that join France and Italy, including the Mont Blanc road tunnel and the road and rail Tunnel de Fr'jus. The two Savoie regions give their name to the Savoyards (the population) and also to the style of cooking, which includes raclette - melted cheese served with potatoes and cold meat - delicious after a long walk or skiing session in the mountains.

Loire Valley - It is easy to see why the Loire Valley has always been popular with French kings and tourists alike. The Loire river is a proud fleuve, a magnificent entity that is so wide whole islands get lost in it; it is the longest river in France at 628 miles, and it has some very illustrious neighbours. Castles, mansions, palaces and fortresses bear witness to its course as it flows from its source in the Vivarais mountains towards its outlet into the Atlantic at St-Nazaire. There are so many places of historical interest along the river that the whole Loire Valley has been named a World Heritage Site. It is easy for your trip to the Loire to descend into an inventory of famous names and places but if you accept that trying to see everything on the list limits your ability to enjoy any of it, you will start to appreciate things more.

Burgundy (Bourgogne) - only became part of France in 1477: up until then the region was an independent dukedom that was more affluent and more influential than the Kingdom of France itself during the 14th and 15th centuries. Now the region is famous for its red and white wines, cuisine and wonderful architecture. Joan of Arc was captured by the Burgundians and sold to the English during the Hundred Years War. The Cistercian and Benedictine orders are both based in Burgundy, and this aspect of the region's history has left some very colourful and interesting architecture of its own. The monastery at Cluny is in ruins but still bears silent testimony to the great power of the abbots, who were nearly as powerful as the pope. There are Roman vestiges at Autun, and Al'sia was where Julius Caesar defeated the Gauls in 52BC.

The Massif Central - is cleverly named because it is indeed rather large and right in the middle of France. Auvergne is at the heart of this area, and contains the d'partements of Allier (03), Cantal (15), Haute-Loire (43) and Puy-de-D'me (63). The Massif Central is made up of extinct volcanoes, reaching heights of 1,885m (6,180ft) in the area surrounding the region's capital Clermont-Ferrand, and less than 10 per cent of the region has been urbanised. Agriculture's decline and an the ageing population have made Auvergne a relatively poor region, especially in Haute-Loire, but what it lacks in economic growth it makes up for in natural and cultural heritage.

Loire Atlantic - There are many reasons for paying a visit to the Loire Atlantic, one of which is the fantastic climate. The Atlantic Coast is blessed with an oceanic climate, which means that temperatures are mild all year round. You are therefore free from the sometimes-overbearing heat of a C'te d'Azur summer, or the freezing temperatures of winter in the mountains. What you get instead are summers where it is pleasantly warm without being unspeakably hot, so you are able to make the most of the great beaches along the coast.

The Pyr'n'es - are divided into west, central and eastern areas, all distinct in appearance and atmosphere. The west is the Basque Country; the craggy centre has the most beautiful peaks and lots of snow; the east is more arid, with Catalan and Mediterranean influences. The beaches on both the Basque side and in Roussillon are very popular. Nontheless, the Pyr'n'es are less developed than the Alps, and there are many things to do and see.

Languedoc Roussillon - The merger of two historical provinces formed the Languedoc Roussillon region in the 1960s. The region stretches from the Pyrenees, along the coast to Provence, and inland to the Massif Central. There is an ideal mixture of all the good things about France: sea, sunshine, mountains, lowlands, towns, history in abundance, and wine.

Provence - is a very alluring place: from the snowy Alpine peaks, to the flamingos of the Carmargue, there are fortified towns, culture, history, sunshine, wine and food bursting at you from every direction, enticing you back year after year. The coastline is a stomping ground for the rich and famous. Inland, Provence has managed to escape the ravages of time and its history speaks for itself through the villages perched on hilltops, ready to defend themselves against invading Greeks, Romans or Sarracens, popes and princes alike.

C'te d'Azur - It's not until you've paid your first '7 for a bottle of water in a newsagents on the C'te d�Azur that you will believe the rumours about the region's exclusivity. Celebrities (French and international) and the rich and famous abound, filling the most glamorous bars and beaches. Inhibiting though the prices and locals may seem, there is much to charm people back to the region year after year. Not all of them have an enormous private yacht moored at St-Tropez either: there are plenty of humble campsites and decent hotels for normal people who are more captivated by the beautiful blue sea and the coastline than the shenanigans of the glitterati.

Source: - France Travel Guide

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