With so many diverse regions, there is a lot on offer for a tourist in France. Think romantic cities, never-ending fields of lavender, rolling vineyard covered hills, delectable cuisine, trendsetting fashion, quaint medieval villages and an abundance of luxurious châteaux. With iconic buildings and structures, beautiful gardens, and a fascinating and seemingly endless collection of museums and galleries, Paris is one of the most visited tourist cities in the world. Built around the River Seine, it’s a romantically stunning by night as it is by day.
Blessed with food, wine, culture and good looks, it’s easy to see why the region of Provence is one of France’s most popular tourist regions. Where images of mouth-watering foods; perched medieval villages towering over rolling fields of sunflowers and lavender and seaside resorts for the rich and famous, spring to mind.
Explore the palm-lined boardwalks and clear blue waters on the French Riviera - experience all the glitz and glamour of Cannes; swim in the warm waters of Nice by day and enjoy the non-stop partying by night; join the rich and beautiful on the spotless streets of St Tropez or for a more relaxed and less-touristy way to enjoy the region, pull up a spot of sand on the stunning beaches of Antibes.
See Europe’s largest Gothic palace – the Palais des Papes in Avignon, a lovely traditional Provençal town or behold the Roman Theatre and ruins in Orange. Stroll down leafy boulevards lined with splendid 17th century mansions at Aix-en-Provence.
Fans of art will enjoy a visit to Giverny to view the home of the great Impressionist artist, Claude Money, and the Giverny Museum of Impressionism. On the border of Normandy and Brittany in Northwest France you’ll find the country’s most popular monument outside of Paris – the fortified island of Mont-St-Michel; a maze of spires, arches and stairways leading up to the abbey and the 13thcentury Gothic monastery, La Merveille. Head to the beaches of Normandy to pay your respects to the fallen at the site of the World War II D-Day landings, with many moving monuments, museums and graves. The monuments found in the World War I battlefields of Somme, have been erected in memory of those that fought and died between 1914 and 1918.
Nearby, the delightful university city of Amiens with its awe-inspiring Gothic Cathedral acts as a good base to explore the Somme memorials. The Aquitaine region offers the scenic Pyrenees, the snow-capped mountains on the border with Spain where one can enjoy hiking, climbing and winter sports.
Explore the Dordogne with its stunning river valleys, majestic châteaux, pretty hillside villages and small country towns. Marvel at the prehistoric caves in Les Eyzies and the old houses built into the cliffs. Synonymous with wine, the capital of the region is Bordeaux and the elegant city of the same name, with over 350 classified heritage buildings.
Situated between Paris and Belgium is the region of Champagne-Ardenne. Known worldwide for its sparkling wine, it’s the region’s chalky soil and climate that contributes greatly to the quality of the famous bubbly wine. A trip to the lavish town of Epernay gives you the opportunity for tastings at well-known champagne cellars such as Moët & Chandon and Dom Perignon. The most popular city in the region is Reims. Not only does it offer tours at popular champagne houses such as Mumms, Pommery and Ruinart, it is also home to the spectacular Notre Dame Cathedral. Once the coronation place of French royalty, it is now a major tourist destination for the city. View the Porte de Mars, an arch built around 3rd century AD that acted as the city gate until 1544. For a more intimate and somewhat less costly champagne tasting experience, visit the quaint little village of Les Riceys, famous also for its rosé.
Sharing a border with both Switzerland and Italy are the popular and beautiful French Alps. In winter they are a skier’s delight, in summer they transform into a hiker’s paradise. Head to Chamonix for some of the world’s most challenging slopes and home to the first ever Winter Olympics in 1924. It’s also where you’ll find the majestic Mont Blanc; shared with Italy, it is Europe’s highest peak at 4,807m. Gateway to the Alps is Grenoble, enviably surrounded by three mountain chains which mean stunning views from almost wherever you stand. Take a ‘bubble’ lift up to the fortress of La Bastille for spectacular panoramic views.
With the Rhône and the Saône rivers running through it, the attractive city of Lyon is France’s second city. With striking Roman ruins, it is reputedly France’s gastronomic heart.
