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France for connoisseurs

France – so much more than just the world's leading tourist destination

► France as a tourist destination

In spite of everythingFrance remains the world's number one tourist destinationand by and large it remains one of the safer places in the world to visit. it's not hard to understand why. France has it all - or more or less. It has tourist sights for all tastes; it has some of the greatest beaches in Europeas well as the highest mountains and the finest historic monuments, the most beautiful citiesthe most idyllic countryside, the most magnificent castlesthe finest rivers, and plenty morenot to mention some of the best restaurants and the finest wines and more hotels than any other country in Europe.
     France has something for everyone, which is one of the reasons why it remains the world's number one tourist destination. It has magnificent holiday opportunities for everything from a short weekend city breakin places such as Paris, Nice or Bordeauxto a relaxed family holiday in a gite in the countrysidea week or two's relaxation by the seasideor an energetic break hikingclimbingkayaking or cycling in France's great outdoors.  

Paris

Paris is just the icing on the cake - the French capital city and surely the most interesting city in the world. With its museums and monumentsits fine boulevards and its river Seineits cultureits restaurants and its unique atmosphereParis is a city that you can visit for a week or a month or a yearand never tire of. In the memorable words of Thomas Jefferson"A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beautyand in the point of life."  And much more too. But Paris is just a starting point. France is much so much more than just Paris.

Cultural tourism in France

French museums and art galleries - which contrary to popular belief are not all located in Paris - offer a magnificent collection of works of art and artefacts; and for those for whom a holiday is an opportunity to discover Europe's historic heritageFrance's great cathedralsmedieval castlesand thousands of other ancient monuments are a treasure trove waiting to be discovered. For themed breaksthe châteaux of the Loire (in the Centre region of France) are an obvious choice; among the many other historic sites, consider discovering the Roman remains of Provence , the medieval bastide towns of the southwestor the castles and caves of the Dordogne. There are even some scenic steam railways for people who enjoy a trip down memory lane. Check out the regional guides for information on sightsmonuments and tourist attractions in each area.

The French seaside:

In July and AugustFrance's Mediterranean beaches tend to be pretty packed; this is particularly the case in the famous resorts of Provence and the French Riviera. By contrastthe long sandy beaches of the Languedoc offer much more legroom. Away from the resortsBrittany offers plenty of good beacheswith the added fun of tides and good waves; and France's Atlantic coastsouth of the Loirehas plenty of long sandy beachesin the regions of Poitou-Charentes and Aquitaine. South of Bordeauxthere are mile upon mile of fine  beaches. For more information see guide to the French coast.

Discover the real France:

If you want the lifeculture and bustle of the big citygo to Paris. But  France is a lot more than Paris. There are plenty of places in deepest rural France that are still very much off the beaten track; and for camping holidaysgite holidaysor for those who are content to put up in small rural inns, several regions in France offer wonderful holiday opportunities away from it all. Five French departments (counties) that are particularly worth checking out are the Aveyron (Midi Pyrenees area of Occitanie)the Haute Loire (part of the Auvergne arearecommended by Lonely Planet as one of the ten regions of the world to visit), the Corrèze (Limousin), the Jura (Franche Comté) and the Vosges (Lorraine): all these departments include sparsely populated areasattractive sceneryand plenty of leisure opportunities - or just some great places to sit back with a glass of winerelaxand enjoy the peace and quiet. One of the best times of year to visit France off the beaten track is Autumn, specially in the south of the country.

Driving in France

France has an extensive network of motorwaysand many of them offer relatively relaxed driving conditionsexcept at peak periods. Off the motorwaysdriving on France's backroads can be a way to discover motoring as it used to bea pleasurable experience and a different way to discover the country. For more information click for our guide -  driving tips and advice. and our checklist of things not to forget before you leave.

French culture and institutions

Finallyfor those who are looking for deeper information about Francethis website contains pages explaining the main French institutions and the functioning of French lifeincluding the education system and French universities plus pages on the French way of politics, the French economy and the press. There is also a clearly written guide to the main points of French grammar.


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