Travelers can enjoy and learn about everything the country and its environs have to offer because to its excellent position and historical significance. Visitors to France who tour the country's many cities, towns, and villages have a terrific chance to enjoy and appreciate everything the country has to offer for the duration of their stay, particularly during the summer months. The visitor will find a lovely destination with tranquil areas and vibrant cities, as well as a diverse range of high-quality lodging options ranging from large hotels to modest bed & breakfast facilities and self-catering in lovely cottages in the surrounding towns and localities, as well as in neighbouring territories and beyond. There are many tourist and business hotels in England, as well as a range of other lodging options.
France has vast areas divided into departments, each intense in diversity of culture history & landscapes, providing the traveller with a magnificent opportunity to savour the splendours of the French way of life.
France a country in Western Europe, Home to some of the worlds excellent culture, history and scenery, art and fantastic food and drink, with Cheese and wine being a major part of French cuisine, Travel to tranquil lake shores with a relaxing summer break or discover beautiful mountain scenery, medieval old towns mystical and charming in surrounding natural scenery, prehistoric cave paintings in the Dordogne, to the palatial chateaus of the Loire.
The country has 18 integral regions span a combined area of 643,801 square kilometres, it is one of the world's top tourist destinations, with over 80 million visitors every year.
The traveler will find while on holiday the opportunity to stimulate the taste buds from the unique irresistible local cuisine, from the fish and shellfish from the coast, lamb in Brittany, beef in the north to Basque chicken in the Pyrenees.
On observation the life and culture of the local community with mother nature's ancestral abundance of natural goodness added to the soil provides the vegetables, herbs, fruit, fungi, cheese and wine with an individual taste and smell found in the gastronomy of an area distinctive to the region, unparalleled elsewhere, creating a unique experience not to be missed.
Picnic areas are many and varied in France following along the roadside, the villages and towns have local shops and markets selling local produce with fresh daily breads roasting meats salads and cheese. The air is undoubtedly a magnet for the nostril, surrounded by colors and textures of the food and drinks on offer. You will be unable to resist the opportunity to buy.
Local wine can be bought and bargains can be found. Please note DO NOT drink and drive.
Eating establishments offering a variety of foods catering for all budgets :
- Creperies (serving a variety of sweet or savory pancakes)
- un buvette (a kiosk serving drinks and snacks)
- une restauraute (motorway restaurant serving quick snacks and meals)
- un salon de the (serving tea, coffee, cakes, can be expensive!)
- cafe/restaurante (serves full meals)
- brasserie (sells beer and light meals)
- cabaret (public house, can be expensive!)
- bistros (small restaurant can be expensive!)
- haute cuisine ( a la carte meals).
Wine. The government controls the classification of labeling of French wines these must adhere to a number of requirements to be awarded a label:
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- AC (appellation controlee)
- VDQS (vin delmite de qualite superieure)
- VINS DE PAYS (good local wine)
- VIN DE TABLE
- VIN DE ORDINAIRE
I find always go with your taste buds if you like a wine, drink for your enjoyment not for the label.
France has a very diverse landscape, with beautiful beaches on the south east coast, home to the French Riviera, and towering mountains in the south and east, where the snow-capped French Alps rise to the sky.
- Here you will find Europe’s tallest peak, Monte Blanc, standing at a massive 4,810m
The countries territory consists of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion, it extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic, It is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany to the north east, Switzerland and Italy to the east, and Andorra and Spain to the south.
The capital city is Paris, being the main cultural and commercial centre Other major cities include Marseille, Lyon, Lille, and Nice-Cannes.
The official language is French.
France a wild natural beauty with a turbulent and bloody past witnessed by some of the most dramatic chapters in a French nation’s history, the first written records appeared in the Iron Age, heritage and history can be found all around the regions in France from from ancient Roman ruins, stunning churches and historic buildings, to modern boutique shops and modern architecture, from the tradition-based Beaux-Arts and the Modernists, centred around Le Corbusier and Robert Mallet-Stevens.
In France’s rural countryside you will find quaint villages, fields of red poppies, and bright yellow sunflowers magnificent castles and gardens, vineyards and breath taking landscapes, with scenery that will change dramatically as you make your way through France, all waiting to be explored.
Here you will find more than 25 percent of its territory is covered with forest, and another 50 percent is countryside or farmland, with wide, fertile plains dominating most of the north and west, making France the agricultural epicentre of Europe,
In France you will find the sprawling forested plateau of theMassif Central, a range of ancient mountains and extinct volcanoes to the south, it is home to a wide variety of animals, fauna and flora, the lowland forests are home to deer and wild boar, while the woodlands of the Alps and Pyrenees provide refuge for rare chamois antelope, ibex, brown bears and alpine hares,
For the out door enthusiast, during the winter season, you can go snowboarding, snowshoeing or skiing in the Alps, In the Spring/Summer seasons,
There is climbing and picturesque countryside, magnificent world-class climbing, overlooking the piercing blue sea of the French Riviera, stunning cliffs blue water, and white-water rapids.
Hiking, through picturesque countryside, breath taking mountains, villages, fields, off road tracks, accent forests, crystal clear coastal waters, remote beaches, dunes and paths, there is a walking holiday in France to suit every taste,
Cannoning, discover via ferrata and climbing in the gorges du Verdon,
Canoeing, canoe hire operators offer a package that kits you out with canoe, paddle, life vest and waterproof container, together with transport that buses you upstream, so that you can paddle down at your own leisurely or lively pace,
Sailing, Bareboat yacht charters are available for several places and there’s now also a France flotilla running from Toulon and yacht charters from the Gulf of Lion, the Cote d’Azur, (the French Riviera) and around the island of Corsica
Fishing, France is one of the world’s greatest fishing destinations One of the first decisions you need to make if you are planning a fishing trip to France is whether to go to a public lake, river or a private venue, for all public lakes and waters, you will need to get yourself a fishing permit. You can buy your license from a tobacconist or tackle shop near your chosen lake, On private lakes, fishing is usually available from April to October with some venues opening all year round.
Segway Discovery an introduction to practice Segway and to enjoy the towns and cities,
Cycling adventure through the Loire stopping at a watering hole along the way to cool off in the hot Provence sun, Cycling is one of the most popular sports in France, with thousands of riders cycling everyday as professional, amateur and for pleasure, Each region has its own unique charm, complete with fabulous food and wine, to make your cycling holiday a fantastic experience.
The Tour de France race started in 1903, and crosses France, over 3,351 kilometres,
Famous cyclist such as Louison Bobet, Raymond Poulidor, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain and of course Lance Armstrong, have all taken part.
Golf the many courses are outstanding, varied in style according to locality but always beautifully maintained, a perfect opportunity to play some amazing golf courses.
The activities in France are vast to suite all ages and abilities, from cave trips, water sports, dolphin watching including a range of sports such as tennis, clay pigeon shooting, lawn bowls, horse riding and mini golf, plenty to fill an activity holiday.
