France is the single most visited country in the world, offering a great diversity of attractions. A Western European country with attractive cities such as Paris, famous historical sites, Mediterranean beaches, diverse nature, and lovely green countryside with vineyards and mansions, France is music to your ears. It is also one of the world's primary culinary countries, and a home of high class design and fashion.
City destinations. In addition to Paris, France has also several other interesting cities, such as for example Bordeaux, Lyon, Avignon and Reims, all of which offer diverse attractions from Roman architecture to famous bridges, historical monuments and interesting shopping and cultural activities. The same can be said also of Strasbourg, which hosts headquarters of several important European organizations. Grenoble on its behalf is located in stunning Alpine settings, and Marseille enjoys the scenic presence of sea, while Dijon is home to several interesting historical sights and to interesting pieces of medieval and renaissance architecture.
Beautiful countryside. Rural France also attracts many with its lovely sights such as Loire Valley in western France, which is filled with wineyards and charming manor houses known as chateaux, and is the favorite of all those who enjoy cultural history and archeology, not to mention the delicious French wine. While in Central France, visit also Bourges, a small city filled with history and art. France has also several natural attractions such as national parks available. Particularly the mountainous regions of southern France offers plenty of natural attractions to admire.
Regions with history.Located in northwestern France, the province of Brittany (Bretagne) is home to medieval cities, towns and villages rich in architecture and Celtic traditions with festivals and concerts. Brittany's diverse landscape with rugged coastline, sandy beaches and verdant interior with woods, rolling hills and mountains perfect for outdoor activities. Bordering the English Channel, the region of Normandy in northern France is rich in history with medieval cities and castles, as well as in nature with cliff-lined coast, golden beaches and green countryside. The seaside towns of Normandy offer relaxing holidays.
Beach destinations. The Southern part of France is the place to go in search of the sun. Here you will find Biarritz, Nice and Cannes, the film festival city. The mountainous island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea offers enjoyable surroundings for active outdoor sports people, blending Italian and French influences.
Mountain resorts. The fourth dimension of the attractiveness of France are the mountains, offering lovely ski resorts such as Val D'Isere and Meribel, or France's winter capital, Chamonix. Located in an idyllic valley at the foot of Europe's highest mountain, and hosting some of the best outdoor sport and adventure facilities of Europe, Chamonix offers the active people endless sporting facilities to choose from.
Lively cities, vineyards and diverse nature: Attractions of France
The most popular travel destination in Europe and the world, France has diverse attractions suitable for every taste. The main tourism magnet of France is its capital, Paris, which is one of the most famous touristic cities in the world. The lovely European capital with amazing historical, cultural and architectural sights, Paris is also filled with chic restaurants and boutique shops full of world-famous designer fashion, making Paris suitable for a romantic city holiday, for a gourmet excursion, or for a shopping tour of your life.City destinations. In addition to Paris, France has also several other interesting cities, such as for example Bordeaux, Lyon, Avignon and Reims, all of which offer diverse attractions from Roman architecture to famous bridges, historical monuments and interesting shopping and cultural activities. The same can be said also of Strasbourg, which hosts headquarters of several important European organizations. Grenoble on its behalf is located in stunning Alpine settings, and Marseille enjoys the scenic presence of sea, while Dijon is home to several interesting historical sights and to interesting pieces of medieval and renaissance architecture.
Beautiful countryside. Rural France also attracts many with its lovely sights such as Loire Valley in western France, which is filled with wineyards and charming manor houses known as chateaux, and is the favorite of all those who enjoy cultural history and archeology, not to mention the delicious French wine. While in Central France, visit also Bourges, a small city filled with history and art. France has also several natural attractions such as national parks available. Particularly the mountainous regions of southern France offers plenty of natural attractions to admire.
Regions with history.Located in northwestern France, the province of Brittany (Bretagne) is home to medieval cities, towns and villages rich in architecture and Celtic traditions with festivals and concerts. Brittany's diverse landscape with rugged coastline, sandy beaches and verdant interior with woods, rolling hills and mountains perfect for outdoor activities. Bordering the English Channel, the region of Normandy in northern France is rich in history with medieval cities and castles, as well as in nature with cliff-lined coast, golden beaches and green countryside. The seaside towns of Normandy offer relaxing holidays.
Beach destinations. The Southern part of France is the place to go in search of the sun. Here you will find Biarritz, Nice and Cannes, the film festival city. The mountainous island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea offers enjoyable surroundings for active outdoor sports people, blending Italian and French influences.
Mountain resorts. The fourth dimension of the attractiveness of France are the mountains, offering lovely ski resorts such as Val D'Isere and Meribel, or France's winter capital, Chamonix. Located in an idyllic valley at the foot of Europe's highest mountain, and hosting some of the best outdoor sport and adventure facilities of Europe, Chamonix offers the active people endless sporting facilities to choose from.
Proud but hospitable: Practical information for your trip to France
Paris is the most important air traffic hub of France, and one of the main airport cities in Europe, with flights available from all over the world.
Photo: The Alieness Giselagiordino, used under Creative Commons License (By SA 2.0)
You can also travel to France easily by train and by road from many European countries. Traveling inside the country is easy by bus or train, and domestic flights wiothin France are also well available. The good road network gives excellent possibilities for independent touring in France.
Climate in France is familiar with cool winters and warm summers. Average monthly high temperatures during the summer months (May- September) are around 20°C as winters (November-March) are faced with 10°C temperatures, or even colder in the mountainous regions. Overall, most of France is at its best between May and September, but big cities such as Paris are worth a visit anytime. The French ski resorts have their high season between December and April.
Visitor services in France are generally very good, although you might have problems to make the French, who are very proud of their language, use English. However, if you learn a few words of French, you will be serviced with some extra appreciation. If you don't, written tourist information is widely available also in English in the tourist offices, which are found in all major tourism destinations in France. France is a safe destination, but you should be aware of pickpockets, which are a common problem especially in big cities such as Paris.
From the times of Napoleon to the ruling of EU
Located on the former place of the ancient Gaul, France has been inhabited since thousands of years before Christ. The first king of France, Hugh Capet, was crowned in 987, after which the country started its rise into one of the most powerful nations of Europe. In the 17th century, when the country was lead by Louis XIV, this position was already reached, but new times started from a revolution and the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte, who was to become one of the most famous men of France's history. After this, France has gone through tough times, and once again returned to monarchy, before reaching its modern position as a semi-presidential republic, and one of the leading countries of the European Union. Additionally, France is also a colonial empire that still retains control of several overseas areas.hint See also these nearby destinations: Bourges, Loire Valley
