Lucky you! You’re planning a trip to France.
The country is not only very diversified, it also offers most of what you can possibly be looking for for your vacation. Whether it’s an adventure vacation, a spa, just lying on a beach, castle-hopping, shopping or people-watching, you can do it all in France. But whether this is your first trip to France or the 50th, there is always something to discover.
Each region of France has its own charm, culture, peculiarities, gastronomy, wines, history and people. We’ve made it simpler to find out the region to visit buy creating 7 touristic regions. They include:
Paris and its surroundings
Paris
The City of Light. And of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Sacré-Coeur, Montmartre, Saint-Germain, the Opéra and hundreds of attractions for every taste known to civilized mankind. A visit to Paris should include a day-trip to Versailles where French royalty brought the classical French style to its apex.
Northern France
It includes the administrative regions of:
Nord-Pas-de-Calais.
Heir to an industrial past, the region has turned towards tourism. It’s the entry place for British tourists coming on the chunnel or on hovercrafts from Dover. Don’t miss Lille, one of France’s most fun big cities.
Picardie
Lovers of history will find many places to visit in this flat land: Amiens boasts one of the most beautiful French cathedrals, while the cities of Chantilly, Compiègne still evoke the royal atmosphere of their past. Senlis and Gerberoy take us back all the way to the Middle Ages.
Western France
It includes the official regions of:
Brittany
Where the land meets the sea. Bretagne is a wonderfully unique land that has entranced man since the beginning of time. The rugged coast has some of the finest beaches in Europe.
Normandy
Green pastures, fishermen villages, famous cheese. D-day beaches and WWII tours mix with medieval art. Caen, Rouen, Bayeux, Honfleur, Deauville and Monet’s Giverny are where the tourists go.
Pays de la Loire
Water is everywhere here between the sea and the Loire itself. Unjustly ignored by tourists from abroad, the region is getting renewed interest lately.
Eastern France
Alsace
The European region. Strong French and German influences. Lovely wine routes and oh, so, charming villages! Strasbourg, Colmar, Mulhouse is what you want to see.
Burgundy
The land of fine wines. Dijon and the Cote d’Or. Beaune, Chablis, Auxerre and Macon are here. Knowledge of good wine is a not requirement to enjoy this region fully.
Franche-Comté
Beautiful but rugged, this region has seldom appeared on the radar of travelers to France. It’s a fantastic homebase for a laid-back vacation of enjoying France’s rural culture.
Central France
Centre
Rolling 2 hours south of Paris, the ‘Valley of Kings’ is the king of valleys. Royal chateaus abound between Tours and Blois. A visit to Chambord, Blois, Amboise, Chenonceau is a must.
Auvergne
A sparsely populated land of volcanic plateaus and large valleys with a love of nature and an impeccable standard for environment. It may be France’s most authentic region. Preferred by active vacationeers who crave the open-air and its majestic environment.
South Eastern France
Languedoc-Roussillon
Be tempted by the varied sites of this land of contrasts. Camargue extends to the sunny shores of the Mediterranean. Cathar castles stand proudly at the foot of the Pyrénées mountains, and the fortified city of Carcassonne and the 49-metre high Pont du Gard will instantly hold you spellbound.
Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur
The sunny charm of France joie de vivre sparkles in Provence. Ever since fame was invented, The Riviera has been home to the rich and famous. Nice, Marseille, Cannes and St-Tropez are among the most visited spots.
Rhône-Alpes
Outdoor enthusiasts will love the mountains and world-class ski resorts (Chamonix amongst them) as well as the many water sports in the Gorges de l’Ardèche. Lyon is known throughout the country as the place for fine gastronomic delights.
South Western France
Aquitaine
Bordeaux vineyards and the beaches of the Atlantic. The Basque Country. Castles and Medieval villages in Perigord. Biarritz, Pau and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port are here. Big with wine lovers history buffs, river vacationeers and surfer dudes.
Midi-Pyrénées
From the sea to the mountains the region is full of beautiful cities and villages, rich with history. Toulouse, the pink city, is a must see. Barges float quietly along the banks of the Canal du Midi for your delight.
So where to go? Anywhere… Everywhere!
Just think about it… France has among the world’s most beautiful islands, some of the world’s top ski stations, some of the world’s best spas and casinos. Add fhe most beautiful chateaus, improbably charming hilltop villages, world-class museums, a general sense of taste and and the finest wines and cuisine your palate will ever meet. Yes, it’s all here, and it’s pretty close, all being no more than an hour’s flight from Paris.