France is the most popular tourist destination in the world with almost 80,000 people descending on the country in 2011 alone. There’s a lot to say for France as a tourist destination; it has world famous cities, beautiful mountains, the world’s best wine, a stunning national cuisine and some of the best beaches in Europe. With so much on offer it can be a little tricky deciding exactly where you’re going to go on this trip; as if you go once you’re bound to come again anyway! With that in mind we thought we’d look at the best holiday destinations France has to offer.
Paris
Holidays in Paris are very popular. The city is Europe’s most visited destination bar-none. It has a huge amount to offer visitors with incredible landmarks, museums, culture and cuisine. In terms of attractions there’s the Eiffel Tower, L’Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre (with the Mona Lisa and Venus di Milo), there’s Notre Dame cathedral and the Sacre Coeur. Paris has so many incredible monuments and museums that is worth a week’s visit alone but there’s also the world famous fashion, the amazing cuisine from snails to croissants and a culture and vibrancy like no other city in the world. On the outskirts you also have the ever popular EuroDisney Park; which means Paris really does have it all!
Cote D’Azur
The Cote D’azur region remains one of France’s most famous and most popular. The French Riviera is both a playground for the rich and famous and one of Europe’s most beautiful stretches of coast. From the famous Cannes with its film festival and the marinas of Marseille there is something opulent and luxurious about this region. In the summer its beaches are crowded and busy and in the winter it’s warm but quiet. Inland from the French Riviera you’ll find some of France’s most beautiful towns and countryside from the Papal home at Avignon to the medieval Nimes and the surrounding countryside.
The French Alps
The Alps are, of course, most famous for their winter sports and there really are few areas in Europe that have skiing and snowboarding opportunities as fine as the French Alps. Whether you’re a beginner or expert skier the French Alps have terrain to suit you. There’s the stunning Mont Blanc, the beautiful three valleys or the lakes of Tignes to explore; all offering world class skiing. If you’re not a skier there are cable rides to the top of mountains, cascading streaming waterfalls, icy lakes and beautiful train rides through the mountains. The French Alps really cater to all tastes and are the most beautiful natural wonder in Europe.
Normandy
Few places in Europe have such historical resonance with us as Normandy has. The site of the D-Day landings is somewhere everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime and the beaches and cliffs of the Normandy coastline are simply stunning. As a region Normandy has an incredible history with the UK and you can spend days exploring medieval castles, beautiful towns and some of the finest agricultural country in the world. The food here is incredible and the history resplendent; from the walled fortress at Dieppe to the infamous Bayeux Tapestry in Bayeux itself. Normandy is a beautiful region and perfect for a holiday.
The Loire Valley
One thought is on everyone’s lips that makes it to the Loire Valley – Wine. This region of France rally is the home of wine in Europe and remains one of the most fertile and beautiful areas in Europe. It rests lovingly in central France and is considered by many to be the home of the French language and French cuisine. However, it is the wineries, vineyards and chateaux that really draw in the crowds and the Loire valley really is an incredibly beautiful region of France. The Chateaux are truly beautiful with incredible architecture, the wine is beyond compare and the setting is tranquil and beautiful. If you want to try a very different holiday consider canoeing down the river itself or hiking between the chateaux. The Loire valley also boasts an incredible history to explore beyond the chateaux with medieval towns, towering cathedrals and abbeys to explore.