World’s number one tourist destination
In France, there is something for everyone. It has splendid holiday opportunities for everything from a short weekend city break in places such as Paris, Nice or Bordeaux, to a relaxed family holiday in the countryside, an energetic hiking, climbing, kayaking or cycling in France’s great outdoors, or a week or two by the seaside.
Paris
The City of Light attracts millions of visitors every year with its memorable ambiance. Of course, the heavenly cuisine and huge art collections deserve some of the credit as well. Paris is rich with dignified centuries-old churches, museums, and blocks of Rococo- and Neoclassic-design architecture.
Containing world-class fashion, museums, cuisine and an atmosphere all its own, Paris is also a city of “many magnificences.” Visit the precious Musée d’Orsay, shop the greatest designers on the Champs Élysées or go to the boutiques in Le Marais, climb the Eiffel Tower, or even plan a day trip to Versailles Palace. But don’t miss out on the simple pleasure of meandering the astounding districts, or snacking on street crepes either.
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Loire Valley
If it’s French magnificence, gastronomy and style you seek, look no more. Located on the frontier between northern and southern France, and just a quick autoroute ride or train from Paris, the region was once of huge strategic importance. Kings, queens, nobles and dukes came here to establish feudal castles and, later on, lavish pleasure palaces – that’s why this river valley is sprinkled with hundreds of France’s most luxurious aristocratic estates. The soaring cupolas, towers and shiny banquet halls, the region’s châteaux, and the villages and vineyards that surround them, certify over a thousand years of rich architectural and artistic creativity. The Loire Valley is also known for its superb wines (red, white, rosé and sparkling) and, sophisticated cities, such is Blois, Tours, Orléans and Angers are reasons why the entire area is an huge Unesco World Heritage Site.
Marseille
Founded 2,600 years ago as a port city, Marseille – after some years in decline – remains a glaring metropolis on the Mediterranean, in particular after its turn as the European Capital of Culture in 2013. With some new museums and a handful of world-class restaurants, France’s second-largest city is making a comeback.
Its long, lively history and its hilly landscape of gravelly streets and buildings that tumble to the yacht-filled waters also add to its attraction, as is the feeling that Marseille is a place where it seems possible to stumble on something secret – something not listed in the travel books. But you’d better hurry: The rest of the world seems to be figuring out.
Nice
As the main port town of the French Riviera, Nice attracts history buffs, beachgoers and high level culture seekers who come to vacation on its Mediterranean shores. There’s definitely more to this eccentric city than a gravelly waterfront, pastel-colored buildings and palm trees waving in the breeze. Baroque churches shock you in the maze of the Old Town’s streets. Present-day sculptures dominate the gardens as you walk in the Place Masséna. Early Roman ruins provide the space for summer jazz concerts in Cimiez; and the onion-shaped domes of the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral tower overhead as you pass Avenue Nicolas II. But Nice’s cultural beauties are often overshadowed by its reputation for partying. Be sure to leave a little energy for the lively nightlife along the Riviera.
Burgundy
Imagine rolling hills covered in vineyards that gather into huge villages, superbly preserved of their medieval beauties, and you’ll start to imagine Burgundy, a famous region in central-east France. The crown of this fairy-tale region is Dijon, the capital city, which brims with remembrances of the days when the Dukes of Bourgogne used to live here. Beaune, a walled village surrounded by vineyards, is completely lovely, too – especially since wine tasting is the village’s main recreation. But enough can’t be said for the numerous châteaux and abbeys, the incredible Morvan Regional Natural Park and the gastronomic works of art of the region.
Bordeaux
The capital of the world’s wine industry, Bordeaux is an fabulous mix of first-rate museums, 18th-century grandeur, churches and full of spirit neighborhoods. A frsh makeover has made the city known as The Pearl of Aquitaine even more attractive. The city’s historic center has been renovated to its original magnificence and the banks of the Garonne River are now lined with gardens, parks and open-air cafés. With its plane geography, cycling and walking have always been a favorite transportation mode in Bordeaux, but a new tramway system has made the city even easier to explore.
The city in the southwest of France is great for excursions into wine country, and there are plenty of attractions and sights in Bordeaux too, including bars and restaurants where visitors can taste wines from the region’s 57 appellations. From nights at the opera to days spent exploring the luxury shops around the stylish Place Gambetta, there are always thrilling things to do in Bordeaux.
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St. Tropez
What comes first to your mind when you hear about Saint Tropez? You are probably thinking of glamour, celebrities, and yachts, exclusive clubs and so on. We thought as well! And it is true. The city has it all.
While Nice or Marseille are bigger, the miraculous little town of Saint Tropez is located inside the shoreline, which makes it a very separated destination. It does not matter if you are looking for a luxurious getaway or you want to spend the night with celebrities in one of the local famous clubs – Saint Tropez is a serious place to check out for a weekend. With a population of less than five thousand, Saint Tropez can be barely called a town, it is more like a village. But not just any village. It’s a deluxe one.
In the old times, Saint Tropez was just a fishing village, but over the years it has become a luxurious seaside resort, a refined destination for the famous and wealthy.
Cheval Blanc is true example of St. Tropez’s luxurious lifestyle
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