France is the fabled land of good food and fine wine, royal chateaux, famous landmarks and spectacular scenery. Here you can savour the art and romance in the capital, Paris, with its outstanding architecture and museums, and of course the world renowned Eiffel Tower. The northern provinces of Normandy and Brittany are steeped in history both ancient and modern, while the Loire Valley is famous for its chateaux; Provence for its lavender fields and the French Riviera for its chic resorts.

Landscapes range from the rugged coasts of Brittany and the rolling vineyards of Provence to the lushly wooded valleys of Dordogne to the snow-capped peaks of the Alps. Each region has a distinctive feel with its own style of architecture and cuisine. For outdoor enthusiasts there are miles of stunning coastline packed with opportunities for water sports. Inland rural France offers national parks, the enchanting Canal du Midi, not to mention the magnificent Alps and Pyrenees with long-distance paths, hiking trails and world class ski resorts.

France is littered with great provincial cities such Lyon, Bordeaux and Toulouse, each brimming with historical attractions, museums and galleries, and vie with the capital and each other for prestige in the arts and innovation.

France is well known for its sublime cuisine with restaurants and markets offering visitors an assortment of delicious delights from wine and cheese to seafood and exquisite pastries.

The south eastern regions encompass a wild and very beautiful area of France. The sparkling Mediterranean coast to the majestic Alps and rolling vineyards of the Rhone Valley provide quintessential experiences and opportunities for relaxation and adventure.

The main gateway into the Rhone Valley is the gastronomic paradise of Lyon. A sprawling city with a thriving arts scene, fine opera house and a number of worthy museums and monuments, and best of all, a huge number of restaurants ranging from the highly regarded to simple market stalls. The old town, now a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site is crammed with interesting boutiques and enticing bistros.

Of all areas in France, Provence is one of the most irresistible, celebrated for it dazzling lavender fields, its cuisine, and its vineyards. A region that encompasses the snow-capped mountains of the southern Alps, the historic cities of Aix-en-Provence and Avignon, full of cultural glories and the glittering Azure Coast, the playground for the rich and famous.

The Alps, spread between France, Italy and Switzerland are Europe’s highest mountain range and offer a plethora of outdoor activities. Throughout the Alps are fantastic opportunities for skiers, and snowboarders with over 200 resorts but the mountains offer much more including stunning treks up Mont Blanc, white-water rafting and mountain biking.

Within the Alpes Maritimes is the Mercantour National Park, a long narrow band of mountain land running close to the Italian border. The area is a haven for wildlife and flora with colonies of chamois, ibex, golden eagles, deer and wild boar and many unique species of lilies, orchids and alpine plants. Its wild landscape is a beautiful area for trekking with numerous trails through picturesque valleys and mountainous areas.

The Alpes Maritimes is also rich in baroque monuments, buildings, cathedrals and churches. Baroque art appeared at the end of 16th century when the area belonged to the Duke of Savoy, and is mainly characterised by its exuberance and architectural wealth. Important towns such as Nice and Menton were the first to raise Baroque churches and chapels but its style gradually spread to the hills of the Vésubie Valley and Tinée Valley with many fine examples to discover. 

The Central and South Western regions of France boast unspoilt countryside, medieval towns, miles of pristine Atlantic coast, countless historic castles and some of the best vineyards in the country.

The Aquitaine region has a varied landscape of mountains, plains, beaches and world famous vineyards. Bordeaux, the capital of the region, is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site brimming with classical and neoclassical architecture. The old town is surrounded by a charming maze of narrow streets and pretty squares, lined with old churches and grand mansions. One of the most opulent displays of Bordeaux’s former glory is the Grand Theatre, built in the 18th century on the site of a Roman temple. The vineyards surrounding Bordeaux are without doubt the main attraction for visiting this region with a wealth of vineyard tours, wine tasting and sumptuous food.

Lying between the Loire Valley and High Pyrénées is the department of Dordogne, named after the great river that runs through it. Dordogne’s charm lies in the landscapes and the dozens of harmonious small towns and villages. The beautiful Dordogne River runs through its heart and is very popular for many activities such as canoeing, swimming, picnicking and boat trips. The region is also said to have more than 1,000 of the finest chateaux in the country surrounded by manicured gardens and superb views of the countryside.

Located between the Dordogne and Lot rivers is the old province of Haut Quercy, an area of natural beauty and slightly off the tourist path. The Causses de Quercy Natural Park stretches along most of the Lot district and includes the beautiful medieval town of Rocamadour, which clings to the vertical limestone cliffs. The town has become a pilgrimage site with visitors climbing flights of stairs to the seven medieval chapels.

To the south stretching 240km from the city of Toulouse to the Mediterranean port of Séte is the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the 17th century and still considered an engineering marvel, it passes through some wonderful historic towns such as Carcassonne, Narbonne, Quarante and Castelnaudary. Lined with shady trees and greenery, the tow paths are now suited to cycling and leisurely walks and canal boats glide through its gentle waters. The park itself provides ample opportunities for cycle rides, canoeing and hikes.

North-west France has a plethora of historical attractions, from the elegant chateaux in the Loire Valley and the Bayeaux Tapestry in Normandy, to the megalithic monuments at Carnac. The landscape is a fascinating mix of rugged coastline, white-sandy beaches and islands such as the magnificent Mont St-Michel. Gastronomic delights abound, from fine wine and cheeses to cider and Calvados.

For most visitors, the Breton coast is the most dominant feature with warm white-sand beaches, towering cliffs, offshore islands and a scattering of stone prehistoric monuments. The small village of Carnac is home to the Carnac Stones, a system of over 2000 prehistoric standing stones. Stretching for over 4km it is the most important prehistoric site in Europe, long predating the Pyramids and Stonehenge.

Of all the cities in Brittany, Vannes has the liveliest medieval centre and Lorient holds the most compelling festival, the Inter-Celtic Festival. Visitors from the seven Celtic countries mingle in a popular celebration of cultural solidarity.

The dramatic Normandy coastline stretches for 360 miles with a lush verdant interior, bustling market towns and historic landmark towns such as Bayeux, Rouen and Caen. In 1944, Normandy was indelibly written into history as the Allied forces made their D-Day landings on its beaches and pushed into mainland Europe. As you would expect, there are numerous museums dedicated to World War Two, most notably the Musée Mémorial de la Bataille de Normandie in Bayeux. The town is also famous for its 70 metre tapestry depicting the Battle of Hastings.

The Loire Valley is an enchanting region of vineyards, wildflowers and rolling green hills with more than 1,000 chateaux. The area is so densely populated with historic castles that the entire valley has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Loire-Angjou-Touraine Regional Park is characterised by rolling farmland, vineyards, and limestone cliffs into which astonishing troglodytic dwellings have been carved. Crowning the landscape is some of the Loire’s most enchanting and elegant chateaux: Ussé, Chinon, Villandry, and Samur. Straddling the rivers Loire and Cher, is the ancient city of Tours, known for its wine and the famous Battle of Tours in 732.

Northern France experiences a climate similar to southern England with warm summers, cold winters and rainfall year round. The west coast, from the Loire valley to the Pyrenees experiences generally milder and summer days are generally very hot.

Inland areas are mild and the French slopes of the Pyrenees are renowned for their sunshine record. A Mediterranean climate exists on the Riviera, and in Provence and Roussillon. Weather in the French Alps is variable. Continental weather is present in Auvergne, Burgundy and the Rhône Valley. Very strong winds (such as the Mistral) can occur throughout the entire region.

There are a number of train connections available between France and Spain connecting Paris with Madrid and Barcelona. Trains operate between Montpellier, Perpignan and Narbonne in France and travel to Barcelona, Cartagena Valencia and Alicante in Spain.

French Railways (SNCF) operates a nationwide network with several high speed services known as the TGV (train à grande vitesse) High Speed services operate from Paris to Brittany and southwest France to Lyon and the southeast and to Strasbourg and the east.