Guide to France

<< Back to Guides

Guide to France

View Map of France
Search for Holiday homes in France

Famous for its culture, gastronomy, and natural beauty, France is the number one tourist destination in the entire world. It's also the largest country in Europe; Metropolitan France alone takes up over 550,000 square kilometers. With so much space, there's no shortage of sights, to see; each region in France has something to offer to its visitors, from the rolling hills of Aquitaine to the bright lights of Paris. If you are looking to book one of our many holiday rentals in France, take a moment to read our guide to find out what you are missing.

Paris

No tour of France is complete without a visit to its capital city. Paris is known as the City of Lights, and renowned by many as the most beautiful city in the world. With the iconic Eiffel Tower, the awe-inspiring Louvre Museum, and the gorgeous architecture found throughout city, Paris offers more to visitors than good food and fun; a visit to Paris is a cultural experience like none other.

About 17 km. from the center of Paris is Versailles. Formerly the capital of the French Empire, Versailles is now a suburb of Paris-- and the magnificent Chateau de Versailles is one of the first stops on any tourist's visit.

Alpes-Côte d'Azur & Provence

The French Riviera, with its hot summer weather and sparkling Mediterranean sea, is one of the most popular summer tourist destinations in the world. The area is best known for its abundant sea and sun, but a short drive from the bustling beaches are cool and charming medieval hilltop villages and gorgeous mountain scenery. This is where popular tourist destinations Cannes, Nice, Marseille, St. Tropez, and Monte Carlo are located.

Warm in winter and hot in the summer, the region of Provence boasts some of the best wines and most beautiful countryside in the world. The best way to enjoy Provence is by a drive through the countryside; rolling hills, vineyards, and open skies. It's also home to the great Rhone river, and the vast, green Rhone valley.

Though Provence is dotted with small, charming villages, it's also well-known for its cities. Lyon, the second largest city in France, lies in the north of Provence. Full of museums, nightlife, and wonderful restaurants, Lyon is second only to Paris in grandeur. Also located in the region of Provence is Avignon. This beautiful walled-in city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of France.

Alsace & Lorraine

Of the neighboring regions Alsace and Lorraine, Alsace's medieval villages and charming little towns makes it the more popular tourist destination. Though its capital city, Strasbourg, is an industrial city, its gingerbread-like houses leaning out over the streets give Strasbourg a charm that draws holiday-makers from all over the world.

Lorraine is the site of the battle of Verdun, one of the most terrible battles of World War I. Although less-known that Alsace, Lorraine is also home to lovely vineyards, forests, and beautiful scenery. Alsace-Lorraine is a wonderful region in which to sample unusual cuisine (which is very reminiscent of German cuisine) and fabulous white wines.

Aquitaine

The region of Aquitaine is located in southwestern France, and its location between the Pyrenees mountains and the coast give it a wealth of sights worth visiting. This region is home to the Landes forest, the largest forest in all of Europe, as well as rolling green hills and a seemingly endless stretch of beach along the Atlantic coast.

A relatively remote corner of France, Aquitaine also produces some of the country's best wine. Bordeaux is the capital city of the Aquitaine region, and the area surrounding the city is famous for its world class wines. With wine tours, and beach in summer and skiing in the Pyrénées in winter, Aquitaine is worth a visit any time of year.

The Midi-Pyrenees

Midi-Pyrénées is the largest region in France. Because this area of France has been occupied since prehistoric times, there is no end of monuments and crumbling old castles to visit. Midi-Pyrénées is also where some of the best cheeses in France are made, such as sharp and tangy Roquefort and soft Rocamadour goat chesse.

Midi-Pyrénées borders the Basque country, located in the Pyrénées. East of the Basque country is Toulouse, the capital city of Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is known as "The Pink City" because of the rose-colored brick of its buildings. Toulouse is a lively southern town, with street fairs and cultural activities throughout the year. Also located in Midi-Pyrénées is Narbonne, the home of wonderful wines, Roman ruins, and an incredible Gothic cathedral. Not far away is the Etang de Bage et de Sigean, a large lagoon inhabited by flocks of bright flamingos.

Brittany & Normandy

Brittany and Normandy are in the Northwest of France. In the north, both of these regions have rolling hills and sandy beaches. They also have a somewhat different ambiance from the rest of France, as the Celtic origin of the people is still visible here.

Normandy is of course famous for the D-Day landings at its beaches in WWII. It's also famous for its cheeses, such as Camembert, and its beautiful countryside. A visit to Normandy is a wonderful way to exploring both recent and ancient history. Mont St. Michel is located here, with its grand abbey and small medieval island village, as is Rouen, a port city with an impressive medieval quarter and plenty of great restaurants.

A popular destination for summer holiday-makers, Brittany has both the excellent sandy beaches of the Côte d'Emeraude and a beautiful countryside full of ancient places and Celtic history. Towards the west it the Côte de Granite Rose, full of cliffs and caves, and west of this is Finiestre, full of small villages.

Burgundy

The region of Burgundy is located on an ancient trade route, and has a long cultural history. Burgundy prides itself on more than its famous wines and gastronomy, but also on its art and architecture. One of the best ways to enjoy Burgundy is to spend time in its cities. Dijon, famous for its mustard but also its restaurants, markets, and art museum, is a must-see, as is Pontigny, with its Gothic cathedral and small street markets. Throughout the region are also wonderful areas to take routes des vins, or wine tasting tours.


TOP

Featured Holiday Rentals

If you would like your property featured click here

Luxury Cottages in North Wales	From £420 per Week
Barn conversion providing two luxury self catering cottages each with double bedroom, bath/shower room, fully fitted kitchen, sitting room with dining area, all in peaceful rural area.
Europe > Wales > North Wales/Snowdoni Ref: 562

WOW! Villa on an Awesome Resort near Disney	From $553 per Week
WOW! JUST LOOK AT THIS PLACE! All the benefits of a first class hotel (WaterPark with Waterslide, Restaurant, Bar, Indoor Jacuzzi, Health Center, heated Pools, Childrens Play Area) ...and all...
USA > USA Florida > Disney Ref: 256