WHAT TO SEE IN FRANCE

Southern France

The regions in the south-west of the country (Rhône-Alps, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Corsica) are close to the Italian border and they are the most visited places in France besides Paris. The main characteristics of these regions are the temperate weather, on account of the vicinity to the Mediterranean Sea, the wonderful beaches and the contrast they make with the Alpine landscape. There are several interesting places to visit in this area, like the prestigious Monte Carlo and Cannes on the Côte d'Azur, the splendid sites in Provence like Marseille and important cities such as Lion.

The lavender fields in Provence

About at the end of July through the middle of August, this land gifts us of a beautiful show: the blooming of lavender. Provence is famous worldwide for its extended fields, with their endless sea of purple-hued flowers. If you want to discover every secret of Provence read this in-depth article on our blog.

The South-west

Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrenees are two regions in the southwest area of France, close to the Spanish border. The Pyrenees separates the two countries. Beautiful beaches overseeing the ocean and an intense production of wine characterize both regions. Let us not forget that Bordeaux, capital of the region and producer of the famous wine, is situated here. Toulouse is another interesting touristic attraction, one of the most populated cities in France.

Among the central regions are Centre-Val de Loire, Burgundy, Auvergne, Poitou-Charentes, Limousin; fruitful agriculture and wine production characterize these places, along with the enchanting castles of the Loire Valley and the historical city centers. Clermont-Ferrand and Bourges are among the most important cities.

The central and northern regions

North there is the Île-de-France, where Paris is; in the east, we find Alsace, Lorraine, Champagne-Ardenne and Franche-Comté. Because of the vicinity to the German border, this part of France is heavily influenced by German culture. Strasburg and Reims are the main cities in the area. On the opposite side, we find the western regions, Brittany and Loire. These oversee the Atlantic Ocean and thrive from agriculture and traditions derived from Celtic culture. Among the most important cities in Brittany we find Brest, Saint-Malo and Rennes, while in the Loire region there are the capital Nantes , Le Mans and Angers. The beautiful castles, like the Chambord castle or the Chenonceau castle, are the main attraction to this region.

Disneyland Paris

About 32 km East from Paris there is the huge amusement park, Disneyland Paris. It is the most visited amusement park in Europe and it is divided into five thematic areas: Main Street U.S.A., a remake of the 1900 city in the US where Walt Disney lived; Frontierland, an area inspired by the 18th century west; Adventureland, inspired by classical adventure films; Fantasyland, with the famous Sleeping Beauty castle; and Discoveryland, an area dedicated to the future as dreamers imagine.

The northern regions

In the north,France borders on Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium; you cannot ignore regions such as Upper and Lower Normandy, Picardy and Nord-Pas de Calais. Normandy has played a role in modern history, as it has been the place where the allies disembarked during WWII, in June 1944. Traces of the Normandy Invasion are still available to see, for instance at the Memorial Museum in Caen. This part of France should be visited not only for historical reasons, but also for some important cities such as La Havre, Rouen and Lille. You can’t miss Mont-Saint-Michel , a UNESCO site placed on a small island in Lower Normandy. The mountain is famous for the St. Michael’s Abbey of the Benedict order located at the summit, as well as for the bay that surrounds it, thelocation of Europe’s biggest tides.

WEATHER

France has a variety of different climates. Southern regions have a Mediterranean weather; eastern regions experience a continental climate; Paris and the central regions have a transition climate, while the western and northern coasts have a maritime climate. The weather is obviously more rigid and cold in the mountains.

The best time to visit France

• If you’re planning a visit to Brittany, Normandy and the Atlantic coast area, the best time of the year is during summer, from June to August.
• The best time to explore the Mediterranean regions are spring and fall, especially during May, June and the first half of September. If you would like to witness the lavender blooming in spring you can check our special offers to visit Provence.
• Paris is at its best in spring and fall as well. The summer is also a good time to visit, but you might find the weather to be hot, and the same should be said for various areas of the inland.

GEOGRAPHY

France is certainly one of the most visited places in the world, with a huge number of visitor every year. Paris, the capital, situated in the northeast of the country, is obviously the place you don’t want to miss while visiting in France. The city has a long history and a cradle for art and culture; it is most surely one of the most enchanting capitals in Europe. It is divided in 20 arrondissements, each with a specific identity that deserves attention.
Although, one mustn’t think that France ends with Paris. On the contrary, the country has a huge variety of worthwhile landscapes and places.
France has all types of landscapes: in the southwest there are two monumental mountain chains, the Alps and the Pyrenees. The inland features lower mountains, hills and level ground. In the north hills and level ground characterize the landscape.

CURRENCY

Since January, 1, 2002, when the Franc ceased to be used, the official currency is the Euro.