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Holidays in France

France is a large and modern country in Western Europe with coasts on the English Channel, the Bay of Biscay (leading to the Atlantic Ocean) and the Mediterranean Sea. As one of the world's most powerful economies, France is a well-developed industrial nation but also one famous for its culture, cuisine and history.

France Facts At A Glance

Area: 547,030 square km.

Climate: Generally cool winters and mild summers, warmer along the Mediterranean coast.

Terrain: Mostly flat plains and gently rolling hills in north and west. Mountainous elsewhere.

Population: 60.6 Million

Languages: French

Currency: Euro

Time Zone: 1 Hour ahead of GMT

International Dialling Code: +33

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Places to visit

France has many regions, each with its own unique attractions.

Nord Pas-de-Calais on the Channel coast, was once part of Belgium and was called Flanders. Some people still speak Flemish and favour beer rather than the wine more typically drunk in France. Beer festivals (known as Braderies) are popular.

The main cities in Nord Pas-de-Calais are Lille and Calais. Lille is a very cosmopolitan city with great nightlife, museums and shopping. The shopping is also good in Calais, with plenty of French produce like wine and cheese on offer.

Picardie, on the River Somme, is an agricultural area with its capital at Amiens. There are grand cathedrals at Amiens, Reims and Laon and a former Royal palace at Compeigne.

Picardie boasts a range of activities from walking and birdwatching in the Somme valley to fun ands games at Park Asterix; a theme park dedicated to France’s most famous fictional historic character. Rather more sombre are the many World War I memorials in the region.

Champagne-Ardenne on the Belgian border is a forested region drained by the River Meuse. The region is famous for a certain sparkling wine which can be sampled on the Route Touristique du Champagne.

Alsace on the German border is a hilly region popular for outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking. The regional capital is Strasbourg, which has an excellent Gothic cathedral and medieval watchtower. Canal barge trips are a good way to see the sights in Strasbourg. There is also a good art museum in the city.

Ile de France is the region surrounding Paris, the national capital. The city has a vast amount of history and many famous attractions – the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre. In the suburbs are many more attractions including the palace of Versailles.

Franche-Comte is one of the wilder parts of France. It is an excellent destination with visitors seeking natural beauty or wanting to engage in outdoor activities like canoeing, hiking and caving. There are also some good ski resorts in the Jura mountains, catering mainly to cross-country skiers.

The Rhone-Alpes regionis dominated by the French Alps, one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the world and a very popular destination with skiers. For those not wanting to ski the pistes of Chamonix and Courcheval, the city of Lyon is a fascinating place to spend a holiday. The city blends the ancient and modern to create a charm all its own. The region is also famous for its fruity red wines.

Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur is one of the most popular destinations in France. In the east are the Alps, falling away to the wetlands of the Camargue in the west. The coasts in the south have an excellent climate are popular with people seeking a beach holiday.

There are many historic towns in the region including Arles, which has an impressive Roman amphitheatre used for bullfighting and Nice, which has great museums as well as shopping opportunities. The Palais des Papes in Avignon was home to the Papacy before the move to Rome.

Lamguedoc-Roussillon stretches from the Pyrenees to the delta of the River Rhone. The terrain is varied and the scenery beautiful. The main cities of the region are Montpelier and Nimes. Nimes has some good Roman remains including the amphitheatre and aqueduct, which Carcassonne has restored medieval remains.

Midi-Pyrenees is also well suited to outdoor pursuits such as walking, fishing and rock climbing. The region has had its share of troubles, and many villages have fortifications around them. Midi-Pyrenees is also a good place to discover Armenac liqueur.

Aquitaine rises from the Atlantic coast to pine-forested hills inland. The Bordeaux region (part of Aquitaine) is one of the most famous wine producing areas in the world. The town of Cognac is famous for its spirits. As well as alcohol-related activities such as wine tasting, Aquitaine has an impressive bird park.

Limousin is a rural area popular for outdoor activities such as canoeing and sailing on its many lakes and rivers. The main city in the area is Limoges which has many museums in addition to its craft shops. Limoges is an important centre for crafts including enamel and china. The city also has a fine botanical garden.

Auvergne is a region of forests and mountains, with several extinct volcanoes. France’s largest national park, the Parc Naturel des Volcans d’Auvergne, is located in the region, and offers a chance to find out what a volcanic eruption feels like. You can also visit the Roman temple of Mercury at the peak of the extinct volcano at Puy de Dome.

The area offers many outdoor activities as well as historical attractions such as churches and castles. The main city is Vichy, which is a spa town.

Pays de la Loire is a blend of coasts offering windsurfing and other watersports, and flat inland areas. The town of Nantes is a good base for a holiday in the region. It has many historic attractions such as churches, museums and castles as well as a good selection of shops, bars and restaurants.

Le Mans is worth a visit even if the 24-hour race is not on. The Musee de L’Automobile has an incredible collection of race-winning cars. For a bit of more ancient history, the Chateau d’Angers is home to the world’s largest medieval tapestry. Near the town of Samaur you can visit the Troglodyte museum, dedicated to a time when most of the local population lived in caves.

Poitou-Charentes stretches from the coast to the valley of the Charente River, surrounded y pine forests. The region has some excellent seafood coming in through the historic ports of La Rochelle and Rochefort.

The region boasts a futuristic theme park, Futroscope, a museum of cartoons at Angouleme and the Cognac Otard chateau. A visit there includes some of the famous drink.

Centre is the region around the Loire valley, home to the city of Tours and many of the great chateaux of the French nobility. The cities of Chartres and Bourges are well worth a visit for their history –especially the great cathedrals. The region also makes some great cheese and wine.

Bourgogne, or Burgundy, has always been one of the most prosperous regions of France. Areas of its have at times been part of Luxembourg, Flanders and Belgium. The regional capital is Dijon.

Burgundy is famous for its wine and food. In particular, you should try boeuf bourguignon (beef stew in red wine). In addition to eating well, you can see the sights from a canal boat or explore the historic streets of Dijon with its 13 th-Century Gothic church.

Bretagne, or Brittany, lies on the western coast of France. The region has many historic sights including the medieval town of Vannes, ancient megaliths and areas rich in Celtic mythology. Brittany has excellent beaches of white sand and quiet little fishing villages. You can take a boat trip from some of the harbours to explore the coastal islands.

The scenery of Basse Normandie is in some ways similar to England, with many apple orchards (cider is a popular local product) and gentle countryside. The region makes some excellent cheeses.

The cities of Caen and Cherbourg are well worth a visit. Caen has an excellent abbey built by William the Conqueror. You can discover the history of the Norman Conquest of England at Bayeux or visit the abbey at Mont-Saint-Michel.

Haute Normandie centres on the city of Rouen and the river Seine. The region has seaside resorts with good pebble beaches. Dieppe is a good coastal day out. In Rouen you can see the spot where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, or visit Monet’s gardens at Giverny. The Musee de la Marine de Seine at Caudebec-en-Caux is dedicated to life along the river.

Things to do

The Alsace Route du Vin, running along the foothills of the Vosges from Marlenheim to Thann, is a good way to see the sights and learn about the region’s excellent wines.

The countryside around the capital is popular for outdoor activities, and of course there is Disneyland Paris to visit if you want something different.

If outdoor pursuits are more your style, the Cevennes National Park is well worth a visit.

Toulouse boasts an impressive museum of the space age with a planetarium and interactive rocket-science exhibits.