This European country contains many ancient structures and deep religious beliefs dating back hundreds of years, portrayed though magnificent Châteaux and cathedrals. Each city and region of France has its own characteristics and truly has something for all tastes and interests.
Other Cities of Interest:
North from Paris lies the town of Albert, a town not to be missed and has been made famous by the remnants badly damaged remains of Word War I. Travel further to the coast and you will find Deauville, also known as the ‘Queen of the Norman beaches’. Caen is the capital city of Basse Normandie, and located just southwest of the city is Bayeux, a well preserved medieval town with outstanding cathedrals and world famous tapestry. A short distance further south lies the rocky island of Mont Saint-Michel. It is an ancient abbey built under the command of Archangel Michael and was a famous pilgrimage centre in the Middle Ages. In nearby Brittany lies Saint-Malo, a walled port famous for its local oysters and many seafood restaurants. To the west of Paris one will find Versailles, home to the Châtaeu de Versailles, a famous royal château, built by Louis XIII in 1678. Travel south west of Paris and you will discover Tours, a city well known for its wine, châteaux and cathedrals. This busy town is the largest in the Loire Valley and features the Châteaux d’Usse which is said to be the castle on which the fairytale Sleeping Beauty was based.
South east of Paris in the region of Burgundy lies Beaune, a small town well known for its wine and a preserved hospital built in 1443 which is now a museum. The Champagne region is east of Paris and the town Epernay is world renowned and is home of Moet et Chandon. Also in the eastern regions lies Colmar, which is also known as the ‘Capital of Alsace wine’ region. Further south at the foot of the French Alps is Grenoble, well known for its mountain sports and ski stations. It is also home to the Bastille, a famous fortress built in the Middle Ages.
Aix en Provence is located on the south of France. The Cours Mirabeau is a main tourist attraction there, with the main road lined with cafés and double rows of trees and fountains. The largest fountain is La Rotonde, which is the size of a roundabout. La Rotonde has been given the name ‘city of a thousand fountains’. Just a little further north is the city Saint Rémy de Provence. Found here are many ancient ruins of Roman times including the Triumphal Arch. Another town located in the south of France is Nimes, a popular tourist destination rich in history and well known for its production of blue Denim jeans. Further east, located on the French Riviera is Saint Tropez, which used to be the main commercial port of France and now is famous for its magnificent beaches.
Just a short journey east of Bordeaux is St Émilion, an ancient town well known for its vineyards, limestone hills and cobblestone streets. Also not far from Bordeaux is Perigeux where remains of the temple of the Gallic goddess ‘Vesunna’ can be found and also St Front’s Cathedral, which is said to be a copy of St Mark’s Basilica in Venice. Rocamadour is also not to be missed and is built on limestone cliffs overlooking the Alzou Gorge. A bit further south is Cahors, a city rich in Celtic history and red wine production and Carcassonne, home to a historic fortress which is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Almost at the border of France and Spain is the city of Lourdes, a small market town at the foot of the Pyrenees. This town is famous for reports of the Virgin Mary making appearances on several occasions. It is now a major place for Christian Pilgrimages with a grotto containing spring water with, some say, miraculous healing powers. West of Lourdes is Biarritz, a small city with spectacular cliffs and looking out onto the North Atlantic Ocean. Sarlat la Caneda is also located in the south west of France and is renowned for its medieval architecture. This small town is home of St Mary’s Church a former gothic style church which has now been converted into a market. The bell tower and gargoyles are quite a sight to see.