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France - Places to see and things to do.

France Sights France is a beautiful country situated in the western part of Europe, bordering Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Andorra and Italy. To the south of France lies the Mediterranean Sea, while to the north are the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel, connecting the country to England. France is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world, attracting many people in search of cultural and historical sightseeing, as well as skiing and sunbathing. The most-[visited places in France are the capital, Paris, the French Riviera and the Alpine resorts, as well as the Loire Valley Castles. France is also associated with its wonderful cuisine, delicious cheeses and wines. The French people are well-known for being nationalists and almost always prefer to speak their own language to tourists, despite the fact that they usually understand and speak English. They appreciate it when tourists try to use the main phrases to address a person for help. As part of the European Union, France has introduced the Euro currency. Almost all hotels, restaurants and stores accept Visa and Mastercard. Atuomatic teller machines are available almost everywhere, and usually accept all kinds of cards. Traveler's checks, however, are not widely accepted. France is a large country that's divided into twenty-two administrative regions that form seven cultural zones.

The country has nine large cities and numerous small villages. The largest city in France is its capital, Paris, which is often referred to as the City of Light. Other large cities include the wine capital, Bordeaux, Bourges in central France, Cannes (which hosts the famous annual film festival), Lyon as the second largest city in France, the big harbour of Marseille, and the major resort town Nica, as well as the historical city of Strasbourg and the lively city of Toulouse. All of these places will be presented in detail below. Three other tourist hotspots that should be mentioned, especially if you're coming to France with kids, are Disneyland Paris, Parc Asterix and Futuroscope. As part of the European Union and the Schengen Agreement, no visa is required when coming from the other European Union states. The easiest way to enter the country is by plane and the main international airport is that in Paris, Charles de Gaulle, which is also the home of the national carrier, Air France. There are many budget airlines coming to France as well, most of them flying to the Beauvais Airport which is set 80 km outside of Paris, and shuttle buses are provided. Another comfortable way to reach the country is by using the railway system. The French railway company offers direct service to and from almost all European countries. The bus service in France doesn't have a single national program, and the buses are limited to local mass transit. For torists who love self-arranged individual holidays, the best way to travel across France is by car. The country enjoys a well-developed highway network, where most of the freeway links are toll roads. Drivers should know that all toll stations accept major credit cards. Hitchhiking is quite normal and widely practiced in France. Hitchhikers should know that sometimes it takes a lot of time until a ride comes along. The first city we will present here is, of course, the capital Paris, or the City of Light.

Paris is cosmopolitan, vibrant and lively. The city is home to 2.2 million people living in the centre and 9.9 million people in the suburbs, which makes it one of the largest cities on the European continent. Located on the Seine River, Paris is considered the most romantic city of all, but besides that is a city of history, culture, art, fashion, design and food. The centre of the town is divided into twenty districts that are set on a clockwise spiral from the centre of town. With the help of the ParisMuseum Pass, a pre-paid card, you'll be allowed entry to more than seventy museums and monuments, valid for two, four or six day periods depending on its price. Tourists should keep in mind that most galleries and museums are closed on Monday or Tuesday. Another pre-paid card to consider is the ParisPass, that allows entry into sixty attractions, including The Arc de Triomphe and The Louvre. Some of the landmarks that must be seen in Paris include the Eiffel Tower, the impressive Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe and the grave of the unknown soldier that lies underneath it, Pere-Lachaise Cemetry, the last home to many well-known people including American rock legend and poet Jim Morrison. Also, there's Sacre Coeur, a church located in the highest spot in Paris, Sainte Chapelle, which is a beautiful cathedral in the Gothic style, the Pantheon and the Chateau de Versailles. The Paris museums and galleries are so many that it will be impossible to enumerate them all. The most visited ones are the Louvre, which is one of the finest museums in the entire world, presenting various artwork on a huge territory that is hard to be seen in just one day. Musee s'Orsay, where the works of many Impressionists and post-Impressionists are presented, the Centre Georges Pompidou which is a lovely museum of modern art, the Picasso Museum, Rodin Museum and Delacroi Museum. We should also mention Les Invalides, a museum of arms and armour which has an impressive collection of arms dating back from the Middle Ages to today, and the Carnavalet, a museum of Paris' history. Paris is a city full of annual events, with the busiest time being in the fall. The first event of the year is in January, and is an interior and decorative trade fair called Maison & Object. In February, there's the Chinese New Year and the Six Nations Rugby Tournament. In March is Spring Fashion Week, while in May starts the French Tennis Open. In the summer the Rendez-vous au Jardin Festival of Gardeners and the Fete de la Musique Festival celebrating the summer solstice take place, as well as the Gay Pride Parade. A national holiday is celebrated on the 14th of July, Bastille Day. The last weekend of August is the Rock en Seine music fest, while in September there's the Techno Parade and the Jazz a la Villette Festival. In late fall, the Nuit Blanche festival and the second edition of Fashion Week are organized.

Bordeaux is the capital of Aquitaine in France and considered the place where the best wines are made. Often referred to as Little Paris, The city is the fifth largest establishment in France and a very lively university town with a large student community. It's also a historic city with many attractions, cultural sights, parks and shopping zones. Bordeaux is a friendly and tolerant city, with a vibrant music and artistic scene. Easy to navigate on foot, the city has a lovely town centre which is a pedestrian area. The places to be seen in Bordeaux include the Aquitaine Bridge, the Victory Arch, Gambetta Square and Quinconces Square, and the Museums D'Art Contemporain and D'Aquitaine. Free time is best spent with a walk down Sainte-Catherine Street and across the bridges. The most pleasant way to spend your free time, however, is tasting wine in one of the many cellars around Bordeaux, which is world-famous for its wine quality.

Set in the centre of France, the city of Bourges enchants with the Cathedral of St. Etienne, dating back to 1200 - 1255, the Palaise de Jacques Coeur and the Marais area, famous for its gardens divided by canals. Every spring, Bourges hosts a music festical named Le Printemps de Borges, during which more than thirty concerts are held.

Due to its international film festival, the city of Cannes is well-known all over the world. But Cannes also hosts many shows and tradefairs, as well as various exhibitions. There's also its Old Town, with tiny narrow streets, charming restaurants and small souvenir shops, the Covered Market and the Palais des Festivales, as well as the port. Cannes has beautiful beaches, and in Cannes' bay are situated two islands named Iles de Lerins that are worth being visited. The smaller island has a monastery and a ruined castle, while the larger one has a castle and many shops, restaurants and cafes.

The second largest city in France, Lyon is located in the Rhone-Alpes region and is famous for being the gastronomic capital of the country. Besides elegant restaurants serving palatable dishes, Lyon is also a vibrant cultural centre and an important destination for those who love historical monuments. Based around two rivers and two hills, Lyon is divided into nine districts. Its major landmarks are the Theatres Romains de Fourviere, Tete d'Or Park which has a zoo and a botanical garden, Basilique de Fourviere, Place Bellecour and Place des Terreaux. The city also has many museums, art galleries and parks.

The biggest Mediterranean port in France is Marseille, which is the economic centre of the Cote d'Azur region. Marseille is among the oldest cities in Europe and today has a very large population of various ethnic groups. It has a lovely old harbour, Vieux Port, Notre Dame de la Garde Church overlooking the city, colorful markets, several museums, and some large parks like Borely Park, for example. Outside the city, there are some places to be seen as well, like the If Castle, famous from the Alexandre Dumas novel The Count of Monte Cristo, as well as the wonderful fjords of Calanques, perfect for a day out among nature.

The next tourist hotspot to be presented here is Nice, the pearl of the French Riviera. Besides fabulous beaches and beautiful landscapes outside the town in the Mont Boron heights, the Eze village with its fabulous cactus garden and the hiking trails starting from the La Turbie area, Nice has a lovely harbour and remnants of a castle. There are also several museums, like the Musee Chagall and Musee Matisse. The old centre of town is comprised of pleasant narrow streets, picturesque houses and lovely small boutiques. The city of Strasbourg is a lovely city and an important place for many European institutions. The city has a beautiful historical centre, which is a well-preserved pedestrian area with many nice cafes and pleasant restaurants. Toulouse, on the other hand, is a smaller city located between the Mediterranean and Atlantic Oceans. It has a delightful centre which is walking-friendly, with many interesting places to visit like the Basilique Saint Sernin and the Pont Neuf, an old bridge. Over the past two decades, Toulouse has become an important aviation and space centre.