It's hard not to be enthralled by France – a destination where you can make unparalleled discoveries guaranteed to exceed all your expectations.
There is no country that attracts both already enthusiastic connoisseurs of the country and the curious in equal measure as France. Whether you want to explore iconic landmarks, experience the country's wealth of attractions, or need creative inspiration that flows as fast as the champagne in historic Champagne, France is absolutely timeless – and sure to draw you back again and again.
Above all, France is one of the oldest nations in the world and has successfully managed to preserve its past. At every turn, you'll encounter yet another museum, yet another art gallery, yet another remarkable architectural feat, and at every turn, jewel-like confections are displayed in the windows of patisseries – making a perfect complement to a morning coffee or afternoon tea.
Notable cities and regions
A vacation in France will delight you with its diverse landscapes and abundance of opportunities for adventure.
Paris
Simply describing the City of Love – a luminous light and boulevard-lined maze of eternal romance and refined elegance – is not possible. Paris truly must be experienced from the moment the sun illuminates the Arc de Triomphe until the moment the city is shrouded in darkness and lit by the moon and the Eiffel Tower, which glitters every hour until sunrise. Strolling down the Champs-elysees or along the Seine, you can feel the Parisian way of life with a baguette in your hand. But perhaps you should refrain from wearing a beret.
Bordeaux
This wine capital will not disappoint and because of its ancient winemaking tradition, you will mingle with the masters here. You should start your wine tour at the Cite du Vin – a museum dedicated to the universal, living heritage of wine – before exploring the rest of the port city, which is also the largest urban world heritage site in the world. A highlight of this heritage site is the Place de la Bourse, an imposing town square surrounded by a row of 18th-century mansions. to 19. The city is surrounded by the eighteenth century and is situated on the banks of the winding Garonne River. You'll find even more beauty in this city's renowned art museums, like the Musee des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, which has enough fascinating works to lure you out of the vineyards for a couple of hours.
View of the famous La Bourse square in the city of Bordeaux
Nice
France isn't all cityscapes and wineries. The chic strip of the French Riviera is located at the foot of the Alps and is enclosed by the Mediterranean Sea. Standing here on the pebbled beaches, dotted with blue and white lounge chairs, and gazing out at the sparkling sea, you'll immediately know why this fusion of French and Italian influence was nicknamed "Nice la Belle" (Nice the Beautiful). The Promenade des Anglais, a famous beach promenade, is the place to see and be seen. The Colline du Chateau, a public chateau garden, is a great place to enjoy views of Nice's old town and the coast below.
Before you go, check out our Nice restaurant guide.
Nice in the evening after sunset
Provence
In the summer months, you'll smell the heady lavender aroma of Provence before stepping into the purple haze of natural splendor. Winding lanes lead out of the lavender fields, over steep cliffs to Roman remains and to the sun-drenched slopes of the vineyards. Visit a Provencal market on your trip to buy some local produce – the Friday market in Carpentras is one of the most popular. Also recommended is exploring the sights of Avignon, a city on the Rhone River, especially the Palais de Papes, the largest Gothic palace ever built.
Sunset over a beautiful purple lavender field in Valensole
Saint-Tropez
This fiery place, known for its elite and dazzling crowds in the 1960s, is still worth a stay as the glamour of this coastal city on the French Riviera has hardly faded away. Gleaming yachts line the bay. Chic cafes and sophisticated restaurants stretch out to the streets in the city center, while pebbled beaches dotted with colorful umbrellas and lounge chairs offer a relaxing scene. This former fishing village also has a cultural side with a collection of notable galleries and museums, including the Musee de l'Annonciade and the Citadel of Saint-Tropez.
The Alps
Leave the seaside setting for the alpine scenery of the mountain ranges of the French Alps. The Alps stretch across seven European countries, reaching their highest point in France and Italy at Mont Blanc (4.808,7 m). On the north side of the mountain, France's largest glacier, Mer de Glace, can be visited by the Train du Montenvers – a picturesque rack railway. Chamonix is one of the most popular resorts of this mountain and a sought-after ski resort. Cable cars crisscross the countryside, transporting adventurers to the slopes before whizzing back down into the valley: in summer, the ice melts to reveal magnificent hiking trails and pleasant wildflower meadows.
Beautiful scenic backdrop in the Vallon de Berard nature reserve, Graian Alps, France
Gastronomy
Dining& Drink
Dining in France is serious business – and it's easy to get caught up in the rituals of the table. From a breakfast croissant, a crispy, gilded masterpiece, to a dinner of boeuf bourguignon doused in red wine and slow-cooked to perfection, the French are experts at exceptional dishes. Michelin-starred restaurants abound. These strive to make your culinary dreams of spotless white tablecloths and dishes with elaborate culinary compositions come true. Alternatively, you can visit bistros typified by dim lighting and menu boards featuring French classics. These specialize in heartwarming stews and soups.
Inland, meaty dishes with rich sauces, served with freshly baked bread and prepared from regional ingredients, are always on the menu. Along the coast, seafood caught daily is presented on platters of gleaming mussels, oysters and lobsters. Charcuterie (cold cuts) plays a central role in French cuisine. Cheese is a staple of the country and the star of the show in cold cuts. In this part of the world, the best way to end the day is to enjoy a crepe doused in chocolate or simply sprinkled with sugar.
Seafood soup with white fish, shrimp and mussels in a plate garnished with spices
The ultimate companion to any dish in France is one of the wines produced in the country. French viticulture dates back to Roman times and has evolved. The result is some of the best blends in the world. Wines are usually named after the region in which they are grown, rather than their grape varieties. The dozens of wine-producing regions throughout France mean there are many destinations for wine tasting. To taste red wines with the best reputation, it's best to visit Burgundy and Bordeaux. The best white wine brands come from the Loire Valley. Since the 17. In the 19th century champagne is produced northeast of Paris – and the wonderful result are unsurpassed bottles filled with aromatic sparkling drink.
Popular destinations
Because there is so much to see and experience in France, it's difficult to narrow down the list of highlights. However, if you want to see the most popular sights, you can start with the following:
Paris
Eiffel Tower: This wrought-iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris has watched over the city since 1889 and is named for engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built it.
Avenue des Champs-elysees: a world famous avenue visited daily by 300.000 people daily and leads from Place de la Concorde, a public square, to the Arc de Triomphe, a magnificent arch that honors those who fought and died in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
The Louvre: The world's largest art museum and historical monument on the banks of the Seine houses over 38.000 objects from prehistory to the 21. Century as well as the famous painting of the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.
Jardin du Luxembourg: This enchanting garden was created in 1612 by Marie de Medici, the widow of King Henry IV. of France, created for the Luxembourg Palace and today owned by the French Senate. It includes tree-lined promenades, manicured lawns and the Medici Fountain, built in 1630.
Jardin du Luxembourg with the palace and the statue
Versailles
Palace of Versailles: this former royal residence of France under Louis XIV. and afterwards under Louis XVI. is located outside Paris and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 2.300 rooms and charming grounds.
Normandy
Le Mont-Saint-Michel: An island and mainland community in Normandy that has housed strategic fortifications since ancient times and is a working abbey where Benedictine monks still hold services.
Beautiful panoramic view of Le Mont-Saint-Michel
South of France
The Pont du Gard: an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge built in the first century n. Chr. built to transport water to the Roman colony of Nemausus, is the highest of all Roman aqueduct bridges.
Pont du Gard, the ancient Roman aqueduct near Nimes in southern France