France holiday tour informationIf you enjoy music, dance, cinema, art, theatre festivals or sophisticated culture in general, France is where you want to travel or tour. French cities, towns and villages all have their own annual events to celebrate history and spiritual icons, ensuring a smorgasbord of culture wherever and whenever you buy an airline ticket to holiday or tour in France. |
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France holiday travel guide If you're from the European Union, America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Israel, you don't need a visa for holiday travel or tours through France for up to three months. It's easy to quickly visit another country and then return if you want a further three months to holiday in France. Travel in France is not cheap, particularly if your holiday travel is mostly in Paris where prices are uniformly higher than in regional areas. Nevertheless, travel in France is still a little cheaper than in most northern European countries and the French have comparatively low prices for very basic hotel rooms. Paris is the central rail and bus hub of France and has direct transport links to most major European cities. The capital is a magical city but you shouldn't finish your holiday travel in France until you've experienced the country's rural culture, which starts to encroach about 50 kilometres out from the centre of Paris. Food and holiday accommodation prices in country areas are considerably cheaper than in Paris and the rural folk have a reputation for being more friendly and polite. The French countryside is dotted with dozens of adorable, picturesque villages - most with many centuries of history. For example, a memorable four bed and breakfast room sleeping up to 10 in rural Burgundy could be found in 2011 for about 70 euros per night, with smaller B&Bs for about 40 euros per night, and the hosts of these chambre d'hote are almost always charming and hospitable. Bar-cafes called routiers arguably provide the best dining value in France - in 2011, you could buy a baguette, soup, salad, roast meat, cheese, wine, desert and coffee at a routier for as little as 10 euros. For accommodation during your travel in France, it's worth researching and finding a gite, which is a cooperative scheme incorporating tens of thousands of dwellings in every corner of France including restored old cottages and barns, many on farms, as well as small apartments and large luxury homes. Depending on the season, a typical two bedroom cottage can be found for as little as 250 euros per week in 2011, the average price closer to 400 euros per week. Advanced bookings are required for gite ("shelter") dwellings, generally in seven day blocks starting on Sundays. The international telephone code for France is 33 and the city code for Paris is 01. The electricity supply is 240 volts at 50hz and all measurements are metric. France holiday information If you tour or travel to France from late March to late September, be aware that daylight saving is observed during these months. Most banks are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm and department stores generally open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 6.30pm. Most shops in France are closed on Sundays although many food stores are open on Sunday mornings. In the many tiny villages of rural France, it can be particularly difficult finding a restaurant, shop or cafe that is open on a Sunday or public holiday. Cigarette smoking was banned in all French bars, restaurants, hotels, casinos and cafes from the beginning of 2008. The smoking restrictions only applies indoors so smokers can still light up outside. In country areas, many businesses close also on Mondays and typical hours of trade are 10am to midday and 3pm to 6pm. Keep this in mind when shopping or planning to go to a cafe during your tour or travel in France.
Travel to the north and west of France and you'll see a predominantly flat or gently undulating landscape. The rest is mountainous with the Pyrenees in the south and the French Alps in the east. Mont Blanc in the Alps is the tallest mountain in Europe at 4,807m. France was once a major conquering empire with colonies across the globe, but suffered huge losses to its economy, empire and manpower during both World Wars I and II. Despite this, France is among the most advanced nations in Europe, has had a stable democracy for decades, and remains at the cutting edge of cultural and technological innovation. France travel information The government of France has traditionally had a socialist base but has been deregulating its economy since the 1980s. However, the country retains a comparatively short working week and generous welfare benefits. The unemployment rate is high. You might expect your holiday tour or travel in France to take you through an endless parade of stylish cultural environments, but this isn't always the case. Although it's a wealthy country, France has about one in five people living in poverty. In 2011, about half of all French households lived on less than 1500 euros a month and the unemployment rate had been above 8% since 1984. Rudimentary or fluent English is spoken by many people so the language barrier shouldn't be a major headache during your holiday travel. Travel tip ... if possible, learn a few French words before your holiday as the French soften when foreigners at least try to talk their language instead of expecting them to speak English. The locals are also very sociable and people are constantly saying "goodbye", "good day" and "thank you" (in French). Much of central France is a spectacular range called the Massif Central. Bring your camera. The country has a wealth of historic or prehistoric ruins and artefacts that are worth squeezing into your holiday itinerary, particularly along the western Brittany coast and in the south-west where archaeological remains suggest humans have lived for as long as 90,000 years. Cave wall paintings at Lascaux and elsewhere in south-west France are dated from 50,000 to 8,000 BC. France holiday guide France has land boundaries of 2,889km and a coastline of 3,427km, and had a total population of 65,312,249 in 2011 - about 85% Roman Catholic and with an average life expectancy at birth of 81.2 years. The country covers 543,965 square kilometres bordered by the English Channel, Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Monaco, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It enjoys the various climates and cultural influences of all those regions, providing plenty of travel choices to suit whichever style of holiday you want. Overall, the climate of France is temperate but there are significant regional differences. The west coast is strongly influenced by Atlantic winds that cool the summer months and create mild but wet winters. The north-west of France in particular is prone to turbulent weather and a lot of rain. In the south-east, the Mediterranean creates semitropical weather conditions in coastal areas with dry, hot summers and warm, rainy winters. The interior of France, particularly mountainous areas and in the north-east, has cold winters and warm to hot summers. For example, the Vaucluse region regularly sees temperatures between 35-40 degrees Celsius. France travel and tour information Spring is an ideal time to tour or travel in France with the beaches becoming very popular as of May. The summer sun can be strong enough to cause sunburn so it's worth bringing your favourite cream. City dwellers like to take their annual holidays during late summer so July/August is when tourist locations become crowded with locals and foreigners. Winter brings snow to the Alps and Pyrenees. Apart from Paris, popular regional tourist holiday locations in France include Arles, Biarritz, Cannes, Chamonix, Chateau de Chambord, the island of Corsica, Grasse, St-Malo on the northern Emerald Coast, Sarlat-La-Caneda, Toulouse and Vezelay. Less than an hour to the north of Cannes is the small, picturesque town of Grasse, its history dating to medieval years. Perched on the steep slopes of mountains stretching all the way to the Southern Alps and the Italian border, Grasse is at the heart of the French perfume industry founded in the 1500s, with factories for the Molinard, Galimard, Mane and Fragonard perfumeries. There are plenty of postcard French villages in the undulating hills and dales surrounding Grasse, including the fortressed Gourdon, its twisting cobbled laneways lined with tourist shops and cafes where travellers can admire the surrounding village and hill views. Panoramic scenery stretches all the way to Cannes on the horizon. Other medieval villages near Grasse are Tourrettes Sur Loup, Vence and St Paul de Vence, the latter fortified in the 13th century and long renowned as a retreat for artists such as Picasso, Chagall and Matisse. The village of St Paul de Vence is home to 300 people but is visited by more than two million tourists every year. Within easy driving distance of Geneva Airport in neighbouring Switzerland are the French ski fields of Chamonix, Val d'Isere and Les Trois Valless. The valley of Chamonix has eight ski resorts and fields such as the Vallee Blanche are among the largest and most visually impressive in the world. The medieval village of Chamonix boasts impressive French architecture, chocolate shops and patisseries. Val d'Isere, which has 89 ski lifts linking about 300 kilometres of runs, hosted the 2009 World Championship ski races. Les Trois Vallees has about 600 kilometres of ski slopes. In the centre of France is the volcanic Auvergne region, a national park of 80 craters and glacial lakes with fantastic ski runs, sensational scenery, an increasing supply of low-cost accommodation, and far smaller queues than at other upmarket ski resorts in the French Alps several hundred kilometres away. The territory and snow cover in Auvergne are ideal for cross-country skis or snowshoes, which can be used to explore volcanic craters such as the Plomb du Cantal. Medieval villages and ski resorts dot the region, which has convenient rail links to Paris. A double bed and breakfast room in Auvergne cost an average 60 euros per night in 2011. The Brittany coast is a rugged landscape of stunning scenery and about a third of the local population speak Breton - a language close to Welsh and Cornish. Ancient towns worth exploring include Josselin (on the River Oust and hosting one of the finest medieval castles in Britanny), Vannes and Carnac (famous for its collection of 3,000 megalithic stones which run in lines for three kilometres). Further south amid the chalk cliffs of the Normandy coast, there are still plenty of scars and relics from D-Day more than 60 years ago, including the crumbling remains of the historic Mulberry harbour which was literally towed across the English Channel to facilitate the Normandy invasion. The remains of Mulberry harbour are still visible from the shoreline at Arromanches. French holiday travel information The Calvados district of Normandy is one of the most beautiful regions in France and is peppered with historic inland towns such as Caen, Pont l'Eveque, Cley, St Pierre-sur-Dives and Falaise. If you travel during the French summer, you might prefer to visit coastal towns in Calvados such as Courselles-sur-Mer, St Come de Fresne, Luc-sure-Mer, Honfleur and Langrune-sur-Mer. Lisieux, the capital of the Calvados region, was damaged extensively in World War II but several old buildings remain including one of the oldest Gothic cathedrals in Normandy. The district has a cool, forested ambience and Normandy's rugged coastline creates one of the most dramatic vistas in Europe. The local wines and cuisine are superb and travellers can drive on small, toll-free roads to explore the numerous one-church towns in Calvados. Holiday accommodation in the Calvados district is fairly expensive, particularly in the peak tourist season, but budget travellers can usually find some fairly cheap camping sites. In the south-west of France about six hours drive out of Paris is the famous Dordogne region, a favourite destination for many travellers as it's where you'll find the historic market town of Sarlat. About a third of the population in the Dordogne town of Eymet are British. Nearby is Les Eyzies, famed for its cave, the Grotte de Font de Guame, with paintings dating back to 16,000BC. A couple of hours east is the famouse Bordeaux wine region. Honfleur on the Normandy coast is a quaint 17th century port that was once the haunt of artists such as Claude Monet. The Honfleur harbour is surrounded by narrow cobbled streets which are peppered with art shops, bistros and patisseries. As is often the case in France, food is fairly inexpensive with a delicious three course meal likely to cost you about 30 euros in 2011. A bottle of good wine can be found for less than eight euros. The city of Bordeaux itself is a wonderful blend of the old and the new. One of the oldest cities in France, Bordeaux dates back to a Celtic tribe in the 3rd century BC. Around 100 BC and before the first vines had been planted, Roman armies overran the city and named it Burdigala. The city was under English rule for more than 300 years during the Middle Ages and flourished in the 18th century when more than 5000 buildings were constructed. Majestic old buildings line the banks of the Garonne River. The city has witnessed significant planning and development changes which favour pedestrians, supported by a new light-rail system. Because cars are discouraged, most streets are quiet and not congested. Worth visting are the open promenades near the city centre including the 10 hectare Jardin Public which was redesigned in 1856 in an English style. Tourists will also enjoy the Place des Quinconces, boasting massive statues and stands of plane trees near the waterfront, the Place de la Comedie business centre, the famous Grand Theatre which boasts 12 front pediments with individual statues, and the Musee d'art Contemporain de Bordeaux. Also worth sightseeing is the 1.2 kilometre Rue Sainte Catherine, the longest shopping street in Europe. This street leads to the 15th century Saint Michel Church, a landmark with its 114 metre bell tower and steeple. If you're in the region because of its vineyards, it's well worth exploring their history at the Bordeaux Wine and Trade Museum in the Chartrons district. Bordeaux is about 500 kilometres from Paris and is easily reached via fast-trains. The Perigord Noir region about four hours east of Bordeaux around the junction of the Vezere and Dordogne rivers is a landscape seemingly untouched by modern development, dotted with tiny villages, old farmhouses, stone walls, picturesque pastoral scenes and medieval castles. Different wine styles can be tracked further east of Bordeaux in Provence, then north into the Rhone region, through Burgundy and into Champagne. France travel tip ... the road system in France is excellent but the French like to drive their cars very fast. Keep to the right on the motorways even if you're doing 140kmh. Also note that in rural France, service stations are often unmanned and the petrol pumps only accept French credit cards. France travel tip ... public toilets are often difficult to find in France and they frequently either have an entry fee or are of a squat design. Synchronise your drinks, meals and toilet breaks during your French holiday, and try to carry the correct change so you can pay to get into a toilet if you find one. Also worth exploring in the south of France is the Canal du Midi, which became the link between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean in 1682 and is now classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. The canal is between 20-24 metres wide and no less than 1.4 metres deep, with more than 60 locks along the way. It is nowadays popular with tourists wanting a few leisurely days on the water soaking up the region's historic sights. The Canal du Midi flows through picturesque towns and villages such as Montgiscard, Villefranche-Lauragais, Castelnaudary, Beziers, Toulouse and Carcassonne (a fortified, world heritage city atop a steep hill encircled by ramparts and built on the ruins of a Roman fortress). A typical double room at a hotel in the region costs about 50 euro per night. The Mediterranean entrance to the Canal du Midi is the port of Sete, a charming town dating back to the 17th century with a network of canals leading some to describe it as the Venice of the Languedoc region. The Languedoc-Roussillon region itself in south-east France is a smorgasbord of Mediterranean beaches, mountains, canals, lagoons, forests, villages, busy cities, Roman ruins, medieval castles and about 300,000 hectares of vineyards producing top quality yet inexpensive wines. The area is blessed with an average 300 days of sunshine a year. Many travellers recommend winter travel through Languedoc-Roussilon because of the reduced tourist numbers, plentiful accommodation, lower prices and chilly yet still Mediterranean climate. France holiday tour information Although the south of France has the most temperate climate, it also suffers a cold, dry katabatic wind called the Mistral that funnels down the Rhone Valley at speeds up to 100khm for about three months each year (generally at its strongest in winter and early spring). Holiday travel in the south of France can take you through a treasure trove of medieval and Renaissance architectural history and art, including ancient Roman aqueducts, crumbling theatres and towering arches. Some of the ancient Roman architecture is among the best-preserved in the world. The Camargue region wedged between the two arms of the Rhone River in the deep south of France comprises 85,000 hectares of flat marshland designated as a natural reserve in 1970. The area is notable for its wild natural beauty, pink flamingos, white horses and bulls that have given the district a unique "cowboy" character. Unusual and worth visiting during your holiday travel. A new drawcard in the south-west of France is the spectacular Millau Viaduct, the world's tallest bridge opened in December 2004. Inspired by the Eiffel Tower, the bridge comprises seven soaring concrete pillars, the highest of which is 326 metres above the River Tarn near the town of Millau. The Millau Viaduct, which is a spectacular sight, completes a major new motorway from Paris to the Mediterranean. The famous Champagne district is less than two hours by road from Paris, making it accessible for overnight excursions and day trips. Softly undulating, green hills of grapevines dominate the Champagne landscape, which is dotted with classically French villages and towns. Verzy, Verzenay and Espernay are particularly gorgeous and, of course, there are various internationally renowned wine cellars where you can taste the fruits of the land. Many of the small traditional champagne houses can be found in the south of the district bordering Burgundy in an area called the Aube. The beautiful medieval town of Troyes is the centre of the Aube and was the ancient capital of Champagne. The nearby village of Essoyes was the summer home of impressionist painter Renoir for 25 years and his workshops are open to the public with guided tours showing the village scenes immortalised by his brush. A spiritual haven is Lourdes in the south-west of France, where tourists seek the miracle healing waters of a shrine to the Virgin Mary. In 2006, riot police were called in to control drunken holiday parties by tourists in the numerous bars of Lourdes, which has a population around 15,000. Worth visiting is Cluny, a small town in southern Burgundy close to the Benedictine Abbey that was a focal point of learning and stability in the Middle Ages. Cluny has cobbled streets and lanes running through centuries-old buildings, and the pace of life is slow. Don't miss the town's superb Saturday morning food market. If you don't have a hire car, catch the super-fast TGV train from Paris to Lyon (two hours, 16 minutes) and then a regional train for the 90 kilometre trip to Macon, which is near Cluny. A popular trip in the south of France includes the ancient Roman capital of Arles, the town of Uzes with its link to the Pont de Gard aqueduct, and the 14th Century Pope's Palace in the town of Avignon. These historic sites can all be seen within a day's car or bus travel. The best time of year to visit for a holiday is June and July when lavender fields are in full bloom. France tour information One of the world's most famous holiday destinations is the French Riviera (known locally as the Cote d'Azur) on the Mediterranean coast from St Tropez to Monaco, boasting a seductive climate, picturesque villages for sightseeing, stretches of sand and pebble beach with topless bathing, casinos, nightlife, Grand Prix car racing and a dramatic coastline. The capital of Nice has turn-of-the-century apartment buildings and hotels with majestic facades lining the Bay of Angels. Nice is also a cultural capital with 19 museums and galleries, more than any other French city outside Paris, plus 32 classified historical monuments for sightseeing and 300ha of parks and gardens. Tourists should explore the attractive old town of Nice with its numerous churches, baroque architecture, cobbled streets and squares, as well as numerous art galleries, boutiques and restaurants. Note: Dozens of people were killed and infrastructure was badly damaged by flash floods over a wide area in the Cote d'Azur in June 2010. Badly hit villages and resorts included Draguignan, Trans-en-Provence, Luc, Roquebrune, Frejus and St Tropez. Flooding also hit south-western France, including the Atlantic resorts of Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Bayonne. Between Nice and Monte Carlo is the seaside fishing village of Villefranche-sur-Mer, which has a population around 8,000 and a superb Riviera port favoured by cruise liners that drop anchor about three times every day. Villefranche has an intact medieval fort and a relaxed, unspoiled ambience with a plethora of comfortable restaurants within walking distance. The village is far less expensive and boisterous than Nice, which is 10 minutes away by road, or Monte Carlo, which is about 30 minutes away. The village's beach sand is effectively a carpet of tiny pebbles. Elton John and Tina Turner own villas in the surrounding hills but the village itself is simple and unpretentious. There are regular flights from Paris to Nice (taxi from airport to Villafranche about 50 euros in 2007) and a TGV fast train from Paris to Nice takes about five and a half hours (with a train service from Nice stopping at the Villegrance train station about 10 minutes from the village centre). The historic African gateway city of Marseille is now just three hours from Paris by TGV train, offering a rich Mediterranean culture of exotically dressed West Africans and Europeans in business suits mingling in bars and bistros centred around the ancient harbour of Vieux Port, founded in 600BC. Vieux Port (Old Port) is a well protected, U-shape bay with the old fortresses of St Jean and St Nicholas towering over its entrance. About one million people live in Marseilles, which is a working city nothing like the glitzy, glamourous Riviera. Marseille is the oldest city in France and is carpeted with terracotta roofs. Holiday travel in Marseilles involves a lot of climbing but the views alone make it worth the effort. If you climb the city's highest hill you'll arrive at the massive Notre Dame de la Garde, a Byzantine monument built between 1853 and 1864. The building's domed basilica can be seen throughout Marseille and bullet marks pock the cathedral's outer walls - evidence of the fighting that took place during the city's Battle of Liberation in 1944. The Marseille fish markets are spectacular and the peak tourist season is July-September. About 30 kilometres north of Marseille is the historical and cultural capital of Aix-en-Provence. This city was founded in 123BC over hot springs. By the 12th century it had become an artistic centre and seat of learning. Aix-en-Provence is renowned for its many fountains and its most famous son was painter Paul Cezanne. France holiday tour guide The Loire Valley is a gastronomic, viticultural delight, and it is classic France. The middle 250 kilometres of the Loire is a listed World Heritage site, from upstream of Orleans to downstream of Angers. The region is a living, pulsating time capsule of ancient towns, villages, vineyards, forests and regal chateaux. The Loire can be readily accessed by TGV fast train, which takes about an hour to cover the 200 kilometres from Montpamasse station in Paris. Barge tours along the Loire can be found for less than 400 euro per day in 2011, some involving daytime bicycle expeditions through the French countryside. There are about a thousand chateaux in France and the Loire Valley is home to many of the best. The Chenonceau chateaux castle near the village of Chenonceaux is considered the most beautiful in the Loire Valley and is the second-most visited chateau in France. It is open every day of the year with entry of 10.5 euros for adults and 8.5 euros for children and students (2011). There are more than 300 magnificent medieval castles dotted through the Loire Valley, with many regarding the best as Chenonceau, Chambord, Chinon, Amboise, Valencay and Villandry. Major rivers in France are the Garonne, Loire (longest at 1020km), Rhine, Rhone and Seine. The city of Lyon, often referred to as the food capital of France, is home to about 450,000 people and is located on a peninsula between the Rhone and Saone rivers about 460 kilometres south-east of Paris. The city's cobblestone Renaissance quarter, Vieux Lyon, was founded by the Roman military in 43BC and is on the western side of the Saone River. Vieux Lyon is dotted with gothic churches, museums, narrow lanes and more than 300 Renaissance mansions, many used as fashion boutiques, gift shops, delicatessens, restaurants and cafes. Rue Saint-Jean in Vieux Lyon is devoted almost entirely to eateries. A key Lyon landmark is the stunning Basilica Notre-Dame on the summit of Fourviere hill, built in 1896 and perched 300 metres above the Saone River with glorious views over the World Heritage listed city and all the way to the French Alps on a clear day. The basilica and its neighbouring 1852 chapel are illuminated every year for the four day Festival of Lights that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city from December 8. Tourists might also explore the Museum of Textiles and Decorative Arts or the secret passageways of La Croix-Rousse district. A capital of silk-weaving for centuries during the Middle Ages, Lyon is the second largest urban centre in France and has a massive central pedestrian square called Place Bellecour which is home to the tourist information office. A Lyon City Card costs about 15 euro per day (2011) and provides unlimited rides on the Metro system, as well as entry to many museums. Directly north of Lyon is Dijon, capital of the Burgundy duchy for the past 500 years. Dijon is surrounded by some of Europe's best vineyards and is famous for its namesake mustards. The city's best-preserved medieval street is Rue Verrerie, the heart of Dijon's antiques quarter. The Musee des Beaux-Arts is housed within the landmark Palace of the Dukes and is one of the finest regional art galleries in France. Atop the Palace of the Dukes is the 46 metre Tower of Philip the Good, built in the 15th century. Guided tours are available from 9am to 5.30pm up the 361 steps of the tower to a roof offering spectacular city and regional views. The Cote de Nuits wine region begins on Dijon's southern boundary and the Route des Grands Crus is a drive between Dijon and Beaune that passes more than 170 vignerons and vineyards producing some of the finest labels in the world. Public bicycles are available to residents and visitors at 40 Velodi bikes stands throughout Dijon. The 1,000 year old medieval city of Montpellier and its surrounding district has a population around 430,000, including many university students, with more than a third of its population aged less than 25. Montpellier, about 11 kilometres from the Mediterranean coast, has an excellent tramway system and extensive bicycle paths. The narrow streets of the old city of Montpellier are lined with cafes, cheap restaurants, bookshops and entertainment or drinking venues aimed at the student market. The most north-eastern province of France is Alsace, which boasts a green landscape of vineyards and baroque steeples. A relaxed holiday can be enjoyed in Alscace aboard a hired barge travelling along the province's many canals and docking at beautiful canal villages such as Lutzelbourg. The Alsace capital, Strasbourg, was founded by the Romans in 12BC and at its heart is the 1439 Cathedral of Notre Dame, which took 325 years to build. Strasbourg has been a meeting place for the European Parliament since 1949 and is a town peppered with gabled houses, 18th century manors, narrow lanes and canals. The town centre is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 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