 France was one of the earliest countries to progress from feudalism to the nation-state. Its monarchs surrounded themselves with capable ministers, and French armies were among the most innovative, disciplined, and professional of their day.
When?
France is best visited during spring time, May and June, or the beginning of autumn, September and October. Summer vacations are during July and August, making it the worst time to visit because of the overcrowding.
How to Reach
?
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is the largest airport serving Paris and the second busiest passenger airport in Europe after London Heathrow.Located 23 kilometres (14 miles) north-east of Paris, Charles de Gaulle Airport offers numerous transport links to the French capital city by road and rail.
Visa
A visa is essential for travelling to France, albeit visitors from Europe do not need one for periods shorter than 90 days.
Currency
The Euro is now the official currency of 12 EU member states including France. Shops and hotels are prohibited from accepting foreign currency by law.
Things To Do in
France
Paris
Paris is a capital that offers an excellent lifestyle. There is a wide range of accommodation options, lots of restaurants and plenty of different activities: you can take to the streets on a bicycle or on rollerblades, recharge your batteries in one of the parks and gardens, and one nights out.
Eiffel Tower - Trocadero
This is undoubtedly one of the most famous monuments in the world. Gustave Eiffel designed the 324-meter, 10,100-ton Eiffel Tower in1889 for the World’s Fair, where it was the star attraction.
Arc de Triomphe - Champs Elysees
A unique panoramic view over the Champs-Elysees; the most beautiful avenue in the world. The Arc de Triomphe was built in 1806 at the instigation of Napoleon I .
Place de la Concorde - Place de la Madelaine - Place des Vosges - Rue Rivoli
A stroll through Le Marais without visiting Place des Vosges would be like going to the Champs Elysees without seeing the Arc de Triomphe! It is elegant with a classically French style, and is a pure and unique example of early 17th century architecture. Inside the square, the splendid fountains still have the name of King Louis XIII who was in power when the square was completed in the 1600s.
NOTRE DE DAME DE PARIS
Immortalized in Victor Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece enhanced by delicate stone filigree work. Before you enter the nave and admire the fine stained-glass windows, some of which date back to the Middle Ages, don’t forget to look up at the ghoulish gargoyles that adorn the roof gutters of the building. You can also climb to the top of the bell-tower for unparalleled views of the city.
Opera National de Paris, the Palais Garnier
A 19th-century architectural masterpiece famous throughout the world. A temple to opera and choreography, the richness of its architecture and sumptuously decorated interior are amazing. Don’t miss the Grand Staircase, the Grand Foyer (restored in 2004), the auditorium and Library-Museum.
Montmatre - Sacre Coeur
This church was built from 1875 onwards in a Romano-Byzantine style. Before entering the Sacre-Cœur, enjoy the unobstructed view of Paris from the square in front of the basilica. Even better, go up to the dome gallery, which offers a spectacular view extending over a 50-km radius!
Louvre
The Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, the Victory of Samothrace... you will find all these masterpieces in the Louvre, the most famous museum in the world! In the heart of Paris, this former palace of the Kings of France, a museum since 1793, with over 35,000 works on display, holds the largest collections of art from the ancient world, Western Art and Islamic Art, up to the mid 19th century.
Lyon
This ancient city (two millennia old!) sits on the confluence of the Rhone and the Saone, with a scenic backdrop of the Fourvière and Croix Rousse hills. It offers an unusual journey through time and across cultures.
Ampitheatre Gallo Romain
On top of Fourvière, this hilltop amphitheatre was constructed during the reign of the Roman Emperor, Tiberius. During its long history, it has been used as a forum of entertainment, a place to swear loyalty to Rome, and a place of execution.
Atelier de Soierie
Silk has been manufactured in Lyon for some 400 years and this tradition continues today in a small number of workshops. Attractions include both demonstrations and displays, with this popular silk workshop allowing visitors to see the techniques used here to create fine silk objects.
Cathedrale St. Jean
Lyon's main church has been situated on this site in some form or other since the 4th century. The building that you can see today was built between the 12th and 14th centuries and is a fine example of how churches evolve through the centuries. Its astronomical clock, featuring the moving figures of the Annunciation and a lone bugle player, is always popular with tourists.
Institut Lumiere
The childhood home of Auguste and Louis Lumière pays homage to their early work in creating cinematography. The attraction's exhibits include some of the cameras that the famous brothers used to shoot their first films, together with other photographic paraphernalia. Film shows are programmed for most evenings.
Aquarium du Grand Lyon
A popular attraction, situated just outside Lyon, the Aquarium du Grand Lyon is home to a fascinating collection of marine life. Watch sharks and even get the chance to touch some of the fish. The aquarium is always a big hit with families and the gift shop contains a range of appealing fishy souvenirs.
Nice
A year round season - Nice, capital city of Cote d'Azur, lies in the heart of a region made famous by its timeless beauty.
Promenade des Anglais
Few spots epitomize Nice -- or, in fact, the joie de vivre of the French Riviera in general -- than the inviting Promenade des Anglais. It is always bustling with humanity.There are tourists relaxing in the royal blue chairs lining the shore.
Cours Saleya Flower Market
Nice's famous Flower Market is one of the best attractions in the whole city. The edges are lined with cafes and souvenir shops, and the stands themselves are packed with amazing produce and myriad flowers. It operates six days a week, replaced on Mondays by a flea and antiques market.
Matisse Museum
The lovely and innovative art of Henri Matisse was inspired by the fresh colors and lines of Nice. Just take a look at any of his art peering out of balcony windows, and you will surely see the Riviera shoreline. This vast museum shows Matisse's works from his more traditional early days to the end of his career. There are also some of his personal effects here. The museum gift shop features prints of the artist's works.
Old Nice
Old Nice is downright dripping with atmosphere. Its narrow streets are a one-stop shop for take-home finds, such as Provençal wares, household items, wine, gourmet gifts, hip clothing and more. There are numerous restaurants in the area, as well as several fun bars and nightclubs. Be sure to stop off for a delicious ice cream in this neighborhood.
Le Chateau
The best reason to visit the chateau is for the spectacular panoramic view of the city and sea. You won't actually see much of a castle (only a few sections of it remain). You can take the elevator up for a nominal price or hike up the stairs for free to the park atop the hill. Be sure to bring your camera.
Nice Port
The Nice Port area is one frequently overlooked by tourists, but it shouldn't be. Just around the corner from Old Nice and the Quai des Etats Unis, this is a great spot to watch the Corsica ferries lift off. There are also some of the city's hippest nightclubs here.
Cannes
The beach is silky white, the sea as blue as sea will ever be and the entertainment among the best in the world. It is hardly surprising that Cannes is a famous playground for the wealthy and successful, regularly seen promenading La Croisette in sunglasses costing more than the average package holiday. Cannes is perfectly positioned for driving along the rest of the Riviera and is close enough to the Alps to allow an afternoon excursion.
Promenade de la Croisette
For many, this promenade is Cannes, with the beach on one side and luxury hotels, shops and boutiques on the other. During the day, the focus is on the fine white sands and the azure blue of the warm Mediterranean. When night falls the other side of the promenade comes alive, and some of the finest dining in the world is on tap in a wealth of superb restaurants. Dancing, casinos, live music and movie premieres all feature in the choice of available entertainment.
Palais des Festivals
Sitting beside the old harbour on the famous Croisette, the Palais des Festivals offers year-round exhibitions, shows and concerts and during May, the famous film festival. Nearby in the Allee des Stars, handprints of celebrities are immortalised in the pavement cement.
Musee Picasso
Between the old city of Antibes, the ramparts and the sea is this superb 16th-century restored chateau containing a substantial collection of work by Pablo Picasso, who inhabited the second floor for some three months. The collection includes a selection of his paintings as well as pottery and some lithographs.
Musee de la Castre
Since 1952 the castle, built during the 11th and 12th centuries in the old Le Suquet district of Cannes, has housed the collections of the Museum of Cannes. Exotic cultures are celebrated here with collections focusing on ancient Egypt, the Pacific islands and pre-Columbus North America.
Le Suquet (Old Town)
This is the older part of Cannes, set on the hillside overlooking the resort. It retains a typical Mediterranean atmosphere and is a peaceful alternative to the vibrancy of seaside Cannes.
de Bon Voyage
The largest church in Cannes, built in the Faux Gothic style in the late 19th century. A splendid example of fine architecture with an emphasis on detail.
MontBlanc
Mt. Blanc is the highest peak in the Alps and indeed all of Europe. Part of an enormous mountain massif that lies along the French-Italian border and reaches into Switzerland as well, Mt. Blanc was created by an upswelling of igneous rock from the bed of an ancient sea. Its peak, perpetually covered in snow, soars above 40 square miles (100 square kilometers) of glaciers that periodically flow to the bottom of nearby Chamonix valley. A 16th century telling of a much earlier legend mentions a temple and statue of the Celtic sky god, Jupiter Poeninus, that was once located upon a pass high on the mountain's side. Old Christian myths tell of St. Bernard's eventual domination of this 'pagan devil' and the ensuing naming of the peak as Mont Maudit, or the 'Accursed Mountain'. Visited by famous European poets such as Goethe in 1779 and Shelley in 1816, the mountain was renamed Mont Blanc in French and Monte Bianco in Italian, both names meaning the 'White Mountain'. Long considered unclimbable, the peak was first scaled in 1786 and today is one of Europe's most favored sites for glacier climbing and extreme skiing.
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