If you are looking to enjoy the sun, sand and great culture, you can easily find it in the South of France. The South of France is located right on the Mediterranean Sea and includes great cities such as Nice and Cannes. Smaller towns such as Antibes and St. Tropez are also part of this region and Monaco a principality which is known as the capital for the rich and famous is only a few miles away as well. With so much to see and do in the South of the France, you will wish that you had much more time to settle in and relax all that this wonderful region has to offer.
The South of France has its very own culture and most travelers enjoy the easygoing lifestyle of its residents. Many people travel to the South of France to enjoy the sea and lots of pristine beaches. There are also countless open air markets and cafes available to travelers that would love to enjoy the local foods and crafts of the area.
Just because the South of France is sometimes considered the playground for the very rich, if you don’t have a large budget, don’t worry, there is plenty to do even if you are a student. Most beaches are free and you can find affordable accommodations and cuisine no matter where you go. The South of France is very easy to get to either by train or by air. Once in the larger cities you can find public transportation. For smaller towns, you may need to rent a car or better yet, just walk through the beautiful streets. If you are looking for lots of fun and sun, travel to the South of France.
When travelers think about Europe, Paris usually comes to mind. Paris is thought of as many as the most romantic, beautiful and cultured town in all of Europe. Millions of people flock to Paris each year to enjoy the sites, beautiful flowers, wonderful cuisine and priceless art. If you are planning a trip to Europe, here are some tips to visiting Paris.
Paris is the jewel of Europe and you can spend months in this beautiful town and not see everything she has to offer. For travelers with only a few days or a couple of weeks, you can certainly enjoy the major attractions that Paris is famous for.
Some of the top destinations are of course the Eiffel Tower, Le Louvre, Versailles and Notre Dame. Plan to spend a few hours or even a day at each of these world class attractions. Many people can sometimes need a few days or more just to walk through Versailles or Le Louvre art Museum.
Paris can be expensive, so make sure you have a good budget. For students, you can still find affordable accommodations and eat well at the local markets. However coffee and specialty drinks at the cafes will make Starbucks prices seem cheap. If your budget is no object, make sure that you plan to visit Paris’s world class restaurants and stay at its beautiful hotels. Flying to Paris is usually very easy from the states, and is also extremely easy to get to London and other major cities in Europe.
- Country Guides:
- France Way- Guide to French history, culture, and travel.
- France.com- Information on culture, travel, and cuisine.
- Tourism in France- Information on hotels, restaurants, French wine, monuments, museums, and transportation. In both English and French.
- Tourisme en France- Map of France which you can click on a region and see what places of interest that area has to offer. Site in French.
- Guide to Southern France
- City Guides:
- Arles- An ancient city in France where you can see ancient architecture and experience ancient France.
- Bordeaux- French wine country.
- Normandy- Discover Mt. St-Michel, Rouen, the beaches of D-Day, the Bayeux Tapestry, and much more.
- Sightseeing in Paris- Here is a map of Paris which you can click on and get information about each district and its places of interest.
- Paris- Information on all sorts of stuff in Paris. Includes history and pictures of many monuments and museums.
- Marseille- Official site of the city of Marseille. Site in French.
- Nice- Official site of the city of Nice. Site in English and French.
- Lyon- Discovering Lyon. Site in English.
- Monuments and Museums:
- Chartres- Site of the famous French cathedral, Chartres. Plenty of pictures and information on the cathedral.
- Eiffel Tower
- Chateau de Versailles- Famous castle of Louis XIV, the Sun King. Gorgeous gardens and museum.
- Le Louvre- Home of the “Mona Lisa” and the famous pyramid.
- Musee d’Orsay- An old train station that was turned into a museum in 1986.
- Centre Georges Pompidou- National Museum of Modern Art.
- Other Places of Interest:
- The Loire Valley- Home of many famous chateaux and gorgeous countryside.
- Disneyland Paris- Even France loves Mickey!
- Discovering French Chateaux- Information on French chateaux with pictures of the chateaux, their gardens, etc.
- Claude Monet’s Gardens in Giverny- Pictures of Claude Monet’s (a famous painter) home and gardens.
- Vaux le Vicomte- Home of Nicolas Fouquet. Pictures of the many beautiful gardens of this chateau.
- Le Mont-Saint-Michel- An old abbey and village situated on a huge rock in the water. A must see!
- Jardin d’Acclimatation- Gorgeous park and gardens in France.
What is it about France that makes it the world’s premier tourist destination? Partly, it’s the individuality, sometimes eccentricity, of the place and its people. The New York Times once said: “The French are highly individualistic and ungovernable and the extraordinary thing is that, although they project great leaders about once a century, those leaders rule effectively but bequeath chaos.” Even more so, there is the laid back lifestyle: according to Jean Anouilh: “Everything ends this way in France - everything. Weddings, christenings, duels, burials, swindlings, diplomatic affairs - everything is a pretext for a good dinner.” Add to this the ever present history of the place, garnish with architecture, style, art, light, colour and you have one of the most potent recipes known to man…. Thomas Jefferson summed it up neatly when he said: “Every man has two countries, his own and France”
- April 2007 (2)
- March 2007 (3)
