France

 

 

 

 

G eographically, France dominates Western Europe. Stretching from the Mediterranean to the English Channel, and from the Alps it shares with Switzerland to the Pyrénées it shares with Spain, it is a country that few others can match for its variety of travel experiences.

Within this mass of land — a third larger than California — are regions so different from one another that travelers should view them as individual destinations, much as we view the numerous regions of the USA and Canada as providing distinctly different experiences.

The vineyards and restaurants of Burgundy, Bordeaux and the Champagne region are a world apart from the ancient towns of Brittany. So, too, the rolling hills and fields of Normandy contrast sharply with the splendid chateaux of the Loire Valley and the magnificent Alps. And, of course, there’s the cultural tsunami of Paris, which is found nowhere else on the Continent.

But France isn’t merely a country of diverse regions. With its national obsession for joir de vivre, it is a land of experiences that touch every sense and emotion.

Most fortuitous for the traveler, though, is that getting about the country is fast and comfortable. Enjoy a late morning dip in the Mediterranean Côte d’Azur, take the high-speed train to Paris and you can be dining on the Champs Elysées that evening. Très magnifique!

If there is one rule to be adhered to when traveling to France it to enjoy Paris but leave plenty of time – perhaps even several additional trips – to enjoy the cornucopia of experiences you’ll find beyond the arrondissements of the capital.

Quick Tours (video)

Paris – A Brass Band at the Steps of Notre Dame

Top Experiences

Paris – cornucopia of culture
The Loire Valley – the chateaux country
Lyon – capital of gastronomy
Bordeaux and Burgundy – oenophiles on steroids
Normandy – the landing beaches
Côte d’Azur –the chic beaches

Good to Know

Barge Travel in France
France has a network of canals and rivers you can cruise as you travel, and you can take a barge cruise all the way from the English Channel to the Mediterranean.

Driving the Riviera Corniches
There is no other drive that provides a taste of the Riviera, as does the Corniches, a series of three roads that can take you from Nice, to have lunch on the Italian Riviera.

Paris Supper Clubs
Part dinner clubs-part social clubs (some well-advertised, some underground) they are a good way for foodies to experience a great meal while connecting with locals and other travelers. My Melange finds four in the City of Light.

The Ardèche’s best wine experiences
The Ardèche boasts some of France’s most famous vineyards – and expensive wine. But further south, in l’Ardèche Méridionale, you’ll find more affordable vintages, rural bistros and friendly winemaker B&Bs says the Guardian. (photo: Nick Petten)

Transportation

Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport is served by most major airlines and there are numerous nonstop flights from the USA and Canada. There is also ferry service from England. Rail travel on the country’s TGV high-speed trains is superb and comfortable and bus service is good. The country’s well-maintained highways make travel by car easy and comfortable.

Hotels

Hotels are plentiful in every category ranging from hostels to deluxe.

Food

Both the number and variety of places to eat in France are almost beyond comprehension. From bistros and cafes to numerous world-renown havens of haute cuisine, France offers meals for every taste and pocketbook.

Quality of Medical Care (Good/Fair/Poor)

Good