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France
One of Europe's most popular tourist destinations, France is also one of the most popular second home destinations aswell. Being one of the largest countries in Europe also means it has one of the most diverse landscapes. With excellent skiing, beautiful beaches and dense forests, there is something for everyone!
France or officially the French Republic is made up of 22 regions and 100 departments it has a population of 61,044,684 (2006 figures) which equates to approximately 112 people per square km. Apart from the main language of French there are also several regional dialects these include Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque & Flemish. It's name derives from the medieval Latin name of Francia which literally means Land of the Franks, this was originally the Frankish Empire which stretched from Eastern Germany to modern day southern France.
Coast
France is home to some of the world's most famous coastal resorts, name St. Tropez, Nice etc where Hollywood's top stars and the wealthy can be regularly seen. With a very large coastline, there are coastal towns and villages to suit all holiday makers and home buyers.
The northern coastline is less known and less popular than the southern coast but should not be overlooked. Just an hour on the ferry (or 30 mins on the Eurotunnel), you can be on a northern French beach in little time and enjoying French culture.
Skiing in France
Arguably, France could be more famous for its top quality ski resorts located in its two main mountain ranges, the Alps and the Pyrenees. The Alps, renown for their stunning scenery, pristine lakes and picture perfect villages attract thousands of tourists each year, all year round.
Well-known resorts such as Chamonix and Val d'Isere make the French Alps a world famous destination for skiing, with Chamonix, host of the first Winter Olympics in 1924, known as its capital. Its prize peak is Mont Blanc, which, at 4,807 m (15,771 ft), is Europe's highest. Summertime invites hikers and bikers with incredible lung capacity to challenge the mountain.
Grenoble, a sophisticated city in the lower Alps, crackles with electricity from a high population of international students. The fortified 16th century Bastille above the town offers entrancing views of the landscape. Musee Dauphinois, below the Bastille in an ancient convent, contains exhibits ranging from Alpen life to visions of the future. The picturesque community of Annecy is endowed with vibrant gardens and shimmering lakes. A number of spas pamper and treat, with Evian-les-Bains and Aix-les-Bains being among the most visited.
Paris
Paris, famous as the most romantic city in the world can be quite daunting on the first visit as nearly every square inch of this beautiful city is packed with history and charm. All of it is worth seeing but sadly on most visits, people don't have the time to fit it all in! Below are some of the must see sites in Paris:
- The Louvre
- Notre Dame cathedral
- Musee d'Orsay
- The Sorbonne and Latin quarter
- Eiffel Tower
- Arc de Triompe and Champs d'Elysee
- Centre Georges Pompidou and the Beaubourg neighbourhood
- Sacre Coeur and Montemarte
- Pere Lachaise cemetery
- Boat tour of the Seine river
The city is often referred to as being in the shape of a snail's shell and is divided into 20 suburbs (arrondissements). The first arrondissement is the centre of Paris, near the Seine river and subsequent arrondissements spiral out clockwise from the centre. By looking on the street signs you can see which arrondissements you are located in.
Weather
The weather in France varies with a more temperate climate similar to England in the North, while in the Southern and Mediterranean areas of France the winters are milder and the summers are hot. The Mediterranean areas are also prone to the Mistral a cold north wind that blows southwards down from the mountains it's speed can reach 85 miles an hour!
The terrain in France differs enormously, the north and west are mainly flat plains or rolling hills while to the east and south it is mountainous. The main mountain ranges are the Pyrennees which runs between the border of Spain and France and the Alps which is the highest mountain range in Europe, the Alps run from the Gulf of Genoa to the river Danube in Vienna.
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