History lovers will be spoilt for choice when it comes to the chateaux in Indre-et-Loire, but there is one example which stands out amongst all the others; the Chateau de Chenonceau. Inside you can find the usual collection of fine art and period furniture while the extensive gardens are perfect for exploring in the French sunshine.

What makes Chenonceau so different is that it is actually built over a river, supported by a series of arches. You can get some excellent photographs from the riverbank of the castle and its reflection or take a boat trip right up the foundations and even through the arches themselves.

Other impressive castles include the Chateau de Villandry, one of the most popular in the country and well known for its landscaped garden and fascinating history. Children will be entertained by the maze in the garden while Mum and Dad can appreciate the architectural beauty of the building itself.

The main city in the Indre-et-Loire region is Tours, a green city often referred to as “The Garden of France”. Many of the best parks and open spaces are free to visit, including the botanical gardens.

The French are very keen on the sport of cycling and the residents of Tours are no exception. If you are visiting Indre-et-Loire around October head to the town on the day of the celebrated Paris-Tours cycling race. Not only can you enjoy the spectacle of hundreds of cyclists travelling at high speed, but there are various musical and cultural events held at the same time.

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For people who enjoy mountain biking and walking then one of the best of these places to head to would be Bresse, which is a place where history has made it into modern day life and many farmers practice the ancient techniques and crafts that are a major part of the economy.

They’re often played by local actors who are dressed in costume and act out scenes from the history of the area. These are not just static performances and people are encouraged to get involved with activities which often demonstrate how the area would operate in the past. This is the only part of France where Saracen style chimneys can be seen, so while you are here it is worth paying particular attention to these.

For those who enjoy taking gentle walks up to hilltop villages and exploring waterfalls and lakes then Bugey is the area to head to. There are a great many cycling and walking opportunities around the many lakes in the area, and it is especially worth heading to Lake Nantua, which is one of the most beautiful in the area.

If you are visiting in the winter then you will be able to see these lakes when they are frozen over and as well as providing a spectacular backdrop for some chilly hiking, it is also possible to ice skate on many of these lakes.

Dombes is an area that is dominated by water and this means it has become known as the land of one thousand mirrors, referring to the reflective nature of the water. Unlike the two regions we have mentioned above, this part of France is much flatter and is more suited to people who want a more leisurely hiking experience. It also makes it more accessible for people who enjoy horse riding and there are many centres where you can find a horse that will allow you to explore the area.

Finally, there is the Pay de Gex which is one of the most mountainous regions. It is located in the northern part of Ain and is a place that is known in the winter for its skiing, and in the summer for its hiking. The villages and towns up in the mountains are very beautiful but can be hard to reach in the colder months. For those who’ve tired from outdoor excursions the spa town of Divonne-les-Bains is a perfect stop.

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Seriously though, if you have skiing on your doorstep, would you travel to another country just for some nightlife and great food? As far as France is concerned the answer is a resounding yes. There is something very special about France that is hard to put your finger on, there is the Gallic charm of course, and stunning scenery and the world renowned cuisine and fine wines, but there is that immeasurable magic that is purely French.

The population of French are renowned as being chic and stylish, as are their towns and cities. There is nowhere that it is more evident than in their ski resorts. Val d’Isere, Chamonix, Courcheval, Les Menuires, Val Thorens, the list goes on, all as classy and as stylish as the next, and all purveyors of that certain je ne sais quoi that would tell you, even if you had travelled blindfolded, that you were in France.

The fact that their resorts cater for everyone is another huge attraction. Whether you are a child taking their first steps on miniature skis, or an expert, there are slopes to suit as well as numerous other winter sports available such as snowboarding, cross country skiing, hiking or climbing.

The French know what tourists want and deliver it tenfold. The accommodations are immaculate, and range from cosy rooms for to right up to spectacular chalets that sleep over a dozen holidaymakers and come complete with those little touches of luxury such as hot tubs.

The shopping is, as you imagine, incomparable. High end design boutiques nestle next to creperies and elegant cafes where you can relax with a coffee and pastry and simply soak up the atmosphere. It is this very essence that attract more non skiers to French ski resorts than those in any other country. They have no desire to hurtle down mountains, they simply want to be a part of it all

One the sun goes down, the French ski resorts really come to life. Bars, restaurants, clubs, live shows, many of these are open until dawn and partying in such cosmopolitan resorts are the kind of experiences that create memories that last a lifetime. Many of the resort restaurants bring in the top chefs during the ski season so you get to sample the famous French cuisine that is famed across the globe and considered to be the best in the world.

Skiing holidays in France are no longer just for the rich and famous, they are realistically priced to appeal to all budgets, and affordable to all. If you have never been skiing in France before, you really don’t know what you’re missing.

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It handles over 100 million tons of cargo (including 60% oil), making it the largest French port in the Mediterranean and the fourth largest port in Europe after Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg. The port handled 1.8 million passengers (2004), mainly to Corsica and North Africa, and for cruises in the Mediterranean. There were 360,000 cruise passengers in 2010

Beaches

The main beaches are the beaches of Prado, Les Catalans, Red Point, the beach of the Prophet. The beaches of Prado were furnished by the period of digging underground in Marseilles. Like the J4 created by the embankments of the Rue de la Republique, the Prado beaches have been created artificially through the mounds of soil in Marseilles.

Other beaches in Marseille are: Washing beach, the Battery, the Fortin (Corbieres beaches in the Estaque district), beach Saint-Esteve (Islands of Friuli), David beach, the beach Huveaune, Borely beach, beach of Bonneveine, Old Chapel beach, beach Bains des Dames, the Anse beach of the Phoenicians, the beach of Anse Sablettes, Samena beach, and beach of Maronaise.

Beaches and coves are: Sormiou beach, Morgiou beach, and d’En Vau beach.

The Calanques of Marseille extend over twenty miles of coastline on the Mediterranean Sea between Goudes village, a city of the south-western district of Marseille, and Cassis. This is one of the most remarkable sites in France, and a major area of natural resources and sporting activities such as walking, climbing and diving. It sees one million visitors annually. The Calanques could benefit from the protection of a national park in 2011.

Marseille is a hotbed of diving, with nearly one hundred sites. The most famous are: the archipelago of Riou, archipelago of Friuli, and the Isle of Planier. Several dive shops offer dive trips. Commercial fishermen, who have long been part of the landscape of Estaque and Old Port in Marseille, have become scarce over the decades. Still, wolf, redfish, sea bream, mullet, and grouper are the delight of casual anglers.

The frigate Sartine, named after the Minister of the Royal Navy at the time, carried French soldiers under an agreement to exchange prisoners in India. Inadvertently damaged by a British ship, it ran aground in the entry on May 19, 1780, paralyzing traffic. With a slight deformation of the name – sardine – it became a classic joke as the sardine that blocked the port of Marseille!

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The surprising news has emerged that various regions of Northern France are vying with the UK in a strong bid to attract those tourists who are seeking accommodation when they come to see the spectacle that is the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As the vast majority of hotels and other accommodations in the South East and London already fully booked up for the full duration of the games, the authorities in the region of Core d’Opale are looking to cash in on the close proximity they share with the UK.

There are currently 70,000 beds available in the Cote d’Opale region, split between holiday cottages, campsites and hotels. Some of these hotels are priced at only €62 per night, a big difference from the €110 a night that is being charged in the South East and London.

Those tourists who opt to stay in this area are close to the Eurostar connections in both Lille and Calais, meaning that at the most they are only 90 minutes from London, and the journey is just 60 minutes from Calais. There will be a network of greeters who will meet visitors at local seaports, train stations and airports, and show them the attractions and sights of the Cote d’Opale region.

Notable tourist attractions in the region include the 800-year-old Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Saint Omer; Nausicaa, The French National Sea Experience centre; the Battle of Dunkerque Museum; and more than 100 miles of beaches.

There are also five casinos, six golf courses, and 17 shopping centers, as well as 30 sporting centres with facilities for various sports including gymnastics, horse riding, football and basketball.

Cote d’Opale Developpement was established in 2005 by four economic development agencies, covering the areas of Boulogne sur Mer, Calais, Dunkerque and Saint Omer.

The organisation’s main objective to promote investment opportunities on the Cote d’Opale. It also provides free customized assistance to companies and investors looking to locate or expand their business into the region.

The organisation will be exhibiting at the World Travel Market event at ExCeL London from November 7^th to 10^th. Sharing the stand will be the tourism boards of Boulogne sur mer, Calais, Dunkerque, Saint-Omer, Pas-de-Calais Tourism and Boulogne and le boulonnais region tourism.

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The capital city of the Aude is Carcassone, situated on a mountainside and dating back well over 3,000 years to its origins as a Celtic settlement, or so it is believed.  Carcassonne’s history is long and fascinating, but the citadel, or la Cite that overlooks the town from its mountaintop is literally the high point, for the views it commands and the history it contains.

Carcassonne is really two towns; the old town with its streets of dizzying steepness and views to match, and the ‘newer’ but still medieval area down the hill and across the bridge.  The novel by Kate Mosse, Labyrinth, which won the 2006 ‘Best Read of the Year’ in Britain, was set in Carcassonne, and rekindled interest in the region and its history.

Narbonne is the other main population centre in the  Aude, once the capital of the first Roman colony in what was then Gaul.  You will find a lot of both the ancient and the picturesque, including the remains of an old Roman route, the Via Domitia.  Les Halles, the covered market open every day, is one of the best in France, and there are many attractive shops and cafes.

The Canal du Midi flows through Narbonne and a long stretch of the Aude; it is a UNESCO world heritage site and a wonderful opportunity for a leisurely boat trip through this scenic country.  The Canal was constructed as a link between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean; it took 15 years to build and opened in 1681.  It represents a stupendous feat of engineering, even today.

The Aude has some of the best terrain in France for walking and caving.  Containing one of the largest limestone formations in the Pyrenees, the region is dotted with caves ideal for exploration.  Underground rivers and giant cavities are best explored with special equipment and an experienced guide, but there are plenty of caves and grottoes perfect for amateur spelunking.

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The abbey was restored by Paul Abadie in the nineteenth century, when a belfry, symmetrical to the original, was added to the left of the facade. The monk Dom Bedos de Celles built its organ in 1750, which is currently regarded as a masterpiece. The organ was restored by factor Pascal Quoirin in 1995.

Founded in Merovingian times, the abbey is south of Bordeaux, on elevated ground.  It is surrounded by a swamp that is traversed by a small stream called l’Eau Bourde (Foolish Water).  The stream flows into the Garonne a few hundred meters from the present church.  The exact date of its foundation is not known. According to an inscription dating from the seventh century, Saint-Mommolin, abbot of Fleury sur Loire (now Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire), died there around the year 679. The monks followed the Benedictine rule.

The original abbey was destroyed by the Saracens around 730, and then probably rebuilt at the end of the century. It was again completely destroyed by the terrible Norman raids during the ninth century; the raids left the country devastated.
The rebuilding of the abbey is attributed to William the Good, Count of Bordeaux, on the site of the oratory dedicated to Saint-Mommolin, perhaps in 970.  The abbey acquired the towns of Saint-Hilaire du Taillan and Soulac. Later, it expanded its holdings to include St. Macarius and Macau. Therefore, due to donations for acquisitions, the parish gradually spread. The Dukes of Aquitaine confirmed successive privileges.

The abbey church was built in the late eleventh century or early twelfth century, along with the church of Soulac and that of Macau.  The kitchens, dormitories, dining halls, etc., gradually deteriorated as the abbots left. In 1664, the monks of the Congregation of St. Maur obtained permission to build a new monastery.  It was completed in 1672.

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Paris is home to some of the most famous sights and places of interest in the world, and nearly all are located on the surface of the city, but the most strange and gruesome sight is situated under the surface and well below the streets.

The Catacombs of Paris are a large cemetery of bones. This was started in the 18^th century in an attempt to overcome the acute overcrowding in the main cemeteries of the city. They contain the bones of many thousands of people and a walk through the Catacombs is a chilling and eerie experience.

The Oradour-sur-Glane  is a really moving place to visit and was the site of one of the most terrifying war crimes  of the Second World War. In June 1940  an SS detachment entered the town and gathered the entire population into the main square.

In retaliation for fierce opposition from the French Resistance the entire population of 640 men, women and children were put to death with only a few escaping the mass execution.  Oradour-sur-Glane, after being burnt to the ground, was later rebuilt near the scene but the old town remains as a bitter reminder of the atrocities that took place there so many years ago.

The Standing Stones of Carnac is another great site for the tourist. These standing stones are thought to have been erected more than 5000 years ago. The collection of stones, carved from local rock, have been positioned in straight lines around the town of Carnac.

There are many hundreds of stones and, like Stonehenge, their true purpose is not known. They may have had something to do with early Druidic ceremonies but local legend claims that they were a legion of Roman soldiers which Saint Cornelius had turned to stone.

The Machines of the Isle of Nantes are amongst one of the unusual sights in France. A collection of gigantic mechanical animals are kept in deserted shipyard warehouses and include a giant lantern fish, a manta ray, a pirate fish and the main attraction, a 4 meter high elephant. Visitors are invited to go on a 50 minute ride on the elephant around the town of Nantes.

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1.       Disneyland Paris

No family trip to Paris is complete without a fun-filled adventure at Disneyland Paris. Hold on to your hats as you encounter Big Thunder Mountain in Frontierland or buckle up on Space Mountain: Mission 2 in Discoveryland, as it blasts you through space.

Younger kids will love shows like the ‘Disney Dance Express’ and ‘Aladdin’s Magic Lamp’ before ending the day with the magical ‘Once Upon a Dream Parade’, featuring all popular Disney stars on eight magical floats.

2.       The Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes

Dozens of species of rare animals can be found at the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes. As the oldest civil zoological garden in the world, the Ménagerie has a real charm about it and is ideal for a family of animal-lovers. The zoo is home to all sorts of creatures, from monkeys and snakes to birds of prey and turtles.

3.       Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie

Learn about science in a fun and educational way at the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie (The Museum of Science and Industry), the largest science museum in Europe. There is a huge variety of interactive exhibitions designed to catch the imagination of children – and adults might even learn a few things too!

4.       Foire du Trône

Every spring, the Foire du Trône brings fair attractions and amusements to the city. It may not be as big and grand as Paris Disneyland, but it’s equally as fun. Enjoy classic fairground rides like bumper cars and a huge Ferris wheel, as well as more daring rides that will have you flying through the Parisian skies.

5.       Musée Grevin

Established in 1882, the Musée Grevin is one of the oldest wax museums in Europe. Featuring the likes of Leonardo da Vinci and Marilyn Monroe, the museum is a fun day out for everyone. With 300 life-sized figures on display, it’s worth the trip to see the surprise on your friends’ faces when they flick through your holiday snaps!

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The world’s biggest annual sporting event kicks off on July 2nd in France – the Tour de France. The riders will have to push themselves to the limit over three gruelling weeks, but the only work you need to do is a little research into the best hotels & cheap car hire options, all of which can be completed within the next 30 minutes. In two shakes of a professional cyclist’s skinny behind, you could be relaxing in the sun with a nice glass of wine, & enjoying the sight of other people working hard.

Just for Vendee

The tour has a rather unusual start this year – The Passage du Gois is a causeway joining the Île de Noirmoutier & Beauvoir sur Mer on the mainland, via Barbâtre, & is submerged by the tide twice a day. Only passable at low tide, it is situated close to the resort of Fromentine. This dynamic resort offers visitors a huge range of all-year-round activities, including sailing, kite-surfing, walking & bike tours, plus the opportunity to visit the Le Daviaud eco-museum in the Vendée’s salt & freshwater marshland area.

From the Pey de la Blet – a tower built in the heart of the forest – you can enjoy the superb panoramic view of the marshes, the ocean, & the islands of Yeu and Noirmoutier. Surrounded by wide, open spaces (seven kilometres of beaches, almost 700 hectares of forest & 1,200 hectares of marshland), it’s truly unspoilt, in an area perfectly located for you to see the Tour commence.

Pyrenees-up

July 14th is Bastille Day, France’s national day, & the whole country will be living it up.  You can go to Toulouse, gateway to the Pyrenees, head out to Cugnaux on the 14th, to see the cyclists push off, then back to Toulouse for the big party. Start off with the traditional parade through the city centre, then join some locals for a night of red wine and cognac.

If you’re not a city slicker, base yourself in Luz-Ardiden, a small mountain town enshrined in Tour lore that gives you a precious glimpse of rural France. From there you can head out to the winding roads to watch the cyclists, or hang out in town & wait at the finish line – where there is always a ton of fun – then watch the fireworks celebration at night. Either way, you’ll have a blast.

Paris sights

After all those miles, the riders will haul their shattered bodies into Paris on July 24th.  The race finally finishes on the Champs-Elysées after an increasingly fast eight laps from the Place de la Concorde. It’s an experience everyone should have at least once in their lives, with an atmosphere to rival that of any sports stadium. Get there early with brie & baguettes, learn to love the crowds, & remember to scream “allez!” (come on!) as they come up the Champs-Elysées.

As the world’s most-visited city, there’s plenty to see & do afterwards, from the world-famous Louvre & Arc d’Triumph, right down to simply enjoying the local café culture & that famous food. Remember to bring a phrase book – the Parisians are notoriously short with those who won’t learn some French.

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