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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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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The Canal du Midi is an oasis into beauty and tranquility and it does not matter if you are riding or walking beside it, lazing on a canal boat and gazing into the sky or just picnicking on the banks or enjoying wine at any one of the restaurants alongside the canal.

A dream to make a waterway that connected the Atlantic and Mediterranean in the 17^th century of Pierre Paul Riquet was accomplished by over 12,000 with only shovels. The stretch of water that is 360 km long known as the Canal du Midi has more than 300 structures with a navigable route using aqueducts, bridges, tunnels, paths to pull boats with horses, resting areas for animals and travelers and 156 locks of which many are tourist shops and promenades.

Locals have been able to exports their products more easily through the canal which of course includes the famous wine of the region. The canal today is equally a work of art and an engineering masterpiece that is appreciated by the locals and tourists equally.

Minervois remains a land of wines and agriculture with splendid vistas, beautiful villages and small cities that have grown along the canal. One service that is real important to the locals is tourism they have so much to offer the tourist and attract the visitor.

The city of Minerve is probably the show piece of the area. It has been widely visited, painted, photographed and written about on numerous occasions as well as being listed as one of the most beautiful villages in all of France. The city is impressive for not only is location, perched on a rock surrounded by two gorges but also for the history that includes the cathar burnings of 1210.

Today Minerve remains a lively village that is happy to celebrate its own festival, the La fete de la Pierre or the Festival of the Rock in August. Street performers come out during the festivals make both the young and old pleased.

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Avignon is the most notable town in the area and its famous bridge, which was immortalised in the children’s’ song, is one of the town’s main tourist attractions, despite there being very little left of it. You can walk on the remains and it makes for some great photo opportunities. Many 14^th and 15^th century popes resided at the Palais des Papes and the impressive building, full of furniture and art is open to visitors. The 12^th century Gothic cathedral is a must see, and much of the ornate carvings can still be seen.

The architecture in the nearby town of Orange dates back to Roman times, and thirty years ago UNESCO designated the areas surrounding the theatre and arch as World Heritage Sites. An impressive display of all types of Roman artefacts can be seen in the town’s museum. One of main attractions at the museum are the giant maps which are etched into marble. They are the biggest ever found that have been made this way.

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Notre Dame de Paris is one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Its beautiful bell towers and gargoyles will delight enthusiasts and casual tourists. The cathedral was restored in the 19th Century so it is completely intact and stands today in its full glory despite the fact that construction upon the site began in AD 1163.

Notre Dame de Paris has long been a site of important events, such as the beatification and canonisation of Joan of Arc. It is still an important touchstone for French culture; indeed, it is well known for its Lent sermons, which have recently seen speeches by some of France’s premier public figures and academics. In many ways a visit to the cathedral takes you to the heart of France’s past and present.

The cathedral stands alongside the Seine River, and is located in the fourth arrondissement of Paris. This central location means you can see Notre Dame de Paris and easily move on the exploring other parts of the city. Indeed, this great cathedral is an ideal starting point for anyone on a trip to Paris. Be sure to check out the iconic Eiffel Tower as well the Louvre and Montmartre during your time in the amazing City of Lights.

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The Lascaux complex of caves offers a great contribution to the history of prehistoric art.  The paintings are more than 16,000 years old, and they are exceptional in their detail, colour and perspective, consisting of many groups of figures, almost all of them animals.  Possibly the largest cave painting ever discovered is a 17-foot long bull, one of a group of four in the Great Cave of Bulls.

It is interesting that among the 2,000 or so figures painted and etched on the walls of these caves, no landscape or vegetation can be found.  Most of the figures depict horses, with one bird, one bear, one rhinoceros etc. and only one human figure.  There is also no sign of reindeer, the creature assumed to be the chief source of food for these prehistoric humans.

At present, the Lascaux cave paintings are at risk from a fungus.  The origin is uncertain but experts claim several likely culprits.  Workers installing a new air-conditioning system may have introduced the spores, and the forced air may be a contributing factor in itself.  In addition, the huge number of visiting humans, and their transport parked on top of some portions of the caves has altered the air quality inside the caves.

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Opening on March 10th, the retrospective will present an overview of Freud’s output including his almost obsessive treatment of his portraits and the nude being drawn, and his desire to make his paintings to look like flesh.

in addition to aboutabout 50 large works of art, visitors will also be able to peruse photos of the artist’s London studio and a selection of graphic works. The exhibition sees some of his most famous paintings, such as Leigh Bowery and Big Sue, arranged around a 900 metre squared space in a studio theme.

Freud, who is still alive today at 88 years old and is the grandson of the famous psychiatrist Sigmund, has not had a retrospective at the Centre Pompidou since 1987 and this show is a real tribute to an important artist.

Tickest for the Freud exhibition can be bought online online or at the box office for €12 (£10.84), with the doors opening at 11:00 and closing at 21:00 (local time) every day except Tuesdays until July 19th.

Website – http://www.centrepompidou.fr

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