FRANCE
1. Paris & Versailles
Appreciated for its elegance and joie de vivre, Paris is a grand European capital filled with architectural masterpieces like the Eiffel Tower and the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Reflecting the city's rich heritage, the Lourve (one of the top museum in france) contains an exceptional fine arts collection, while the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée de l'Orangerie display treasures of French Impressionist art. Other charms of Paris are its atmospheric medieval quarters and graceful boulevards. Quintessential tourist experiences include shopping at bookshops in the Latin Quarter, strolling the Champs-Elysées, and people-watching from a sidewalk café terrace on the Boulevard Saint-Germain-de-Prés.
To see one of the country's most impressive palaces, tourists can take a 30-minute train ride from Paris to Versailles. The UNESCO-listed Chateaue de Versailles is among the best day trip from Paris Built for Louis XIV (the "Sun King"), this opulent 17th-century palace is a testament to the glory and absolute power that was once the realm of France's kings. The château's splendid Baroque facade, dazzling Hall of Mirrors, and fountain-adorned formal gardens allow visitors to imagine a scene of France's bygone royal court.
2. Reims & its Magnificent Gothic Cathedral
Reims is justifiably placed among France's list of "Villes d'Art et d'Histoire" ("Cities of Art and History"). Of the town's three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the most renowned is the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, where French kings were crowned. Joan of Arc escorted Charles VII (the dauphin) here in July of 1429 to be anointed as king.
The glorious 13th-century cathedral is a gem of High Gothic architecture. The dazzling exterior features a profusion of flying buttresses and sculpted angels, while the spacious interior has a solemn ambience of spirituality. Other UNESCO-listed landmarks include the Palais du Tau, a 17th-century Archbishops' Palace and the 11th-century Basilique Saint-Rémi.
3. Biarritz & Saint-Jean-de-Luz
A blend of Parisian-style elegance and natural beauty, Biarritz is an upscale seaside resort with fabulous beaches. Biarritz was favored by Empress Eugénie, who loved this coastal area of the Basque region. She chose a sandy hillside overlooking the Bay of Biscay as the location for her Imperial residence, the Villa Eugénie.
This Second Empire palace has been converted into luxury accommodations, the Hôtel du Palais, with an oceanfront gastronomic restaurant. Near the hotel is the Grande Plage, a sandy beach that has attracted sunbathers since the Belle Epoque. The Plage du Miramar is another stunning beach lined with colorful striped cabanas and parasols during summertime.
Just a half-hour drive (15 kilometers) from Biarritz is the historic fishing port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, a popular summertime destination with family-friendly beaches. Traveling inland 25 kilometers from Biarritz is the traditional Basque village of Espelette. This small village boasts typical half-timbered, red-shuttered Basque houses decorated with rows of dried red peppers called Piment d'Espelette (prized for use in Basque cuisine).
In Spain's Basque country, 50 kilometers by bus, car, or train from Biarritz, San Sebastian is a lively seaside city that delights visitors with its elegant architecture, sandy beaches, and gourmet tapas.
4. The Alsace Region
The historic cities of Strasbourg and Colmar, along with the hundreds of Alsatian villages, have a special old-world charm that is completely distinct from the rest of France. The architecture and ambience of Alsace was influenced by neighboring Germany, as seen in the brightly-painted, half-timbered buildings and venerable Gothic churches. Strasbourg enchants visitors with its narrow cobblestone streets, scenic canals, and ornate cathedral. Colmar is the quintessential Alsatian town, full of interesting old churches and traditional houses with flower-bedecked balconies.
Outside these two cities is an unspoiled landscape of vine-covered foothills. Nestled in the valleys and along the Rhine River are tiny storybook hamlets and picturesque villages. The Alsace Villages route is a popular tourist itinerary and is a delightful way to explore the region. Many of the villages, such as Hunawihr, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, and Eguisheim are listed as the "Plus Beaux Villages de France" (Most Beautiful Villages of France), and many communities are designated "Villages Fleuris" (Flowering Villages) because of the vibrant potted flowers that adorn the homes and streets.
5. Cirque de Gavarnie in the Pyrenees Mountains
The mountainous Pyrenees region is a soul-inspiring place that offers both natural splendor and spiritual wonders (including many sacred pilgrimage sites). The UNESCO-listed Cirque de Gavarnie is nature's version of a cathedral. Forming a semicircle, the awesome 1,700-meter-high limestone rock walls are draped with dramatic waterfalls that tumble down into rushing rivers and peaceful streams.
The entire Hautes-Pyrénées region is part of a national park, the Parc National des Pyrénées, which borders Spain. Within the park are hiking trails through lush forests and verdant valleys. During wintertime, the French Pyrenees is a popular destination for downhill skiing.
6. Gourmet Restaurants & Cultural Attractions in Lyon
An enticing destination for gourmands to visit, Lyon is at the heart of French gastronomy. Lyonnais cuisine is famous for its delicious regional specialties such as quenelles (fish dumplings served in a creamy sauce), hearty meat dishes, sausages, and salads.
Tourists can choose from an incredible selection of gourmet restaurants. The legendary three-star Michelin restaurant, the "Auberge du Pont de Collonges," carries on the legacy of France's famous chef Paul Bocuse. For everyday dining, the "Bouchons Lyonnais" (traditional bistros) allow visitors to sample the authentic local cuisine while enjoying an inviting, cozy ambience.
Besides fine dining and epicurean delights, Lyon is rich in cultural heritage. The UNESCO-listed city boasts ancient Roman ruins, atmospheric medieval quarters, and elegant Renaissance houses. Lyon's Musée des Beaux-Arts is second only to Paris' Louvre Museum in its wealth of artistic treasures.
7. The Camargue
The Parc Régional de Camargue, just 16 kilometers from Arles in Provence, is a place where visitors can take a breath of fresh air and enjoy unspoiled natural scenery. Marshlands, meadows, salt flats, and pastures blanket the landscape. In this pristine UNESCO-listed Biosphere Reserve (around 100,000 hectares of protected wetlands), wild white horses roam free, and pink flamingoes flourish.
The nature reserve is home to over 300 bird species which makes it a paradise for bird-watching. Other famous fauna include the native Camargue Bulls, which are raised for use in bullfighting
8. Island of Corsica
Corsica has a rugged and raw beauty, seen in its dramatic coastal landscapes, pristine forests, and snowcapped mountains. The island is fringed with beautiful beaches, quiet bays, attractive fishing ports, and lively seaside cities, while the inland hillsides are crowned with ancient villages where time seems to stand still.
Sun-worshipping beach lovers and outdoorsy and sporty types (including hard-core hikers) are drawn to the island's incomparable nature sites. The 1,000-kilometer shoreline offers crystal-clear waters that make it a paradise for snorkeling and scuba diving.
9. Côte d'Azur
The most fashionable stretch of coastline in France, the Côte d'Azur extends from Saint-Tropez to Menton near the border with Italy. Côte d'Azur translates to "Coast of Blue," a fitting name to describe the Mediterranean's mesmerizing cerulean waters. To English speakers, this glamorous seaside destination is known as the French Riviera, words that have a ring of sun-drenched decadence.
During summer, the seaside resorts are packed with beach lovers and sun-worshippers. The rich and famous are also found here in their lavish villas and luxury yachts. The town of Nice has panoramic sea views and stellar art museums. Cannes is famous for its celebrity film festival and legendary hotels.
The best sandy beaches are found in Antibes, which also has an atmospheric Old Town and superb museums. Saint Tropez offers fabulous public and private beaches along with the charm of a Provençal fishing village, while Monaco seduces with its exclusive ambience and stunning scenery.
10. Alsace Villages
Some of the prettiest villages in France are tucked away in the green, rolling hills of Alsace, where the Vosges Mountains border the Rhine River of Germany. These picturesque Alsatian villages feature pastel-painted, half-timbered houses clustered around small parish churches. Cheerful flowering balconies and pedestrian cobblestone streets add to the appeal.
Many of the villages have won France's "Villages Fleuris" award for their lovely floral decorations, such as Obernai, with its characteristic burghers' houses; the charming little village of Ribeauvillé, where many homes are adorned with potted flowers; the "town of art and history" Guebwiller; and the captivating medieval village of Bergheim.
Other flower-bedecked Alsatian villages are so pretty that they have been designated as both "Villages Fleuris" and "Plus Beaux Villages de France" (Most Beautiful Villages of France), including the storybook hamlet of Riquewihr, with its quaint historic houses, and the enchanting village of Eguisheim, nestled in a valley. Another "Most Beautiful Village" is Mittelbergheim, known for its gastronomy and gorgeous pastoral landscape, at the foot of the verdant Mont Saint-Odile.
For those planning an Alsace vacation itinerary, Colmar is a good base to explore the Alsatian villages and surrounding nature trails.
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