France is the place to go; as the largest state in the European Union, you can’t afford to miss a trip to the country which already boasts 82 million foreign tourists a year, making it the most visited country in the world. From the expansive rural regions and fashionable beach resorts to the culture soaked cities, stylish France has so much to offer even the most discerning travellers.
During the 19th and 20th centuries France had built the second largest empire of all time and you can see this mighty manifestation mirrored in such grand sites as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and The Louvre in Paris, or the gothic architecture of northern France. Compare these impressive monuments with the luxury of the pastoral south or the bright beaches of Marseilles and promenades of Nice which lie along the Mediterranean coastline and you’ll begin to sense the origins of France’s treasured magnetism over the rest of the world.
Cities you shouldn’t miss include the magnificent and fast-paced Lyon, the once oh-so-glamorous Biarritz or the lively capital of the Loire Valley, Tours, with its picturesque presence and laid-back lifestyle - especially if you’re partial to fine wine. Wine lovers should also pay visits to the attractive world heritage site, Strasbourg or the ancient, elegant city of Bergerac as well as the regions of Burgundy, Bordeux and of course, Champagne! Cider drinkers will be impressed with the cider and apple brandy of Normandy, a region which also has impressively lush farmland, beaches and bustling market towns.
For those who prefer their history to take precedence in their travels, be sure to spend time in Nîmes which is one of the oldest cities in Europe, or enter Carcassone, with its mediaeval fortified Cité that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll also find plenty of historic gems in Paris, with its museums, monuments and striking architecture. The capital is also renowned for its incredible shopping, be it delectable designer wear or unique boutiques, so you can be guaranteed to find some precious presents for those at home.
Shoppers should also head to Limoges for the finest porcelain and traditional enamelware in the world or Lyon for its famous silk. As well as Paris, art-lovers should also visit Giverny, the famous location of Claude Monet’s garden. If you love grand scenes, don’t miss Grenoble which is the gateway to the Alps, where the glorious slopes are thankfully impossible to hide from. Equally visually impressive is the magical fairy-tale looking tidal island of Mont Saint-Michael, with its abbey’s spindly towers that jut into the clouds from the island’s heart. Like the rest of France, the magic must be witnessed first-hand.