Your first visit to France won't be your last - tourists are
drawn back time and time again. Whether you are swept off your feet
by the charm and romance of Paris, or you fall gently for the
sleepy pace of life in Provence, France is a place for lovers, and
will leave you spellbound.
Paris is undoubtedly one of the world's great cities, with enough
monuments, museums, restaurants, theatres and shows to keep you
enthralled throughout your stay. But, even if Paris makes the first
claim on your affections, you should try to drag yourself away -
France has so much more on offer.
The northern provinces of Normandy and Brittany are steeped in
history both ancient and modern while the Loire Valley is world
famous for its châteaux and the French Riviera's Nice is the
epitome of chic. Meanwhile winter and mountain sports enthusiasts
flock to the country's resorts in its five mountain ranges, namely
the Alps, the Pyrenees, Jura, Vosges and Massif Central.
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A boat trip on the Seine is one of the very best ways to experience Paris
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Strasbourg is one of Europe's most attractive cities
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The iconic Louvre pyramid was commissioned by François Mitterrand
Destinations » France Travel Guide
Culture
French culture is diverse and rich - it has made numerous contributions to philosophy, art, literature and architectural wonders with examples such as Notre Dame and Mont St Michel. However this high-artistic pedigree does not detract from a love of sport, especially football, cycling and rugby, which are all supported with a patriotic fervour.
Food and drink
France's gastronomic centre is Lyon where some of the world's finest chefs design superb culinary creations. French cuisine is amongst the world's best - and reason itself to visit the country. What is typically known as French cooking is haute cuisine a collection of mainly rich and complex traditional dishes using lots of meat. A heavy emphasis is put on the sauces used in each dish and much of the preparation time is spent on this one element.
Champagne is the most famous wine producing region in the world, and even if you forego the fizz, the allure of Bordeaux's rich reds are bound to tempt.
History
Post Second World War France has regained its political prestige as one of the central states of Europe. The nation is still considered to be at the forefront of intellectual and artistic culture in the world and celebrates its varied history with pride - from the grandeur of Louis XIV's palace at Versailles to the post-modern functionalist landscape that is the Pompidou centre.
Did you know?
The name "France" comes from "Frank", a Germanic tribe that invaded the Western Roman Empire in the 6th century and founded the first independent kingdom covering most of today's France.
Facts and figures
| Capital | Paris |
|---|---|
| Official language | French |
| Currency | € Euro |
| Time zone | Central European Time |
| Accession to the EU | 25 March 1957 |
| Area | 674,843 sq km / 260,558 sq miles |
| Population | 65.4 million |
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