France Travel and Guide - Visit France
France information, holidays, hotels and gites, food, wildlife, history, culture...
France Travel Information
The best places to visit in France: villages, castles and more for every region...see them all in Places to visit in France or start exploring using our map of France. From the most beautiful villages and castles to the scenic highlights; from Calais to Corsica, from Provence to the Dordogne...and for even more inspiration look at some holiday ideas and suggestions.
Travel & Car Hire in France
To be sure you find the best possible prices on your France travel arrangements we have partnered with some of the leading travel price comparison engines: Car Hire in France / Cheap ferries / Flights to France / Trains and Eurotunnel
Gites & holidays in France
Discover France in a self catering holiday rental...or choose from camping holidays, city breaks, holiday villages, villas...literally thousands and thousands of holidays to choose from: see French gites or holidays in France to start planning your visit. If you are planning to travel in the next few weeks also see the Last Minute Holidays in France section.
Travel guides for each of the regions of France
We have detailed travel guides for each of the regions of France, guiding you through the places that you can look forward to seeing during your visit. Many of the regions have further 'sub-travel-guides' for the French departments they include. We also have a dedicated Paris travel guide, and guides to Luberon, Dordogne and Massif Central. See guides by region:
- North-east France: Alsace and Northern
France, Champagne Ardenne
and Franche Comte
- North-west France: Brittany, Western
Loire and Normandy
- South-east France: Provence and the Cote
d'Azur (French Riviera), Rhone Alpes
and Corsica
- South-west France: Aquitaine region
(& Dordogne), also Languedoc-Roussillon
and Midi-Pyrenees
- Central France: Auvergne and Burgundy,
the Loire Valley and Limousin,
and Poitou-Charentes
Wildlife of France
So that you know what to expect when you are walking alone in the mountains, or are trying to guess what that odd noise is from behind the kitchen cupboard in your holiday villa, we have included some of the more common wildlife you might come across, but also some of the less common in our wildlife in France section.
History and Culture of France
Read about the history of France, from prehistoric France to the middle ages and conflicts, and visit some of the castles in France
The history and culture of France are closely linked - see also France culture.
Food and drink in France
Food and drink play a very important role in France and no visit to France would be complete without some knowledge of what the traditional French recipes and drinks are. We have some of the most traditional (and easy to prepare) easy French recipes including garlic soup, cassoulet and tarte aux pommes, some more French recipes, and also a guide to what you should drink in France if you want to be like the locals, including pastis and diabolo menthe.
Moving to France and Living in France
If you are relocating to France take a look at our property to buy in France...but first have a glance at our related information: property renovation in France for anyone thinking a ruin can make a lovely home; and for sections about expat finances, moving to and buying property in France - visit the Life in France section.
Regions, departments, communes and places to visit
The 'regions' of France (shown above) are further divided into 'departments' e.g. Dordogne, Aude - see departments of France. These are further subdivided into 35,800 communes of France. Use these guides, and our index of places in France, to locate exactly the place you are looking for. You might also like to visit our regional France travel guides for Corsica and the Dordogne if visiting these areas.
Make travel arrangements and go shopping
Haven't made your travel arrangements yet? Look through our travel guide to choose the best region of France for you, then visit our travel to France section, where we have tracked down some of the cheapest ways to get to your holiday destination. (See more holiday villas in France) or book gites.
Facts and figures
To do before you visit France? As part of the build-up to your gite france holiday, you will want to see what weather to expect and learn a few interesting facts about France - see the France Info section, where you can also keep an eye on the latest news from France. Other information here looks at everything from the history of the French flag to the words of the Marseillaise.
Other recommended sites
A few other travel sites that we are pleased to recommend: the Bed and breakfast directory is useful for, well, finding a good B and B. For discussing property purchase in France we recommend Property in France and for a detailed guide to Paris see the Paris Guide. Don't like France?! Head east to stay at one of our personal favourite destinations - the Czech Republic.
Europe This Way
Please visit Europe travel for more travel sites and destinations across Europe within the Europe This Way group.
