You are here: France travel > France beaches

France beach: a guide to the best French beaches

It is impossible to say which is the best French beach, because it depends, of course, on what you are looking for in a beach! But somewhere in France there is the perfect beach for you, whatever you are looking for.

An introduction to beaches by region

The surfing beaches of the Atlantic coast between Biarritz and Arcachon will suit the watersport enthusiast, while families will like the coves of Brittany. Those with small children will like the gently sloping beaches of the Vendee (western France), and others the beaches of the islands off the west coast of France such as the Ile-de-Ré.

France travel > France beaches > Atlantic coast

Atlantic coast beaches and coastal resorts

Through the Poitou-Charentes region, including the popular destination at Ile-de-Ré, and on south of Arcachon, all the way down to Biarritz and St Jean de Luz, there are many long sandy unspoiled beaches along the Atlantic coast of France.

Some of the finest surfing beaches in Europe are found in this region, especially around Biarritz and along the southern part of this stretch of Atlantic coast. The beaches attract many international standard surfers, because of the waves that come in from the Atlantic.

You are here: travel ideas > Loire Valley > the river

The valley of the Loire River is a scenic and protected environment

The Loire Valley is found south of Paris, in the center of France. The valley from Sully-sur-Loire to Chalonne is listed as a French world heritage site by UNESCO.

The Loire Valley falls into two French departments - Centre and Pays de la Loire.

The region is best known for its fine castles (many are seen on this site - see separate section Loire Valley Chateaux).

You are here: Holidays in France > France Theme Parks

Theme Parks near Paris

Planning a trip to France with the children but don’t know where to go? Looking for theme park excitement in Europe to rival that of America?

Then why not visit Paris – not only is it one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but it also has two great theme parks nearby, which children will love. Enter the cartoon world of Gaul at Parc Asterix or mingle with Mickey, Minnie and company at Disneyland Paris.

You are here: Aquitaine >Dordogne > Markets

Discovering truffles and entertainment in the Dordogne markets

One of the highlights of a visit to the Dordogne, as with many other parts of France, is the chance to visit the local French markets.

Although most markets do now sell products aimed at the tourist market, especially during the summer months, they are still a great way to find and buy the local produce, the freshest produce, and the products of the local artisan-farmers.

There are several types of market:

You are here: France information > Markets in France

No visit to France is complete without a morning in a traditional market

One of the most popular activities for visitors to France is visiting the local French markets in the nearby town. All areas and places will have a local market town, usually held in the same location every week for many centuries (our own town has held its Saturday market for the last 820 years and still going strong).

French markets really do still have great produce to tempt you, and you will be lucky to get away without a large bag of delicious fresh produce...and an empty purse! There are reputedly more than 35,000 traditional markets in France, so you should have no difficulty finding one.

You are here: travel ideas > Aquitaine > golf holidays

Stressed and tired? Take a golf holiday in France!

Golf was introduced to France at the end of the 19th century by the Le Phare golf course near Biarritz. Initially it was to cater to visitors and residents from England, and this trend still continues to some extent - many golf clubs in France have English teams, English groups, and English mornings for golf.

There are many superb golf-course in France that remain quiet for much or all of the year, with fabulous fairways and plenty of sunshine. This is perhaps especially true of the south-west of France, in Aquitaine, and in Normandy - two regions that have more than their fair share of golf courses.

You are here: France information > most visited destinations

Like crowds? We show the most visited places in France

In addition to the 'most famous places in France' it is interesting to see which places are top by number of visitors - the most visited places in France.

Perhaps surprisingly the two lists are not the same, although certain key Paris landmarks appear on both lists. Theme Parks play a much larger role in the list of 'top places in France' when judged by visitor numbers. The top places to see when judged by numbers of visitors are:

You are here: France tourismfamous places and sights

Top 10 famous places in France

Where do you think of when asked to name the most famous sights in France? Here we have prepared a list of what we believe are the most famous places. We have selected just 10 places.

Your own list will be different, I'm sure, and there are many top places in France that are contenders for the list.

Below we show the most famous individual highlights. See also most popular regions at where to go on your first visit to France.

You are here: France information > largest towns

Size isn't everything but the largest towns are the liveliest!

There are a few ways to classify the size of a town, but the most usual (and probably the most effective) is to use the population as measured in the most recent census of the country.

Hence the schedule below represents the 'most populated' biggest French towns and has been prepared on this basis. The list is in descending order and uses data from 1999. The populations have changed, but the ranking according to size remained unchanged at 2005:

You are here France travelNormandyUpper Normandy

A personal guide to the highlights of Upper Normandy

by Thomas Dowson

Think of Normandy, and for most people this conjures up images of the D-Day beaches, the Bayeaux Tapestry and le Mont St Michel. All of these important and interesting sites are in what is Basse Normandie.

Less well known is Haute Normandie, an area that most people simply drive through on their way further south. But this area is as rewarding and interesting as any of the other regions of France, with history stretching from the earliest Stone Age peoples to the more recent political alliances between the United Kingdom and France.

You are here: France travelNormandyItinerary

Off the beaten track in the Normandy countryside

To fully understand Normandy, one has to visit more than WWII sites and museums. To experience this region and understand its history and culture, one should visit these eight venues:

You are here: France travel > Normandy > Normandy cider route

Exploring the villages of the Normandy Cider Route

The Cider Route is found in Normandy, and makes for a pleasant day or two exploring some of the Normandy villages, and discovering how and where in Normandy cider is made. Cider tasting is of course obligatory!

Meanwhile you will also see some lovely Normandy Villages, and for many people this is the main reason for following the route.

You are here: travel ideas > tourist articles > water based holidays

Five great suggestions to plan your French holiday around water based activities:

If you’re planning to spend your next holiday in France, then perhaps you will want to add something new to your itinerary. Besides the sightseeing, rich culture, art museum tours, and the deliciously delectable French cuisine, there truly is a lot more in store for you here - and if you’re the type who enjoys aqua sports and exciting activities, then you’re in for a treat.

1 - Where to go for sun, sand, and surf

When speaking about the finest beaches in France, people will immediately mention the world-famous French Riviera, or the Côte d'Azur, located along the southern region of the country. Extending westward from the eastern commune of Menton to St. Tropez near the southern tip, the French Riviera is a 115 kilometer stretch of nothing but sun, sand, surf, and of course, fun.

You are here: travel ideas > tourist articles > canal holidays

Take a slow holiday on a French canal

There are several regions of France that have navigable canals and rivers, a very pleasant way to explore the countryside and to enjoy the towns that are passed during the journey.

The most popular regions with visitors wanting to explore these French canals and rivers include:

You are here: travel ideas > tourist articles > yoga holidays

Need to relax? Take a yoga holiday!

According to Barefoot Doctor, "though some would say yoga is the mother of all exercises, surely there is nothing more natural and primal than walking". It is true, the benefits of practicing yoga are well known today, disciplining the body and focusing the mind.

Stretching is the most natural way of releasing tension in the muscle groups, and combined with correct breathing it de-stresses the nervous system and increases energy levels.

You are here: Aquitaine >Dordogne > the south

Exploring the historical villages of the southern Dordogne

Note: travel idea suggested by bergerac gites - two gites to rent between Monpazier and Villereal.

To the south of the very popular Dordogne department there is a sprinkling of towns and castles set in attractive countryside that are slightly beyond the better known tourist destinations - yet would make an ideal base for a holiday. While you won't entirely escape the tourist throngs, they are certainly less here than in the Sarlat region slightly to the north.

In this article we look at a few of the highlights of your visit. ( I am not going to describe all the attractions of the Dordogne region here - the caves, the villages, the river and countryside are renowned the world over and covered elsewhere in this guide at Dordogne.)

You are here: France travel > Midi-Pyrenees > Pyrenees ski centres

For Family-Friendly Skiing Holidays Why Not Try the French Pyrenees?

In the past, French Midi-Pyrenees has played a secondary role to its more glamorous rival, the Alps. In the last decade however, great advances have been made to turn what was perhaps considered rather dull Pyrenean mountain towns and villages into excellent skiing resorts.

There are black runs in all the Pyrenean resorts, but the pistes are less crowded than the Alpine slopes, so there is less chance of the beginner being involved in an accident, or incurring the wrath of the chair lift operator for holding up the loading because of a tangled the ski pole. And who hasn’t done that, at least once?

You are here: Regions of France > Provence > perched villages

Discover our favourite perched villages of Provence

The so-called 'villages-perchés' are found in various parts of Provence, especially in the Luberon region but also in several other regions / departments, and are instantly recognisable because of the distinguishing features of these villages:

- they are located high up on a rocky crag. As a result the perched villages in Provence all have very impressive views across the surrounding countryside

Regions of France > Tourism in France > Bastide Towns

Bastide towns and medieval towns of south-west France

Introduction to the medieval towns and villages in France

Many regions of France have attractive medieval villages to discover and explore, frequently with an 'old town' that is astonishingly well preserved given the age of these medieval towns - and the wars that have ravaged the country at various points in the last 600 years.

Two of the most well known (and most attractive) 'groups' of medieval villages are the bastide towns of south-west France, and the perched Luberon villages (see separate feature) of south-east France.

Discover the wine regions of France

Many visitors to France like to see a vineyard or visit the occasional wine chateaux for a little sampling of the local produce, while many wine enthusiasts make an entire visit planned around visiting the vineyards of their selected region.

The map above shows the main wine-producing regions of France:

You are here: France travelAlsaceAlsace wine route

Alsace wine route - follow the Route des Vins in Alsace, France

The Alsace wine route is one of the most popular and attractive ways to explore the traditional villages of the Alsace region, and to learn more about the wines that are produced. The route covers more than 170 km as it traces a line from north to south broadly following the eastern edge of the Vosges mountains.

France travel > Alpine ski centres

Take a winter break in a popular French Alps resort

The Alpine ski resorts mostly fall into a few very extensive regions, which combine several villages and ski areas in one large resort with interconnecting ski slopes and transport links. This has the advantage for the visitor that there are always new slopes and variety close to hand.

You are here: travel ideas > tourist articles > rivers of France

A guide to the main rivers in France

To understand the rivers of France it is useful to first have a little knowledge of the geography of the country.

Essentially France is mountainous along its eastern border with (from north to south) the mountains of the Vosges, Jura and Alpes, with further mountains in south-central France (Massif central) and along the southern border with Spain (the Pyrenees)

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You are here: travel ideas > Pays-de-la-Loire > rivers of the western Loire

Enjoy the rivers of the Pays-de-la-Loire

The Pays-de-la-Loire region is usually visited for its long sandy beaches, the important historical towns such as Nantes and Guerande, and castles such as those at Angers and Nantes.

While these are all recommended to visitors, you might like to also consider a journey into the quieter parts of the region by following one of the rivers that traverse the Pays-de-la-Loire.

You are here: travel ideas > tourist articles > booze cruise

Take a one day shopping trip to France

For many years it has been popular to make a day trip to France, especially for those living within easy access of the ports of southern England.

The pleasure of shopping in a different environment, the even greater pleasure of buying wine and other items at much cheaper prices than they can be bought at home, or simply for the fun of an adventurous day out - it's always a great way to spend a day.

You are here: TourismPhotos of France

Photos of France, with pictures from all regions of France

On this page you can see the list of places that we have 'photo galleries' for - several hundred towns and villages that we and our contributors have personally visited and photographed.

You are here: France travelLoire ValleyCastles

Chateaux of the Loire Valley, France

The castles of the Loire Valley are renowned the world over, and a very major attraction with visitors to France. Altogether there are more than 300 chateaux in the region, many built in the heyday of the French royalty and nobility, centred around the 17th-18th centuries. Some were built 'new' while others were based on converting an earlier medieval castle on the same location into a more habitable and luxurious castle.

You are here: France travelDordogneCastles

Dordogne castles and chateaux, France

The Dordogne is said to have 1001 castles. Many of these are not open to the public, however, and also the name 'chateau' can be applied to any house that has been a centre of wine production - so many places that are called 'chateaux' will be distinctly less imposing than others.

You are here: travel ideas > tourist articles > castle holiday

Treat yourself to a holiday in a French castle!

If you have never holidayed in a French castle before, here are some reasons why you should consider one for your next luxury holiday.

1. Size

By their nature, chateaux are large pieces of architecture. However the reception rooms on the ground floor are typically huge and wonderful rooms to relax in and soak up the ambience. French chateaux lend themselves perfectly for wedding venues.