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| Art, Culture and cuisine… France is the dynamic hub of age-old refinement and contemporary "chic". From cosmopolitan and frenetic Paris, to the land of the Normans, to the lyrical vinelands of the Rhone, Burgundy, Champagne or Bordeaux.
France is also the Basque domain; its charming medieval towns with gaunt greystone fortifications and ancient monuments France is the Pyreneean mountain chain reached via hairpin bends with verdant vistas. France is the cradle of impressionistic art and maters like Matisse, Cheret and Chagall. Down south, France is the Riviera, the genuine playland of international sunbelt habitués…-the gemstone in the Mediterranean bracelet. France is the alpine scenery travellers crave, offering the combination of superb winter skiing and summer hiking from its many famous resorts. Move westward to the winningly bizzare St. Tropez and into the wildly romantic Camargue where reedy Mediterranean bayous cloak herds of wild horses and flocks of exotic flamingos and marsh fowl. France is legendary cuisine which serves delightful landmarks in each day. France is the capital of gastronomy |
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Spring offers the best weather to visitors, with beach tourism picking up in May. Temperatures aren't too bad in Autumn, although the short days mean limited sunlight and the cold starts to make itself felt towards the end of the season, even along the Cote d'Azur. Winter means playing in the snow in France's Alps and Pyrenees, though the Christmas school holidays send hordes of tadpoles in uniform scurrying for the slopes. Mid-July through the end of August is when most city dwellers take their annual five weeks' vacation to the coasts and mountains, and the half-desolate cities tend to shut down a bit accordingly. Likewise during February and March.
Entry Requirements: Nationals of the EU, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Israel do not require visas to visit France as tourists for up to three months. Except for people from a handful of other European countries, everyone else must have a visa.
Food/ Restaurants: There is a wide range of restaurants offering menus to suit all budgets in France, and food is usually of a high standard. Many restaurants offer set menus, which offer good value for money, although vegetarian and ethnic food is not as widely available as in the UK. The menu or bill will state whether or not service is included. If service is "compris", which is usual, it is included and it is customary to leave a few coins. If service is "non-compris" a tip of 15% is customary.
Shopping : Special purchases include laces, crystal glass, haute couture, perfumes, cheese, coffee, and of course, locally produced beverages. Most towns have fruit and vegetable markets on Saturdays. Hypermarkets (enormous supermarkets) which sell everything from foodstuffs and clothes to hi-fi equipment and furniture, are widespread in France. They tend to be situated just outside a town and all have parking facilities.
Transportation: The main international airport is Charles de Gaulle, which is 30km outside Paris. The second airport in Paris is Orly, 15km south of the city. Other main international airports are in Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseilles, Nice and Toulouse. France has an excellent internal rail system, especially the TGV intercity service. Eurostar is a cheap and fast alternative, particularly for travellers from London and the South, and trains regularly depart from London Waterloo station or Ashford, Kent for Paris and Lille main train stations.
The fastest way of getting from Charles de Gaulle into Paris is by RER train, which runs right into the centre of Paris. Cost is approx. FF50. There is also a bus service. A taxi will cost approx. FF200. You can use metro tickets on the buses but you must validate them in the machines provided on board the bus. The Paris underground system (the Metro) is quick and efficient, with a comprehensible underground map.
Health risks: Your main risks are likely to be sunburn, foot blisters, insect bites and upset stomachs from overeating and drinking.
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