France is the number one tourist destination in the world. It has everything that you could ever want to see on your holidays: a great city like Paris, good beaches, more monuments than any other country, lovely nature, incredible mountain scenery, need I go on. France is also a very pleasant place to stay. It has good food, great wines and people enjoy their lives. And the best thing is, maybe apart from Paris, living in France does not have to be expensive.
The North of France consists of the flatlands around the town of Lille and the Channel. The area will remind visitors in many ways of Belgium and the Netherlands. The Grand' Place in Lille for example is a lot like that of Brussels.
Paris, the city of light and its surroundings are one of the most visited areas. Paris is without a doubt one of the most pretty cities on the planet.
The West of France is dominated by the Atlantic Coast. In the north Normandy & Brittany:Normandy has rolling hills, sandy beaches and quiet little harbour towns. Normandy & Brittany:Brittany has a more rugged coast and many neolithic sites. It has quite a distinct atmosphere from the rest of the country; you can still sense the Celtic origin of the region and its inhabitants. Nantes and Bordeaux are the biggest cities on the west coast. Bordeaux is a stylish city famous for its wines and its 18-th century architecture. The Pays Basque is the southernmost part of the Atlantic Coast of France. The resort of Biarritz is posh, but pretty.
The East of France consists of the Alsace, Lorraine and Burgundy. The landscape has rolling hills and many beautiful cities, such as Metz, Strasbourg and Dijon. This region produces famous white wines.
The Center is in many ways the most quiet part of France. But the great treasure of this region is the Loire Valley, with many great castles and beautiful towns. Chartres with its famous cathedral and Tours rate among the most beautiful French cities.
The Alpes are great for skiing in winter and hiking in summer. Albertville, Grenoble and Chamonix have all hosted the Olympic games. But the Alps also have nice towns to visit, such as Lyon or Grenoble.
The South with its lovely nature, good food, roman ruins and of course the Riviera draws a lot of visitors every year. Towns like Orange, Arles but also big cities like Marseille and Toulon are must sees. The Provence is dotted with pleasant small villages.
In the South the Dordogne is one of the most quintessential French regions. The valley is so pretty, the towns are so cute and the food is so good, that it is hard to believe that the people who live here go somewhere else for their holidays.
The Languedoc has its own language and culture. In the south of the Languedoc you find the Pyrenees, a great mountain range, where you can hike and ski. The towns of Toulouse and Montpelier are nice and the medieval town of Carcassone is a top destination.
The island of Corsica has beautiful nature and a very special atmosphere. The Corsicans speak their own language and have a great sense of freedom.
