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Planet In1 Destination Europe - France
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France is a country with a long and colourful history and the French have a strong sense of national pride. Situated in the western half of Europe, France, known as L'Hexagon for its roughly hexagonal shape, is bounded on the south by the Pyrenees Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea; on the east by the Alps and the Rhine River; and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel.

The rocky coasts of Brittanny, Normandy with its war memorials and the Pays du Nord lie to the North of the country. In the centre are the Loire Valley with its beautiful chateau, the wine region of Burgundy, the plains and beaches of the Vendee, with Alsace-Lorraine in the east and further south the majestic Alps sharing a border with Switzerland and Italy. In the extreme south are the Basque region and the Pyrenees, the glittering Riviera and Provence, adored by artists and chefs alike.

Paris

Paris, known as the City of Light is reputedly the most romantic city in the world.

The Eiffel Tower, the world recognized symbol of Paris, was built in 1889 to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution and was the world's tallest building until 1930. This undoubtedly offers a wonderful view of the city.

The Arc de Triomphe, with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and eternal flame commemorating those who died in the two world wars is also worth seeing.

The Musée du Louvre, with the famous painting of the Mona Lisa, Notre Dame Cathedral, the basilica of Sacré Coeur and outside the city, the palace of Versailles and Disneyland Paris are attractions drawing millions of tourists every year.

French wines and cuisine are deservedly famous and with scores of Parisian restaurants, there is no shortage of choice. Cabaret shows like Le Moulin Rouge and Le Lido offer unrivalled entertainment on a grand scale. A sunset cruise down the River Seine, followed by a stroll down the Left Bank and an intimate gourmet dinner with champagne is an experience not to be missed. Fashion and Paris are synonymous and the city is a delight for the serious shopper.

Vichy, an old capital of France, is famous for its spas and mineral water as well as being home to the puppet government during World War 11.

Reims, northeast of Paris, is the main city in the champagne region. Epernay has a statue of Dom Perignon (the monk who discovered the method for making champagne) at the Moet and Chandon cellars.

Angers, the medieval capital of Anjou, is known as the 'Gateway to the chateaux country'. Arles, on the River Rhone, is where Vincent van Gogh lived and painted during the last months of his life and also the gateway to the Camargue delta, a nature reserve with black bulls, white horses and unique flora and fauna.

Le Mans, with its restored medieval quarter, is best known for its 44 hour car race which takes place every year in June.

Mont Saint-Michel in Brittany, with its winding streets and ramparts, sits on a high granite promontory and becomes an island at high tide. In the same area are St.Malo, Dinard and Dinan, three seaside towns with lovely views and walks.

Dijon, famous for its mustard, is the largest city in Burgundy best known for its rich red and dry white wines.

Bordeaux in the west, has impressive 18 th century architecture and is the centre of the famous Bordeaux wine region.

Strasbourg, seat of the EU Parliament, is the largest city in the Alsace-Lorraine region and an ideal city for walking, with impressive covered bridges and multi-cultural cuisine.

Grenoble, cradle of the French Revolution, is a beautiful Alpine city in the southeast of the country, excellent for skiing in the winter. Chamonix, near the Swiss border is used a base for skiers and hikers and visitors to Mont Blanc, Europe's tallest mountain. Giverny was made famous by Claude Monet, the impressionist painter, who planted gardens here, which featured in many of his pictures.

Perpignan, close to the Spanish border, holds the record for the highest number of sunny days a year, which makes it a popular place indeed. Aix-En-Provence, capital of the region and a university town has romantic streets and stately houses but is best known for its art, being the birthplace of Cezanne. Biarritz is a major Basque city and fishing port as well as a beach resort, which attracts the rich and famous from all over the world for its golf courses, casinos and nightlife.

Nice, the most famous of the towns of the Cote d'Azur (The Riviera) is a good base from which to explore the area. Cannes is best known for its internationally renowned film festival. St.Tropez is well known for shopping and famous faces, with Brigette Bardot living here. Toulouse, known as the pink city because of the brickwork in its buildings, is the home of the French aerospace industry.

The island of Corsica has been French for the last 200 years but has retained many of its traditional customs. As Italy ruled on and off for centuries, the Italian influence is also to be seen so Corsica is a delightful combination of what is best in French, Italian and of course national Corsican food, music and culture. Honour and family are very important to these island people. Napolean Bonaparte is probably its most famous son. Situated in the Mediterranean Sea, Corsica has a wild and diverse landscape, with glacier lakes, mountains, national parks and nature reserves. This, along with its climate and friendly people make it a popular tourist destination.

France is a country of great art, buildings, wines, food, golden beaches and majestic mountains, ideal for either a cultural break, a skiing or sun holiday or for just soaking up the atmosphere in the cosmopolitan cities and scenic countryside.