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From the snowy peaks, rivers, lakes and canyons of the Alps to the striking mountains and volcanic peaks of the Massif Central - not to mention 3,000km (1864mi) of coastline from the Mediterranean to the Straits of Dover - France's stunning scenery lends itself to adventure sports and exhilarating outdoor activities of all kinds.
Perched on a rocky spur crowned by slender buildings, and surrounded on all sides by rolling fields, the glorious hilltop village of Vézelay is one of France's hidden gems. Vézelay has been an important point of pilgrimage since the 11th century thanks to the relics of St Mary Magdalene, which are supposedly housed in the underground crypt of the Basilique Ste-Madeleine.
The Basilique itself has had a turbulent history. It had already been rebuilt several times between the 11th and 13th centuries, before being comprehensively trashed by the Huguenots in the 16th century before narrowly avoiding total desecration during the French Revolution. By the mid-19th century it was on the verge of total collapse; thankfully the philanthropic architect Viollet-le-Duc stepped in and helped restore the Basilique to its former glory. Today it's one of France's best-preserved (and most beautiful) churches - even if you're not in the slightest bit religious, it's hard not to be moved by the haunting sound of plainsong echoing from the abbey's ancient walls.
Pl de la Basilique
www.vezelaytourisme.com
bus TLC from Blois
It's difficult not to be impressed with your first sighting of the massive abbey, a soaring ensemble of buildings in a hotchpotch of architectural styles. The abbey is topped by a slender spire with a gilded copper statue of Michael the Archangel slaying a dragon. At night the whole structure is brilliantly illuminated.
(9km N of Pontorson)
tel info 02 33 89 80 00
bus Courriers Bretons from Pontorson
| full | Euro 8.00 |
| concession | Euro 5.00 |
Here it is, the world-famous Bayeux Tapestry recounting the dramatic story of the Norman invasion and the events that led up to it (from the Norman perspective). It is housed in the Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux along with other treasures of the region.
rue de Nesmond
(Normandy)
tel info 02 31 51 25 50
| full | Euro 7.60 |
| concession | Euro 3.00 |
The splendid, enormous Château de Versailles was built in the mid-17th century during the reign of Louis XIV - the Roi Soleil (Sun King) - to project the absolute power of the French monarchy, which was then at the height of its glory. Its scale and décor also reflect Louis XIV's taste for profligate luxury and his boundless appetite for self-glorification.
The chateau at Versailles counts 700 rooms, 2153 windows, 352 chimneys and 67 staircases under 11 hectares of roof set on 800 hectares of garden, park and wood, including 200,000 trees and 210,000 flowers newly planted each year. There are 50 fountains and 620 fountain nozzles. The walls and rooms are adorned with 6300 paintings, 2100 sculptures and statues, 15,000 engravings and 5000 decorative art objects and furnishings.
Versailles
(enter from Place d'Armes)
www.chateauversailles.fr
fax info 01 30 83 77 77
tel info 01 30 83 77 88
bus RATP 171
train RER line C8 or C5 from Paris' Left Bank
train SNCF from Gare St-Lazare
The Tour Eiffel faced massive opposition from Paris' artistic and literary elite when it was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle (World Fair), marking the centenary of the Revolution. It was almost torn down in 1909 but was spared because it proved an ideal platform for the transmitting antennas needed for the new science of radiotelegraphy.
The Eiffel Tower, named after its designer, Gustave Eiffel, is 324m (1063ft) high, including the TV antenna at the tip. This figure can vary by as much as 15cm, however, as the tower's 10,000 tonnes of iron, held together by 2.5 million rivets, expand in warm weather and contract when it's cold.
Champ de Mars 76
7e
www.tour-eiffel.fr tel info 01 44 11 23 23
underground rail Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel or Bir Hakeim
bus 42, 69, 72, 82, 87
taxi station quay Branly, Pilier Ouest
Located between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic coast, Toulouse is a city of students, a centre of cutting-edge European technology, and the capital of the good life; its taste for celebrations and fine food is attracting a growing number of new inhabitants.
It's known as 'the Pink City', and the best way to soak up the essence of Toulouse, with its tiles, rose-red brick and special light, is to stroll from square to square through its maze of streets lined with cafe and town houses, preferably taking time to sit over a glass of cider.
Toulouse is the most typical city of Occitanie, that area of southern France where the culture of the langue d'oc once held sway. A forward-looking town thanks to its large student population and many technological installations, the capital of the Midi-Pyrénées has been careful to preserve its historical heritage and its quality of life.
Chamonix lies in one of the most spectacular valleys of the French Alps. Reminiscent of the Himalayas, the area is dominated by deeply crevassed glaciers and the cloud-diademed peak of Mont Blanc. The Aiguille du Midi, a solitary spire of rock near Mont Blanc's summit, has postcard-perfect views.
In late spring and summer, the glaciers and high-altitude snow and ice serve as a backdrop for meadows and hillsides carpeted with wildflowers, shrubbery and trees. This is the best time for hiking; in winter, travellers can take advantage of lengthy downhill and cross-country skiing trails.
The Mer de Glace is the second-largest glacier in the Alps. It measures 14km (9mi) long, 1800m (5900ft) wide and is up to 400m (1315ft) deep. For a better look at the glacier from the inside, you can tour an ice cave that is carved anew each spring. There is also a train that ascends to an altitude of 1915m (6275ft) and a number of uphill trails.
Other activities in and around Chamonix include mountain biking, parasailing, ice-skating and screaming down a spit-shined summer luge track. The Swiss town of Martigny is only 40km (25mi) north of Chamonix, should you wish to border-hop for watch repairs or chocolate.
On summer days, watch the waves of heat rise from the plains, just as Van Gogh did a century ago; olive groves and vineyards still cover the surrounding limestone hills. Central Arles is a relaxed place of intimate squares, terraced brasseries perfect for sipping pastis and men with long moustaches playing pétanque.
The festive French never knowingly turn down the opportunity for a party, and the national calendar is packed to the brim with all manner of festivals, fairs, holidays and cultural events. Many cities host music, dance, theatre, cinema or art events each year. Rural villages hold fairs and fetes, which celebrate everything from local saints to agricultural progress. Prominent national holidays include May Day (1 May), when people trade gifts of muguet (lily of the valley) for good luck; and Bastille Day (14 July), which commemorates the storming of the Bastille in 1789 with plenty of fireworks and outdoor parades.
Regional events include the primping and preening prêt à porter fashion show in Paris (early February); the Cannes Film Festival (mid-May), when Hollywood's glitterati descend on the French Riviera en masse; the Deauville American Film Festival (September), a much lower-key affair than its dressy cousin in Cannes; the International Music Festival in Strasbourg (first three weeks of June); the mainstream and fringe theatre of the Festival d'Avignon (mid-July to mid-August) and the Jazz Festival in Nice (late-July/early August).
