France
Welcome to France, a country with a rich heritage, but one that is in harmony with the modern world it inhabits. Take the opportunity to enjoy the extraordinary sites and outstanding natural beauty on offer. Stay in a small guesthouse, have a bite to eat in a café or a top class restaurant, visit a castle, château or museum. Wander through the aisles of a Parisian shop or enjoy shopping at one of the many craft markets across the country. It’s your choice. The longest and most diverse coastline on the European continent, the most beautiful mountains in Europe, 31 Unesco world heritage sites, a capital city famed for its art, luxury and extravagance… Whatever the reason for your visit, we wish you an enjoyable stay in a countryburstingwithflavours andtraditions, and hope that you enjoy the art of living “à la française”.
Découvrir les villes
Avignon
Avignon, City of the Popes
Residence of the Popes in the Middle Ages, Avignon still reflects this magnificent destiny: the Palais des Papes, the bridge, ramparts, churches and chapels all lend a unique atmosphere to the town. The home of a prestigious contemporary theatre festival, European city of culture in 2000, Avignon also has a taste for the avant-garde. Come and enjoy its many contrasts.
Not to be missed
- Palais des Papes
- The famous St Bénézet bridge
- Unesco World Heritage Sites: ramparts, Palais, bridge
- The old town with its cardinal’s liveries, its church towers…
- The collections of its museums: Petit Palais, Musée Calvet, Musée Angladon, Lambert collection, Palais du Roure, Jean Vilar’s house…
- Place de l’Horloge and its shady terraces
- The Rhône and the promenade on the island of La Barthelasse
- Provençal gastronomy and Côtes du Rhône wines
Bordeaux,
Look no further!
Bordeaux, the world capital of wine, boasts one of the most harmonious 18th century architectural complexes in Europe. The city has been officially included on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites as of 28 June 2007.The Bordeaux World Heritage site is the largest urban entity to be so honoured. It covers 1,810 hectares, or half of the city, from the outer boulevards to the banks of the Garonne. Several monuments have also been listed as World Heritage Sites as part of UNESCO's tribute to major points of interest along the pilgrim road to Santiago de Compostela.
A party atmosphere, excellent quality of life, great wines and fine foods, culture and shopping…
Bordeaux look no further!
Not to be missed
- Esplanade des Quinconces, the biggest citycentre esplanade in Europe
- The buildings lining the quayside, promenade, riverboat trips and “guinguettes” (waterfront cafés and dance halls)
- Grand Théâtre, Palais Rohan and Palais de la Bourse (Stock Exchange), 18th century masterpieces
- The Cathedral and the two basilicas, UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- The squares of old Bordeaux, with their craft shops and café terraces
- The Triangle Bordelais (Bordeaux Triangle), its 4seasons market and luxury boutiques
- Rue Saint Catherine (393 feets long) and its bigname stores
- Les Chartrons district, its antique dealers
- SaintMichel district and its flea market
- The many museums
- The wine tours
- The UNESCO tours
- The world biggest Water mirror (3450 m²)
Dijon
Dijon, capital of Burgundy
Arriving here on the road from Troyes, François I exclaimed at the sight of Dijon: “What a beautiful town, it is the town of a hundred bell-towers“. Dijon may have lost many of its belfries since then… but it has preserved its true magnificence. Let yourself be captivated by the capital of Burgundy! You cannot fail to enjoy the beauty and wealth of its heritage as well as its gastronomic delights!
Not to be missed
- Palais des Ducs et des Etats de Bourgogne (ducal palace) (exterior architecture)
- Rue des Forges and its town houses
- Rue Verrerie and its antique shops
- NotreDame Church, rue de la Chouette and Hôtel de Vogüé
- SaintBénigne Cathedral and its 11thcentury crypt
- Dijon’s museums (free admission)
- The former Palais de Justice (Law Courts)
- Shops selling traditional produce (mustard, crème de cassis liqueur and gingerbread)
- The Burgundy vineyard and its winetasting cellars
Grenoble
Grenoble, Heart of the Alps
Grenoble, In Grenoble, capital of the French Alps and the Dauphiné region, mountains are ever-present. There are dramatic views onto three massifs. This makes the contrast with the urban architecture still more striking. The city has managed to preserve vestiges of two thousand and fifty years of history! Today a European centre, the city is at the forefront of technology. Welcoming and captivating, Grenoble awaits you.
Not to be missed
- The old town, its 2050 years of history and its exceptional heritage
- The Bastille fort and its cable car: an unobstructed view over Grenoble and the surrounding massifs
- Grenoble museum
- Dauphinois museum
- Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation
- National Centre for Contemporary Arts
- Markets and squares
- Parks and gardens
- The Fontaines circuit
- The Antiquarians district
- Via Ferrata: the first in an urban setting
- La Casamaures: a palace of “grey gold“
- Specialities: Grenoble walnuts, gratin dauphinois, Chartreuse liqueur
Lyon
Lyon, world heritage
Acity two millennia old on the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône, Lyon backs onto the Fourvière and Croix Rousse hills. It offers you an unusual journey through time and across cultures, with its centre listed as a World Heritage Site, down its narrow streets, its “traboules“ (narrow secret passages), along its bustling quays, on the big squares of the peninsula and with over 200 floodlit sites at night.
Not to be missed
- Roman Theatres and Old Renaissance Lyon
- Fourvière basilica and La Croix Rousse with its silkweavers’ workshops
- Cultural life: biennial arts festivals, national opera, dance, theatres, national orchestra
- Museums: Fine Arts, CinémaLumière, Textiles, GalloRoman Civilisation…
- Illumination Scheme: over 200 sites floodlit each evening
- Shopping: designers, fashion, antiques, markets, squares, gardens
- Lyon’s gastronomy: its small traditional restaurants, its topflight restaurants
- Lyon along the Rhône and the Saône: boat trips, quays, riverbanks and bridges…
- The vineyards: Beaujolais, Côtes Rôties, Côtes du Rhône
Marseille
Marseille, gateway to Provence
Capital of the Mediterranean region, offers its visitors the authenticity of its 26 centuries of history, the friendliness of its inhabitants and the riches of its heritage. Come and explore its 111 districts, enjoy its mellow lifestyle, discover its museums and its exceptionally beautiful rocky creeks. Marseille has the charm of those towns you can never forget.
Not to be missed
- Enjoying the panarama from NotreDame de la Garde basilica: the “Good Mother“
- Discovering the little fishing harbours, the calanques, the Château d’If and Le Frioul archipelago
- Strolling on the many colourful Marseille markets
- Sipping a glass of Pastis at sunset on the Vieux Port
- Visit an exhibition at the VieilleCharité and go for a stroll different in the Panier district
- Go to the Stade Velodrome to watch a football game
- Go jogging on the corniche
- Try out local gastronomic specialties: Bouillabaisse, pieds et paquets, navettes
Metz
Metz, city of Light
Illuminated city, heritage city, garden city, enchanting Metz offers those on foot the promise of surprising walks through the town and along the ramparts. Metz boasts plenty of riches: one of the tallest Gothic cathedrals in the world, a heritage that combines history and contemporary art (Metz-Pompidou Centre from 2008)... Add to this its friendly population, and you have a charming destination.
Not to be missed
- SaintEtienne Cathedral
- Museums of the Gold Court
- SaintPierreauxNonnains church (dates back to around 400)
- SaintLouis square (medieval)
- The 18th century squares: de la Comédie, d’Armes, SaintThiébault
- Medieval churches: SaintMaximin (stained glass windows by Cocteau), SaintMartin, SaintEucaire, SaintVincent
- The Roman and Medieval ramparts
- The arsenal brilliantly transformed into an auditorium by Ricardo Bofill
- The imperial district and the station square redesigned by comtemporary designers: Philippe Stark, Foster…
- 34 km of walks on the banks of the Moselle and Seille rivers and 5 golf courses within a 25 km radius;
- Local specialties: mirabelle, charcuterie, Moselle wines
Montpellier
Montpellier, the South I love!
Mid-way between Spain and Italy, just seven kilometres from the Mediterranean, Montpellier regularly figures near the top in the charts of towns most loved by the French. With its narrow streets and sunny little squares, its international festivals and student festivities, Montpellier offers an exceptional quality of life that is the envy of everyone. You will soon see why when you get here!
Not to be missed
- The Fabre museum
- The historic centre, its medieval streets and its private hotels
- Place de la Comédie
- The Faculty of Medecine, western world’s oldest and still in activity and the Botanical Garden
- Private hotels in the city centre, and the 18th century follies all around it
- The Mikve, ritual Jewish bath
- SaintPierre Cathedral
- The Antigone district designed by Ricardo Bofill and the banks of the river Lez
- The Arch of Triumph
- The zoological Park and the new Amazonian greenhouse
- The Odysseum leisure centre and Galilée planetarium and the Mare Nostrum new aquarium
Nantes
Nantes, the Atlantic breeze
Gateway to the Loire Valley and to Brittany, Nantes is recognised as European capital of good living. Experience winds from the West, the aroma of iodine and salt, lights on the Loire, café atmosphere, tropical trees in the botanical garden, 18th-century seafaring adventure in the times of the three-masters and a crazy cultural modernity, not forgetting Muscadet, the most famous of the Nantes wines. The anthology of emotions of the city of the Dukes of Brittany, is infinite.
Not to be missed
- Castle of the Ducs de Bretagne
- The island’s machines (opening July 2007)
- SaintPierre and SaintPaul Cathedral
- Musée des Beaux Arts (fine arts)
- Jardin des Plantes and its exotic greenhouses
- The Port, Île Feydeau, its wroughtironwork and grotesque masks
- Pommeraye arcade
- Butte SainteAnne and its magnificent panorama over the Loire
- Boat trips on the Erdre and its Châteaux
- The Muscadet winegrowing area
- The finest beach in Europe, La Baule, and the Guérande peninsula
- Gastronomic specialities: fish and seafood
- New : the Nantes History museum
Nice
Nice, capital city of the Côte d’Azur
capital city of the Côte d’Azur, lies in the heart of a region made famous by its timeless beauty. It features a great diversity: city steeped in history, city of architecture, of culture, of art, of creation, of events, of shows, of leisure, of nature, of sweetness and savour… No matter how many times you come to Nice, remember there is still another way to discover our city…
Not to be missed
- Museums: Chagall, Matisse, MAMAC, Beaux-Arts, Arts Asiatiques, Arts Naïfs…
- Vieux-Nice (old city) : flower market and baroque heritage
- Promenade des Anglais
- Castle hill
- Cimiez arenas
- The Belle Epoque itinerary
- The Russian church
Paris
Classic Paris, unfamiliar Paris...
Paris has something for everyone in a multifaceted, magical, mythical and sometimes surprising capital that is always exciting. People come to Paris to admire its exceptional architectural and cultural heritage, which makes it one of the world's most beautiful cities. This dynamic heritage is constantly being updated and enriched. Paris is also the capital of gastronomy, fashion and shopping.
A city where something is always happening. It is committed to the notions of quality of life and substainable development and offers its inhabitants and visitors a particularly pleasant setting. Innovative, audacious and vibrant, Paris has leapt boldly into the 21st century.
Not to be missed
- Eiffel Tower
- Notre Dame Cathedral
- Champs-Elysées
- Arc de Triomphe
- Opéra National de Paris
- Louvre
- Musée d’Orsay
- Pompidou Centre
- Montmartre and Opéra districts
- Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine
- Musée des Arts Décoratifs
- Musée du Quai Branly. arts and civilizations of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas.
Strasbourg
Strasbourg, In Alsace and so European
Strasbourg is the Capital of Alsace and a perfect place to take a holiday. The city is home to an historic centre that is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Strasbourg is best explored on foot, by bicycle, by river boat or on the mini-tram. It is a city with authentic traditions but it is also dynamic, modern and cosmopolitan! Strasbourg welcomes you to explore and enjoy without out further delay!
Not to be missed
- Notre-Dame cathedral, its astronomical clock
- “La Petite France“, its half-timbered houses and its canals
- Ponts Couverts and the panoramic terrace of the Barrage Vauban
- Place de la République and its majestic historic buildings built during the German period (1871-1918)
- The district of the European Institutions
- Palais Rohan (18th-century), its museums
- Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain
- Orangerie Park
- The breweries and winstubs, typical little Alsace restaurants
Toulouse
Toulouse... every weekend has its own tempo
Only 1h30 from either the Mediterranean or the Pyrénées, Toulouse is a southern city with a Spanish accent and Italian façades. Stroll along its medieval streets or on the banks of the Canal du Midi. Visit its well restored heritage and enjoy an exciting rugby match at the local stadium. You may even become an astronaut at the Cité de l’Espace or still a pilot on the new Airbus A 380! And, by day and by night, enjoy the bodegas, restaurants, students celebrations or major festivals which bring endless effervescence the so aptly named Pink City !
Not to be missed
- Place du Capitole and the town hall
- Saint-Sernin basilica
- Old Toulouse
- The town houses: Assézat (Fondation Bemberg), Bernuy
- Canal du Midi, a Unesco World Heritage Site
- The banks of the Garonne: promenade Henri Martin, Raymond 6th garden and Filtres meadow.
- The museums: les Augustins, Saint-Raymond (archaeology), Jacobins monastery complex, “les Abattoirs“ modern and contemporary art space.
- Cité de l’espace and the Airbus assembly lines
- Gastronomic specialities: cassoulet, foie gras, Armagnac.
Versailles
Famous on all five continents for the château of the Sun King, Versailles is also… a town. Seductive, captivating, rich with a unique historic heritage and old districts that have kept their charm and are crying out for a stroll. Take an open invitation to explore them. Versailles has plenty in store to charm… and surprise you.
Not to be missed
- Château, the Grand and Petit Trianon
- The park and its copses
- The Marie-Antoinette’s Domain
- Musée Lambinet, reflecting the Age of Enlightenment and the history of Versailles
- The old districts: Notre-Dame, Old Versailles, Saint-Louis, Montreuil
- The King’s Stables housing the Carriage Museum and the Equestrian Show Academy
- Montansier theatre
- Salle du Jeu de Paume (royal tennis room) and the Hôtel des Menus Plaisirs
- Notre-Dame covered market and the antique shops around the old Gaol
- Potager du Roi (King’s kitchen garden)
