About
France
France seduces travellers with its unfalteringly familiar culture, woven around cafe terraces, village-square markets and bistros with their plat du jour (dish of the day) chalked on the board.
CULTURE
France is about world-class art and architecture. It seduces with iconic landmarks known the world over. This country’s cultural repertoire is staggering – in volume and diversity. And this is where the beauty of France lies: when the Eiffel Tower, royal Versailles and the celebrity-ridden French Riviera have been ticked off, there’s ample more to thrill. France is, after all, the world’s top tourism destination with some 89 million visitors each year who feast on its extraordinary wealth of museums, galleries, ateliers (artist workshops) and hands-on cultural experiences.
GASTRONOMY
Food is of enormous importance to the French, breakfasting on warm croissants from the boulangerie (bakery), stopping off at Parisian bistros, and market shopping are second nature to the French. But French gastronomy goes far deeper than just eating exceedingly well. Its experiential nature means there is always something tasty to observe, learn and try. Be it flipping crêpes in Brittany or clinking champagne flutes in ancient Reims cellars, the culinary opportunities are endless.
WINE
Explore the wine regions of France, including Bordeaux and Champagne. France has given us Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon to name a few and the origins of modern-day winemaking. Burgundy, Beaujolais, the Loire and Rhone valley and Languedoc-Roussillon are also notable wine producing regions making France the third largest producer of wine in the world.
ART DE VIVRE
The rhythm of daily life – dictated by the depths of la France profonde (rural France) –live the French lifestyle. Embrace the luxury of simple, everyday rituals being transformed into unforgettable moments, be it a coffee and croissant in a Parisian cafe, a stroll through the lily-clad gardens Monet painted, or a walk on a beach in splendidly natural Brittany or mixing with celebrities in exquisite St. Tropez.
OUTDOOR ACTION
France weaves a varied journey from northern France’s cliffs and sand dunes to the piercing blue sea of the French Riviera and Corsica’s green oak forests. France’s outdoor action means there’s something for everybody. Whether you end up walking across wave-rippled sand to Mont St-Michel, riding a cable car to glacial panoramas above Chamonix or cartwheeling down Europe’s highest sand dune, France does not disappoint. Its great outdoors is thrilling, with endless opportunities. Allez!
BEACHES
France is home to some of the best beaches in Europe, from beautiful stretches of the northern coast to the sparkling idylls of the Riviera.
