France is the top tourist destination in the world, which comes as no surprise since it has many spectacular attractions. Indeed, France is home to many historic and interesting sites which are all equally captivating, which is why you might have a hard time knowing where to start. It doesn’t matter where you do, though, as long as you visit these top France attractions during your stay.
Chateau de Versailles
Versailles is one of the most popular France attractions for its historical significance and outstanding beauty. Located just a few miles outside of Paris, the palace still exudes the grandeur of a royal residence – which it was from 1682 to 1789. It has 700 rooms, the most popular of which are the royal bedchambers, the Hall of Mirrors and the Salon of Hercules, all decorated with ornate furniture and beautiful artworks. Its subsidiary buildings, the Trianon and the Lanterne Pavilion, are also magnificent, and its gardens are among the most stunning in the world.
Grand Louvre
Some of the best France attractions are excellent museums such as the famous Louvre. The Louvre Museum houses more than 400,000 pieces distributed into three wings, including over 6,000 masterpieces from French, Spanish, Italian and other European painters. It is particularly known as the home of the ‘Mona Lisa’ by Leonardo da Vinci, which is one of the most controversial works of art ever produced. Aside from being a world-renowned museum, the Louvre is also one of the central landmarks in Paris, with its distinct pyramid situated on the right bank of the River Seine. The equally interesting Georges Pompidou Centre and the Musee d’Orsay are only a short drive away.
Eiffel Tower
It goes without saying that a trip to France is not complete without climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower, where the views of the city are spectacular, or at least having your photo taken against its magnificent structure. After all, the Eiffel Tower remains the most distinct symbol of France, although it no longer holds the distinction of being the tallest building in the world. It is especially amazing at night when it is illuminated, truly contributing to the romantic ambience of the City of Lights.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
‘Notre Dame’ means ‘Our Lady’ in French, which is why there are many Catholic churches in France bearing the name. The one that readily comes to mind, though, is the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, best known for being featured in Victor Hugo’s masterpiece ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’. Even if it were not, though, it would still surely draw visitors for its rich history dating back from the 12th century and more notably, for its remarkable Gothic architecture. In fact, the Notre Dame de Paris is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the world. Other impressive cathedrals in France include those in Rodez, Reims and Strasbourg.
Chambord Castle
France is overflowing with romantic attractions, including fairy tale castles such as the Chateau de Chambord. This castle, which was built under the reign of King Francois I, is one of the most popular in France and all over the world, distinct for its impressive French renaissance architecture. Its unsymmetrical yet elaborate roofscape is particularly astonishing, with eleven kinds of towers and three different types of chimneys. Its most famous architectural feature, though, is its double staircase which ascends three floors, reportedly the work of Leonardo da Vinci.
The Loire Valley
During your vacation in France, don’t just linger in Paris. Rather, make it a point to discover the beauty of the French countryside, like the Loire Valley. Aside from the Chombard Castle, the Loire Valley offers many other enchanting castles, as well as charming towns and historic cities like Bourges and Orleans. It is also known for its excellent wine and breathtakingly romantic natural scenery, earning it the title of the Garden of France, which is why it is one of the best France attractions in itself.
If you still have some time left, you can also visit other France attractions, such as the Futuroscope, the Fontainebleau Forest and the beautiful beaches of the French Riviera. While you won’t be able to visit them all, you might as well try to see as many of the scenic spots in France as you can, so you can truly say that you have experienced France instead of merely visiting it – an experience sure to be on the top of your list for a lifetime.
Isabella Olsen is a travel writer who has toured major destinations worldwide, including France, by car. Zencarhire.com offer car hire from many locations throughout France, including, car hire Toulouse airport. To book a France car rental, or learn more about car hire worldwide, visit www.zencarhire.com
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Lighthouses in France stand as beautiful testaments to the country’s naval tradition. Although many are now sadly neglected, their beautiful style and design and historical significance make them a must-see for holidaymakers in France. French lighthouses are little-known historical treasures that hark back to a largely forgotten era of French seamanship . Guarding the French shoreline, the lighthouses – or phare – have stood up to the worst that the Channel and the Atlantic Ocean can throw at them for decades. These spectacular buildings punctuate the skyline around the shore, forming a formidable network of signal lights originally designed to secure the lives of French sailors and ensure the integrity of the country’s shipping lanes. Brittany is home to some of the most imposing lighthouses, along with the Île D’Ouessant just off the mainland. A craggy, wind-battered tranche of land is only 5km by 8km long, it is home to a number of truly magnificent historic lighthouses, both onshore and off. Surrounded by intense currents and treacherous outcrops of hidden rocks, the island has claimed many lives over the years, making its lighthouses of key practical importance for shipping control through this dangerous area. The lighthouses in Brittany are some of the most impressive to be found anywhere in France. From the small, square Phare de Kermorvan with its rugged stone balustrades to the simple yet robust sophistication of the Phare du Petit Minou, the Île D’Ouessant showcases some truly remarkable feats of engineering and practical architecture. The lighthouses are even more spectacular when one considers that most were built in the early years of the nineteenth century, when design techniques were nowhere near as advanced as they are today. The fact that these structures are still standing in the face of such severe weather conditions is a credit to the skill and tenacity of the men who built them. Reaching the Île D’Ouessant is simple – just catch a Calais channel ferry to France and make your way to Brest in Brittany, where the twice a day ferry will ship you over to the island for a very modest fee. Once there, you can explore the island on foot or by bike, taking in the unique sights of these commanding silent sentinels.
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For quite a few years now several of the so-called “budget airlines” in Europe have been taking part in a price war trying to offer the lowest air fares to a host of European cities. It’s quite normal to read that one of the leading budget airlines for example Ryanair or Easyjet is offering return flights from Britain to France, Germany or Spain for £1 (approx $1.45). There could be taxes and airport landing fees to be added to the fare, but it remains an absolute bargain if you’re looking to see a variety of cities throughout Europe. One of the major drawbacks of these flights is that they often fly to the smaller rural airports rather than the better known biginternational ones. This can mean that a flight that is advertised to a big European city actually lands some 50 miles away. In fact there are a number of advantages with this situation, the regional airports will normally provide a much slicker service on check-in and luggage since they’re catering for a lot less flights. The disadvantage is that public transport serving these airfields can be patchy at best and a very popular alternative is hiring a car from the airport. Here are a variety of the wonderful cities that we’ve visited with flights from the budget airlines. We are sure that you will enjoy visiting any of these fine areas, without doubt they have a lot to offer to visitors to their shores.
Glasgow, Scotland
Glasgow, once known for its hard, unforgiving living conditions has seen a Renaissance and has become a fascinating, architecturally diverse city attracting a huge number of visitors throughout the year. The chic West part of Glasgow is the home of the fourth oldest university in the U.K.. Perched on a hill amidst the Medieval part of the city, the students contribute greatly to the fun loving and vibrant atmosphere of that area. The budget carriers utilise Prestwick Airport some 51 km (35 miles) north east of the centre of the city and there is an excellent road between the airport and Glasgow city centre. It’s a popular area for sightseeing, so it is advisable to rent a car at Prestwick Airport before setting out on your trip. A congestion free 30 minute journey from Prestwick along the M77 motorway brings you to the centre of the city. Glasgow is an ideal base for a journey to the Trossachs National Park. Just 13 mile (20 km) journey out of Glasgow and you might discover sensational countryside on the back of a pony, whereas a 50 km (30 mile) drive east along another excellent motorway will find you in Edinburgh together with its ever popular festivals, shopping in Princes Street, the historic Castle and Holyrood Palace.
Florence, Italy
Without doubt one of Europe’s most stunningly beautiful locations, Florence is served by Pisa Airport, some 84 km (50 miles) west of Florence. Rent a car at Pisa airport and you’ll be perfectly positioned to explore Pisa’s leaning tower, majestic Florence and some of some of the most picturesque countryside in the whole of Europe, that of the majestically beautiful Tuscany. Thus it is hardly surprising that Florence is high in the popularity stakes when looking at European cities. When you arrive in Florence you will find that a large proportion of the centre of the city is pedestrianized protecting the many ancient architectural treasures and statues from the pollution and vibrations associated with heavy traffic. The complete lack of traffic brings a sense of tranquility as you wander from one fragment of history to the next. You do not need to stray too far before being hit by the evil, ear splitting roar of the scooter riders of Florence. Apart from the Ponte Vecchio all of the bridges leading to city centre are noisy, polluted places, thus providing an added reason to stay within the ancient alleyways and tranquil inner sanctums of Florence’s beautiful piazzas.
Tours, France
Tours is the ideal base for touring France’s wonderful Loire valley and its stunning chateaux The perfect centre for exploring the Loire Valley famed for its wonderful selection of palatial residences, the city has quite a few of its own charms. Although the little airport is only a couple of miles out of town, you really need to rent a car in the Loire Valley in order to explore a selection of the most stunning towns and villages in the whole of France. Along the banks of the River Loire between Chalonnes and Sully-sur-Loire, a host of cultural treasures are presented for the visitor to feast their eyes on. The Loire valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site and offers scenic countryside, heaps of flamboyant castles plus a good scattering of historic villages. Originally the “Retreat of Kings” back in the days of the Renaissance and the middle ages, the Loire Valley was a firm savourite of the French monarchy. Built originally as working fortified castles, the buildings were transformed into the palatial chaeaux that you will find today. Visitors from all over the world are attracted to the historic towns that are situated along the banks of the Loire. Towns such as Blois, Chinon and Tours have so much to see and do whilst the most popular chateau is possibly that on the Chambord Estate. Throughout the region you will find small, family owned vineyards selling a variety of great wines at very low prices. Keep your eyes skinned for the word “degustation”, which means sampling I guess, and as long as ‘Le Patron’ is not in the middle of a long leisurely lunch you will be made very welcome and he will be more than willing to offer you a tasting of all his wines. Of course, it is strongly advised that you take a tee-totaller as your driver, some of these tasting sessions can become extremely alcoholic!.
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