La Rochelle
Superbly intact as a medieval port, thanks to the efforts of a past
communist mayor whose legacy includes the free bicycles you can ride
around town, La Rochelle offers beautiful beaches, delicious seafood,
and boat trips to surrounding islands.
The French Alps
The French Alps are glorious in summer. To go walking, take one of the
many ski lifts that operate year-round. Pretty towns to visit include
Annecy, on its turquoise lake, set against the peaks of La Tourette.
Paris
There is so much life on the streets of Paris, plus a tremendous amount
of public art and wonderful architecture, that just wandering the
streets is a delight and doesn't cost you any money. The city centre is
very compact so there's little chance of getting lost.
Champagne
If you like drinking bubbly, there's no greater experience than quaffing
the stuff in the region where it's made. A visit to Reims will enable
you to catch one of France's most impressive Gothic cathedrals, as well
as take in several caves, including the famous Veuve Cliquot-Ponsardin.
Chartres Cathedral
Go to Chartres and see the Cathédral Notre-Dame, whose greatest asset is
its magnificent rose window. Situated on the hilltop, the enormous
building has plenty of other enthralling visible wonders, such as the
geometry of the building and the 130 other stained glass windows.
Provence
From its Medieval hilltop villages, through a rich agricultural
countryside of vineyards, olive groves and fields of sunflowers, to the
fascinating cities of Arles and Aix en Provence, this is perhaps the
most irrestistible area of France.
Cheese
For cheese, head for Normandy, particularly the area known as the Pays
d'Auge, whose lush green fields help produce the rich milk so essential
for the area's delicious Camembert.
Cycling
The country which runs the world's most famous bike race (the Tour de
France) is a rewarding place to cycle, and you may even get bigger
servings in local restos if you indicate your means of transport. You
don't have to rely entirely on pedal power, however - you can take bikes
on certain trains for free.
Camargue
The Camargue is a flat, marshy delta area, with flamingo-filled lagoons.
Its long stretches of coastline include the popular resort of
Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, which offers plenty of facilities, and less
commercialized areas, such as the plage de Piemancon.
Marseille
Marseille, the second most populous city of France, though undeniably
deprived, is a wonderful place to visit. It's a down-to-earth yet
cosmopolitan city which spirals out from the old port. To check out its
excellent seafood cuisine try the cours Julien behind the Vieux Port's
southern quay.
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