/ Explore The World / Europe / Western Europe / France

Explore France

France  is a unitary semi-presidential republic located mostly in Western Europe, with several overseas regions and territories. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. From its shape, it is often referred to in French as l’Hexagone ("The Hexagon"). France is the largest country in Western Europe and the third-largest in Europe as a whole. It possesses the second-largest exclusive economic zone in the world. France has been a major power with strong cultural, economic, military, and political influence in Europe and around the world.  France has its main ideals expressed in the 18th-century Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. From the 17th to the early 20th century, France built the second-largest colonial empire of the time, ruling large portions of first North America and India and then Northwest and Central Africa; Madagascar; Indochina and southeast China; and many Caribbean and Pacific Islands.

Quick Facts

  • Capital : Paris
  • Language: French
  • Currency: Euro

Filter By

NICE  
Main attractions

  • Parc du Chateau
  • Food and flower market near the beachfront
  • Cathédrale Ste-Réparate and the Eglise du Jésus St-Jacques Le Majeur
  • Avenue Jean Medecin  - the  shopping strip 
  • Place Massena  -  a lovely public square

Museums : 

  • Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain
  • The Musée des Beaux-Arts
  • Marc Chagall Museum 
  • Musée Matisse in the Cimiez district
  • Ancient Roman ruins at the Musée et Site Archéologigues
  • Musée Picasso, in Antibes, is in a wonderful small castle overlooking the sea

Recommended excursions 

  • French Riviera
  • Provence
  • Cannes and Antibes 
  • Côte d'Azur 

Avignon 
Main Attractions:

  • Nimes Antique Amphitheatre
    "Le Pont du Gard" Famous Aqueduct
    Orange Antique theatre of Orange
  • Châteauneuf du Pape for Wine tasting  
  • Arles On the trail of Van Gogh
    Les Baux de Provence
    Saint Rémy de Provence  - for a visit to the clinic where Van Gogh stayed for one year, from where he  painted his most famous masterpieces
  • Marseille Old port, Notre Dame de la Garde 
  • Cassis the "Calanques" coves and cliffs along the sea coast

 Recommended excursions

  • Aix en Provence
  • The most beautiful villages of Luberon area. - Lourmarin, Bonnieux, Roussillon, Gordes, Ménerbes

Chamonix 
Main attractions

  • Lake Gaillands

Recommended excursions

  • Take the train to Servoz or drive down the valley from Chamonix to the Gorges de la Diosaz
  • Lac du Passy
  • Train from Chamonix to St. Gervais to visit some beautiful glacial lakes, Les Lacs Jovet  and Lac d’Armancette
  • Tramway du Mont Blanc
  • Vallorcine  an authentic little mountain village, that lies at the top of the Chamonix Valley
  • Megève for breath taking waterfalls, beautiful ridges
  • Mt. Blanc Express from Chamonix to Martigny in Switzerland to enjoy a day of arts and culture in this historic Roman town
  • Annecy known for its beautiful crystal clear lake Lac d’Annecy

Toulouse 

Main Attractions :

  • Jardin des Plantes botanical gardens
  • The Hôtel d’Assézat
  • The Abattoirs Museum
  • The Jacobins Convent
  • The Capitole
  • Saint-Sernin Basilica
  • Aeroscopia Museum (opened in January 2015)
  • Airbus Factory
  • Visit of Graine de Pastel boutiques
  • De La Violette The Maison Houseboat

Recommended Excursion

  • Albi sightseeing and Gaillac Wine Tasting from Toulouse
  • Cabardès Wine Tasting and Castles of Lastours day trip from Toulouse
  • Carcassonne day trip from Toulouse including Michelin-Star lunch and Wine Tasting

Discover more of Europe

 

Explore France