With its world-renowned food and wine, its notorious bloody history during the French Revolution and the tyranny of the guillotine, its lofty position in the all things fashion, its fabulous cinema, beautiful language and glorious scenery, France it an obvious European holiday destination for many Australians. And beyond the clear charms of the French Republic itself, there is also the convenience of its location, with its borders touching on other popular Europe tour hotspots such as Spain and Andorra in the south and Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and tiny, but oh so stylish Monaco, to the east. Furthermore, France is only a hop across the English Channel to the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) and the journey is made both easy and comfortable with the direct rail link provided by the Channel Tunnel.
Given all of this, it is little surprise that French tours have become so popular in recent years. However, this is the largest country in Western Europe, covering just under 675,000 square kilometres, and its cities, landscapes and customs vary greatly from region to region. When planning to tour France, one of the biggest problems most visitors come across is deciding which parts of this fantastic country to see.
The French capital, Paris, is a must for many with the iconic Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, chic Champs-Elysee with its designer shops, Montmartre, known for its artists and the fabulous Sacre-Coeur Basicilla, and the impressive Place de la Concorde high on many lists. On the outskirts of Paris lies the incredible opulence of the Palace of Versailles, once home to the French royal family and their court, including the ill-fated Louis XVI and his tragic wife, Marie Antoinette. In all honesty, you could spend weeks exploring this city and its surrounds alone!
But there is so much more. Lyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is packed full of historical landmarks and also boasts 2 major wine growing areas, Beaujolais and Cotes du Rhone, as well as holding the reputation of being the capital of French cuisine. Bordeaux has some stunning architecture and is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as well as being a massive centre for the French wine industry. Nice, the jewel of the Cote d’Azur is a major beach holiday destination with its long sandy promenade lapped by the warm Mediterranean Sea. Dijon, in Burgundy, has been settled since Roman times and oozes history, whilst Avignon still has medieval structures such as its ramparts and its bridge, made immortal in the song ‘Sur le Pont d’Avignon’. The list goes on and on.
Then there are specific reasons to plan a holiday in France, such as choosing to take a French wine tour of places like Champagne, the Loire Valley or Provence. Some people wish to see the French Alps or Pyrenees and decide to spend part of the European ski season there. Perhaps you are a cycling enthusiast? If so, there is no better place to be in July than following the Tour de France bike race through the towns, villages, fields and mountains of this wonderful country.
France has so much to entice visitors from overseas that it is no wonder that so many tourists choose to book a French tour as part of their European travel itinerary.