Europe > France: Weather, Map, Costs and Travel Guide

Of France has many attractions both natural and cultural history. Open sea and ocean, animated by numerous mountain ranges, dotted with villages and preserved, it is not for nothing the most visited country in the world. Paris alone requires several days of excursion: its monuments, the Eiffel Tower to the Opera, the Arc de Triomphe and Notre-Dame, or the Sacred Heart, to name a few , museums, the Louvre in the City of Sciences and the Centre Georges Pompidou, its old neighborhoods, the Marais, Montmartre, its gardens of the Tuileries in Luxembourg, its luxury shops, department stores, will give you the opportunity to stroll and make exciting discoveries to suit your mood and your curiosity, never be disappointed.

But many other cities in France worth visiting Toulouse in the south, the pink city, which extends its distinctive architecture and its relaxed lifestyle along the Garonne River in Marseilles on the Mediterranean, cosmopolitan and yet so authentic and Full of character, Strasbourg, east, whose historic center is world heritage of mankind, Lyon and its famous alleyways, the capital of gastronomy, wine and surrounded by hills dotted with fountains, Lille in the north with its old streets and the warmth of its people ...

Each French region has particular features which make it a miniature country. Brittany will seduce you with its wild coastline battered by the winds, cut into rocky coves or granite cliffs, moors and fragrant mysterious islands. A little lower, Aquitaine, between the Atlantic and foothills of the Massif Central, you will pass the caves of Lascaux, where you talk about prehistory, the beautiful beaches of the Landes with its giant waves, until its Béarn nestled in greenery foothills of the Pyrenees. Continuing east, Languedoc-Roussillon, between the Pyrenees and Rhone valleys and spreads her sweet life, among fountains and hills, beaches and cities in the shaded squares. Then you arrive in Provence, bulls and horses to admire, villages with Roman tiles, and you are lulled by the chirping of cicadas and the smell of pastis. Go back into the Alps to find the needles and glaciers, crossing the paths of the parks to achieve the altitude lakes shining in the sun and a halt in the picturesque hilltop villages. History lovers are sure to visit the famous castles of the Loire, Sancerre, Chambord, Chenonceau, Blois, Amboise, wonders embedded in the lush landscapes peaceful and harmonious throughout the quiet river. Despite the limited area of its territory, France would probably not be discovered at once, and other routes will surprise you at your next visit: Basque Country, Alsace, Auvergne, Cevennes, Picardie, each region has its treasures, its cooking and its accent!

Two international airports, Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Nice, serving the French territory. It is also very easy to access by road from Italy, Germany and Scandinavia. The Eurostar and the Channel Tunnel to Paris are two hours from London.

The euro is the currency in circulation.

The budget you will spend on your accommodation and your food is obviously a function of comfort level, but also on the season and your resort.

The cuisine is a French tradition recognized, you will have no trouble finding many schools cooking regional specialties at prices quite affordable if you avoid the tourist areas too: a meal at 15 € is possible even in the middle season in some villages of Quercy or in the heart of the Pyrenees, providing paths to deviate too crowded. Regarding accommodation, there is a hotel portfolio covering all price ranges, but also many campgrounds classified by level of comfort and cozy cottages and welcoming that compete heavily with the hotels. Count still about € 70 for a double room in summer, prices could easily double in the big cities.

Travel within the country may be in the process, but the car is recommended to access all the wonders hidden corners of campaign served only by road. In large cities, metro and tram are very convenient and the bus systems and style Vélib 'are increasingly in place, very pleasant and inexpensive to go to discover the city to its pace.