Itinerary Suggestions For France

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Paris
Travel Paris
Parisian arrondissements or neighborhoods each possess a distinctive atmosphere. There are the famous attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides and Napoleon's Tomb, Notre Dame, the Louvre and Palais Royal as well as historic neighborhoods like Le Marais, the fashionable, revitalized old Jewish quarter, Ile de la Cite, Ile St-Louis with its aristocratic mansions and antique shops. Some of the world’s finest museums are also to be found like Louvre, Picasso Museum, the Musee d'Orsay with its collection of Impressionist artists and the Musee Rodin. The basilicas and churches of Notre-Dame, Saint Sulpice, Saint Chapelle and the gardens like the Tuileries or Luxembourg are just made for leisurely strolls and are the perfect way to while away a Sunday afternoon.
Travel France, Shopping
Visit the Latin Quarter with its bookstores, the Sorbonne, medieval backstreets and boutiques, shop for antiques, browse picturesque flower markets or stop at a patisserie for a snack. Explore the cafes and brasseries of St-Germain and visit haute couture showrooms or flea markets of Montreuil and Clignancourt. Discover artisans' ateliers to watch them at work. Shop for beautiful antiques under the arcade of the Palais Royal at the Louvre des Antiquaires, for porcelain and crystal on rue de Paradis, or for chocolate, teas and other delicacies at gourmet stores such as Fauchon and Laduree. Order custom embroidered linens or buy copper pots at noted Parisian housewares stores.

While most visitors to France make the City of Light their primary destination, excursions from Paris are a must and not to be missed. The royal palaces of Versailles, Fontainbleau with its famed forest, the village of Barbizon, Van Gogh’s final resting place at Auvers-sur-Oise, romantic Chantilly best known for lace, cream and stunning medieval manuscripts or Chartres’ Gothic cathedral with its unparalleled stained glass windows are all favorite day excursions. Other recommended trips include Reims and the surrounding Champagne region for wine tasting at local estates and cellars. Day trips from Paris can also be organized to Giverny, Rouen, the D-Day sites and the Loire Valley to visit its castles.

Provence and the French Riviera ~ Cote d'Azur
France Travel, Provence
Romantic Provence lingers on the mind with images of rustic stone farmhouses, vineyards, silvery olive groves, lavender and gently herb scented hills, colorful weekly markets and ancient villages crowning the hilltops. Your tour can include by some of Provence's most luxurious hotels or charming countryside accommodations, many of them Relais & Chateaux properties known for their exceptional cuisine.
France Travel, Countryside
Tour Roman ruins at Arles, Orange or St. Remy, a magnificent medieval city at Avignon or the cloisters of St-Trophime in Arles, hilltop villages like Bonnieux, Menerbes, Gordes, Apt and the flaming red town of Roussillon all in the Luberon Valley or the wild natural parks like the Camargue or the Gorges du Verdon. As you explore the countryside visit tiny villages like Fayence, Tourrettes, Seillans or Mougins with their local markets where there are regional specialties of cheeses, olives, soaps, ceramics, baskets and honey. Or taste the delicious wines of the Cote du Provence or shop for Provencal fabrics and French countryside antiques. Relax at outdoor cafes, snack on olives while sipping Pastis, or take a picnic to the riverbank below the Pont du Gard. If your holiday in Provence occurs in the summer, attend one of the internationally acclaimed festivals of opera, music, jazz, dance or theater.
Plan a holiday along the French Riviera where luxurious hotels with sweeping vistas over the
France Travel, Beach
Mediterranean make day trips easy to the beautiful villages perche like Eze, Vence, Grasse and St. Paul de Vence. Stroll their tiny cobbled streets, visit ancient castles or just enjoy a glass of wine while drinking in views of rolling hills carpeted with wildflowers, olive groves and pine woods which stretch down to the sea shore.
 

Bordeaux, Burgundy and The Dordogne
Few areas of France can conjure up visions of wine like Bordeaux and the Medoc or Burgundy. So different in atmosphere, cuisine and scenery from one another yet almost pilgrimage destinations for modern day foodies and wine lovers.

Burgundy is a bouquet of good things to eat, drink and sense, a very sensual
France Travel, Wine
country where food and wine are intertwined with history from the Caesars, tales of pilgrimage and magnificent Romanesque architecture in the churches at Vezelay, Auxerre, Fontenay and Autun. The wine trade, centered around Beaune, leads to legendary Pinot Noirs, Chablis and Chardonnays and while the region is rich and famous, it delights when visitors discover that her most famous wine villages are often mere hamlets.

The history of growing grapes to make wine dates from the era of Louis XIV in southwest France near Bordeaux and a drive along the Route des Grands-Crus brings encounters with legendary names like Chateau Margaux, Chateau de Beychevelle, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild and Chateau Lafite. To the north of Garonne river which borders the Medoc is St. Emilion while to the southeast is the region of Graves and Sauterne. South of Bordeaux is the seacoast where oysters and seafood are the delights in Arcachon.

France Travel, Castels
While Bordeaux and Burgundy are all about the wine, the beautiful countryside of the Dordogne is a pastoral mixture of rolling hills meandering along the banks of dreamily flowing, gentle rivers. You would not find it out of place to spy Cinderella’s coach to come rolling down the road from the neighborhood chateau! This region is home to not only castles but gastronomic excellence in foie gras, duck and goose confit, truffles and prehistoric caves hidden deep in the landscape at Lascaux, Pech Merle or Font-de-Gaume. Pilgrimage sites like Rocamadour, sleepy villages like Tremolat where you can stay coddled in rustic country elegance or lofty castles guarding both riverbanks and valleys at Souillac or Cahors make this a magical region for a holiday.
Normandy
Normandy is one of France's most charming provinces with its rolling hills, half timbered houses, endless beaches, rocky cliffs and historic towns and villages. It is here that the the echoes of past whisper to you ~ the Norman Conquest at Bayeux, Joan of Arc in Rouen, Caen and the poignant D-Day landing beaches. Or follow in the the footsteps of artists at Giverny at Monet's farmhouse and
France Travel, French refelections
gardens or the port of Honfleur immortalized in paintings from the 19th century. Explore the dramatic monastic ruins of Jumieges Abbey or travel the coast to see the picturesque seaports of Honfleur, Trouville or the chic resort town of Deauville. In the Pays d'Auge, follow the cheese route ~ Camembert, Livarot, Pont l'Eveque~ and taste apple-based cider, Calvados and Pommeau. The  delicate shellfish and seafood, poultry, and delicious desserts like tarte tatin can all be sampled during a stay in Normandy. On the border with Brittany, marvel at Mont Saint Michel as it emerges from the sea, seemingly floating offshore. For an optimum time to visit, go to Normandy in spring months of April and May when the apple, pear, and cherry trees are in blossom. Make an excursion by boat, hot-air balloon or bicycle  during the day or plan a day trip to the nearby British Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey where you’ll find medieval hamlets, castles and megalithic tombs.
Loire Valley
A visit to the Loire Valley is like stepping into a fairy-tale where castles and forests, beautiful rivers and picturesque local villages create the charming backdrop. Some of France's most
France Travel, Beautiful
spectacular chateaux, Amboise, Chenonceau, Chambord, Blois and Azay-le-Rideau, are masterful examples Renaissance architecture surrounded by gardens of elegant proportions. Recognized as the garden basket of France, the local markets sell some of of the freshest produce and artisanal food specialties of charcuterie, cheeses, pates and terrines. The majestic cathedrals in the cities of Bourges and Chartres are both UNESCO World Heritage sites. See the panorama of the countryside from the vantage point of a hot air balloon which can be taken from either Amboise or Tours in the summer months. Contact Us to receive our newsletter and make these visions a reality.

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