France has so much to entice travellers – renowned gastronomy, iconic sights, splendid art heritage, a fabulous outdoors. You could sample it all in a week, but you'll invariably feel as though you've only scratched the surface of this big country.
Visiting France is certainly about seeing the big sights, but it's just as much about savouring life's little pleasures: a stroll through an elegant city square, a coffee on a sunny pavement terrace, a meal that lasts well into the afternoon or night, a scenic drive punctuated with photo stops and impromptu farm or vineyard visits. The French are big on their art de vivre (art of living) and you should embrace it too.
COUNTRY FACTS
Area 551,000 sq km
Capital Paris
Country Code 33
Currency Euro (€)
Emergency 112
Language French
Money ATMs everywhere
Visas Schengen rules apply
ACCOMMODATION
Many tourist offices make room reservations, often for a fee of €5; many only do so if you stop by in person. In the French Alps, ski-resort tourist offices operate a central reservation service.
B&Bs
For charm, a heartfelt bienvenue (welcome) and home cooking, it's hard to beat a chambre d'hôte (B&B). Pick up lists at local tourist offices or online.
Fleurs de Soleil (www.fleursdesoleil.fr) Selective collection of 550 stylish maisons d'hôte, mainly in rural France.
Gîtes de France (www.gites-de-france.com) France's primary umbrella organisation for B&Bs and self-catering properties (gîtes). Search by region, theme (charm, with kids, by the sea, gourmet, great garden etc), activity (fishing, wine tasting etc) or facilities (pool, dishwasher, fireplace, baby equipment etc).
Samedi Midi Éditions (www.samedimidi.com) Country, mountain, seaside… Choose your chambre d'hôte by location or theme (romance, golf, design, cooking courses).
Camping
Most campgrounds open March or April to October.
Euro-economisers should look for good-value but no-frills campings municipaux (municipal camping grounds).
Accessing campgrounds without your own transport can be difficult in many areas.
Camping in nondesignated spots (camping sauvage) is illegal in France.
Websites with listings searchable by location and facilities include:
Camping en France (www.camping.fr)
Camping France (www.campingfrance.com)
HPA Guide (http://camping.hpaguide.com)
Hostels
Hostels range from funky to threadbare.
A dorm bed in an auberge de jeunesse (youth hostel) costs €20 to €50 in Paris, and anything from €15 to €35 in the provinces; sheets are always included and often breakfast too.
To prevent outbreaks of bed bugs, sleeping bags are no longer permitted.
All hostels are nonsmoking.
Hotels
French hotels almost never include breakfast in their advertised nightly rates.
Hotels in France are rated with one to five stars; ratings are based on objective criteria (eg size of entry hall), not service, decor or cleanliness.
A double room has one double bed (or two singles pushed together); a room with twin beds is more expensive, as is a room with bath-tub instead of shower.
ACTIVITIES
From glaciers, rivers and canyons in the Alps to porcelain-smooth cycling trails in the Dordogne and Loire Valley – not to mention 3200km of coastline stretching from Italy to Spain and from the Basque country to the Straits of Dover – France's landscapes are ripe for exhilarating outdoor escapes.
The French countryside is criss-crossed by a staggering 120,000km ofsentiers balisés (marked walking paths), which pass through every imaginable terrain in every region of the country. No permit is needed to hike.
The best-known trails are the sentiers de grande randonnée (GR), long-distance paths marked by red-and-white-striped track indicators.
For complete details on regional activities, courses, equipment rental, clubs, companies and organisations, contact local tourist offices.
ESSENTIAL FOOD & DRINK
Fondue & raclette Warming cheese dishes in the French Alps.
Oysters & white wine Everywhere on the Atlantic coast, but especially in Cancale and Bordeaux.
Bouillabaisse Marseille's signature hearty fish stew, eaten with croutons and rouille (garlic-and-chilli mayonnaise).
Foie gras & truffles The Dordogne features goose and 'black diamonds' from December to March. Provence is also good for indulging in the aphrodisiacal fungi.
Piggy-part cuisine Lyon is famous for its juicy andouillette (pig-intestine sausage), a perfect marriage with a local Côtes du Rhône red.
Champagne Tasting in century-old cellars is an essential part of Champagne's bubbly experience.
Bordeaux & Burgundy wines You'll find France's signature reds in every restaurant; now find out more by touring the vineyards.
0 comments:
Post a Comment