France Attractions
Lascaux cave paintings
The Lascaux cave paintings were accidentally discovered by teenagers in 1940. They are among the best and oldest evidence of prehistoric art. The 15,000-year-old depictions of bulls, horses and reindeer led visitor Pablo Picasso to state: “We have learned nothing new”. In Montignac you can admire a scale reproduction of the unique Lascaux cave paintings. The caves themselves had to be closed to visitors because the humidity was too high and the added stress of tens of thousands of visitors threatened to destroy the masterpieces.
- Topschoolsintheusa.com: Guides to study in France, including geography, climate, economy, and tourism of the country.
Marseilles
Marseille was founded by the Greeks (they called it Massilia) and from here they colonized the Rhone Valley. Marseille was the European Capital of Culture in 2013. Today Marseille is France’s most important port city. The city on the Mediterranean has a character that is shaped by Provence and North Africa. The old port with a daily fish market, the Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde church built on a hill, many good restaurants (seafood dominate the menu), several museums such as the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Hospice de la Vieille Charité, which houses the Musée d’Archéologie Méditerranéenne and of course the Château d’If, one of France’s most notorious island fortresses, are interesting sights. The Musée Regards de Provence is new.
Biarritz and Bayonne
Biarritz and Bayonne are resort towns on the Aquitaine-Basque coast near the Spanish border. The city has been known as a cosmopolitan spa resort since the 19th century, when Biarritz was in vogue with the European aristocracy. There are some sheltered beaches, the Musée de la Mer and two large casinos. Further inland, a few kilometers from Biarritz, is Bayonne, a typically Basque town. A 13th-century cathedral and two museums – one dedicated to Basque culture – make up the main attractions.
World of wines
In France, wine lovers have countless opportunities to tailor their culinary journey to the enjoyment of wine. A good start into the world of French wines is, for example, via the picturesque and famous Alsatian wine route. The wine villages near Mâcon in southern Burgundy are also recommended. The wines of Roussillon, Provence and Corsica taste sun-kissed. The “good life” attracts many tourists to the wine-growing regions of Aquitaine and Bergerac. You should also have taken part in a wine tasting in the Loire Valley. The Marne Valley between Ferté-sous-Jouarre and Epernay is one of the prettiest valleys in France. Vineyards and orchards cover the slopes and fields of corn and sunflowers sway in the valleys.
Chamonix
Chamonix is a magnet for winter sports fans, in summer also for hikers and mountaineers. Chamonix is one of the most outstanding ski areas in France. Active vacationers get their money’s worth here. But even those who like to sit back, relax and enjoy the view will have all their expectations met with the backdrop of Mont Blanc.
Skiing in the Alps
The French Alps are home to some of Europe’s most famous ski resorts such as Courchevel, Val-d’Isère, Méribel and L’Alpe d’Huez. The entire region is vast, offering plenty of choice for skiers of all skill levels.
Watch a game of boules
Boule is as much a French tradition as French cuisine. The boule game, also called pétanque, is usually played by old men in concentrated silence in public places. They try to throw their metal balls as close as possible to a target ball.
Fishing
Fishing is a popular sport in France. Whether deep sea fishing, digging for mussels and other wildlife on the mud flats, or bathing a lure in a lake, fishing is in the French blood. For fishing in inland waters, however, you do not need a fishing license for sea fishing in France. There are plenty of lakes, rivers and streams, and the natural fishing areas in the Auvergne and Pyrenees are particularly popular.
Aquitaine
This sun-drenched region of the south-west, with its fresh Atlantic sea air, includes the departments of Dordogne, Gironde, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne and Pyrénées-Atlantiques. On the coast, a total of 270 km of beaches invite you to swim. The approximately 30 km long coastline between Hossegor and Hendaye in the French Basque country is one of the best areas in Europe for surfers. In the Dordogne (as in the neighboring Lot), Cro-Magnon man, who lived in prehistoric times, has left its mark. Not only the cave paintings of Lascaux bear witness to this, but also other prehistoric sites in the Vézère valley. The medieval castles and villages in the Dordogne are also absolutely worth seeing.
