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France
Parisians would like us to think that Paris is France.
Outside the French capital lively cities, from Marseille to Mulhouse, ooze culture like a ripe brie while 22 regions dish up unique local food, wine and joie de vivre. Take along your phrase book and uncover France beyond the clichés.
Popular places in France
Cityscape
Once you have seen Paris’ inside-out Pompidou Centre and skyscraping Eiffel Tower, head south for the rich ochres of Renaissance Lyon and Spanish-influenced Toulouse. Go west for neo-classical Bordeaux and east for canal-crossed Strasbourg. Up north, feel inspired by Rouen’s Gothic cathedral.
Landscape
Chateau hop in the Loire Valley. In Provence, be impressed by Cézanne’s Mont Saint Victoire or run with wild horses on the Camargue plateau. Pick blueberries in the Alps and touch prehistoric menhirs in wind-swept Brittany. Paraglide in the pointy Pyrenees and canoe in the lush Ardèche. Swim in Corsica’s translucent waters.
Take Home
Hunt for olive oil in Provence, foie gras in Dordogne and blue-veined cheese in Roquefort. Bag designer labels in Paris, Saint-Tropez and Cannes or bargains at Lille’s factory outlets. Go artisanal with handmade gloves in Millau or porcelain in Limoges. Buy wine from the Loire, Burgundy and Bordeaux, and pear cider from Normandy.
Eat & Drink
Taste regional specialities, from hearty Cassoulet (pork and bean stew) in the southwest to galettes (savoury pancakes) and cider in Normandy, or bouillabaisse fish soup from Marseille washed down with heady Pastis. Wines range from priceless Bordeaux bottles to good-value vintages from the Languedoc.
New Perspective
Be seen at contemporary art venues such as the Abattoires in Toulouse and the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, or swoop along the Millau viaduct, Norman Foster’s breathtaking bridge.
23 Popular places in France
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The Place du Champ Jacquet, Rennes.
Strasbourg Cathedral.
Strasbourg
Strasbourg ping-ponged between Germany and France for centuries. Today the capital of wine-growing Alsace is a loveable mix of Teutonic might and French joie de vivre. All canals and cobblestones, half-timbered houses and Gothic spires, this UNESCO World Heritage Site on the River Ill weaves fairy-tale charm with the European Parliament’s political clout.
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The grand Rotunda fountain in Aix en Provence, France.
Aix-En-Provence
Spring waters tumble from over 100 fountains dotted throughout the streets and squares of former Roman spa town Aix en Provence. Linger over coffee and local almond delicacy calisson in one of the bohemian-chic pavement cafés of this sophisticated French university city.
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The National Comic Strip Centre (CIBD), Angoulême.
Angouleme
Stroll along the ramparts of French city Angoulême, where intricate murals and quirky cartoons brighten building façades. France is a comic-mad country, and Angoulême is the centre of the bande dessinée world, home to the glass-panelled National Comic Strip Centre and exuberant International Comics Festival.
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The Thiou Canal in Annecy, France.
