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Why go? The joys of France need little introduction: superb cuisine, fine wines, stylish seaside towns, languid medieval villages and, quite simply, a great quality of life. Where else would you find 345 types of cheese, over 1,000 appellations of wine, and such a reverent appreciation of both? There’s a deep passion for art of all kinds, from Tati films to techno music, and no shortage of contemporary talent to add to (and challenge) the masters. In Provence you can walk through the sunflower fields of Van Gogh before checking into the room where Picasso and Hemingway slept (not together, I hasten to add). In Paris, city of light, romance and art, you can read Le Monde in the café where Sartre and Beauvoir hung out, or wander the lanes of Amélie's Montmartre. Its landscapes are incredibly diverse: the sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast; the flamingo-filled floodplains of the Camargue; idyllic, lavender-scented Provencal hills chosen by the Romans; the rolling bucolic gastronomic countryside; the Côte d’Azur sunny playground of the rich and famous; the snowy peaks and vast valleys of the Alps. You can come every year for 20 years, and see a new pays each time. Any Downsides? The summer crowds, especially in August, when the whole country is on holiday (Paris, meanwhile, empties). The high prices and impossible parking of Paris and some Provencal towns. The formality and pride of some restaurants - not the place to ask for a quick burger and fries. The sheer style of the Côte d’Azur - not for shrinking violets. Don't expect your hosts to speak English - even if they can, it's only polite to start in French (however basic). Current Weather - Time: In Paris:  In Marseille:  |
Activities * Horse-riding: across the flood-plains and endless beaches of the Camargue, and through the glorious countryside of the Perche * Cycling: through lavender fields * Hiking: in the Lubéron (to Buoux fort) or Alpilles (to Les Baux citadel) * Sunbathing: the beaches of Cannes, Antibes, St Tropez, Camargue (quieter) * Art galleries: Nice (Matisse, Chagall), Vence (modern art), St Rémy (Van-Gogh-land); and Paris (Louvre, Pompidou, Orsay etc) * Music festivals: Arles (summer classical), Avignon (jazz), Paris (opera, ballet, modern...) * Medieval towns: Uzès is perhaps the loveliest in France; high-walled Aigues-Mortes is Louis IX' crusader port; the old city of Le Mans was once home of the Plantagenet kings * Wine-tasting: Côtes du Rhône, Chateauneuf du Pape, the Loire wines of Jasnieres, Bourgueil, Chinon... * Roman sites: Nîmes' perfect temple and arena, Arles' amphitheatre, the aqueduct at Pont du Gard * Scenic drives: explore the romantic Loire Valley, with its famous Renaissance castles and vineyards * River-gorges: Verdon (rafting or pedalo), Gardon (walking or swimming) * Tranquil landscapes: the Perche countryside and little Loir valley remain uncrowded, even in August * Canoeing: in the Cèze valley or through the ‘Venice of Provence’ (Goudargues) * Cookery courses: try the 2-Michelin* Jardin des Sens * Bull-fights and horse parades: in the towns around Arles * Local markets: for food, clothes, art; for flowers (Nice) or antiques (Montpellier) * Shopping and celeb-spotting: Cannes (film festival), Monaco, St Tropez * Clubbing: on the beaches and bars of Nice * Tennis & golf: never far away * Rock-climbing: the limestone cliffs of the Lubéron and Verdon Gorge are prime spots |
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