France as a country receives more overseas visitors each year than any other country in the world. This can be attributed to various attractions that the country has: a wide range of scenery, from mountains to lush green fields; some great beaches along both the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines; numerous historic monuments and medieval villages; and of course the great romantic city of Paris.
But when you are planning your visit to France remember there is more to this country than Paris and A Year in Provence! Small fishing villages on the rocky Brittany coastline, for example, and the Dordogne region with numerous villages classified as ‘most beautiful villages in France’.
Looking for mountains? Try the Pyrenees instead of the Alps, for a quieter experience, in a location ideal for all outdoor activities from hiking to hang-gliding.
The best way to discover the real France – the ‘France Profonde’ as it is known in France – is to stay in a gite. Gites in France are holiday-rental properties, and can range from a small rural country cottage to a luxurious villa or hilltop castle. You will usually be staying in the countryside, in exactly the same type of house as French people live in.
Because gites are usually in out of the way places, and public transport is uncommon you will also need to hire a car to make the most of your visit – see France car hire for some great prices on car hire wherever in France you are staying.
And if you can only stay one day in France where should you go? Paris perhaps, or one of the beaches at the southern end of Corsica? Disneyland Paris or the famous mountain passes of the Alps, so often covered by the Tour de France? Let me suggest something different. The northern part of the Midi-Pyrenees region includes some spectacular places and scenery, and you could do a lot worse than start with the region around Conques in the Aveyron department.
Happy visiting!
