Travel guide

France is the most popular sightseeing destination in the world. With over 82 million visitors in 2007, and as just about as many things to see and do, this beautiful and historic country is a must for every traveller and tourist. Its buildings can be treasures - such as the magnificent Notre-Dame, stately Arc de Triomphe and the palace of Versailles - or containers of treasures, such as the unrivalled collections of the Louvre (home to Mona Lisa) and Museé d'Orsay with its globally respected portfolio of Impressionist art.

As one might expect, the tourist infrastructure is excellent with diverse offerings for every type of traveller. An organised tour is a good option if you have only a week, but for those with longer to indulge, car rental or train travel is the best way to get around. Wherever you go, France reveals its many faces and charms: the busy weekly markets in small towns, the rolling vineyards of the wine country, the sage-scented Mistral winds of Provence, and the luxuriant high life of the Cote d'Azure all form their own enduring impressions in the visitor's mind.

France is a year-round destination, although be sure to book ahead if planning a trip around Christmas or New Year, and during the major US holidays when trans-Atlantic bookings are especially high.

Gustave Eiffel, the architect of the Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) could never have guessed that it would become Paris' signature sightseeing attraction and bring more than six million visitors a year. It was built as a temporary structure to commemorate the centenary of the... see full details

Notre-Dame looms large over the Place de Paris, on the Isle de la Cité, and as the most enduring symbol of Paris is an alluring tourist attraction. Built between 1163 and 1345 the Cathedral is considered one of the of the world's Gothic masterpieces.... see full details

One of the world's great art museums, this vast edifice houses an extraordinary collection of paintings, sculptures and antiquities from all over the world. The permanent collections are divided into Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Asian antiquities, painting, drawings, sculpture and objects d'art.

Built in the 1970s and named after former French president Georges Pompidou, the futuristic Pompidou Centre is now considered part of the Parisian landscape. The outrageous design, complete with its glass elevators, was the inspiration for the Lloyds Building in London and attracts visitors... see full details

This great museum is fairly new by Paris standards. It is situated in a railway station by the Seine and houses a vast collection of works from the significant 1848 to 1914 period. There are important works from the Art-Nouveau movement but the... see full details

The Château de Versailles stands 15 miles (24km) southwest of Paris and is one of France's most noted attractions. Most of the palace was built between 1664 and 1715 by Louis XIV (known as the Sun King), who turned his father's hunting lodge... see full details

One of France's best-known attractions, the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey is situated on a rocky island just off the coast of Normandy and Brittany. It was founded in 708 by the Bishop of Avranches, who built a chapel here. Construction of the current abbey... see full details

Cassis is a beautiful resort town just west of Marseille. Hemmed in by high white cliffs, its modern development has been limited and it retains much of the charm lost by its more high-profile neighbours. Built on the side of a hill, the... see full details

Behind the Petit Palais is the much photographed Pont d'Avignon, known best from the famous children's song of the same name. The bridge was originally built in the 12th century to shorten the journey for the busy traders ferrying their goods between the Mediterranean... see full details

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a medieval village on the side of a hill, dominated by the ruins of an ancient château towering above. The château was the pope's summer retreat from the Palais and although all that remains are the foundations and two outer walls, it... see full details

Epernay, along with Reims, is one of the great centres of champagne production; dug into the chalk beneath the town are more than 200 miles (322km) of cellars and tunnels containing champagne from the surrounding area including such great brands as Moët et Chandon,... see full details

The world's largest triumphal arch, the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile is set at the centre of a star-shaped configuration of 12 radiating avenues in the heart of the Champs Elysées. It stands 165 feet (51m) tall and the names of major victories... see full details

While Toulouse is known as the 'pink city' for its facebrick buildings, Albi is often called the 'red city' due to the spectacular crimson hue of the buildings at sunset. With a skyline dominated by the magnificent Cathédrale Ste-Cécile, there is plenty to see... see full details


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