Introduction:
France is the ultimate holiday destination in the world as
it has everything from a great city like Paris to marvellous
beaches to splendid monuments, lovely natural locations to
incredible mountain scenery to mention a few? France is also
a very comfortable place to stay as it offers good food, great
wines and friendly people who love to enjoy their lives.
The Northern France comprises of the flatlands around the
town of Lille and the Channel. The area will remind visitors
in many ways of Belgium and the Netherlands. The Grand' Place
in Lille for example is a lot like that of Brussels. Paris
(capital city), the city of light is one of the most visited
areas of France. Paris is without a doubt one of the most
pretty cities on the planet.
When to Visit
France:
When to go
Spring is the best season for the visitors, with beach tourism
picking up in May. Winter season is very cold. Mid-July through
to the end of August is when most city dwellers take their
annual five weeks' vacation to the coasts and mountains, and
the half-desolate cities tend to shut down a bit accordingly.
The same happens during February and March.
Climate
The average temperature is about 79 F through the year. Average
humidity is at 75%. The rainy season starts in August and
ends by the end of October.Warm all year round with most rain
falling during the Autumn; although showers can occur all
year round. Upland areas are cooler
Reaching France:
Getting there
By Air : Air France and many other airlines
connect Paris to every section of the globe. Other French
cities with international air links (mainly to places within
Europe) include Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Strasbourg
and Toulouse.
By Train : France is connected with every
country in Europe by railways. Paris is the country's main
rail hub, with services to/from every part of Europe. Moreover,
the completion of the Channel Tunnel in 1994 has ensured that
the travel between England and France is quick and hassle-free.
By Bus : Paris is the country's main bus
hub, with services to/from every part of Europe. Buses are
slower and less comfortable than trains, but they are relatively
inexpensive.
By Sea : The quickest passenger ferries and
hovercrafts to England operate between Calais and Dover, and
Boulogne and Folkestone. There are several routes linking
Brittany and Normandy with England; Saint Malo is linked by
car ferry and hydrofoil with Weymouth, Poole and Portsmouth,
while Roscoff has ferry links to Plymouth. Ferries also provide
the waters between France and Ireland (Cherbourg-Cork), the
Channel Islands, Sardinia (Marseille-Porto Torres), Italy
(Corsica-Genoa) and North Africa (Marseille-Algiers, Marseille-Tunis,
Sète-Tangier).

Getting around
By Car : The Autoroutes of France are a great way of getting
to one part of the country to another. They are in perfect
shape, the places to stop (aire de répos) are always
very well organized - in Summer they often have activities
for.
By Train : France has a very well developed railway system
and possesses fastest trains in Europe. The TGV (Train a Grande
Vitesse i.e. Very Fast Train) takes one from Paris to most
major cities at an average speed of some 200 km an hour.
Attraction in France:
Paris (capital city) : Paris, the capital of France boasts of having the greatest
number of parks, woods and gardens. The city is blessed with
a wide range of squares like Place de la Concorde, Place de
la Bastille, Place des Vosges and so on which offer the tourists
with endless sightseeing opportunities. The city owns the
most beautiful museums which are the fascinating gateways
to knowledge, creation and human adventure. These can be called
as the “ gates “ which give the visitor the opportunity
to see some of the greatest works of art ever created by human
genius. The city is famous for the museums and the art collections.
In short the city of Paris is a remarkable destination for
a wonderful vacations worth remembering for a lifetime.
The Eiffel
Tower : The Eiffel Tower was built for the
International Exhibition of Paris of 1889 commemorating the
centenary of the French Revolution. The Prince of Wales, later
King Edward VII of England, opened the tower. Of the 700 proposals
submitted in a design competition, Gustave Eiffel's was unanimously
chosen. The tower is 300 meters (320.75m including antenna)
high and 7000 tons in wieght and is the world's tallest building
until 1930.
Notre
Dame : This is a Gothic masterpiece located
in the heart of Paris. This monument was erected in three
stages and the cathedral was completed in 1250. This period
witnessed Paris coming into its own force as a center of political
power and commerce. It was taken
care of that the church should reflect the prestige of the
city. One can reach the site via river boat along the Seine.
Entrance is free, and the mass is highly recommended. At the
end of the ceremony, there is a procession through the narrow
surrounding streets.
Arc de Triomphe : The Arc de Triomphe lies in the Place Charles
de Gaulle and dates to 1806, when Napoléon commissioned
Chalgrin to build an arch to the glory of the French Army.
Construction on the Arch began in 1806, restarted in 1825,
and was not finished until 1836. The monument was constructed
on the model of ancient Triumphal Arches and is unique because
of its monumental size as it is 50 meters tall and 45 meters
wide (164 by 148 feet). The four magnificent high reliefs
are crowned by Rude's masterpiece, "The Departure of the Volunteers
in 1792". |