Paris, the City of
Lights
Paris, the capital of France, praised in song by
Édith Piaf and immortalized in the writings of Victor Hugo, features incomparable
historical treasures. It is the meeting place par excellence of poets, philosophers,
painters, filmmakers, architects, famous chefs and designers. Indeed, the city's 12,000
cafés, including the renowned Procope, Deux Magots and Flore, are the daily hangout of
both Parisians and visitors from all over the world.
Strolling through the arrondissements (neighbourhoods) of Paris will allow you to plan
visits of a thousand themes. A ride on the Seine aboard the "bateau-mouche" (river boat)
will reveal magnificent bridges, such as the stunning Alexandre III. The wide array of
monuments and museums will enchant those who are familiar with the city, as well as
first-time visitors. For example, the imposing Notre-Dame cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, the
Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Centre Pompidou and the Château de Versailles (a few
kilometres from the capital) are always choice attractions. A stroll along the
Champs-Élysées is a great way to contemplate, among other things, the gardens that line
the avenue, the Petit and Grand Palais and, of course, the Arc de Triomphe.The Northern
Region Normandy is where you can admire breathtaking coasts such as Albâtre, Fleurie and
Nacre. The towns of Dieppe, Honfleur, Cherbourg, Coutances and Granville combine amazing
landscapes and spectacular sea views. And what can we say of Mont Saint-Michel? Located
between Normandy and Brittany, it is a veritable treasure for its remarkable religious
heritage. For its part, mystical Brittany, with its cathedrals and prehistoric monuments,
reveals faraway horizons from shores caressed by the waves of the English Channel. To the
west, the Loire valley is home to delightful wines and beautiful châteaux that still
convey memories of the kings of France, such as Chambord and Chenonceau.The Southern
Region Offering more than the singsong accent of its residents, the South of France
displays the contrasts of the multifaceted Camargue, lavender- and herb-scented Provence
(Avignon, Arles, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, etc.) and the Côte d'Azur (French Riviera), with its
gorgeous Mediterranean towns such as Nice, Cannes, Antibes and Menton. The
Languedoc-Roussillon region is home to the Roman amphitheatre of Nîmes and the splendid
medieval town of Carcassonne, while Marseille and its old port will immerse you in the
poetry of Marcel Pagnol. Be sure not to miss the generous Pyrenees, land of the Basques,
which combine mountains, caverns and shores. The South of France also features must-sees
such as Bordeaux, Toulouse and Lourdes, the famous Christian pilgrimage
site.
From the Côte d'Azur, the Napoléon road will
lead you to Grenoble. This town is the gateway to the French Alps, dominated by the Mont
Blanc (4,807 m or 15,770 feet), which majestically overlooks Chamonix. Lyon, capital of
French cuisine, is located on the line that once divided ancient Gaul and the Roman
territory.