Limousin

Limousin is found in the southern centre of France, around the town of Limoges. The landscape is varied with forested hills, open moorlands and traditional farms being the main features - it is essentially a rural region. Much of the region is at an altitude of more than 350 metres, so it can be rather cold or wet.

In part because of the climate the Limousin region is not yet highly placed on the tourist circuit, but it has a great deal to offer and is perhaps perfect for those wishing to explore somewhere off the beaten track. There are three departments in Limousin - Creuse, Haute-Vienne and Correze.

Languedoc-Roussillon

Languedoc-Roussillon is found in southern-central France, along the Mediterranean coast and stretching inland. It reaches Spain at its southern border and Provence on its eastern border.

The region falls into three distinct areas with different characteristics:

the Pyreneean region to the south, stretching along the border with Spain and into the eastern Pyrenees
the central part of the Languedoc (Aude and Herault departments) around the medieval architecture of Carcassonne and the cathar castles and traversed by the Canal du Midi. Several well known wines are also produced in this region.
the northern part of the region (departments of Gard and Lozère), including a large part of the wild National Parc des Cevennes.

Cote d'Azur

The Cote d'Azur is the region of south-east France that runs along the coast from Bandol, west of Toulon, to Menton and the Italian border in the east. Cote d'Azur therefore includes part of the coastal Bouches-du-Rhone department and the southern edges of the Var and Alpes-Maritimes departments. Often the section of coast closest to Italy is also known as the French Riviera.

The Mediterranean coast (Cote d'Azur / Riviera) of south-east France includes such renowned resorts as Nice, Antibes, Saint-Tropez and Cannes. Rich, exclusive, sophisticated...and often rather crowded. There are also many smaller villages and towns along the coast and in the hills slightly inland which you can explore when the beaches, shopping, crowds and glamour all becomes a bit tiring.

Aquitaine

Found in the south-west corner of France, Aquitaine reaches Spain at its southern frontier while the Atlantic Ocean runs along its western coast. For visitors the region falls into three distinct regions:

~the forest backed Atlantic coast of western Aquitaine, best known for the beaches, surfing, and summer fun

~the countryside of the Dordogne / Lot-et-Garonne departments further inland, and the history reflected in the castles and medieval villages set among the verdant countryside

~the foothills of the western Pyrenees, and the numerous typical Basque villages that they contain

Midi-Pyrenees

The Midi-Pyrenees region covers the mountainous section of the Pyrenees along the border between France and Spain, and a large swathe running northwards into areas that are remote from the Pyrenees mountains - through Gers (Gascony) and into the Lot Department (just east of the Dordogne).

Typically visitors either come for the mountains of the south, the beautiful countryside and history of the north, or the calm attractions of the Gers (Gascony) region in the centre of the region.

Brittany

Brittany has an exceptional coastline with many beaches, fishing villages and islands; a remarkable historical architecture to be seen in some of the towns; and some of the finest prehistoric landmarks in the world - just a few of the reasons why so many people visit Brittany year after year!

Is found in the north-west of France with the English channel to the north and the Bay of Biscay to the south

Picardy

Northern Picardy is largely a flat or gently undulating area of open fields (including the Somme department, best known for the WWI Battle of the Somme), while the south of Picardy is a scenic region of hills and forests. There are three departments within the Picardy region: Aisne, Oise and Somme.

Among the highlights to discover in Picardy:

- The cathedrals at Amiens (see also Amiens cathedral) and Laon are perhaps two of the best to be found in France, with other cathedrals at Soissons, Noyon and Senlis.

-The town of Amiens also has some interesting highlights, as do the historical centre and art-deco buildings of Saint-Quentin.

Franche-Comte

Franche-Comte is found to the east of France - the region borders onto Switzerland, so as you head towards the east of the region you start to leave the rolling countryside and smaller peaks of the Jura mountains, cross the high plateaux, and enter the Alps 'proper'.

There are four French departments in Franche-Comté: Haute-Saone (north), Territoire-de-Belfort (north-east), Doubs (central), and Jura (south).

Sartène

The historical town of Sartene is situated in south-west Corsica between Porto-Vecchio (to the east) and Ajaccio (to the north-west). Between the sea and the mountains, it refers to itself as 'the most Corsican of the towns in Corsica'.

Although the region has been occupied since prehistoric times Sartene itself dates from the early 16th century, followed shortly after by the construction of the fortifications. Unfortunately the fortifications were not entirely successful and in 1583 the king of Algeria breached the defences and took much of the population for slavery.

Corsica

Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean off the south-east of France, with perfect coastlines and a dramatically mountainous interior. The departments in Corsica are Haute Corse and Corse du Sud.

Why visit Corsica? Given its relatively small size Corsica combines an extraordinary amount of highlights. Apart from the coast and beaches for which the island is perhaps best known (Corsica has 1,000km of coastline and more than 200 beaches) there are also numerous ancient hill villages and bustling port towns, and some of the must stunning coastal and mountain scenery to be found in Europe Corsica is also blessed with great weather for most of the year.

Palace of Versailles

This former home of French kings epitomizes royal elegance in the style of Old Europe. Versailles originated in 1631 as a humble hunting lodge for Louis XIII. But his son Louis XIV built the now familiar palace on the site outside Paris and moved the nation’s government and court to Versailles in 1682.
Versailles remained the epicenter of French royal power, home to government offices and courtiers alike, until 1789—when a hungry and agitated group of mostly female revolutionaries stormed the palace and essentially evicted Louis XVI and his queen, Marie-Antoinette. The mob sent the royal couple back to Paris on the first steps of a journey that led eventually to their beheadings.

Nice , Matisse Museum

Located on the French Riviera, Nice, France, is breathtakingly beautiful. Once belonging to Italy, it became a part of France in 1860. With its gorgeous views of the azure sea, incredible shopping, dining and accommodations, and perfect weather, it’s not hard to see why Nice is visited by millions each year.   If you are looking for things to do while in Nice, France, look no further.


MATISSE MUSEUM
Henri Matisse once resided in the Hotel Regina, and just steps away from its doors is the Musee Matisse. Here you will find a large number of this master artist’s paintings, hundreds of his drawings and engravings, and some of his sculptures and illustrated books.

Saint Tropez

Saint Tropez, situated on the French Riviera 104 km to the east of Marseille in Provence Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of southeastern France is one of the best places for vacation in Europe. The town derives it name from a martyr named Saint Torpes. It’s a small town with population of less than 10,000 and surrounded is by ports and villas. Local people residing here are known as Tropéziens and the town is popularly known as “St-Trop”. Set on the pacific blue water of the Bay of Saint-Tropez, this new version of a medieval town is most popular for the line of yachts along the quai, and the facing line of terrace cafés, divided by a parade of strolling tourists and slow cruising expensive cars.

Louvre Palace

The Louvre Palace , on the Right Bank of the Seinein Paris, is a former royal palace situated between the Tuileries Gardens and the church of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois. Its origins date back to the medieval period, and its present structure has evolved in stages since the 16th century. It was the actual seat of power in France until Louis XIV moved to Versailles in 1682, bringing the government with him. The Louvre remained the nominal, or formal, seat of government until the end of the Ancien Régime in 1789. Since then it has housed the celebrated Musée du Louvre  as well as various government departments.

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower , nickname La dame de fer is an iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris, named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. Erected in 1889 as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair, it has become both a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The tower is the tallest structure in Paris and the most-visited paid monument in the world; 7.1 million people ascended it in 2011. The third level observatory's upper platform is at 279.11 m the highest accessible to public in the European Unionand the highest in Europe as long as the platform of the Ostankino Tower, at 360 m, remains closed as a result of the fire of August 2000. The tower received its 250 millionth visitor in 2010.