A GUIDE TO FRANCE
Holidays in France can be all things to everyone. That's because this vast country is as rich in colours, textures and flavours as the sauces it loves to lavish on its famous cuisine.
From romantic Paris to the rolling vineyards of Champagne and vast beaches of Brittany through to the sun-drenched fields of the Loire, glamorous French Riviera and to-die-for Corsica, travelling to France promises to tantalise and tickle your holiday taste buds like nowhere else. Breakfast on steaming coffee and flaky, freshly baked croissants on a buzzing Paris boulevard. Sip a classic Burgundy on a traditional village square as the locals clink boules under a shade-giving plane tree. Feast on extravagant truffle-laced dishes in a cosy Bordeaux cellar. Mingle with the jet set around the glitzy marinas and beaches of Cannes or Nice. Or inhale the spectacular mountainscapes, maquis-scented hills and snow-white beaches of magical Corsica. The birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, this exquisite island is iced with timeless towns, gorgeous fishing villages and aquamarine seas.
And just as holidays in France offer up countless landscapes and culinary treats, so they present a kaleidoscope of sightseeing and culture. Fortified hill towns and spellbinding historic cities. Soaring cathedrals and medieval, market-filled hamlets. Raunchy can-can shows and illustrious museums. Breath-stopping gorges and sweeping Alpine slopes – they're all waiting. And for a final je ne sais quoi, travel with Freedom Travel Holidays.
| Factbook |
| Capital (and largest city) |
Paris |
| Official languages |
French |
| EU accession |
March 25, 1957 |
| Currency |
euro (EUR) | 1EUR = 0.79GBP |
| Calling code |
+33 |
| |
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| Area |
Total 674,843 km˛ (40th) 260,558 sq mi |
| Population |
2008 estimate 64,473,140(20th) |
| Climate |
generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral |
Recommended destinations for France
