From historic monuments, to wonderful food and wine...
Make the most of your holiday overseas with our
guide to the top 5 things to do in France.
We'll help you experience the best the world has to offer.
1. Climb the Eiffel Tower
It's France's most famous tourist attraction,
and at over 1,000 feet, the Eiffel Tower is the perfect
vantage point from which to take in Paris. If you're
feeling brave, you can climb all the way up to the second
floor, and then get a lift right to the top. At night, the
tower becomes an illuminated sculpture, visible from miles
around.
2. Visit Versailles
Built by Louis XIV in the 17
th
century, the Palace of Versailles is a stunning piece of
architecture and an important part of French history. Take a
tour around the luxurious palace, with its beautifully
restored rooms and hand-painted furniture. Then take your
time to stroll through the wonderfully ornate gardens,
complete with lakes, statues and fountains. The perfect
setting for a picnic.
3. Wonderful wine country
France has many great wine regions, and Bordeaux has to be
one of the most well known. Visit the city itself and
discover the history of the wine trade at the Musee des
Chartons. Or head straight for the surrounding countryside,
to sample the region's famous red claret in some of
France's most picturesque vineyards.
4. The French Riveria
Known in France as the Cote d'Azur, this is a holiday
destination for the rich and famous, and it's not hard
to see why. Beautiful beaches, all-night parties, great
weather, the French Riveria has it all. Nice and Cannes are
worth a visit, especially in May when it's the film
festival and excellent star spotting territory. For
somewhere a bit more off the beaten track, Antibes and
Juan-les-Pins are both charming Riveria towns.
5. Take to the mountains
With over 200 resorts in all, there's skiing and
snowboarding to suit all budgets and abilities in the Alps.
Chamonix, Megeve and Val d'Isere are probably the most
popular, and Mont Blanc is the highest peak in Western
Europe. And if you're in France in the summer, the
Alps are worth visiting then too - for hiking,
rafting, mountain-biking, canoeing or just gentle ambling.
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