Easily accessible for visitors from the UK and from Northern Europe, Brittany and Normandy offer a variety of coastal and inland tourist destinations, with plenty of attractions. Situated a couple of hundred miles south of the English Westcountry, they are in many respects rather like a warmer sunnier version of the West of England.... with less crowds, notably inland! Historically, Brittany and Cornwall have a lot in common, notably their Celtic roots. The north coast of Brittany, with its rugged granite cliffs and little sandy coves, is fairly similar to North Cornwall, though a bit warmer and sunnier. The south coast of Brittany can be hot in the summer months.... though as with the West of England, rainy weeks remain a possibility in any season.  
    Click here for more, including Brittany's heritage, tourist attractions and a regional overview.

2. Paris to the  Loire Valley, Central France

    This part of France needs little introduction. Paris, as they say, is Paris... and it's less than three hours by train from London, or two hours from Brussels. If choosing a hotel in Paris, check out the combined Eurostar/hotel offers available, or look for discounted hotel rates on the Internet. Paris hotels may on the whole be cheap by London standards, but they are expensive by French standards.
     Southwest of Paris lies Versailles, easily accessible for an afternoon trip or a day trip. And beyond Versailles, in the direction of the Loire, lies a region called the Beauce, France's breadbasket, an area where vast wheat fields stretch out towards the horizon . In the middle of the Beauce lies Chartres, home to one of the most magnificent of France's great mediaeval cathedrals.
    The Loire Valley, however, is not too well known, apart from its famous "Châteaux", such as Chenonceaux (photo). This is a part of France that is famous for its mild climate, its castles, and its vineyards. Away from the river itself, the region is rich in history and culture. The countryside is gentle, with undulating hills and  quietly flowing rivers - an ideal region for those who just want to be lazy, or to enjoy eating out, fishing or just exploring the byways. The "Sologne" area, south of the Loire, contains the remaining parts of a once huge forest, rich with wildlife, that originally encouraged the kings and princes of France to build their castles in this region.
    In the east of this region lies Burgundy, famous for its wines; but in fact the wine-growing region of Burgundy is quite small, lying in a ribbon along the western edge of the Saone plain, south of Dijon. This part of Burgundy is rich in places to visit, including Dijon and Beaune (the wine capital).
    The Saône plain is a fairly flat region, with lots of lakes (la Bresse) and slow flowing rivers. This region is very popular with anglers and bird watchers.
    Most of the rest of Burgundy is a hilly region (the Morvan), with small towns and villages many of them rich in history. The hills are higher than those further west, and the valleys deeper; the Morvan is hill country, and there are good hiking paths; but it is not mountain country.
Main cities: Tours, Angers, Orléans, Dijon. Paris.
Access: Eurostar from London or Ashford (with parking facilities), or flights to Paris; Ryanair to Tours; road access via Channel ferries or tunnel.

*  Tourist information about Paris
*  Loire Valley tourist board
*  Bed & Breakfast from Loire valley to Burgundy
*  Accommodation: Cottages in the Loire Valley,  Cottages in central France,  Cottages in Burgundy 

3. Nord Est (North East France)

    North Eastern France is not well known as a tourist region; but it is a region certainly worth considering for short break holidays. Thanks to the Channel Tunnel, you can leave work in the London area, escape from the M25, and two to three hours later find yourself in the deep rolling countryside of the "Pas de Calais" department.
    The western part of North East France is undulating country, with small towns, lots of rivers, and plenty of attractive countryside. The central  part of the region is flatter and, near the Belgian border, partly industrial. Yet this is a region with plenty of history - some magnificent cathedrals and impressive monuments from the two world wars. It also includes the Champagne area, round the historic city of Rheims, with its famous vineyards and wine cellars.
    The real north east corner of France includes the regions of Alsace and Lorraine. This is an attractive region with plenty of large coniferous forests on and near the Vosges mountains (which are quite similar to the Black Forest in Germany).
    The southern part of Lorraine is extremely rural, with rolling hills and lots of old small towns that look as if time has passed them by.  Property in this part of France can be very cheap.
    Alsace, lying between the Vosges and the Rhine, is a very distinct region, with its hills, its vineyards and its steep-roofed half-timbered houses, painted in many colours. The Alsace capital Strasbourg is seat of the European Parliament. Historically Alsace was a German-speaking region, and the culture and traditional architecture of the region have more in common with the German tradition than with France.
Main cities: Lille, Dunkerque, Arras, Valenciennes, Strasbourg, Rheims, Nancy, Metz
Access: Road access via Calais (ferry or tunnel). Flights to Strasbourg, Lille, Luxembourg.

 *  Alsace tourist board
 *  An introduction to tourism in Alsace
 *  Accommodation:  Holiday gîtes in Picardy, Champagne Alsace Lorraine and north east France ,
   
4. The French Atlantic coast and hinterland

     The west coast of France is a popular tourist region. From the mouth of the Loire as far as the Spanish border, France's Atlantic coastline is characterised by long expanses of sandy beaches, offshore fishing, and a broad band of very flat land, some of it marshy. In several parts, notably around La Baule, the coastline is quite heavily built up with sea front development; but in other parts, notably away from the towns, there are long sections of unspoiled coastline. The ports of La Rochelle and Rochefort are very attractive, as well as being popular with yachtsmen.
    Inland from the coast, the region is very pleasant; the Charente Maritime region is often called the "green Venice", on account of its extensive network of drainage canals and waterways. This is a region where the pace of life is slow, like the water in the rivers that flow through it. Rowing boats can be hired in many places.
    North west of Bordeaux lies the Saintonge, the home of Cognac and the aperitif wine "Pineau". This generally flat agricultural region is famous for its historic churches, many of which have exquisite mediaeval carvings. South west of the historic city of Bordeaux lie "les Landes", the largest continuously forested area in Western Europe; and of course, around Bordeaux lie miles and miles of famous vineyards, producing a wide range of wines that include some of the best and most expensive in the world.
    Inland from Bordeaux lies the Dordogne "department", rising from the coastal plain in the west towards the Massif Central (sector 5, below) in the east. The Dordogne , centered round the town of Perigueux, is famous for its farmland and fine cuisine. Its pretty villages and towns have long attracted holidaymakers and retirees from Britain, to such an extent that there are now villages with their own cricket club and pub "à l'anglaise", not to mention a range of craftsmen and artists who have fled the hassle and the colder climate further north.
    The climate on France's Atlantic coast is generally mild to warm; and although rain cannot be excluded even in summer, the clouds often pass over the coastal region, before breaking over the hills further inland. 
   
Main cities: Nantes,  St Nazaire, Niort, La Rochelle, Poitiers, Bordeaux, Périgueux
Access: motorway via Paris or Rouen. Flights to Bordeaux or Nantes, as well as La Rochelle, Rochefort, Rodez and Bergerac.

  *  Poitou Charentes tourist board
  *  Vendée, Poitou, Charentes, Aquitaine, a brief guide
   * Bed & Breakfast in western France
  *  Accommodation: Cottages on the Atlantic coast,  Cottages in Dordogne and Lot et Garonne 
 

5a. Montagne (Mountain France west - Massif Central, the mountains of central France)

Mountain France divides into four distinct zones, some of which are far better known, and far more touristic, than others. The Western Massif Central (including the Dordogne), the Eastern Massif Central, the Prealps and Alps, and the Jura.

    The western Massif Central includes essentially includes the inland part of the Dordogne, the north of  Quercy,  and Limousin the area round the city of Limoges. In many respects, this is like southern England on a larger scale - which is probably why like neighbouring Dordogne it is so popular with British second-home owners. The climate is warmer and sunnier than further north, the hills are higher, and the rivers bigger than in southern England; but the western side of the Massif Central catches the rain blowing in from the Atlantic, and remains relatively green for most of the summer. This region is famous for its gastronomy, its historic castles and "bourgs" (fortified rural towns), and its very attractive countryside.
    The central and eastern Massif Central includes the mountains of the Auvergne (photo left),  and the other mountain areas between Auvergne and the Rhone valley. In 2003,  the Auvergne was France's fastest growing region in terms of tourism, but this is largely due to the fact that until recently, its massive potential was virtually undeveloped. And even if the region is becoming appreciated for its true value (The Sunday Times called it "France's best kept secret" in 2003) Auvergne remains a region where you can really get away from the crowds. The small city of Le Puy en Velay is remarkable for its mediaeval churches perched on outcrops of volcanic rock.
    With peaks at over 6000 ft, the Monts d'Auvergne are the highest points in central France. In this region there is plenty of good hill walking, as well as other activities on the area's fast flowing rivers. This region is also drier and sunnier in summer than the western Massif Central, and less touristic too, largely because it has not yet been "discovered;" it is a region  rich in history and culture, with fortified castles, old churches and historic towns, as well as being very beautiful, with many hiking trails and its deep river valleys ideal for river sports.
Main cities: Clermont Ferrand, Limoges.
Access: motorway via Paris or Rouen. Flights to St. Etienne,  Clermont Ferrand, Limoges or Rodez.

  *  Auvergne tourist board   Auvergne-web, with map
  *  Bed & Breakfast in Massif-Central and Alps
  * Accommodation:  Cottages in the Dordogne,  Cottages in Auvergne and Limousin,  Cottages in Lot &  Quercy,  Cottages in the Jura and Alps,

5b. Montagne (Mountain France east - The Alps and the Jura)

    The hills lying between the Auvergne mountains and the Rhone valley include a lot of high land at over 1000 metres (over 3000 ft) altitude, but they are generally less mountainous than the Auvergne mountains. They are covered in large areas of coniferous forest. This is also good hiking country.
    The Alps... well they are the Alps... though it should not be forgotten that the foothills of the Alps, such as the Vercors, are in many ways just as attractive as the high Alps themselves - and less crowded and more accessible! Most winter sports resorts now cater  well for summer visitors too. Away from the ski resorts, there are plenty of  attractive old villages and towns, like Annecy, on the shores of one of France's most beautiful lakes.
    Finally, the Jura and "Franche Comté". France's least-known mountain range, the Jura extends along the Swiss border from Geneva almost to the Rhine valley. Old limestone hills, the Jura peak at about 5000 ft, on the Swiss border; but most of the area consists of a series of high plateaux, getting higher towards the  border. At the southern end, the Jura has a lot of spectacular deep river valleys, and a lot of lakes too. The hills are quite forested, and the villages on the French side of the border are very similar to those on the Swiss side. Franche Comté, which includes the Jura, has the greatest concentration of deciduous forests in Europe. Its capital, Besançon, has a remarkable historic city centre, surrounded by a loop in the river Doubs.
    Main cities:  Lyons, Grenoble, Chambéry, Annecy, Besançon.
Access: motorway via Paris, Rheims . Flights to Geneva, Grenoble or Lyons.  Eurostar seasonal to Grenoble or Bourg Saint Maurice.
  *  Rhone Alps tourist board
  *  Holiday gites in the Alps and the Jura
 

6. Midi (from the Pyrenees to the Riviera)

    The Midi is generally speaking the most popular tourist region in France, and needs little introduction. The coastal region is very busy in Summer, and travelling to the south of France by car on a summer Saturday can be a nightmare experience; but the region has masses to offer, in terms of climate, history, and landscape.
    Those who do not want to spend their holidays being mass-grilled on a beach will prefer areas inland from the coastal strip, notably to the hills and mountains of Provence,with their dry landscapes and deep river gorges and valleys, or  the valleys of the Cevennes, more wooded and rural, or the inland areas of the Languedoc, with their huge vineyards and "garrigue", arid rocky Mediteranean hills with their vegetation of scrub, aromatic bushes and occasional fields. On their southern flanc, the Massif Central mountains are similar to those in upper Provence, and cut through by deep valleys such as that of the Tarn. (photo).

    The area has a lot of historic cities, such as Nimes with its superb Roman remains, Avignon with its famous bridge, Arles, and the university town of Aix en Provence. The Languedoc coast offers large expanses of sandy beaches, between rather brash modern or sixties resorts such as Cap d'Agde.
    The Pyrenees, forming a natural land barrier between France and Spain, are a beautiful range of high mountains, thickly wooded on their lower slopes, but offering good mountain and hill walking higher up - not to mention the attraction of day trips into Spain. The biggest city in the Pyrenees area, Pau, was in the early 19th century a favourite haunt of English travellers. On the Spanish side, the Pyrenees are much drier. Betwen the Pyrenees and the southern flank of the Massif Central, southwest France is in summer a land of warm rolling hills and valleys, a rich agricultural area famous for its abundant crops and cereals. 
    Historic cities such as Toulouse, and Albi, with its astonishing fortified mediaeval cathredal built almost entirely of red brick,  are rich in atmosphere. But if you're driving down from the UK or northern Europe, don't underestimate the journey time, and remember too that these areas can get very hot in summer.
     The Riviera ("la Côte d'Azur") itself is fairly heavily built up in many parts, and accommodation is expensive, particularly in the most famous resorts like St. Tropez, Cannes  or Nice. The mountainous hinterland, on the other hand, the "Alpes de Haute Provence" and the "Alpes Maritimes",  is very attractive, with its small villages and towns, many of them perched precariously on hillsides or beside trickling rivers that become raging torrents in the springtime.
   
Main cities: Toulouse, Pau, Montpellier, Marseilles, Toulon, Nice
Access: motorway via Rheims (recommended) or Paris. Flights to all major cities.
*  Provence Tourist board website
*  Provence regional travel guide
*  Midi Pyrenees Tourist board website
*  Languedoc and Pyrenées - a brief guide
*  Accommodation: Cottages in  Languedoc,  Cottages in the Pyrenees , Cottages in  Provence,  Cottages on the Riviera  Photo credits: OT Haute Bretagne, Ronald.Dupont.com, Gitelink.com, FOLP.free.fr .

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