The pride of Europe
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.