France is the ultimate holiday
destination in the world as it has everything from a great city like Paris
to marvellous beaches to splendid monuments, lovely natural locations to
incredible mountain scenery to mention a few? France is also a very
comfortable place to stay as it offers good food, great wines and friendly
people who love to enjoy their lives.
The Northern France comprises of the flatlands around the town of Lille and
the Channel. The area will remind visitors in many ways of Belgium and the
Netherlands. The Grand' Place in Lille for example is a lot like that of
Brussels. Paris (capital city), the city of light is one of the most visited
areas of France. Paris is without a doubt one of the most pretty cities on
the planet.
Fact File
Official name : French Republic
Government : Republic
Nationality : French
Capital city : Paris
Ethnic groups : 92% French, 3% North African, 2% German, 1% Breton,
2% other (including Provençal, Catalan & Basque
Location : Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English
Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain
Continent : Europe
Currency : Euro; 1 Euro = 52.443 Indian Rupee = 1.2047 US $(subject
to change)
Population
: 60.4 million
Languages : French, Catalan, Basque, Breton, Corsican
Religion : 86% Roman Catholic, 8% Muslim, 2% Protestant 1% Jewish,
3% unaffiliated
Area : 547,030 sq km
Famous for : Fashion industry, perfumes, wine, etc. Also known for
celebrated writers, philosophers, artists, designers and musicians
Major cities : Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Nice, Nantes,
Strasbourg, Montpellier , Bordeaux
Clothing : Summers : light cottons ; winters : woolens.
Major events : May Day (1 May), Bastille Day (14 July), the primping
and preening prêt à porter fashion show in Paris (early
February); the Cannes Film Festival (mid-May); the International Music
Festival in Strasbourg (first three weeks of June); the mainstream and
fringe theatre of the Festival d'Avignon (mid-July to mid-August) and the
Jazz Festival in Nancy (mid-Oct).
Things to Buy : Perfumes, wines
Things to do : Sightseeing, shopping
Cuisine : Characterised by Chinese and Indian cuisine. Beverages :
wines which are world famous.
Visa Permit
Nationals of the EU, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Israel do
not need visas to visit France as tourists for up to three months. Except
for the citizens of a handful of other European countries, everyone else
must have a visa. Tourist visas cannot be extended except in emergencies (eg
medical problems).
When to go
Spring is the best season for the visitors, with beach tourism picking up
in May. Winter season is very cold. Mid-July through to the end of August is
when most city dwellers take their annual five weeks' vacation to the coasts
and mountains, and the half-desolate cities tend to shut down a bit
accordingly. The same happens during February and March.
Climate
The
average temperature is about 79 F through the year. Average humidity is at
75%. The rainy season starts in August and ends by the end of October.Warm
all year round with most rain falling during the Autumn; although showers
can occur all year round. Upland areas are cooler
Getting there
By Air : Air France and many other airlines connect Paris to every
section of the globe. Other French cities with international air links
(mainly to places within Europe) include Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nice,
Strasbourg and Toulouse.
By Train : France is connected with every country in Europe by
railways. Paris is the country's main rail hub, with services to/from every
part of Europe. Moreover, the completion of the Channel Tunnel in 1994 has
ensured that the travel between England and France is quick and hassle-free.
By Bus : Paris is the country's main bus hub, with services to/from
every part of Europe. Buses are slower and less comfortable than trains, but
they are relatively inexpensive.
By Sea : The quickest passenger ferries and hovercrafts to England
operate between Calais and Dover, and Boulogne and Folkestone. There are
several routes linking Brittany and Normandy with England; Saint Malo is
linked by car ferry and hydrofoil with Weymouth, Poole and Portsmouth, while
Roscoff has ferry links to Plymouth. Ferries also provide the waters between
France and Ireland (Cherbourg-Cork), the Channel Islands, Sardinia
(Marseille-Porto Torres), Italy (Corsica-Genoa) and North Africa
(Marseille-Algiers, Marseille-Tunis, Sète-Tangier).
Getting around
By Car : The Autoroutes of France are a great way of getting to one
part of the country to another. They are in perfect shape, the places to
stop (aire de répos) are always very well organized - in Summer they
often have activities for.
By Train : France has a very well developed railway system and
possesses fastest trains in Europe. The TGV (Train a Grande Vitesse i.e.
Very Fast Train) takes one from Paris to most major cities at an average
speed of some 200 km an hour.
Major attractions
Paris
(capital city) : Paris, the capital of France boasts of having the
greatest number of parks, woods and gardens. The city is blessed with a wide
range of squares like Place de la Concorde, Place de la Bastille, Place des
Vosges and so on which offer the tourists with endless sightseeing
opportunities. The city owns the most beautiful museums which are the
fascinating gateways to knowledge, creation and human adventure. These can
be called as the “ gates “ which give the visitor the opportunity
to see some of the greatest works of art ever created by human genius. The
city is famous for the museums and the art collections. In short the city of
Paris is a remarkable destination for a wonderful vacations worth
remembering for a lifetime.
The Eiffel Tower : The Eiffel Tower was built for the International
Exhibition of Paris of 1889 commemorating the centenary of the French
Revolution. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII of England, opened
the tower. Of the 700 proposals submitted in a design competition, Gustave
Eiffel's was unanimously chosen. The tower is 300 meters (320.75m including
antenna) high and 7000 tons in wieght and is the world's tallest building
until 1930.
Notre Dame : This is a Gothic masterpiece located in the heart of
Paris. This monument was erected in three stages and the cathedral was
completed in 1250. This period witnessed Paris coming into its own force as
a center of political power and commerce. It was taken care of that the
church should reflect the prestige of the city. One can reach the site via
river boat along the Seine. Entrance is free, and the mass is highly
recommended. At the end of the ceremony, there is a procession through the
narrow surrounding streets.
Arc de Triomphe : The Arc de Triomphe lies in the Place Charles de
Gaulle and dates to 1806, when Napoléon commissioned Chalgrin to
build an arch to the glory of the French Army. Construction on the Arch
began in 1806, restarted in 1825, and was not finished until 1836. The
monument was constructed on the model of ancient Triumphal Arches and is
unique because of its monumental size as it is 50 meters tall and 45 meters
wide (164 by 148 feet). The four magnificent high reliefs are crowned by
Rude's masterpiece, "The Departure of the Volunteers in 1792".
Other attractions
Pompidou Centre
Sacre Coeur Paris
The Montmartre hill
Château de Versailles
The Louvre
