France and it’s Regions

With France being divided into twenty two administrative regions, there is something for all tastes and budgets. You will soon realise you will be spoilt for choice on what France has to offer, with dramatic landscapes, rolling farmland, historical interests, mountains, leafy vineyards, deep gorges, waterways as well as dunes and beaches.

Brittany
This wild, wind-swept coast is sculpted by the waves and with countless estuaries, creeks and coves they present a never-ending source of pleasure. With Brittany being the most westerly point, it is home to some very distinctive craggy rocks and jagged edges.

A third of France’s coastline is seen in Brittany alone. Not only is this region a popular destination and is easily accessible, the western part of Brittany still retains many of the ancient customs with many people still wearing traditional lace headdresses and speaking the Celtic Breton language.

The grey granite houses with blue shutters and slate roofs blend into the landscape between the land, sea and sky.
Upper and Lower Normandy

Normandy

Considered to be the land of apple orchards, famous for producing cider and stud farms. As well as the land it also boasts 14,000km of rivers and is consider to be one of the best regions to fish for salmon.

The region does also enjoy 600km of coastline, 7,500km of rambling paths, 200 museums and 50 abbeys and cathedrals. There is also a connection with Monet and his garden can be found at Giverney, there are D-Days sites as well as the well visited site of Mont St Michel.

Nord-Pas-De-Calais
When you leave the coastal resorts of Le Touquet and Wimereux, you find the chic city of Lille, which is also the birthplace of Charles de Gaulle who was born in 1890. This fine city is the you will find Europe’s largest street market where bargain hunters flock fourth largest in France and provides a wealth of sight seeing, museums, a park and gardens. You will see this region is traditional in French culture, as there is a Flemish twist, you will soon see this in the facades and squares which grace many of the towns and cities. In September you will find Europe’s largest street market where bargain hunters flock.

Picardy
Picardy is a real haven for nature lovers and history buffs. It is the land of contrasts with ancient forests, chalk cliffs, medieval towns and seaside resorts. Amiens cathedral is one of the largest gothic cathedrals of the 13th century.

If history is your passion why not visit where Joan of Arc was captured in the city of Compiegne. If you want to honour those who died in the 1st World War or step right back into history and visit the Gaullish village at Part Asterix.

Ile-de-France
This region includes the Romantic city of Paris with its monuments, and museums such as the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe. With its elegant squares and pretty parks and the Seine must be the most Romantic waterfront in the world.

The Ile de France is one of the smallest regions but is one of the most densely populated. There are plenty of lovely parks, towns and villages that are well worth a visit.

Champagne Ardenne
Champagne Ardenne is a very sacred place with its beautiful countryside and for the connoisseur fine wines. With its deep forests, the clearest of water in the lakes and streams running through the schistous and lime stone rocks, whose smooth undulating contours characterise the Champagne plain.

Alsace
Nestled between the meandering Rhine and the wooded Vosges mountains Alsace is a land of delightful old villages amidst a carpet of vines. Though separated from the rest of France by the Vosges Mountains Alsace is proudly French but does have a strong Germanic influence.

The beautiful city of Strasbourg is not only the capital of Alsace but is now proclaimed the capital of Europe and symbolises the style and charm of the Western Rhine.

Lorraine
Lorraine is famous for two things, its quiche and De Gaulle's double-barred cross, an emblem of Lorraine chosen by the resistance fighters in WWII. This region was the site of the battle of Verdun in WW1 in which one million men died - veterans still come here on Armistice Day.

Lorraine has two elegant cities, both capitals at one time. Nancy is popular for its art nouveau architecture and Metz for its stained glass and stunning cathedral. You can also enjoy walks in the unspoiled Lorraine countryside or relax at one of the many spas.

France Comte
The region of Franche-Comté composes the eastern French départements of Jura, Doubs, Haute-Saône, and the Territoire de Belfort. The capital is Bessancon. The region is bounded on the east by Switzerland by the départements of Ain, in the region of Rhone-Alpes to the south, Saône-et-Loire, Côte-d'Or, and Haute-Marne, in the region of Burgundy to the west, and Vosges [region of Lorraine] and Haut-Rhin [region of Alsace] to the north. Franche-Comté is dominated by the Jura Mountains. The basin of the upper Saône River extends into Jura. Annual precipitation is high, and forests cover much of Franche-Comté. 

Pays-de-la-Loire
This is well known for the Loire Valley. The Loire River is France’s largest river and acts as the regions backbone and is flanked by historic towns and chateaux. The river also provides leisure opportunities such as river cruising. The region also boasts fine, sandy beaches and stretches of coves and rocky coastline. There are 25 resorts to choose from.

For a truly amazing spectacle, visit the Grand Parc Puy du fou, Pays-de-la-Loire’s most popular attraction with it’s sound and light shows and historical re-enactments.

Poitou-Charentes
Being rich in tradition, architecture and gastronomy, not to mention the natural wonders; among it’s treasures are Roman Ruins, long sandy beaches, the great waterways of the Marais Poitevin and Cognac.

Of course Cognac is where you can learn about the regions famous spirit. With 450km of coastline, the sea plays any important part in the history and culture of this region, it is the leading producer of oysters and mussels, the oysters of Marenne-Oleron are considered the finest in France.

Centre-Val-de-Loire
This region is the most populated in France and river Loire which runs through the region. The capital is Orleans which hosts an annual celebration in honour of Joan of Arc who famously helped to liberate the city from the English in 1429.
This region is sometimes referred to as the ‘garden of France’ and is also famous for it’s abundance of impressive castles.

Limousin
This green and peaceful region has stunning natural landscapes of lakes, rivers, mountains and plateaus. With plenty of activities for the adventurous type such as mountain biking, hiking, horse riding, kayaking and water skiing.
The region also has its fair share of history and culture from Gallo-Roman remains, medieval ruins, chateaux and abbeys. The region is also home to the ‘Plus beaux villages’ one of the most interesting being Collanges-la-Rouge with its red stone buildings.

Limoges is the capital and is famous for its porcelain and is well worth a visit, you will be guaranteed to walk home with something in your hand. Abusson is famous for its tapestries and is known as France’s capital of tapestry.

Auvergne
In the heart of the Massif Central this ancient region is of great beauty and the most dramatic landscapes which it is thankful due to it’s turbulent geological past. This region is full of volcanoes and one of most visited is Puy de Dome, which is an extinct volcano which rises 1,465 mtrs. It provides breathtaking views, as well as offering steep-sided gorges and lakes of the clearest of
waters. This region is also home to the famous mineral water of Volvic and Vichy. With two regional parks it offers a wide range of activities for both holiday makers and residents; these include skiing, rafting, biking, golfing, hiking, hand-gliding and water sports, plus some of the best hiking territory to be found in France.

Burgundy
This region didn’t become French until 1477. Before 1477, it was richer and more prosperous than the French kingdom, finding itself handily located along the flourishing trade route between Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Today Burgundy is renowned for its excellent wines, which includes Chablis and Pommard.

Burgundy has waterways and hiring a canal boat is a wonderful peaceful way to experience the countryside. Burgundy’s capital Dijion is an inviting compact city with elegant medieval buildings.

Aquitaine
Being on the Atlantic coast, this is the largest region in France. With its mild climate a variety of landscapes and rich history makes it an interesting destination. The region boasts 180 miles of white, sandy beaches, which stretch along the Atlantic from the Gironde estuary to the Spanish border. Inland you will find picturesque freshwater lakes bordered by the largest pine forest in Western Europe. Bordeaux is the region’s historic capital and is the major centre of communications and commerce. The department is also renowned for producing some fine wines such as Medoc and St-Emilion.

Midi Pyrenees
The wealth of things to do and see, in the Midi Pyrenees is breathtaking from historic religious sites such as the cloisters of Moissac and Ste-Cecile cathedral in Albi.

The mountains of the Pyrénées form a physical border between France and Spain, stretching 435 km (270 mi) from the Bay of Biscay (part of the Atlantic Ocean) to the Mediterranean Sea. ANDORRA, wholly within the Pyrénées, straddles the French-Spanish border, which generally follows the crest of the range. The highest peak, 3,404 m (11,168 ft), is Pico de Aneto, on the Spanish side in the center of the chain, which has a maximum width of 160 km (100 mi). Many passes are more than 1.5 km (1 mi) high. Railroads cross the mountains at the ends of the range. Major rivers rising in the Pyrénées include the GARONNE and Adour of France and the EBRO of Spain.

Provence-Alps-Cote d’Azur
The Côte d' Azur: The famous French Riviera which stretches from Hyeres to Menton is set up to receive a large and rather affluent tourist clientele. The cities and coastline abound with first class hotels, in restaurants, chic boutiques, private beaches and luxury houses. But the coast is also Camargue and its keepers, and the great ports of Marseilles, Toulon and Nice, all three, gateways to Africa since ancient times.

Provence: The heart of Provence is in the hills that bind the sea to the Alps. These are the sloping vineyards; the cultivated lands and the colorful scenery that charmed Cezanne (Aix en Provence), Van Gogh ( Arles), Chagall or Giono. In Provence or the Midi the local people have a soft singing accent which evokes their whole relaxed lifestyle. They have no greater pleasure after a hard days work than to enjoy a delicious and a meal shared with friends......

Rhone-Alps
The Rhone-Alps is a landscape full of contrasts, fine food, a country of traditions and lively cultural heritage. This region has mountains, lakes, mouth watering cuisine, beautiful cities; flower filled decked villages nestling in the alpine valleys, perched on hills and tucked away in the rural landscape.

With two national and six regional parks the landscape gives plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities water sports and kayaking.

Corscia
A veritable mountain in the Mediterranean, full of vibrant colours, shimmering lights and pine scented woods. This is a wonderful island of golden beaches, ancient hilltop villages and some of the most dramatic and unforgettable scenery you are likely to come across. It is not surprising that Corsica is known as Ile de Beaute – the Island of Beauty.
Corsica, famed as the birthplace of Napoleon, has a varied terrain, ranging from the snow capped peak of 'Mount Cinto' to mile after mile of the most heavenly of beaches. Inland the landscape is dominated by pine forests and is divided by the contrast of serene mountain lakes and the snow fed Mountain Rivers provides vigorous fast flowing waterfalls.