"The world is a mystery and we are here to unfold it."
Do you want a getaway from your boring work-life?
Or are you thinking of a travel destination for your honeymoon?
Well, guess what! There is just one place that has it all. France - one of the few countries in Europe which have a bounty of both natural scenic beauty and architectural designs. It has innumerable artistic chateaux and palaces and breathtaking landscape. One must at least spend 10 to 15 days in this colorful country to experience the richness.
Although it has been a popular tourist spot for many years among the westerners, the far Eastern tourists are gradually getting to know about the country and its beauty.
Recently, there are so many terrorist attacks occurring in France but the country never fails to awe me with their courage and faith in hope.
So, here are the four reasons why you should pack your bags now and head to the Fashion capital of the World.
Art and History
Do you know that France has a whopping 39 UNESCO World Heritage sites?
It has so many palaces, chateaux, cathedrals, museums, and art galleries that France can be termed as the mecca of historians and art lovers.
The Louvre Museum of Paris is the home of the Mona Lisa painting. There are 35,000 other paintings and millions of artifacts stored in the Museum. Eiffel Tower is another symbolic monument in Paris which was named after its engineer- Gustave Eiffel.
You will also find one of the most iconic Avenues in Paris - Champs Elysees. It is between Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe.
There are plenty of other museums in Paris, such as Petit Palais, Grand Palais, the Palais de la Decouverte and so many more. If museums don't interest you, you may opt for Disneyland, which is a popular theme park there.
The castles outside of Paris are equally magnificent. Chateau de Chenonceau, across the river Cher, also known as Ladies Chateau, gives us a glimpse of the Renaissance period with colorful paintings from many eminent painters of the time.
When history and art are involved, we cannot miss out on Lyon, which is a historical old Town of France and one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in France.
Museum of Miniatures, International Puppet Museum, Notre Dame de Fauviere, many amphitheaters, and film sets are all present in the city of Lyon. Reims Cathedral is another such UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its Gothic style designs.
Also, Bonifacio is a place just south of Corsica, famous for its citadel and the staircase of the king of Aragon. Its peak point displays an amazing view of the city. Palais des Papes, in Avignon, is again another historical palace designed in Gothic style.
Other honorable mentions are Petite Palais and Palais Rohan for its magnificent architecture in Strasbourg and the Fontainebleau chateau of Fontainebleau region in southeast Paris built by the French royalty.
Furthermore, the Palace of Versailles is one of the most renowned and exotic castles of France. It is also famous for hosting the Hall of Mirrors and plenty of other breathtaking gardens. You can also visit Mont Saint-Michel, which is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, and famous for the Norman Benedictine Abbey situated at the highest point of the island.
Stunning Nature
When it comes to natural beauty, France has it in abundance. From mountains to beaches, from mesmerizing city streets to peaceful countryside, France has it all.
Want to get a break from your busy life? Here are some of the places in France where you can relax and unwind.
When you take leisurely strolls around the city of Paris, it will take your breath away.
However, it is not only the capital city that is infused with all the charm.
Le Puy-en-Velay has some of the seriously beautiful sceneries that you will enjoy a lot. The top view from the "Staircase of the King of Aragon" is also awe-inspiring in itself.
Albeit Cannes is famous for The International Film Festival, where you can spend some time there shopping and dining. Located on the French Riviera, it is also famous for its long and curved beaches. There you can spend some quality time with yourself and your loved ones. You should consider visiting Etretat cliffs if you love lush green landscape and endless farms.
Promenade des Anglais of Nice is famous for skating, bicycling, and sunbathing.
Talking about adventure sports, you can definitely try for Charmonix. Every year many tourists come here for mountaineering and biking in the mountains.
Then, if you visit Annecy in Southeastern France, you must check out Pont des Amours. It is a bridge on the Lake Annecy. Try refreshing your mind by bicycling alongside the Lake Annecy. You can check out Why you should visit Annecy here and this is so true.
Next is Carcassonne which has an aura that nobody can express in words. It can only be felt. It is situated in the valley of the Aude river. Though it is famous for its walled city, I like the city because of the pleasant fragrance that permeates through the air at all times.
France has its share of sand dunes as well.
It is known as the Dune of Pyla south of Bordeaux and the tallest sand dune in Europe measuring up to 107 meters tall. An interesting fact is that the sand dune is shifting its course inwards by 4.6 meters each year.
Saving the best for the last, Gorge du Verdon, a river canyon in the Alps in Southeastern France is a must-see for any nature lover. It is said to be the most beautiful piece of Nature in Europe. So, do not miss it by any chance when you visit France.
Food and Wine
Many tourists flock the country only because of the good food and to experience the splurge dining. France has one of the best lip-smackingly tasty cuisines I have ever seen.
To start with, let's talk about wine. Do you know Bordeaux is called the "Wine capital of the country?" And why should it not!
Bordeaux is the largest producer of all the different types of wine. The red wine tastes really good here. It also hosts the Wine Museum and CAPC Museum of Contemporary Art. It is located beside the Garonne River. If you are a wine-lover then this is the place to be!
The bakery foods that you should definitely try are croissants, baguettes, pastries, and cakes. They taste heavenly and can make your bad mood swing to the best in seconds.
Desserts are equally popular here. You must have already tasted crepes and Creme Brulee. But I would suggest you taste the ones made in Paris. You will fall in love with it.
Their other specialty is macarons. They taste great. They also prepare a sandwich made of ham and cheese called Croque-monsieur.
You should definitely try it out too.
Weather
Something is unique about Paris.
You must have heard of the saying that "Love is in the Air in Paris." Well, Paris, the capital of France. is mostly associated with romance and love. I don't know but somehow I feel that the weather of this beautiful city has a big role to play in being the most romantic city in the world.
The weather of the country is such that it is neither too cold nor too hot in the fall season. It is the moderate type of weather that people die for in this era of global warming.
The temperature during the summer season is around 75-77 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas, during fall, the temperature drops to 60 degrees. These are the best times for a trip to France as the weather remains comfortable throughout.
During the winter, the temperature again dips to 8 degrees.
If you are a winter lover, then you can definitely try this season. The traveling cost also reduces during the winter season while it soars sky-high during the summer and the fall season. I would suggest that you plan your trip in advance so that you may have a pleasant and enjoyable stay in France without any hassles.
And one last final tip that I have for you is that you should wear good clothes (fashionable if possible) and be proper. This is because you will be judged a lot by what you wear and how you behave in public there. Well, I don't mind and of course, they have a reputation to keep!
