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Beach
France has beaches to suit every need and choice, be it families, fun or adventure seekers. From the beautiful and glamorous beaches of the Côte d'Azur or French Riviera, to the picturesque coastline of the Mediterranean Sea to the stunning, picture postcard beaches found on the island of Corsica - France has plenty of beaches to suit everyone. |
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The Bay of Somme
To the south of Baie lies Pointe du Hourdel with its lighthouse and pebbles. On the opposite shore, the Marquenterre Ornithological Park forms the centre of the Baie de Somme Nature Reserve. |
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Beaches in Corsica
Crystal clear waters, vast beaches of powder sand, small isolated coves and wild cliffs populated with sea eagles: Corsica offers a range of marine landscapes that are unique to the Mediterranean. With over one thousand kilometres of coastline, the island is a succession of fabulous places to swim, fish, dive or simply walk. |
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The Beaches of Lake Vassivière
Lake Vassivière is largest lake in the High-Vienna area. It offers six supervised beaches with a range of accommodation close by – rural lodgings, camp-sites, and a holiday village. |
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Beach Towns
Nice Surprises at Saint-Nazaire: A charming port of call. In the shade of the liners, this town is lively and passionate. What to see: the Chantiers de l'Atlantique, the Espadon (the only fleet submarine in France that is open to visitors), Airbus and Escal'Atlantic – a new kind of museum on board a transatlantic liner – and experience the ambience of the great ships of yesteryear. |
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Lake Bourget and Annecy in Rhône-Alpes
Considered the largest natural lake in France, it shelters around fifty species of fish. During the summer, Lake Bourget is held in great regard for sailing, water skiing and diving, since the temperature of the water is between 20 and 25oC. |
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Lake Paladru in Rhône-Alpes
The Paladru region is without doubt a Mecca for lakeside archaeology, attracting the interest of many researchers since the end of the 19th century. Two exceptional sites were discovered following underwater searches: |
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Breaks on the Lakes in Rhône-Alpes
There are around one hundred lakes and ponds scattered across the Rhône Alpes, in particular in the Dauphiné, Haute Savoie, Savoie and Ain départements. There are so many cool and fresh havens in the heat of the summer including Lakes Geneva, Bourget and Annecy. These are three of the biggest lakes in France. |
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Lake Aiguebelette in Rhône-Alpes
Lake Aiguebelette, nestling at the gateway to the Chartreuse nature park, the 3rd largest natural lake in France by size, is a private lake that belongs to the Chambost family and EDF (French Utility Company). |
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The Charm of the Mountain Lakes of Rhône-Alpes
Lake Roselend, in the Beaufort area of the Savoie département, is an artificial lake, at the bottom of which lies the village of Roselend, which was drowned when a damn was built. An identical copy of Roselend's chapel, which lies beneath the water, was built on the shore of the lake. |
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Saint-Jean-de-Monts
Children first: An exceptional wooded environment, 20 km of safe, gently sloping beaches, lifeguards… This is the one for the kids! Although it is a child-friendly 'Station Kid' par excellence, there's plenty for adults as well: golf, thalassotherapy, fishing, bike rides or picnics beneath the pine trees – make yourself some great holiday memories! |
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Opal Light
Opal Light is 800,000 years old. The rolling plane caved in and metres the North Sea and the Channel surged into the passage. Now, on the other side of the submerged valley the English coast forms a white barrier visible to the naked eye. |
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Beaches in Picardy
For 56% of Picardians, Baie de Somme is the strongest symbol of Picardie. Recognised as an exceptional open space, it is among the most beautiful bays in the world and is benefiting more than ever before from protective measures. |
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Beaches in Nord-Pas de Calais
Long, broad, beaches attract hundreds of thousands of people to come here but there is still place enough to run about. Great for the family. Some of the most beautiful spots in northern Europe are here. |
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The Great Lakes in Midi-Pyrénées
Although the Midi-Pyrenees does not boast a coastline, it is however a water region with its 80 stretches of water and the 1,550 miles of rivers. The region is a land of enclosed seas and many water sports are available on specially equipped stretches of water: swimming, windsurfing, rowing, water skiing, dinghy sailing, etc. It’s the ideal solution for those of you who want to avoid overcrowded beaches!
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Beaches of Poitou-Charentes
Ride the waves. No less than 450 kilometres of coastline wend their way down the Poitou-Charente seashore. Between high and low seas, the long sandy beaches bordered by pine trees alternate with chalky cliffs and wild sites. |
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Pornic
This pretty fishing port is built on rock, and has everything going for it: beaches and creeks, quays and boats, a castle, little narrow streets criss-crossed by flights of steps and an indoor market. It's full of life and activity both day and night. |
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Short Breaks in Nord-Pas de Calais
Enticing sandy beaches run for an astonishing 120 kilometres from Dunkerque to Berck-sur-Mer, lined with dunes and majestic cliffs. On the most glorious headlands, Les Deux Caps, in the national regional park of outstanding natural beauty, hikers are excellently catered for. |
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Les Sables-d'Olonne
Les Sables-d'Olonne: The world tour starts here. This is the most famous of Vendée's beaches. Home of the mythical high seas race, the Vendée Globe – Les Sables-d'Olonne marina is also home to over a thousand vessels. |
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The Great Dune of Pilat Aquitaine - Europe's highest dune
The natural phenomenan that is the Dune du Pyla or 'Dune du Pilat' is the largest natural sand dune in the world and sits 60km from Bordeaux in the South of the Arcachon Bay. |
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Outdoor activities in Aquitaine
Aquitaine is a paradise for those in search of excitement. If sheer rock faces are what you are looking for, there are many magnificient climbing routes to be discovered. If it is whitewater you thirst for, head for the Pyrenean streams with their ideal spots for rafting, canyoning and kayak. If it is a sensation of freedom you are after, then there are always hang-gliding and kite surfing. |
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Watersports in Aquitaine
Surfing culture draws its inspiration from the models of Polynesia, California and Australia. But in the Aquitaine region it was quick to develop its own style, to establish its own founding heroes and create its own competitions and schools... |
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Wide Open Spaces Aquitaine
The forces of water, sand and plant-life...the combat between these three elements over the last 15,000 years or so has shaped the face of the Aquitaine coast as it is today with a beach two hundred and fifty kilomertres long, the Europe's largest forest and the Arcachon Bay. |
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The Ocean and Estuary in Aquitaine
The Ocean and Estuary in Aquitaine : Cordouan Lighthouse and Blaye Citadel.
These are two jewels in the crown of Aquitaine heritage. The first, anchored to a rock in the waters of the Atlantic by the Gironde Estuary and with its light set 67.5 metres high, has been guiding boats since 1584 and standing opposite the Médoc and the Ile Paté, the rock of Blaye has been a crucial strategic site since Roman times. |
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A world of water - Aquitaine
From the flat, sandy plains and pine forests of the Landes to the beautiful lagoon of the Bassin d’Arcachon... Aquitaine is immensely diverse. The valley of the Dordogne provides a sharp contrast...ideal for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, horse riding and cycling.
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Not to be missed in Burgundy
From the vineyards of Chablis to those of the Mâconnais passing through the Côte de Beaune and Côtes de Nuits, from the luminous Loire Valley to the opulent Bresse region passing through the mysterious forests of the Morvan, Burgundy is beautiful in its natural state and in every season. |
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Not to be missed in the Loire (centre)
It is western Europe's last wild river, over 1,000 km long, that shapes the region : The Loire. On its banks the aristocracy built châteaux that are among the jewels of French architecture. Amboise, Chambord, Blois, Azay-le-Rideau are all extraordinary. |
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Not to be missed in Limousin
Nature lovers who like to punctuate their walks with seeing the old craft traditions develop an immediate attachment to this region. Green woods and forests, it is also criss-crossed by water, the Creuse, Vienne and Dordogne rivers... |
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Not to be missed in Normandy
Combining in the same land the pleasures of an extraordinary coastline and those of a green and blossoming countryside, Normandy is a very fortunate region. |
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Not to be missed in Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur
Everything in this region sings, even the wind, when it is called the Mistral or the Tramontana. The great poets were able to convey its music, and painters from Cézanne to Picasso, captured its light. Provence is magical, it smells wonderfully of olive oil, lavender and thyme. |
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Not to be missed in Ile-de-France
Around Paris, Ile-de-France offers the joys of discovering both nature and culture. With 9 royal towns, 400 listed gardens and châteaux including 24 masterpieces of landscape art, medieval villages or Cistercian abbeys, the Ile-de-France region boasts a unique and fascinating heritage. |
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Not to be missed in Alsace
Very long and narrow and backing onto the Rhine, Alsace has seen its borders moved on many occasions. The ups and downs of history have caused it to hang on to a very strong regional tradition. This can be seen in its language, its folk traditions and its cuisine. Its countryside beckons the walker, with its hillsides streaked with vineyards in the Munster valley and the flower-decked valleys of the Florival.
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Not to be missed in Aquitaine
If you had to define this land by one word, il would be 'generous'. A generosity that can be seen in its variety of landscapes with hills, valleys, sandy moors and a coast that is almost wild. The Bordeaux vineyards, the Basque Country, the plateaux of Périgord... |
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Not to be missed in Rhône-Alpes
A great river and a chain of mountains give the region its name and create the pattern of life here. The Alps crowned by Mont Blanc provide a skiing area that is unique in the world. Hiking enthusiasts are becoming increasingly numerous in the summertime, walking the waymarked trails through the region's nature parks (La Vanoise, Les Ecrins, Les Bauges), and around the lakes (Lake Geneva, Annecy, Le Bourget). Nearer the Rhône, the Ardèche gorges are a paradise for canoeing. |
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Not to be missed in the Loire (western)
A land of water traversed by the Loire, the region is bathed in the north by the spray of the Atlantic Ocean. While Saint-Nazaire is an important merchant navy port, Nantes is the regional capital, and Saumur, Le Mans and Angers offer visitors a cultural heritage dominated by Gothic art and the Renaissance. |
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Not to be missed in Corsica
Mountains in the sea, pierced with torrents, Corsica, an island of rare beauty, has the full spectrum of landscapes. Dry in the south, it makes up for it with long beaches of white sand, where lazing around can be enhanced by sightseeing tours. |
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Not to be missed in Picardy
With its exceptionally rich architectural heritage, this province is a preserve of Gothic art. Famous for its cathedrals, it offers the discerning an opportunity to explore its towns and their medieval wonders. |
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Not to be missed in Champagne-Ardenne
The fruit of its vineyards is so famous that the first thing you think of in this region is a glass of champagne. You can of course begin the journey underground and visit the wine cellars. Reims, its magnificient cathedral or its museum of fine arts, should not make you forget the 'vine-growers' villages spread around the region. There is also the Ardennes with its wild forests, populated by roe deer and hares. |
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Not to be missed in Languedoc-Roussillon
The Mediterranean on one side, the eastern Pyrenees to the south and Lozère to the north, Languedoc-Roussillon takes pleasure in the contrats if its stepped relief. |
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Not to be missed in Paris
Some cities call to mind lovers, others architecture, yet others an intellectual, cultural or appealing popular atmosphere. Paris has all these faces, plus lots more to discover depending on your particular interest. |
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Not to be missed in Franche-Comté
This is a region with distinct faces. In the north, the valleys of the Haute-Saône which, from the Grays region to the Saône Vosges, passing through Vesoul, back onto the region of Belfort. Châteaux and churches give added attraction to its towns and villages, and a great many museums house specimens showing the traditional craftmanship related to wood, but also to clock making. |
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Not to be missed in Poitou-Charentes
The dispute between Ancient and Modern is not on the agenda in this region where the vestiges of the past are keyed neatly into an openness to the future. |
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Not to be missed in Auvergne
If it were possible, the best way to travel in this region would be on the back of a donkey, just as the writer Stevenson did. It is indeed probably the pleasantest way to see this land of volcanoes, fashioned by their eruptions. Inactive for centuries, they gave birth to a strange and majestic landscape. |
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Not to be missed in Brittany
A land of seafaring people, and the aspect that makes Brittany the daughter of Neptune. Its thousands of kilometres of coastline, from Cancale to Saint-Nazaire, give it a prodigiously varied relief, with the strange rocks of the Pink Granite coast and the idyllic beaches of the Morbihan following on from one another. |
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Lille in Nord-Pas-de-Calais
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Not to be missed in the French Riviera
It is the blue of the south that defines this land. Its climate is so mild, its nature so filled with flowers that thousands of years after the Romans, English aristocrats, fed up with the greyness, fell in love with it. Since then, the Côte d'Azur has been entirely given over to summer pleasures. |
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Not to be missed in Nord-Pas-de-Calais
Traditionally an industrial region, it has now turned to tourism, a natural choice in a landscape where forests predominate, and where the Opal Coast has a host of beaches dedicated to surfing, wind-surfing, water-skiing, and more. |
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Not to be missed in Lorraine
Bordered by the three countries, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, Lorraine is a strategic region which today exudes a peaceful charm. There is no shortage of reasons to explore it. For lovers of architecture and the arts, Mirecourt, Bar-le-Duc and Epinal possess many wonders. Enthusiasts for footpaths, will find routes dotted with lakes, forests and green valleys in the Lorraine Regional Park. Another excellent reason to come is for its springs and to stay in one of the well-known spa establishments in Contrexéville or Vittel, where the gastronomy is not to be outdone. |
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Not to be missed in Midi-Pyrénées
Few regions offer such a variety of landscapes, climates and architecture. This is because the region is huge, it runs from Aveyron to Gers and from Ariège to the edges of the Dordogne. |
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Hot Air Ballooning
Floating through the air in a hot air balloon is the perfect way to take in the scenery of the region. If you have a head for heights there is no more relaxing way to see the Burgundian countryside. |
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| News |
What's happening in France? |
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| 26/01/2010 Combined press releases from the Family France press lunch, 20th Janury 2010 |
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| 05/03/2009 Affordable France - composite press releases Feb09 |
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| 13/10/2009 Summary of the weekend travel sections, 10th&11th October |
How to ski through the downturn, all the latest ski develoments, cider, film locations, Lyon, Ile de Re and a planned theme park holiday that wasn't quite as expected.
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| 21/08/2009 Portrayal of France in the national newspaper's Travel sections |
Great deals in the Vendee, Puy du Fou, the real Paris, Bordeaux and a bargain chateaux stay
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| 28/09/2009 Summary of the weekend travel sections, 26th&27th September 2009 |
The real start of the ski coverage, chateaux stays, safari lodges in Normandy, Vespas in Paris, top chefs pick their best restaurants, sleek B&Bs, staying on a boat and more...
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| Vendée Globe |
| November |
Les Sables d'Olonne
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| Adventurous souls and adrenalin junkies will be hoisting their sails during the Vendée Globe. This round the world sailing race attracts only the bravest seafarers, since it's for solo sailors only with no stopovers. |
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| Inter-Island Windsurf Race |
| September (annual) |
Club de Voile de Bonifacio
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This annual windsurfing race, known locally as Le Défi Inter-Iles, covers the 11-mile stretch of sea between two of the most alluring Mediterranean islands, Corsica and Sardinia. One hundred windsurfers from all over the globe come to take part. If you feel like joining them, registration forms are available at the Club de Voile in Bonifacio |
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| Brest International Nautical Festival |
| July (Annual) |
Brest
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| The liveliest International Nautical Festival in the world takes place each year in Brest, featuring dynamic fleets and crews in action, displays of maritime heritage and lots of attraction. |
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| Fêtes Médiévales de Semur-en-Auxois |
| May (Annual) |
Semur-en-Auxois
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The pretty medieval town of Semur, perched on a granite cliff in Burgundy, hosts an annual festival devoted to its historic past. Street theatre comes courtesy of the Frémont Company and Joly'Troup, and taverns are set up throughout the town for the obligatory lusty medieval drinking sessions.
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| Scallop Festival |
| From 1 to 5 May (annual) |
Erquy
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| The Côtes d'Armor area of Brittany prides itself on being the capital of the scallop - or Coquille Saint-Jacques. Two days every year are devoted to the mighty shellfish in the form of a… |
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Newsletter
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| Offers |
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2011 at 2010 prices. Limited offer only £25 deposit
2010 prices held for 2011. Limited offer of only £25 deposit. Best properties selling fast.
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Corsica September Offers - from £379pp
September deals from £379pp.
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| Holiday Options |
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Accommodation
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50% OFF holiday homes
£850 for 2 bedroom holiday home 3-10 July 2010 in Fayence holiday village with pool and spa centre.
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VFB Holidays Villas with pool in Corsica
Discover a stunning collection of villas with pool, apartments and hotels on the beautiful island of Corsica.
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Beach villas
Fabulous choice of beach villas, many with pools, all around the French coast, including Corsica.
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P&V Port Bourgenay Holiday Village
PV Holidays multi-activity car free holiday centre, in the Vendee. Acqua centre and free kids clubs
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Private Villas Languedoc Roussillon
Individual villas in peaceful settings, within a few minutes drive of great Mediterranean beaches.
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Susan Paradise Seaside Cottages Brittany
Superb range of cottages close to the beach. Top quality, excellent value and friendly service!
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