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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
Lake Bourget
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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Dune du Pyla Aquitaine
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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Nature Watch in Brittany
Brittany is famous for its coastal marshes. The marshes are formed in depressions, behind a coastal belt of sand or stones, or a manmade dyke. The degree of salinity of the water varies depending on infiltration of the sea and affects the vegetation and the fauna. |
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Climbing in Provence/Cote D'azur
Climbers can devote themselves to their favourite pastime in total safety at several sites with full amenities. They come from all over the world to conquer the steep walls. The ones in Verdon, for example, have no fewer than 933 routes. |
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Flying High in Provence/Cote D'Azur
Make your debut in the air, discover the sensations of flying, learn to master piloting techniques, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur pulls out all the stops for everyone to share in the experience of flying. |
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See Alsace from the Air
Discover the Alsatian plain at first hand, get a bird's eye view of the Vosges Forest or glide across the vineyards... There are many excellent reasons to discover Alsace from the air.
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Caves in Franche-Comté
Journey to the Centre of the Earth 4,500 caves or chasms, which in this region often go by the name of 'baumes' or 'puits' are known to sports lovers, such as the Verneau caves in the Lison valley, for example are considered to form the world's longest post-siphon network (28,000 m). |
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| News |
What's happening in France? |
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| 15/12/2007 Eurostar: small wonders are a step closer |
With the dawn of the new Eurostar, the continent has never been closer. Nick Trend lists ten historic places than can be reached in six and a half hours or less. While most attention has been on Paris and Brussels, it isn't just the Continent's big capital cities that have taken a step closer to St Pancras station this week. The new Eurostar also makes it quicker to get to provincial towns and smaller cities in France and the Low Countries.
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| Sainte Savine Street Theatre Festival |
| September |
Sainte Savine
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| The streets come alive as performers from around the world visit Sainte Savine. Professional theatre companies and groups of performers gather in this small town near Troyes every September. Expect the unexpected, with everything from bizarre one-man shows, puppetry and circus antics to mime, traditional theatre and live concerts. If you tire of their antics (and why should you, they're free!), there's always a concert to soothe your ears. |
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| Festival in Othe and Amance |
| July |
Aix-en-Othe
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This massive arts festival in Othe and Amance, in the Champagne region of France, is one of the best organised and most exciting in the country. Music (both classical and popular), theatre and the arts are all on the bill.
The variety of music to be heard here is astounding - from reggae to African music, jazz, Chopin piano recitals and opera. Then there are the theatrical productions - everything from Shakespeare to avant-garde spectacle, mime and commedia dell'arte - and the exhibitions, painting and sculpture, held in the Old Hospital at Tonerre.
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| Scallop Festival |
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Apr 2008 (annual)
Loguivy de la Mer
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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| Nautical Jousting and the Coulanges Fête |
| August |
Coulanges-sur-Yonne
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| Coulanges' annual bout of river jousting has its origins in the region's history as France's main timber-producing area. The fighst are accompanied with the merriment of the Coulanges town celebrations. |
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| Fêtes Médiévales de Semur-en-Auxois |
| May - June |
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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Newsletter
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Sign up to our newsletter for latest news, offers and deals
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| Offers |
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30% off fortnight stays in St Briac
Stays frm 5/7 - 2/8/2008. Prestige s/c apts, indoor heated pool, sauna, 300m frm beach, frm £811/apt
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-20% House in Holiday Village La Flotte, Ile de Re
6 person house with shared pool, 1km from La Flotte's harbourside shops and cafes. 28/6 - 18/7 only
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More Offers
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| Holiday Options |
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Accommodation
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Prestige apartments in Arcachon, Aquitaine
Prestige apartments in the centre of popular Arcachon, just 400m from the beach.
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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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Corsica accommodation with P&V Holidays
P&V. No 1 for accommodation in France. From beach apartments with pools to family holiday villages.
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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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Corsican Places - The Corsican Specialist
Handpicked Villas, Apartment & Hotels across the Islands. We offer flights from various UK airports
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Joie de Vivre
Joie de Vivre specialise in holiday rental accommodation in the south of France throughout Provence, the Cote d'Azur and Languedoc Roussillon.
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More Holiday Options ... |
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