|
Touring/Motoring/Rail
France is a motorist's paradise. Touring the countryside, sampling the cuisine and staying at traditional French guesthouses is an ideal way to experience the real France. Drive the coastline of Brittany, meander through pretty Provence villages, explore the chateaux’s of the Loire or discover the dramatic scenery of Corsica. Alternatively, select a spot you would like to visit and then jump on a high-speed train and watch the countryside from the comfort of your train seat. Travelling at 300km/h you will be able to sample all the delights France has to offer within hours. |
|
|
|
Ice-Driving in Rhône-Alpes
A unique experience awaits you in the region of Rhone-Alpes. Driving is taken to the extreme with ice circuits carved out of glaciers for you to drive on. Alpe d'Huez is the place to be if you want the challenge of controlling a Porsche on ice. |
|
|
|
|
Devil Kart in Franche-Comté
For those who love nothing more than speeding around a track in a go-kart or for those who have always wanted to give it a go, Franche-Comté has a treat for you.
|
|
|
|
|
Formula 1 Experience in Burgundy
Take the drive of your life in Burgundy where a Formula 1 track is at your disposal with a wide variety of different vehicles. Karting, driving a Porsche and other sports cars or Formula 3 and 1 cars are the options to choose from at Magny-Cours in Burgundy. |
|
|
|
|
Motor Biking Circuit Recommendations in Provence/Cote D'Azur
Circuit of the 3 Valleys (About 270km):From Briançonnais, to the Vallouise as far as the Valley of Queyras, discover beautiful valleys and special villages such as Saint Véran. The scenery of torrents, waterfalls, larch forests, glaciers, rocky crags and eternal snow will thrill lovers of nature and authenticity. |
|
|
|
|
Motor Biking in Provence/Cote D'Azur
Lovers of getaways and freedom will find this region an ideal place for motorbiking. Good weather year-round and sites to take your breath away offer a thousand good reasons to get away from it all and discover remote picturesque places in the heart of Provence, or follow itineraries with their unbeatable sea views. |
|
|
|
|
Public Transport in Paris / Ile de France
Paris is one of the easiest cities in the world to get around. There is an extensive train system, called the Metro, with frequent trains, as well as an excellent bus service across the city. |
|
|
|
|
Train Tours in Rhone Alpes
Green Ardèche: Full Steam Ahead. The railroad circuit of the Chemin de Fer du Vivarais, between Tournon and Lamastre, allows one to admire ardéchois landscapes which are only accessible by train. |
|
|
|
|
Outside of Paris
Outside of Paris it is worth touring the Ile-de-France, a region of 11 million inhabitants outside of the "périphérique" or Paris ring road. Here you will find a more relaxed pace of life and a friendly welcome. |
|
|
|
|
For the Family in Poitou-Charentes
On-road Tourist Train: Train Touristique "Le Pibalou". Discover the history, flora, fauna and geography of the Marais Poitevin and see the local architecture in its villages from a small road train. |
|
|
|
|
Tours in Midi-Pyrénées
"Star country" is a comprehensive itinerary pinpointing some of the most beautiful sites of interest in the Midi-Pyrénées under the headings of four thematic trips, as follows: |
|
|
|
|
Steam Train Journeys - Limoges
With a variety of routes from Limoges to Eyemoutiers and Ussel this is a great day out travelling back in time to the days of real trains! Weave your way through the gorges of the Haute Vienne with some spectacular viaducts. |
|
|
|
|
The Pilgrims’ Way
Compostela, in Galicia, Spain, became the most accessible and popular destination for 'European' pilgrims in the 12th Century. For two hundred years 30-50,000 people travelled there each year. |
|
|
|
|
Culture and History in Burgundy
There are sites to behold all over Burgundy including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, five villages listed as the 'prettiest villages of France' and a unique medieval building site. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
Lille in Nord-Pas-de-Calais
|
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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... |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
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... |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| News |
What's happening in France? |
|
|
|
| 06/05/2009 NATIONAL FERRY FORTNIGHT IS COMING TO A PORT NEAR YOU |
Two weeks of hot offers from 9-22 May, 2009
|
|
|
|
| 05/06/2008 Portrayal of France in National weekend travel sections 31stMay&1st June |
A summary of how France has been covered in the national newspaper's weekend Travel sections.
|
|
|
|
| 26/08/2008 New high-speed train puts eastern France's wine and Champagne country on daytrippers' map |
REIMS, France -- After a Paris breakfast of cafe and croissant, how about lunch and a glass of bubbly in France's Champagne region? Thanks to a new high-speed train line, Reims, the ancient heart of Champagne country, is now just 45 minutes from Paris -- less time than it takes to cross the French capital during rush hour.
|
|
|
|
| 05/03/2009 Affordable France - composite press releases Feb09 |
|
|
|
|
|
| 12/05/2009 Summary of the national newspaper's travel sections, 9th&10th May 2009 |
Cahors, eating your way around Paris, Cannes, spa holidays, luxury villages in Languedoc and some unusual festivals.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Les Belles Champenoises d'Epoque - Vintage car fair |
| March |
Reims, Marne
|
Every year, vintage car enthousiasts from across France and further afield flock to Reims' Parc des Expositions for its vintage car fair. |
|
|
|
| Le Mans 24 Hour Race |
| June (Annual) |
Le Mans
|
| The Le Mans 24 Hour Race (24 Heures du Mans) was borne out of the Grand Prix series as an exciting addition to the world's racing calendar. When the green flag drops, competitors begin an exhilarating 24-hour race at the famous Le Mans circuit.
|
|
|
|
| Rallye Paris - Deauville |
| October (Annual) |
Paris
|
| The Paris - Deauville rally is an annual event which sees the gathering and exhibition of pre-1940s vintage cars, cabriolets and coupés. |
|
|
|
| Circuits des Remparts |
| September (annual) |
Angouleme - Charente
|
A host of the most interesting vintage cars descend on Augouleme for the annual Circuit des Remparts.
|
|
|
|
| Formula One: French Grand Prix |
| June (Annual) |
Magny Cours
|
| The Formula One World Championships continues with the French Grand Prix. More than 100,000 spectators pack the stands of the Circuit de Nevers at Magny-Cours as fanatics from across the world flock to Burgundy. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Newsletter
|
|
|
|
Sign up to our newsletter for latest news, offers and deals
 |
|
|
|
| Offers |
|
Corsica September Offers - from £379pp
September deals from £379pp.
|
|
Canvas Holidays - short breaks from £15 per night
Short breaks of 3-6 nights from only £15 per night in a maxi tent or £20 in a mobile home.
|
More Offers
|
| Holiday Options |
|
Accommodation
|
Matthews Holidays
We offer self-catering mobile homes on some of the best campsites by the sea in France. We specialise in having detailed knowledge of all our campsites and local areas, to enable us to give an excellent personal service unmatched by call centres and internet sites.
|
|
siblu holidays
Siblu is France's leading family holiday provider, with outstanding parcs in a variety of locations
|
|
Alan Rogers Guides & Travel Service
Pitch reservations & mobile home holidays across France & Spain. Pay at-the-gate prices, with a small, one-off admin fee and we'll organise it all for you. Free Child Places and Special Offers available. Alan Rogers Guides have been the market leading campsite guides since 1968. Also Camping Cheque programme (www.campingcheque.co.uk) for low season touring with savings up to 60%.
|
|
Camping & Caravanning Club
Providing campers & caravanners with everything they need to travel to France
|
|
Bonjour La France
France Travel, Trains, Airports, Shuttles, Paris, information, timetables, maps, FAQ, reservations
|
|
Tailor Made Self Drive holidays in Provence
Explore the back roads and hidden secrets of Provence on a leisurely self drive touring holiday with Real Provence.
|
More Holiday Options ... |
|
 |
 |
Average Temperature
Dependant on When & Where
|
|
Sunshine Hours
Dependant on When & Where |
 |
Average Rainfall
Dependant on When & Where |
|
|
|