France P1 recovered copy

Transcription

D E S T I N A T I O N
S P E C I A L I S T
France
Sponsored by
Front Cover
Left: Carcassonne, © Maison de la France/Daniel Thierry
Right: Etretat, © Maison de la France/Hubert Camille
The Travel Institute is not responsible for the results of actions taken
on the basis of opinions, recommendations, or advice offered in this
book. All rates are published for illustrative purposes only. The Travel
Institute is not responsible for the accuracy of rates or descriptions of
the properties and services of suppliers reproduced in this book.
© Board of Trustees of The Travel Institute, 2002, 2004
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior
written permission of The Travel Institute.
Dear Travel Professional,
The French Government Tourist Office is pleased to sponsor the
Destination Specialist France course. We feel that this in-depth training
program is key to our continued success in the American market.
France is a widely diverse country with a lot to offer. each region is
distinctly different and boasts a unique landscape, culture, history and
cuisine. The Travel Institute program focuses on the highlights of each
and concisely summarizes what you need to know for your clients. It will
be an invaluable tool and reference guide with selling tips and insiders’
secrets of France.
We appreciate your interest in France and the fact that you are taking the
time to learn more about our country. We think that you find this to be a
worthwhile endeavor and you will reap the rewards. You will be able to
promote France as an expert and will receive special benefits from the
French Government Tourist Office and our partners. They will be featured
in the Official Partners and Suggested Itineraries guide, which we will
send to you along with a binder for your course materials.
We hope you enjoy the Destination Specialist France course and look
forward to welcoming you and your clients to France.
Sincerely,
Jean-Philippe Pérol
Director of the Americas
Contents
Preface
Part 1: France Overview
vii
1.1
Geography
Climate and Seasons
Arrival Briefing
Transportation Within France
Accommodations
Historical Background
Culture
Celebrations and Special Events
Dining and Entertainment
Shopping
1.1
1.3
1.4
1.6
1.9
1.9
1.14
1.21
1.27
1.28
Paris and Ile-de-France
1.31
Paris
Ile-de-France
1.31
1.45
Eastern France
1.53
Bourgogne (Burgundy)
Champagne-Ardenne
Lorraine
Alsace
Franche-Comté
1.53
1.58
1.60
1.63
1.67
Rhône-Alpes
1.71
Southeast France
1.81
Côte d’Azur (French Riviera)
Provence
Languedoc-Roussillon
Corse (Corsica)
1.81
1.87
1.94
1.99
Central France
1.103
Limousin
Auvergne
1.103
1.106
©
The Travel Institute
Table of Contents
•
v
Part 2: Southwest France
2.1
Aquitaine
Midi-Pyrénées
2.2
2.8
Western France
2.15
Normandie (Normandy)
Bretagne (Brittany)
Centre Val de Loire (Loire Valley)
Pays de la Loire (Western Loire)
Poitou-Charentes
2.15
2.23
2.28
2.33
2.36
Northern France
2.43
Nord Pas-de-Calais
Picardie (Picardy)
2.43
2.47
Overseas Regions
2.53
Antilles Françaises (French West Indies)
La Guyane (French Guiana)
Nouvelle Calédonie (New Caledonia)
Polynésie Française (French Polynesia)
Réunion
Mayotte
St-Pierre-et-Miquelon
2.53
2.62
2.63
2.65
2.67
2.68
2.68
Selling France
2.73
What’s Special About France?
Cruise Call
Sales Strategies
Itinerary Planning and Sample Itineraries
Niche Markets and Sample Itineraries
A Word to the Wise
Secrets of France
Key Points About France
For More Information
My Contact Information
2.73
2.74
2.75
2.77
2.88
2.92
2.93
2.101
2.105
2.111
Part 3: Study Guide
vi
3.1
Testing Forms
3.45
Index
3.53
©
Preface
Course Organization
The Destination Specialist France course is divided into France
Overview, the regions of France, Selling France, and the Study Guide.
The France Overview consists of several maps, a profile of the country,
Fast Facts, Geography, Climate and Seasons, Arrival Briefing,
Transportation Within France, Accommodations, Historical
Background, Culture, Celebrations and Special Events, Dining and
Entertainment, and Shopping.
The 9 geographic regions consist of 22 smaller regions plus the
Overseas Regions. For ease of learning, the areas of France are featured
in the course and Study Guide in clockwise order, beginning with Paris
and Ile-de-France. Each section offers a map, a profile, and Fast Facts
of the geographic region; Local Transportation; Around (the destination): Attractions; Outside (the destination): Attractions; Beyond (the
destination): Attractions; and a Pronunciation Guide
The Selling Section includes What’s Special about France, Cruise Call,
Sales Strategies, Itinerary Planning and Sample Itineraries, Niche
Markets and Sample Itineraries, A Word to the Wise, Secrets of France,
Key Points About France, For More Information, and My Contact
Information.
The Study Guide includes useful information about how to study
Destination Specialist France and how to prepare for the multiplechoice test. Map skills and study questions are also included to help
you in the learning process.
Job Aid
A laminated desktop quick-reference job aid puts sales-related
information at your fingertips. It is designed to enhance your selling
potential and includes a map of France, its regions, and most important
destinations with highlights.
Destination Specialist Series
The Travel Institute’s Destination Specialist series provides detailed
knowledge of specific world areas. In addition to France, destinations in
©
Preface
•
vii
the series are Africa, Alaska, Caribbean, East Asia, European Culture
and Heritage, Hawai‘i, Mexico, North America, Northern and Central
Europe, South Pacific, Southern Europe, Spain, and St. Lucia.
For more information about The Travel Institute’s programs, visit our
Web site at www.thetravelinstitute.com.
Acknowledgments
The Travel Institute would like to thank Maria Lenhart for researching
and writing the materials for this course. She lives in San Francisco and
is a frequent traveler to France. Maria also revised The Travel
Institute’s Destination Specialist Hawai‘i course and wrote Destination
Specialist Northern and Central Europe. She has been a frequent
contributor to travel industry publications for more than 20 years,
including Travel Counselor, ASTA Agency Management, Meeting News,
Meetings and Conventions, and Business Travel News.
The Travel Institute would also like to acknowledge the French
Government Tourist Office of New York for its assistance with this
project, including Patrick Goyet, former Director; Frédéric Meyer,
Deputy Director; and Belinda Burleson, Events Manager.
The Travel Institute would like to thank Jo Beichler as well for her
contribution to the Secrets of France and Sample Itineraries for this
course. She has been a French teacher, travel agent and group planner,
and owns and runs her own tour company that specializes in France.
The Travel Institute would like to acknowledge Carolyn Viles, CTC,
for developing this course. The Travel Institute is grateful to the copy
editor, Jim Gebbie, and the graphic designer, Sybil Norwood.
How Do I Earn My Destination Specialist and
Certified Destination Specialist Designations?
After you have studied this course, complete steps 1 and 2 to receive
your Destination Specialist designation (Level 1). If you choose to go
on, complete steps 3 and 4 for your Certified Destination Specialist
designation (Level 2). All forms are located at the end of the course.
1. Submit your completed Destination Specialist Test Request Form.
2. Take your Destination Specialist test.
3. Submit your completed Destination Visit Report.
4. Submit your completed Certified Destination Specialist
Certification Form.
viii
•
Destination Specialist France
©
Part 1
• France Overview
• Paris and Ile-de-France
• Eastern France
• Rhône-Alpes
• Southeast France
• Central France
©
France Overview
•
Part 1.ix
UNITED KINGDOM
Lille
NORD PASDE-CALAIS
BELGIUM
GERMANY
English Channel
LUX.
PICARDIE
LORRAINE
Channel
Islands (U.K.)
NORMANDIE
Paris
ILE-DEFRANCE
Nancy
ALSACE
Strasbourg
CHAMPAGNEARDENNE
Mulhouse
BRETAGNE
CENTRE
VAL DE LOIRE
PAYS DE
LA LOIRE
FRANCHECOMTE
BOURGOGNE
SWITZ.
Vichy
POITOUCHARENTES
Limoges
LIMOUSIN
ATLANTIC OCEAN
ClermontFerrand
Le
Mont-Dore
Lyon
RHONE-ALPES
ITALY
AUVERGNE
Bordeaux
AQUITAINE
Bay of Biscay
St-Jean-de-Luz
MIDI-PYRENEES LANGUEDOCROUSSILLON
Toulouse
Bayonne
RIVIERA
COTE D’AZUR
PROVENCEALPESCOTE D’AZUR
MONACO
Gulf of Lion
France Overview
0
ANDORRA
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
50 km
SPAIN
CORSE
0
50 mi
For a map of Overseas
Regions, see Part 2, page 52.
x
•
©
France Overview
W
hile the Greeks may have invented Western civilization, it is the
French who refined it. France is simply the essence of what
civilized culture is all about: complex history, noble architecture, fine
wine, superlative cuisine, great works of art, cosmopolitan cities, and
enchanting villages. While most visitors make their first journey to France
with high expectations, few return with those expectations unfulfilled.
This may explain why France is the most visited tourism destination in
the world, according to figures from the World Tourism Organization
(WTO). In its most recent survey, WTO found that France attracted
75.5 million visitors in 2000. France’s closest competitors in Western
Europe that year were Spain with 48.2 million visitors and Italy with
41.1 million.
•
Fast Facts
•
Land Area: 210,000 square miles
Population: 60.2 million
Capital: Paris
Religion: Catholic 80%, Islam 10%,
Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%
Language: French
Time Zone: Universal Time Coordinated
(UTC) +1; Eastern Standard Time (EST)
+6
Drive On: Right
Geography
Currency: Euro
Shaped like a hexagon, France is the largest country in western Europe
and is, in some ways, a geographic microcosm of the continent: six
mountain ranges with some of the highest peaks in Europe, 37 million
acres of forests, a dramatic Atlantic
coastline of deep coves and sheer
cliffs, countless sun-dappled river
valleys, rich farmlands, rolling
vineyards, vast wetlands, and a
subtropical Mediterranean
shore. All are contained in a
nation roughly the size of
Texas. No matter what
outdoor activity your clients
Maison de
prefer, whether it is worldla France/H
ubert Camill
Pyréné
e
e
s Moun
class downhill skiing or just
tains
drifting along in a canal
barge, it will be found here.
Electricity: 50 cycles, 220 volts; adapter
needed
For purposes of orientation, this course presents the regions of France
by starting with Paris and its environs. Most clients begin their
journey in Paris, which is not only France’s cultural epicenter but is
just a bit north of the country’s geographic center. The nation’s
©
•
Please Note
•
• The masculine or feminine articles
that precede French words have been
dropped for the sake of simplicity.
• As a style choice, accents appear on
lowercase letters but not on proper
names that start with a vowel.
• Many French terms are translated in
the text; words that share the same
root in English as in French (known
as cognates) are not translated but
do appear in a glossary in each part
of the course as well as a vocabulary
list.
France Overview: Geography
•
Part 1.1
capital, Paris offers more to see and do than most countries. It is
surrounded by a region called the Ile-de-France (Isle of France), so
called because of the five rivers defining its borders. With both
authentic royal castles and the Disney version, Ile-de-France offers a
wealth of day trips from Paris.
From Paris, the geographic regions are discussed in clockwise order
beginning with Eastern France.
In Eastern France, the regions of Bourgogne (Burgundy) and
Champagne-Ardenne are synonymous with fine wines and ample
opportunities to taste and enjoy them. Neighboring Lorraine is also a
region of contrasts, where visitors can explore World War I battlefields
or admire the Art Nouveau splendors of its delightful capital, Nancy.
Bordering on Germany, Alsace provides everything from storybook villages with half-timbered houses to a cosmopolitan capital, Strasbourg,
headquarters of the European Parliament. Hugging the Swiss border,
the unspoiled region of Franche-Comté is a mountainous wonderland
of lakes, forests, and valley towns watched over by imposing citadels.
e
ubert Camill
la France /H
Maison de
Southeast of Paris, the region known as Rhône-Alpes offers spectacular
mountain scenery as well as year-round sports activities in vast nature
parks and ski areas. In lower elevations are areas such as the Beaujolais,
known for its young red wines, and Lyon, France’s second-largest city
and one of the great gastronomic and cultural centers of Europe.
t-Dore
Le Mon
The coast of Southeast France is defined by the Mediterranean
Sea, encompassing the regions of the Côte d’Azur (French
Riviera), Provence, and Languedoc-Roussillon. While perhaps
best known for its idyllic climate and chic resorts, Southeast
France is equally rich in Gallo-Roman history, vital seaports,
and world-renowned art and music festivals. Southeast France
also encompasses the ruggedly beautiful island of Corse
(Corsica), birthplace of Napoléon Bonaparte.
Central France, which consists of the regions of Limousin
and Auvergne, is largely covered by a mountainous
landscape of volcanic craters and deep river gorges. Elegant
spa towns such as Vichy and Le Mont-Dore offer
opportunities for renewal, while the handsome cities of
Limoges and Clermont-Ferrand feature intriguing
historic quarters to explore.
Southwest France includes the area of Midi-Pyrénées where the
ruggedly beautiful Pyrénées mountain range forms a natural border
with Spain and the vibrant city of Toulouse is known for its
Part 1.2
•
©
rose-colored brick architecture. Neighboring Aquitaine hugs the
Atlantic coast where towns such as Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz
reflect the earthy culture of the Basque people, who are also native to
northern Spain. Its capital, Bordeaux, is surrounded by some of the
most esteemed vineyards in the world, while the eastern part of the
region is known for fascinating prehistoric caves that bear witness to
some of the earliest human habitation on earth.
In Western France, Normandie (Normandy) is known for everything
from World War II battle sites to rich farmlands to sites associated with
Impressionist artists. Neighboring Bretagne (Brittany) forms a peninsula defined by rocky coves and fishing villages where ancient Celtic
traditions remain intact. Southeast of Brittany, the Centre Val de Loire
(Loire Valley) is most famous for its scores of elegant châteaux while
the regions of the Pays de la Loire (Western Loire) and PoitouCharentes also offer a beautiful seacoast and historic ports to explore.
Northern France is home to the Nord Pas-de-Calais, where a
dramatic coastline of opal-colored cliffs faces the English Channel and
superb examples of Flemish architecture grace the city of Lille. In
neighboring Picardie (Picardy), notable attractions include some of
the finest Gothic cathedrals in France, World War I battle sites, nature
preserves, and splendid châteaux.
French culture and ambience can also be enjoyed in France’s many
Overseas Regions, which stretch around the world. In the Caribbean,
the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, St-Barthélemy (St. Barts),
and St-Martin exude plenty of French joie de vivre in the midst of
turquoise waters and sunny skies. The same is true of La Guyane
(French Guiana) in South America, Nouvelle-Calédonie (New
Caledonia) and Wallis and Futuna in the South Pacific, and Polynésie
Française (French Polynesia) and the islands of Réunion and
Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. Off the coast of Newfoundland is
France’s oldest overseas territory, St-Pierre-et-Miquelon (St.Pierre and Miquelon).
Climate and Seasons
For the most part, France has a temperate climate, with mild
winters except in the mountainous regions and in the far
northeast. The national average for rainfall is 164 days a year.
On the northern and western coasts, the Atlantic Ocean
brings westerly winds and a humid climate with plenty of
rainfall. Summers are cool; winters are damp but fairly mild.
©
Maison de
Garden
la France/N
s flouris
icole Lejeun
e
h in Giv
erny’s c
limate
France Overview: Climate and Seasons
•
Part 1.3
Temperature Chart for French Regions
Avg Max °F
Avg Min °F
Avg Rainfall in Inches
Region
Jan/Apr/Jul/Oct
Jan/Apr/Jul/Oct
Jan/Apr/Jul/Oct
44/58/75/61
36/44/59/49
2.25/2/2.25/2.25
Eastern France
39/58/77/60
30/40/56/44
1.75/2/2/2
Rhône-Alpes
43/59/78/63
31/43/59/46
2.25/2.75/2.5/3.25
Southeast France
54/64/82/70
39/48/65/54
2.8/2.3/1/4.25
Central France
45/59/78/64
31/39/55/45
1.25/1.75/2/2
Southwest France
49/61/79/66
35/43/57/47
3.5/2.9/2/2.9
Western France
46/57/74/63
36/42/56/47
2.8/1.8/1.75/2.75
Northern France
41/55/72/59
33/40/55/46
2/2/2.25/2.5
Source: Eyewitness Travel Guide France
Northeastern France, particularly Alsace and Lorraine, and the Alps
have a semicontinental climate characterized by hot summers and cold
winters with snow and ice. The central regions of France, including
Paris and its environs, are more temperate, with winter temperatures
averaging about 45°F and summer temperatures about 75°F. While
rainfall averages are a bit lower than in other parts of France, rain can
come at any time of year in the central regions.
Southern France, from the Mediterranean Sea to as far inland as the
southern Alps and eastern Pyrénées, is characterized by mild winters
and fairly hot, dry summers. The area is also subject to the mistral, a
cold, dry wind that blows for about 100 days a year. It is most active
during the spring.
Arrival Briefing
• Airports/Airport Transportation—Most travelers from the United
States will fly into Paris’ main airport: Roissy–Charles de Gaulle. For
connecting flights within France, travelers can use Roissy–Charles de
Gaulle or Orly. Both airports have direct bus and train services to
Paris, and they provide excellent connections by plane, train, or road
to other cities throughout France. For instance, there is a train à
grande vitesse (TGV, pronounced tay zhay VAY), or high-speed train
station right at Roissy–Charles de Gaulle Airport that offers direct
Part 1.4
•
©
service to Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, and the
Côte d’Azur (French Riviera).
Roissy–Charles de Gaulle is 15 miles northeast of Paris. A taxi
ride to the city center takes 40 to 60 minutes. Passengers can
also take the Roissybus, which makes frequent runs between
Roissy–Charles de Gaulle and Opéra Garnier in central
Paris, or the Roissyrail, which links the airport with several
métro stops in Paris, including Gare du Nord and Châtelet.
A taxi ride into Paris from Orly, which is nine miles south
of the city, takes about 20 to 45 minutes, depending on
traffic. The Orlybus, Orlyrail, and Jet Bus offer frequent
connections from the airport to the Paris métro.
Maison de
la France/F
Train à
abian Char
grande
affi
vitesse
(TGV)
Air France and the major U.S. carriers provide nonstop or direct service to Paris from gateways across the United States. From New
York, there is also direct nonstop air service to Nice. There are also
flights from many other U.S. gateways to airports all over France, via
connections through the two Paris airports.
• Customs and Immigration—All U.S. citizens, including infants,
need a valid passport to enter France. Visas are not required for
Americans or Canadians staying in France for fewer than 90 days
with the following exceptions: holders of diplomatic passports or
government employees on official mission, students on study programs in France, and ship or airline crew members on duty. It is
always advisable to check with your nearest French consulate for the
latest requirements in case the law has changed.It is necessary in
France to carry some form of identification at all times. If a visitor
loses a passport, the nearest U.S. consulate will issue a three-month
temporary replacement. There are U.S. consulates in Paris,
Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, and Strasbourg.
• Health—Tap water all over France is mostly safe to drink. In areas
where it may not be safe, such as in fountains or public rest rooms,
there is usually a sign reading eau non potable (nondrinkable water).
No immunization shots or vaccines are required to visit France. In
some cases, the food in France may be richer (and more delicious)
than what clients are used to, so digestion problems can result if
restraint is not exercised.
France offers one of the best health care systems in the world. Many
local hospitals offer 24-hour emergency care. In nonemergency
situations, pharmacists are trained to handle simple first aid needs
and to dispense advice for minor problems. Clients will need to make
sure that they have adequate health and travel insurance to cover
their trip abroad.
©
France Overview: Arrival Briefing
•
Part 1.5
• Changing Money—Banks and change bureaus generally charge at
least a 1 percent commission on currency exchanges; those charging no
commissions often use more unfavorable exchange rates. Automated
teller machines (ATMs) often offer the best exchange rates. All ATMs
in France take MasterCard and VISA, and many are linked to the
Cirrus and Plus systems. Traveler’s checks are safe, but many banks
charge a service fee to cash them, and not all hotels, restaurants, and
shops accept them for payment, even if they are in euros.
• Tipping—Almost all restaurants have service compris, meaning a
15 percent service charge is included in their prices. But if you are
really pleased with the service, you can leave a little extra, and it is
customary to leave the waiter the small change from a bill paid in
cash. Taxi drivers should be given up to 10 percent of the metered
fare as a tip.
In hotels, guests should tip porters the equivalent of 2 euros for each
bag and chambermaids the equivalent of 2 euros per day. It is
standard practice to tip tour guides and bus drivers after an
excursion, usually the equivalent of 2 euros to 5 euros, depending on
the level of appreciation.
• Business Hours—Most shops are open daily, except on Sunday and
sometimes Monday. Hours are usually 9 or 10 A.M. to 6:30 or 7 P.M.
Shops in smaller towns may also be closed for an hour or so during
the middle of the day. Most museums are closed on either Monday
or Tuesday; hours often vary according to season, with longer hours
from May or June until the end of September. Banks are usually
open weekdays from 9 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
• Telephones—Most public telephones only accept phone cards, called
télécartes, which are sold at a post office or café-tabac (tobacco
shop). All French telephone numbers have 10 digits starting with a
0, which represent the different regions much like area codes. To call
within France, just dial the 10 digits. To call the United States from
France, dial 00 then 1 plus the 10-digit phone number.
Transportation Within France
• Air—All of France’s major cities, as well as some of the smaller ones,
have airports. Air France, the national flag carrier, offers an extensive
network of both international flights and daily air connections from
the two major Paris airports, Roissy–Charles de Gaulle and Orly—to
cities all over France. The airline also offers frequent air shuttle
service out of Orly to Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, and Toulouse.
Part 1.6
•
©
Distances Between Paris and Major Cities in France (in miles)
Amiens
75
Besançon
243
Bordeaux
365
Clermont-Ferrand
248
Dijon
194
Lille
134
Limoges
246
Lyon
268
Marseille
480
Montpellier
471
Nancy
185
Nantes
240
Nice
580
UNITED KINGDOM
BELGIUM
Lille
English Channel
GERMANY
Amiens
LUX.
Rouen
Channel Islands
(U.K.)
Reims
Nancy
Paris
Strasbourg
Rennes
Orléans
Dijon
Besançon
Nantes
SWITZ.
Poitiers
Orléans
Limoges
ClermontFerrand
Lyon
ATLANTIC OCEAN
ITALY
Bordeaux
83
Poitiers
207
Reims
89
Rennes
218
Rouen
84
Nice
Bay of Biscay
Montpellier
Marseille
Toulouse
Gulf of Lion
MONACO
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
ANDORRA
SPAIN
Strasbourg
303
Toulouse
438
Other carriers serving France are Air Tahiti Nui, American,
Continental, Corsair, Delta, Northwest, United, and US Airways.
• Rail—Perhaps the quickest and most efficient way to get around
France is via its superb rail network, operated by the state-owned
Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF), which
reaches nearly every corner of France. Trains are fast, reliable, and
comfortable, and they feature both first- and second-class sections.
Tickets can be purchased at railway stations or through the Web site,
www.raileurope.com. While tickets can also be purchased on board
trains, hefty surcharges may apply. Numerous discount passes, which
must be purchased in the United States prior to leaving for France,
are available.
©
France Overview: Transportation Within France
•
Part 1.7
Serving the Paris suburbs and major points within the city is the
Réseau Express Régional (RER), a commuter rail network. In
general, even-numbered RER lines serve the suburbs south and east
of Paris, while odd-numbered lines head north and west.
The crowning achievement of the SNCF rail system is the TGV.
TGV trains, which travel at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour, serve
more than 100 cities throughout France and Roissy–Charles de
Gaulle Airport. There are several main TGV lines. The TGV Sud-Est
(Southeast), TGV Rhône-Alpes, and TGV Méditerranée link Paris’s
Gare de Lyon (Lyon Train Station) with the southeast, including
stops in Dijon, Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Montpellier, and Nice.
The TGV Atlantique connects Paris’s Gare Montparnasse
(Montparnasse Station) with western and southwestern France,
including stops in Rennes, Quimper, Nantes, Tours, Poitiers,
Bordeaux, Biarritz, and Toulouse. The TGV Nord Europe (North
Europe) provides service from Paris’s Gare du Nord (North Station)
to cities such as Arras, Lille, and Calais.
• Taxis—In Paris and other major cities, taxi stands are plentiful and
easily visible. Rates, which vary depending on the city and on time
of day or night, are usually displayed on backseat windows as well as
on meters. When called to pick up passengers, taxi drivers add the
cost of that journey to the fare. Extra fees for baggage, pets, or a
fourth person are routine. Some taxis may not be large enough to
take five passengers.
• Rental Cars—Clients can save up to 15 percent if their cars are reserved
in the United States, available through most U.S. car rental companies.
Gas and highway tolls are about twice as expensive as in America. The
minimum age for renting a car is usually 21 years, but sometimes a surcharge may be applied for those under 25. An alternative to renting is
leasing. Tourists staying between 17 days and 6 months can lease a
brand-new car tax-free (minimum age is 18 years old).
A valid U.S. driver’s license or international driving license is
required for all U.S. citizens driving in France, and the minimum
driving age is 18 years old. Proof of insurance coverage is necessary.
Seat belts must be worn in both the frontseat and backseat.
• Buses—While most cities in France have excellent local bus systems,
there is no national bus network and bus service between regions is
limited. More often, buses are used to travel short distances within
areas where there are few train lines. In some cases, the SNCF
operates bus service to towns where rail service has been
discontinued. Rail passes are valid on SNCF buses.
Part 1.8
•
©
Accommodations
Maison de
la France /D
aniel
Thierry
• Boats—With thousands of miles of navigable waterways,
drifting along canals and rivers by barge or other pleasure
craft is one of the most leisurely and enjoyable ways to tour
France. There are opportunities for barging all over France,
particularly in the regions of Brittany, Burgundy, MidiPyrénées, and Poitou-Charentes. With the longest coastline
in Europe, France also offers many opportunities for sailboat and yacht charters.
A cana
l ride in
Accommodations in France offer everything from the
most sumptuous of hotels and elegant châteaux to quaint selfcatered cottages. There are dozens of hotel chains in France that group
standardized hotels or hotels each with its own character. The range
covers all categories. Most French hotels are rated from one to four
stars, with the highest designation being four-star L. The ratings
criteria, which are determined by tourism authorities, are based largely
on facilities rather than on more subjective qualities such as charm or
location. Prices include taxes and service; a continental breakfast may
be included in the rate or offered for an additional charge.
Bourgo
gne
The five hotel categories are:
★★★★L
★★★★
★★★
★★
★
Grand Luxury/Deluxe Hotel
First-Class Hotel and Castle Hotels/B&Bs
Very Comfortable Hotel
Comfortable Hotel
Budget Hotel
France also offers an extensive range of gîtes (accommodations with
kitchens), which range from farm cottages to historic châteaux to flats
in modern beach resorts. Most are administered by Gîtes de France,
an organization that acts as a liaison between owners and renters.
Another option is the chambre d’hôtes (bed-and-breakfast accommodations), located in private homes, in châteaux, or on farms, which are
usually inexpensive to moderate in price.
Historical Background
The history of human habitation in France stretches back for many
millennia, with evidence of prehistoric culture still vividly evident in
such places as the Vézère River Valley of Southwest France. Here
amazingly well-preserved cave paintings of animals drawn between
©
France Overview: Historical Background
•
Part 1.9
15,000 and 17,000 years ago are a testament to both the hunting and
artistic skills of the Cro-Magnon people. Other findings, including
pottery and polished stone tools, show that villages and farms began to
flourish in France in the Neolithic period of 4,000 to 7,500 years ago.
Sometime during this period mysterious stone megaliths were erected
in France, many of them concentrated in what is now the south-central
Morbihan part of Brittany.
Between 1500 and 500 B.C., the Celtic Gauls began to migrate to
France, establishing trading links with the Greeks by about 600 B.C.
The Greeks, meanwhile, were establishing colonies throughout the
Mediterranean basin, including a vital seaport in what is now Marseille.
By A.D. 52, the Romans became the dominant force in France when
Julius Caesar defeated the Gallic chief Vercingétorix who was leading
an attempted revolt. Paris, then called Lutetia, became a base for the
Roman hierarchy. Christianity was established in the 2nd century A.D.
Roman rule was overthrown about A.D. 500 when several tribes were
united under the leadership of King Clovis into a powerful entity
known as the Franks. The Franks remained in power from the 5th to
the 10th century, a time when much of the country became divided
into small feudal states. Their most powerful ruler was Charlemagne
who extended the boundaries of the kingdom and was crowned Holy
Roman Emperor in A.D. 800. Meanwhile, Vikings began invading the
northwest coast, establishing the duchy of Normandy in the early 900s.
Power over the young kingdom shifted to the Capetian dynasty when
nobles selected Hugues Ier Capet (Hugh Capet) as their king in 987,
establishing a reign that would last for the next 800 years. At first, the
dynasty ruled over a relatively small area that primarily encompassed
Paris and its environs. Increasingly, large areas of France fell into
English hands. In 1066 Guillaume Ier le Conquérant (William the
Conqueror), Duke of Normandy, invaded England and established a
powerful base that included both England and Normandy. Following
this, a third of France became part of England when Aliénor
d’Aquitaine (Eleanor of Aquitaine) married Henri d’Anjou (Henry
of Anjou), later Henry II of England, in 1152, thus transferring her
vast holdings in southwestern France to England.
Struggle to regain territory from the English would consume the
Capetian rulers from the 12th to the 14th century, years that also saw
France take a central role in the Crusades and build most of the great
Gothic cathedrals that still stand today. Fighting between the French
and the English reached its zenith during the Hundred Years’ War,
which was waged intermittently between 1337 and 1453. Its most
famous warrior was the young Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc), who
Part 1.10
•
©
rallied the French troops to defeat the English near Orléans, but she
died a martyr three years later in 1432. Finally, in 1453, the French
regained all their lands from the English.
With the 16th century came a shift of power in the monarchy from the
Capetian to the Bourbon dynasty. It also ushered in the Renaissance,
which means “rebirth” in French, and a new era when art, culture, and
science began to flower. Italian artists and architects, including
Leonardo da Vinci, were brought to France by the aristocracy to design
and embellish their palaces and châteaux. At the same time, the
Reformation and the tide of Protestantism sweeping through Europe
led to great religious conflicts between Catholics and Huguenots
(French Protestants). Bloody battles ensued during several religious wars
waged during the last half of the 16th century. The Edict of Nantes,
which gave certain civil, religious, and political rights to Huguenots, was
issued in 1598, but Catholicism remained the religion of power in
France. Later, in 1685, King Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes.
Louis XIV or le Roi-Soleil (the Sun King) started his powerful reign
in 1643 at the age of five and remained in power until 1715. Insisting
on absolute power, the Sun King spent vast sums on his palace at
Versailles and presided over the most extravagant court Europe had yet
seen. By the time his son Louis XV, who ruled from 1715 to 1774,
came to the throne, however, the rumblings of a major cultural shift
were about to begin. As the 18th century progressed, new ideas in
opposition to the powerful monarchy were being expressed by such
great minds as François-Marie Arouet Voltaire and Jean-Jacques
Rousseau. The reign of Louis XV also saw the loss of France’s colonies
in America and Canada to the British.
The nail in the coffin for the monarchy came with the reign of Louis
XVI and his wife, Marie-Antoinette. The king’s inability to handle his
nation’s economic troubles, including food shortages and chronic unemployment, led political reformers to establish the Assemblée Nationale in
1789, a body designed to wrest power from the parliament and the king.
On July 14, a mob stormed the Bastille prison in Paris as the ultimate
symbol of protest, and the French Revolution was in full sway.
As the revolution progressed, a radical political faction called the Jacobins
took control, abolishing the monarchy in 1792 and executing Louis XVI
and Marie-Antoinette the next year. From September 1793 to July 1794,
the Jacobin leaders presided over what became known as the Reign of
Terror, a period in which 17,000 people lost their heads, religious freedoms were revoked, and churches were ransacked. After the Terror, a
more moderate delegation led by Paul Barras gained control of the
fledgling republic, setting up a body called the Directoire (Directory).
©
•
Part 1.11
y
aniel Thierr
la France /D
Maison de
It was not long, however, before power was seized by a young Corsican
general named Napoléon Bonaparte. Returning to Paris from military
victories over Austria in 1799, Napoléon overthrew the Directory and
put himself in charge. After being crowned emperor in 1803, he sought
to enlarge his kingdom by waging endless wars across Europe before
finally reaching defeat at Waterloo in 1815. Although exiled soon afterward, Napoléon left behind a legacy that included civil and judicial
reforms known as the Code Napoléon (Civil Code), which still form
the basis of the French legal system.
ple
the Peo roix
g
in
d
a
c
Le
Liberty y Eugène Dela
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)
il
a
t
(de
In 1815 European allied forces at the Congress of Vienna
restored the Bourbon dynasty to the throne of France,
crowning Louis XVIII as king. Various rulers presided over
France until the February Revolution of 1848 ushered in the
Second Republic and a more democratic system. In
presidential elections held that year, Louis Napoléon
Bonaparte, a nephew of Napoléon, was elected to office but
was blocked from assuming power by legislative deadlock. In
1851, he staged a military coup and declared himself
Emperor Napoléon III, a title he would hold until 1870
when widespread dissent led to the creation of a new
government called the Third Republic.
The latter part of the 19th century was a time of economic growth and
artistic achievement for France, a period in which Impressionist art
came into full flower and the grand boulevards of Paris were created
under the stewardship of the great urban planner Baron Georges
Haussmann. Toward the end of the century came a period known as
the Belle Epoque, an era when Art Nouveau design flourished, particularly in Paris and Nancy. The quintessential symbol of the age is the
Eiffel Tower, originally intended as a temporary structure for the World
Exposition held in Paris in 1889.
World War I, waged partly to regain the provinces of Alsace and
Lorraine from Germany, was especially devastating for France. Some
1.3 million Frenchmen were killed and nearly a million more were
maimed. Just two decades after the war ended with the Treaty of
Versailles, France again found itself at the epicenter of a world conflict.
With World War II came four years of German occupation, not ending
until the summer of 1944 with the invasion of the Allied forces.
After World War II, France turned to the task of rebuilding its economy, devastated rail network, and cities where nearly a half-million
buildings had been destroyed by bombs. By 1957, France had recovered enough to play a significant role in the establishment of the
European Economic Community (EEC), which has been called the
Part 1.12
•
©
BELGIUM
UNITED KINGDOM
Pas-deCalais 1
GERMANY
Nord
Somme
Aisne
Oise
2
16
Calvados
Côtes-du-Nord
14
Morbihan
Ile-etVilaine
13
LoireAtlantique
The Ile-de-France region
has 8 departments;
the 4 that include and
surround Paris are
informally known as the
“Petite Ceinture.”
Seineet-Marne
Essonne
SeineSt-Denis
Paris
Loiret-Cher
Marne
(Haute)
Meurtheet-Moselle
Rhin
(Haut)
Saône
(Haute) Belfort
5
Doubs
Nièvre
Indre
SWITZ.
Jura
Saôneet-Loire
19
Allier
Creuse
Vienne
(Haute)
Corrèze
Gironde
Rhône
Loire
Puy-deDôme
Cantal
Dordogne
PyrénéesAtlantiques
Pyrénées
(Hautes)
ITALY
6
Loire
(Haute)
Lot
Lozère
Lot-etGaronne
Aveyron
Gard
Tarn-etGaronne 10
9
Tarn
Savoie
Isère
Ardeche
Gers
Savoie
(Haute)
Ain
20
CharenteMaritime
Charente
Rhin
(Bas)
Vosges
Côte-d'Or
Cher
21
12
Landes
Petite Ceinture
Yonne
Indreet-Loire
Sevres
(Deux) Vienne
11
Ile-de-France
18
Loiret
Val-d'Oise
Yvelines
Aube
Sarthe
Maineet-Loire
Vendee
17
Eureet-Loir
Mayenne
Meuse
Paris
(See below)
Orne
Finistère
4
Marne
15
Moselle
3
Eure
Manche
LUX.
Ardennes
SeineMaritime
Hérault
Drome
Alpes
(Haute)
Alpes de AlpesHauteVaucluse ProvenceMaritimes
Bouches- 8
du-Rhône
7
Var
Garonne
(Haute)
Aude
Ariège
PyrénéesOrientales
Val-deMarne
Hauts-deSeine
22
HauteCorse
Corsedu-Sud
Administrative
Departments
of France
100 km
0
©
100 mi
France is divided into 22
regions that are further
subdivided into political
divisions known as
departments.
Regions of France
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Nord Pas-de-Calais
Champagne-Ardenne
Lorraine
Alsace
Franche-Comté
Rhône-Alpes
Riviera Côte d’Azur
Provence-AlpesCôte d’Azur
9. Languedoc-Roussillon
10. Midi-Pyrénées
11. Aquitaine
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
Poitou-Charentes
Pays de la Loire
Bretagne
Normandie
Picardie
Ile-de-France
Bourgogne
Auvergne
Limousin
Centre Val de Loire
Corse
•
Part 1.13
European Union (EU) since 1993. The 1950s also saw the erosion of
many of France’s colonial interests, particularly in Indochina and North
Africa. In 1958 President Charles de Gaulle and his administration
instituted the country’s current governmental system, the Fifth
Republic. National leadership in France is divided between a president,
who is elected for a five-year term; representatives serving in the
Assemblée Nationale and the Sénat; and the Conseil des Ministres
(Council of Ministers), who are appointed by the president.
In the 1960s, the country, especially Paris, found itself rocked by much
of the same social unrest being felt in the United States, including
massive student demonstrations against labor conditions and the war in
Vietnam. With the two-term presidency of socialist François
Mitterrand from 1981 to 1995 came significant changes such as the
establishment of regional government councils in France and an
ambitious series of Grands Projets, a building boom of monuments
and other structures around the country. Despite a series of labor strikes
in the 1990s, France has been enjoying modest economic growth and a
relatively low inflation rate. Always a leader in the European Union,
France was among the first countries to adopt the euro currency system.
Headquarters for the EU are located in Strasbourg, where member
nations convene at the European Parliament 12 times a year.
Culture
While France may, at first glance, appear to be a more homogeneous
society than the United States, it has its share of diversity. For
instance, in Normandy and Brittany, many people are descended from
early Viking and Celtic invaders, while some areas near the Spanish
border have a large Basque population. Alsace and Lorraine have been
passed back and forth between Germany and France during various
periods, while the Mediterranean regions have some Italian flavor. In
places such as these, it is not unusual for the food, language, sports,
and festivals to reflect distinctive ethnic influences. During the past
century or so, France has received many immigrants from around
Europe and from its former colonies in North Africa and Indochina.
Major cities, especially Paris and Marseille, are veritable melting pots
of international cultures.
Architecture and Art
When it comes to the arts, France’s contribution has been so great
that, in many ways, French culture is world culture. Many of these
artistic achievements are in the field of architecture, the fruits of which
can be enjoyed by visitors to every part of France. Serious architecture
Part 1.14
•
©
in France began around the 1st century B.C. when the Romans began
to build monumental triumphal arches, amphitheaters, theaters, and
aqueducts throughout southern France. The styles would be subtly
echoed a thousand years later in a style known as Romanesque. This
style, largely used in the building of religious structures, the many
Romanesque churches still standing in France, are characterized by
vaulted ceilings, rounded arches, and little ornamentation.
By the mid-12th century, a much grander style was taking shape in
northern France: Gothic architecture. The next 300 years would see
the building of the great cathedrals with their soaring vaults, massive
stained-glass windows, flying stone buttresses, and ornamentation ranging from grimacing gargoyles to intricate biblical scenes. As the Gothic
period progressed, the embellishment of the cathedrals became increasingly flamboyant as stone carvers learned to simulate motifs such as
flames and lace.
Maison de
la France /N
icole
An era using geometric lines, Greco-Roman columns, and
traditional ornamentation prevailed with neoclassical
architecture, which gained favor in France during the
mid-18th century and lasted well into the 19th century.
Noted examples include the Panthéon in Paris, designed by
Germain Soufflot, considered the greatest neoclassical
architect of the 18th century. The building of many great
monuments of the era, including the Arc de Triomphe
(Arch of Triumph) in Paris, was ordered by Napoléon
Bonaparte. As the 19th century came to a close, the
Métro s
fanciful, curlicued designs of the Art Nouveau movement
tation e
ntrance
came into vogue, particularly in the cities of Paris and
in Paris
Nancy. In Paris, the Art Nouveau legacy is evident in
everything from métro station entrances to elegant restaurants.
Lejeune
In the 15th century, the architectural influence of the Renaissance
spread to France from Italy, resulting in the creation of elegant
châteaux with richly decorated motifs. Even more lavish architecture
and design came with the classic period of the late 16th to late 18th
century, reaching its apotheosis in the making of the Galerie des
Glaces (Hall of Mirrors) at Versailles. This period also saw the building of impressive citadels and other military fortifications erected to
protect the frontiers of France in cities such as Lille and Belfort. The
greatest of these were built by France’s premier military architect,
Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban.
During the last century, the most important architect to emerge was Le
Corbusier whose celebrated works include the Ville Radieuse
(Radiant City) housing complex in Marseille and the Chapelle de
©
France Overview: Culture
•
Part 1.15
affi
abian Char
la France/F
Maison de
nse
La Défe
Notre-Dame-du-Haut, a surrealistic chapel in the village of
Ronchamp in Eastern France. The second half of the 20th
century brought a series of grand public projects, including
monumental structures in La Défense, a business district on
the western edge of Paris, and the Bibliothèque Nationale
(National Library) in Paris. Visitors to Paris will also want
to take note of such modern landmarks as the Centre
Georges-Pompidou, the national art gallery, and La
Pyramide, the distinctive glass pyramid designed by I. M.
Pei at the entrance to the Musée du Louvre.
For many art lovers, France’s greatest cultural achievement has been in the world of painting, particularly in
the 19th and 20th centuries. In the 1800s many artists
began to flock to bucolic villages, such as Barbizon outside Paris and
Honfleur in Normandy, where they found inspiration for landscapes
and scenes of daily life. Artists such as Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot
and Jean-François Millet were among those artists who formed what
became known as the l’Ecole de Barbizon (Barbizon School). As the
century progressed, artists began to paint in a less realistic style, leading
to what became known as Impressionism. These artists, fascinated with
the effects of light, include Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Berthe
Morisot, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley,
and many others.
While Monet’s most famous works were inspired by his gardens in the
village of Giverny in Normandy, other 19th-century artists, particularly a
slightly later group known as the Postimpressionists, did some of their
greatest work in the south of France. The Dutch-born artist Vincent van
Gogh worked in Arles, as did Paul Gauguin before he set off for the
South Pacific. Paul Cézanne is another of the Postimpressionists whose
landscapes reflect the colors and scenery of southern France. Other great
Postimpressionists include Henri Rousseau, known for his vivid jungle
scenes, and Georges Seurat, whose dotlike painting technique became
known as Pointillism. While many of these artists focused on rural scenes,
their contemporary, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, became known for his
great posters and lithographs depicting Paris café life.
In the 20th century, France, especially Paris, became the epicenter for
an ever-evolving series of artistic movements sweeping across western
Europe. At the dawn of the century, a group of artists called the
Fauves (Fauvists), known for their palettes of intense colors, included
André Derain, Henri Matisse, and Maurice de Vlaminck. Other
artists gravitated to the Cubism movement, launched by Spanish-born
artist Pablo Picasso, who did much of his work in France. Other great
artists attracted to France were Russian-born Marc Chagall, who
Part 1.16
•
©
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) Classified World Heritage Sites in France
1979
Mont-Saint-Michel
and its bay
1979
Chartres Cathedral
1979
Palace and park of
Versailles
1979
Vézelay, church and
hill
1979
UNITED KINGDOM
BELGIUM
GERMANY
English Channel
Amiens
Channel
Islands (U.K.)
Reims
Strasbourg
Mont-SaintMichel
Palace and park of
Fontainebleau
1981
Amiens Cathedral
1981
Roman theater and
its surroundings and
the “Triumphal
Arch” of Orange
Nancy
Paris
Versailles
Provins
Chartres
Decorated grottoes
of the Vézère Valley
1981
LUX.
Lo
R.
ire
Fontainebleau
Sully-surLoire
Chalonnes
Bourges
Fontenay
Vézelay
Arc-et-Senans
SWITZ.
Saint-Savin sur
Gartempe
Lyon
1981
1981
Roman and
Romanesque
monuments of Arles
y
lle
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
e
èr
ITALY
Va
Le Puy
(on Santiago
de Compostela
route)
éz
V
Saint-Emilion
Pont du Gard
Bay of Biscay
Orange
Avignon
Arles
Carcassonne
Canal du Midi
Cistercian Abbey of
Fontenay
ANDORRA
Gulf of Lion
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
1982
Royal Saltworks of
Arc-et-Senans
1983
Place Stanislas, Place
de la Carrière, and
Place d’Alliance in Nancy
1992
Bourges Cathedral
1983
Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe
1995
Historic center of Avignon
1983
Cape Girolata, Cape Porto, Scandola
Nature Reserve, and the Piana
Calanches in Corsica
1996
Canal du Midi
1997
Historic fortified city of Carcassonne
1998
Routes of Santiago de Compostela in
France
Corse
SPAIN
1985
Pont du Gard (Roman aqueduct)
1988
Strasbourg-Grande île
1998
Historic site of Lyon
1991
Paris, banks of the Seine
1999
Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion
1991
Cathedral of Notre-Dame, former
Abbey of Saint-Remi and Palace of Tau,
Reims
2000
The Loire Valley between Sully-surLoire and Chalonnes
2001
Provins, town of medieval fairs
Source: http://whc.unesco.org/heritage.htm
©
•
Part 1.17
created folklore-inspired paintings and stained-glass windows, and
Italian-born Amedeo Modigliani. During the 1920s and 1930s, the
migration to Paris included a number of artists working in the avantgarde Dada and surrealist modes, including Salvador Dalí, Marcel
Duchamp, and Max Ernst.
Sculpture in France also has an illustrious history. Early works primarily
adorned the great cathedrals, churches, and tombs of the nobility, while
the 18th and 19th centuries saw the erection of imposing memorial
statues throughout France. At the end of the 19th century came the
rise of one of the world’s great sculptors, Auguste Rodin, whose
bronze and marble masterpieces can be admired at the Musée Rodin in
Paris. In the early 20th century, great sculptors working in France
included Duchamp, Aristide Maillol, and Picasso, while the
post–World War II era was heavily influenced by Marseille-born César
Baldaccini, known as César, who worked in everything from iron to
scrap metal to plastic.
Cinema
The cinematic tradition in France is a long one, starting with the
Lumière brothers of Lyon who pioneered the art of moving pictures at
the turn of the 20th century. The medium burst into full flower during
the 1920s and 1930s through the efforts of such avant-garde directors as
René Clair and Jean Renoir. During the 1950s and 1960s came a genre
called the Nouvelle Vague (New Wave) with a new generation of
filmmakers, among them Claude Chabrol, Jean-Luc Godard, Louis
Malle, Alain Resnais, Jacques Rivette, Eric Rohmer, François
Truffaut, and Roger Vadim. Often working with small budgets and
realistic themes, the New Wave produced such classics as Godard’s A
Bout de Souffle (Breathless), Truffaut’s Les Quatre Cents Coups (The 400
Blows), and Vadim’s Et Dieu Créa la Femme (And God Created Woman).
In more recent years, French cinema has brought such internationally
acclaimed films as Claude Berri’s Jean de Florette and Manon des
Sources (Manon of the Springs), both based on classic stories by Marcel
Pagnol. A steady stream of popular romantic comedies ranges from
Colline Serreau’s Trois Hommes et un Couffin (Three Men and a
Cradle) in 1985 to Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie
Poulain (Amélie) in 2001.
Literature
France’s notable contributions to the world of literature date back to the
11th century with the Chanson de Roland (Song of Roland), an epic
poem recounting the heroic death of Roland, a nephew of Charlemagne.
Part 1.18
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In the 17th century came great classical playwrights such as Jean-Baptiste
Poquelin, known as Molière and Jean Racine. Philosophers such as
Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire dominated the literature of the
18th century, forming the basis for an era of new thought called the
Enlightenment. Many of the great novelists of French literature flourished in the 19th century and include Honoré de Balzac, Charles
Baudelaire, Alexandre Dumas, Gustave Flaubert, Victor Hugo, Guy
de Maupassant, George Sand, Emile Zola, and many others.
In the early 20th century, Marcel Proust published his autobiographical novel A la Recherche du Temps Perdu (A Remembrance of Things
Past), while Colette penned her novels of Paris life. Jacques Prévert
became known for his radical but humorous political poems and song
lyrics. As the century progressed, popular authors such as Marcel
Pagnol, known for his novels set in Provence, and detective novelist
Georges Simenon also left their mark. In the post–World War II era
intellectual writers such as Simone de Beauvoir, Albert Camus, and
Jean-Paul Sartre published groundbreaking works reflecting a philosophy known as existentialism. In more recent years, the French literary
scene has spawned the historical novels of Jean Auel and Marguerite
Yourcenar. French theater also flourished during the last century, producing such dramatists as Jean Anouilh, Jean Cocteau, Jean Genet,
Eugène Ionesco, and the Irish-born Samuel Beckett.
Music and Dance
The classical musical tradition in France burst into bloom in the 19th
century with such composers as Hector Berlioz, Charles Gounod,
Camille Saint-Saëns, and Georges Bizet, known for his opera
Carmen. Their work would later inspire Maurice Ravel, who wrote
Boléro, and Claude Debussy, whose dreamlike compositions include
Prélude à l’Après-Midi d’un Faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun).
Since medieval times, the chanson française (French song) has been a
thriving form of indigenous music. First made popular by troubadours,
the chanson tradition, which emphasizes lyrics exploring all aspects of
life, eventually made its way to the music halls of the 1920s and then to
the repertoire of such legendary singers as Charles Aznavour, Maurice
Chevalier, Léo Ferré, Edith Piaf, and Charles Trenet. The tradition
has also been carried on with such composers as Georges Brassens and
Jacques Brel and folk singer–songwriter Georges Moustaki.
Dance, particularly ballet, has a long tradition in France, dating back to
performances at the French court in the 16th century. In the 19th
century, France was at the forefront of international ballet, with the
creation of such classic works as La Sylphide and Giselle playing to
packed houses in Paris. Among the great works by Marseille-born
©
•
Part 1.19
choreographer Marius Petipa are La Bayadère (The Temple Dancer)
and Le Lac des Cygnes (Swan Lake). In the 1950s and 1960s,
choreographer Maurice Béjart had a major impact with such ballets as
Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring). Today the ballet tradition
lives on through such internationally renowned companies as the Ballet
de l’Opéra de Paris and the Ballet de l’Opéra de Lyon.
Sports
Football, known as soccer in the United States, is probably France’s
most popular spectator sport, with teams throughout France competing
to place in the European Championships and, ultimately, the World
Cup. France most recently won the World Cup in 1998. The country’s
major football venue is the Stade de France (French Stadium) in StDenis outside Paris. France also has numerous professional rugby
teams that participate in matches throughout the country. The games
culminate in the Championnat de France de Rugby (French Rugby
Championship) held in late May and early June.
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Tennis is another popular spectator sport, with the Roland Garros
(French Open) tennis tournament held in Paris in late May. The
country’s most famous international sports event is the Tour de
France, the world’s premier cycling race, which takes place each year
over a three-week period in July. While the route changes each year,
the steep inclines of the Alps and the Pyrénées are always part of the
challenging race.
Did you know?
In France, when a holiday falls on a Thursday
or Tuesday, people may
take off the Friday or
Monday in between.
This gives them a pont
(bridge) or four-day
weekend.
Part 1.20
•
National Holidays in France
New Year’s Day
January 1
Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
March/April
Labor Day
May 1
Veterans Day
May 8
Ascension Thursday
40th day after Easter
Pentecost Sunday and Monday
7th Sunday and Monday
after Easter
Bastille Day
July 14
Assumption Day
August 15
All Saints’ Day
November 1
Armistice Day
November 11
Christmas
December 25
©
UNITED KINGDOM
BELGIUM
Lille
GERMANY
English Channel
LUX.
Chantilly
Metz
Reims
A L S
A C E
Deauville
Channel
Islands (U.K.)
NORMANDIE
Strasbourg
Paris
Versailles
Colmar
Troyes
Mulhouse
Quimper
Lorient
Le Mans
Orléans
Besançon
Beaune
SWITZ.
Autun
Cluny
La Rochelle
Lyon
LIMOUSIN
Clermont-Ferrand
Vienne
Angoulême
La Côte-St-André
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
Bordeaux
St-Jean-de-Luz
Rocamadour
Albi
Bay of Biscay
Marciac Toulouse
Bayonne
Vaison-laRomaine
Orange
Nice Menton
Avignon
Apt
Antibes
Tarascon
Cannes
Arles
Aix-en-Provence
Sète
Marseille
MONACO
Carcassonne
SPAIN
ANDORRA
ITALY
Gulf of Lion
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
CORSE
Celebrations
and Special Events
Ajaccio
Celebrations and Special Events
January
• Angoulême–Festival de la Bande Dessinée (Comic Strip
Festival)—This international festival is the world’s largest
comic book festival.
February
• Menton–Fête du Citron (Lemon Festival)—This
lighthearted festival celebrates the local lemon crop
with giant sculptures made from lemons.
©
Fête du
Maison de
la France/J
acques Sier
pinski
Citron
in Men
ton
France Overview: Celebrations and Special Events
•
Part 1.21
• Nice–Carnaval—This 18-day Mardi Gras celebration fills the streets
with floats, musicians, and costumed revelers.
April
• Orléans–Fêtes Johanniques (Joan of Arc Festival)—A 3-day
festival, held yearly from April 29 through May 1, commemorates the
liberation of the city from the English siege in 1429 by Joan of Arc.
It includes a sound-and-light show, processions, and a military parade.
• Paris–Marathon International de Paris—The annual marathon foot
race begins at Place de la Concorde and finishes on Avenue Foch.
• Versailles–Grandes Eaux Musicales de Versailles—Grand water
displays are set to music at the 50 fountains of the Versailles gardens.
Held on certain weekends in spring and summer, usually in April,
July, and September.
May
• Arles–Fêtes des Gardiens—A traditional festival of the gardiens
(cowboys) from the Camargue region includes a procession on
horseback, competitions, and events.
• Cannes–Festival International du Film de Cannes (Cannes
International Film Festival)—The 10-day film festival, perhaps
the most famous in the world, draws international celebrities and
presents prestigious awards.
• Monaco–Monaco Grand Prix—This exciting Formula 1
automobile race is a popular 3-day event.
• Paris-Roland Garros (French Open)—The prestigious
international tennis tournament takes place from late May through
early June.
June
• Albi–Bâtisseurs de Sainte-Cécile (Builders of Saint Cecilia)—This
sound-and-light show commemorates the history of a 13th- to 16thcentury fortress-cathedral.
• Bordeaux–Fête du Vin—The 3-day festival celebrates wine with
expositions, tastings, shows, parades, and fireworks.
• Chantilly–Nuits de Feu—This international fireworks festival
features competitions with leading pyrotechnic specialists worldwide.
Part 1.22
•
©
• Clermont-Ferrand–Fêtes Médiévales de Montferrand—This is a
3-day celebration of medieval Montferrand.
• Limousin–Le Cheval, Seigneur de Pompadour (Pompadour
Horse Show)—Three months of activities revolve around horse
races and national horse shows.
• Le Mans–24 Heures du Mans (24 Hours of Le Mans)—This
prestigious automobile race takes place over a 24-hour period.
• Normandie–Anniversaire du Débarquement du Jour J (D-Day
Landing Anniversary)—Annual anniversary ceremonies take place
at various D-Day sites along the Normandy coast.
• Paris–Cinq Jours de l’Objet Extraordinaire—Antique stores and
galleries in the Left Bank area, known as the Carré Rive Gauche,
invite the public to browse among their prize collections.
• Paris–Fête de la Musique—On June 21, amateur and professional
musicians play in the streets of cities and villages all over France.
• Paris–Gay Pride—This 1-day event features a parade with floats and
a procession.
• Reims–Flâneries Musicales d’Eté (Summer Musical Strolls)—A
program of more than 150 concerts, most of them free, takes place
at venues throughout the city from late June until mid-August.
• Rocamadour–Fête des Fromages—This cheese festival and fair
celebrates the fine goat cheeses of the region.
• Strasbourg–Festival International de Musique—From early June
through early July, a variety of concerts are held throughout the city.
• Vienne–Jazz à Vienne—The international jazz festival, held from
late June to mid-July, is set in the city’s Roman amphitheater.
July
• All France–Fête Nationale (Bastille Day)—The most important
national holiday in France, which honors the day of July 14, 1789,
when defiant citizens stormed the Bastille prison in Paris and thus
sparked the French Revolution, is marked by fireworks celebrations.
• All France–Tour de France—The top cyclists from around the
world compete in this 3-week bicycle race that finishes on the
Champs-Elysées in Paris.
©
•
Part 1.23
• Aix-en-Provence–Festival International d’Art Lyrique—The
weeklong festival brings classical music, opera, and ballet performances to historic venues.
• Antibes/Juan-les-Pins–Jazz à Juan—The 10-day festival draws top
jazz musicians from around the world.
• Arles–Fête d’Arles—The 2-week festival features dance, theater,
music, and poetry readings.
• Autun–Musique en Morvan—A 10-day festival brings concerts,
particularly choral performances, to Autun and other towns in the
Morvan area.
• Avignon–Festival d’Avignon—This world-famous festival features
hundreds of performances by leading actors, dancers, and musicians
all over town.
• Carcassonne–Festival de la Cité—The festival features music, dance,
opera, and theatrical performances at various venues. The concurrent
Festival Off features more avant-garde fringe performances.
• Cluny–Festival des Grandes Heures de Cluny—This music and
wine festival, which takes place from late July through late August,
features six concerts.
• Mulhouse–Grande Parade Automobile—This 3-day festival
features hundreds of antique cars from around the world.
• Nice–Nice Jazz Festival—The
major 3-day jazz festival draws
more than 500 leading musicians from around the world.
• Orange–Chorégies
d’Orange—This festival
comprises a program of
opera, oratorios, and
orchestral concerts and
is set in the town’s Roman
theater.
Maison de
la France/D
aniel Thierr
Nice Ja
y
zz Fest
ival
• Quimper–Fête de Cornouaille
(Cornwall Festival)—This festival celebrates
Breton culture with music, dance, concerts, and traditional dress.
Part 1.24
•
©
• La Rochelle–Francofolies (French Follies)—A 6-day festival draws
vocalists and other performing artists from all over the French-speaking world.
• St-Jean-de-Luz–Fête du Thon (Tuna Festival)—The waterfront is
the lively scene of Basque music, vendors selling tuna dishes, and
midnight fireworks.
• Vaison-la-Romaine–Festival de Vaison-la-Romaine—This 2-week
festival of dance, music, and theater takes place in the city’s Roman
amphitheater.
August
• Ajaccio–Fêtes Napoléoniennes—This 2-day festival honors native
son Napoléon Bonaparte with pageants and other festivities.
• Bayonne–Fêtes de Bayonne—A 5-day festival celebrates Basque culture with bullfights, music, fireworks, floral parade, rugby matches,
and a mock running of the bulls—staged with cows.
• Colmar–Foire aux Vins—This 9-day wine fair features wine tasting,
concerts, and other events.
• La Côte-St-André–Festival Berlioz—The weeklong festival, held in
the village where the composer Hector Berlioz was born, features
concerts dedicated to him.
• Lorient–Festival Interceltique (Interceltic Festival)—For
10 days in early August, the city honors Celtic culture with a
festival of music, dance, and literature that draws participants
from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man, Cornwall, and
northern Spain.
Maison de
la France /D
aniel
Faure
• Marciac–Jazz à Marciac—This 2-week jazz festival attracts
international musicians.
• Martinique–Tour des Yoles Rondes—This is a
breathtakingly beautiful sailboat race with yoles (skiffs).
• Metz–Fêtes de la Mirabelle—A weeklong citywide
celebration honors the mirabelle plum.
• Sète–Fête de la St-Louis—This lively 6-day festival
features nautical jousting contests in which competitors
attempt to knock each other into the water from
rival boats.
©
Fête de
la
St-Louis
in Sète
•
Part 1.25
September
• All France–Journées du Patrimoine (National Cultural Heritage
Days)—This 2-day holiday features open house and free admission
to the nation’s historic monuments, including some not normally
open to the public.
• Antibes/Juan-les-Pins–New Orleans–les-Pins Jazz Festival—The
2-day festival is devoted to New Orleans–style jazz.
• Besançon–Festival International de Musique de Besançon—A 2week festival features concerts by major symphony orchestras and an
international competition of young conductors.
• Deauville–Festival du Film Américain—This weeklong festival pays
homage to the best in American film.
• Lille–Grande Braderie de Lille (Flea Market and Antique Street
Fair)—The streets of Lille’s historic district become one vast flea
market filled with stands selling antiques, crafts, and local foods.
• Paris–La Villette Jazz Festival—This weeklong festival features
well-known artists and emerging talent.
• St-Jean-de-Luz–Maurice Ravel Festival—International festival
honors the composer Ravel with concerts and master classes.
• Toulouse–Piano aux Jacobins—A series of piano concerts take
place at the city’s 13th-century Jacobins Cloisters.
October
• Paris–Fête des Vendanges de
Montmartre—This festival
celebrates the wine harvest
with a parade through
Montmartre.
• Paris–Foire Internationale
d’Art Contemporain
(FIAC) (International
Contemporary Art
Fair—The weeklong
international contemporary art fair takes place
at the Paris Expo, Porte
de Versailles.
Part 1.26
•
Maison de
la France/D
Fête de
aniel Thierr
s Vend
y
anges
in Paris
©
• Troyes–Nuits de Champagne (Nights in Champagne)—This
music festival features popular composer-songwriters, singers, and
musicians of French songs.
November
• Beaune–Trois Glorieuses de Bourgogne (Hospices de Beaune
Wine Auction)—The 3-day wine auction takes place at the
15th-century Hospices de Beaune and is the greatest charity sale in
the world.
December
• Alsace–Christkindelsmärk (Christmas Markets)—Festive outdoor
markets take place in cities and towns throughout the region.
• Lyon–Fête des Lumières (Festival of Lights)—In honor of the
Virgin Mary, windows throughout the city are decorated and lit with
small candles.
• Provence–Foire des Santons (Santons Fairs)—Cities in Provence,
including Apt, Arles, Marseille, and Tarascon, feature displays and
craft booths of santons, traditional clay figures depicting traditional
Provençal life.
Dining and Entertainment
The informal cafés that line the sidewalks of cities and towns
throughout the country are places to go for a drink or light
meal. Usually open from morning until late at night, they
tend to serve continental breakfasts, omelettes, sandwiches,
salads, and a variety of hot and cold beverages. Some feature
lunch specials. A salon de thé (tearoom) is often attached to
a pastry shop, open from midmorning to late afternoon,
and primarily serves beverages and pastries. Prices at both
cafés and salons de thé can vary widely, with those in
popular tourist areas usually charging a premium.
Maison de
la France /H
ubert
Camille
Dining is a fine art in France, but it need not be expensive or
intimidating. France offers several different types of dining
establishments, and it is important to know the ground rules for
each. While it is acceptable to linger for hours over just a cup of
coffee or a sandwich in a café, dining in a brasserie or restaurant
requires ordering a full meal.
Café Le
s
Deux M
agots in
Paris
Bistros are fairly inexpensive, often family-run establishments where
©
France Overview: Dining and Entertainment
•
Part 1.27
the menu usually features such hearty traditional fare as grilled or
roasted meats with crisp pommes frites (French fries) and classic stews
such as boeuf bourguignon or cassoulet. Usually larger than bistros,
brasseries tend to be lively, brightly lit places offering a selection of
wines, beers, seafood, and dishes such as choucroute, the Alsatian dish
of sauerkraut and smoked meats. They tend to be open from midday
until late at night.
Restaurants in France tend to keep much more limited hours than
cafés or brasseries and are usually more formal than bistros, although
they are not necessarily more expensive. They run the gamut of price
ranges and styles of cuisine. Restaurants attached to hotels are often of
high quality. In addition to their regular menus, most restaurants,
bistros, and brasseries also offer a prix fixe (set price) menu that offers
two or three courses. These usually offer better value than ordering
à la carte.
Major cities in France, especially Paris, offer a lively nightlife scene
with plenty of choices for entertainment. Both Paris and Lyon are
renowned for their opera and ballet companies and the splendid venues
in which they perform. Opera and ballet are most active during the fall
and winter seasons. The historic churches in many cities are evocative
venues for classical music concerts. For example, Ste-Chapelle in Paris
is the glorious setting for Renaissance music and other types of concerts
throughout the year.
Jazz is extremely popular in France, which is reflected in the many
annual jazz festivals all over the country and the abundance of jazz
clubs in many major cities. Cabaret entertainment is also a staple, with
venues featuring cancan revues or the traditional chansons, the half-spoken songs made popular by such legendary performers as Edith Piaf
and Jacques Brel. Paris is famous for its nightclubs and cabarets, including the Lido and the Moulin Rouge.
Shopping
Non–European Union residents who stay in France less than six
months can get a refund of the taxe sur la valeur ajoutée (TVA) or
value-added tax (VAT) on purchases amounting to 175 euros or more
at any single participating store. Refunds range from 12 to 20.6
percent depending on the type of goods. When making purchases,
clients should ask the store to complete a VAT refund form and then
present the form to customs when leaving France or the last EU
country visited during the trip. Customs will stamp the form, which
then must be mailed to the store where the purchases were made.
Part 1.28
•
©
Refunds are credited to the customer’s credit card account or are sent
by mail within a few months.
What to shop for? Just about everything. Paris, in particular, offers a
cornucopia of tempting things to buy. Designer fashions abound at
dozens of smart boutiques, particularly on the Right Bank near the
Paris Opéra and on the Left Bank in the 6th arrondissement around
the Boulevard St-Germain in St-Germain-des-Prés. The great
department stores, most notably Le Bon Marché, Galeries Lafayette,
La Samaritaine, and Le Printemps, offer an assortment of fashions,
accessories, perfumes, cosmetics, and household goods. Wonderful
gourmet shops, such as Fauchon or Hédiard, selling everything from
tins of pâté to jars of fragrant mustards, are clustered around
Place de la Madeleine.
For souvenirs of Paris, nothing beats a stroll down the Rue de
Rivoli, where shops under the arcades brim with umbrellas,
scarves, sweatshirts, Limoges boxes, and other fun items.
Equally enjoyable is to browse among the bouquinistes’
stalls along the Seine selling books, prints, posters, and
postcards. Collectors will enjoy browsing for treasures at
legendary flea markets such as the Marché aux Puces de
St-Ouen or at antique malls such as the Louvre des
Antiquaires.
A dried
Maison de
la France/D
aniel Thierr
y
flower
market
The regions of France also offer a vast choice of specialty
items. Quimper in Brittany is known for its colorful earthenware
ceramics of the same name as well as handmade lace. In Central France,
Limoges is the place to buy not only elegant Limoges china but also
enameled decorative pieces. A great source for fine crystal is the town
of Baccarat in southern Lorraine. In Provence, delightful items to
shop for include pots of dried herbs, table linens, and santons, charming folk art dolls with religious significance. Grasse in the Côte d’Azur
region is famous for its perfumes.
©
France Overview: Shopping
•
Part 1.29
UNITED
KINGDOM
BELGIUM
ENGLISH
NORD PAS-DE-CALAIS
CHANNEL
PICARDIE
Chantilly
NORMANDIE
Giverny
St-Germain- Auvers-sur-Oise
en-Laye
St-Denis
Disneyland Paris
Marly-le-Roi
Versailles Paris Vincennes
CENTRE
VAL DE LOIRE
R.
ine
Se
Rambouillet
ILE-DE-FRANCE
Barbizon
CHAMPAGNEARDENNE
Vaux-le-Vicomte
Provins
Fontainebleau
PAYS DE
LA
LOIRE
Ile-de-France
41 km
0
Part 1.30
•
BOURGOGNE
41 mi
©
Paris and
Ile-de-France
Trying to see too much of Paris in too short a time is like trying to eat
a five-course gourmet dinner in a half hour. Perhaps it can be done, but
who could properly digest it? The biggest mistake your clients are likely
to make is not allowing enough time to enjoy Paris, particularly if it is
their first visit. If they just want to skim the surface, persuade them to
allow no less than a week, preferably longer.
Few cities offer more areas to explore. The city is divided into the Rive
Droite (Right Bank) and the Rive Gauche (Left Bank). It is also
comprised of 20 arrondissements (districts), each with a distinctive
flavor all its own. While both sides of the Seine have their share of chic
designer shops and fashionable restaurants, the Right Bank is defined
by high-style glamour and the Left Bank by bohemian charm.
Where to begin? While that will vary by individual taste, most first-time
visitors are initially drawn to the famous sights concentrated on the
Right Bank. One could start with a stroll down the city’s best-known
boulevard, the Champs-Elysées, which bustles with cinema complexes,
restaurants, and splashy stores. The boulevard stretches from the Arc
de Triomphe (Arch of Triumph) eastward to the Place de la
Concorde, an opulent square that is one of the busiest traffic hubs in
Paris. A few blocks north of Place de la Concorde is another
magnificent square, Place de la Madeleine with its neoclassical church
and gourmet food shops. To the east is the fashionable heart of Paris
with such chic shopping meccas as the rue St-Honoré and the elegant
Place Vendôme. Slightly north is Place de l’Opéra, flanked by Opéra
Garnier, the world’s most magnificent and legendary opera house.
©
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Even if Paris were not home to many of the world’s greatest museums
and historical monuments, it would still be a superlative destination.
Within its maze of streets, squares, parks, and boulevards are endless
choices of simple pleasures, which can be anything from browsing in
the bookstalls along the Seine to sipping an espresso in a sidewalk café
to just sitting on a bench and enjoying the scene.
▲▲▲
▲▲
Paris
Did you know?
Many of the grand
boulevards of the
Right Bank of Paris
owe their origins to a
19th-century city
planner, Baron
Georges Haussmann.
He and his staff of
engineers and
architects demolished
much of medieval Paris
with its narrow streets
to make way for wider
thoroughfares. He also
helped create many of
the city’s parks,
including sections of
the Bois de Boulogne.
Paris and Ile-de-France: Paris
•
Part 1.31
33
38
Attractions
1
Bois de
Bologne
Arrondissement borders
Arrondissement numbers
1
16
R.
•
e
Part 1.32
Se
in
32
36
1
15
35
Streets
Park
boundaries
3
5
9
t-H 4
Ru onor
ed é
eR
10
8
ivo
li
eS
Ru
2
8
9
1
Montmartre 6
7
12
2
16
Montparnasse
14
27
e
nas
s
6
ont
par
.M
Bd
5
43
41
18
15
Ile StLouis
4
17
3
10
13
40
13
Pont des Arts
30
FaubourgMarais
Rive Gauche
11
St-Germain Pont Neuf
14
21
29
Ile de la Cité
Bd 24
31
. St
-Ge
23
20
rm
7
ain
Quartier
26
Latin
28 42
25
22
Pont Alexandre III
Rive Droite
s
sée
Ely
ps-
am
Ch
17
18
34
19
e
in
Se
R.
©
11
19
12
37
39
20
Attractions in Paris
(arranged by map letter)
1. Arc de Triomphe
(Arch of Triumph)
2. Place de la Concorde
3. Place de la Madeleine
4. Place Vendôme
5. Place de l’Opéra/
Opéra Garnier
6. Place du Tertre
7. Basilique du Sacré-Coeur
(Basilica of the Sacred Heart)
8. Jardin des Tuileries
(Tuileries Gardens)
9. Musée du Louvre/
Carrousel du Louvre
10. Palais-Royal
11. Place du Châtelet
12. Forum des Halles
13. Centre Georges-Pompidou/
Eglise St-Eustache
14. Hôtel de Ville
15. Place des Vosges
16. Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du
Judaïsme (Museum of Jewish
Art and History)
17. Musée Carnavalet
18. Musée Picasso
19. Place de la Bastille/
Opéra Bastille
20. Cathédrale de
Notre-Dame/Ste-Chapelle
21. Conciergerie
22. Université de Paris-Sorbonne
23. Place St-Michel
24. Place St-Germain-des-Prés
25. Place Sartre-Beauvoir
26. Place St-Sulpice
27. Jardin du Luxembourg
28. Place de l’Odéon
29. Les Invalides
30. Musée d’Orsay
31. Musée Rodin
32. Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower)
33. La Défense
©
34. Marché aux Puces de StOuen (St. Ouen Flea
Market)
35. Musée d’Art Moderne
de la Ville de Paris
36. Musée Guimet
37. Parc de la Villette et Cité des
Sciences et de l’Industrie
(Villette Park and City of
Sciences and Industry)
38. Musée Marmottan Monet
39. Cimetière du Père-Lachaise
(Father Lachaise Cemetery)
40. Jardin des Plantes
(Botanical Garden)
41. Mosquée de Paris
42. Musée National du MoyenAge/Thermes et Hôtel de
Cluny (National Museum of
the Middle Ages)
43. Panthéon
Attractions in Paris
(arranged alphabetically)
Arc de Triomphe
(Arch of Triumph)
Basilique du Sacré-Coeur
(Basilica of the Sacred Heart)
Cathédrale de Notre-Dame/
Ste-Chapelle
Centre Georges-Pompidou/
Eglise St-Eustache
Cimetière du Père-Lachaise
(Father Lachaise Cemetery)
Conciergerie
La Défense
Forum des Halles
Hôtel de Ville
Les Invalides
Jardin des Plantes
(Botanical Garden)
Jardin des Tuileries
(Tuileries Gardens)
Jardin du Luxembourg
1.
7.
20.
13.
39.
21.
33.
12.
14.
29.
40.
8.
27.
Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen
(St. Ouen Flea Market)
34.
Mosquée de Paris
41.
Musée Carnavalet
17.
Musée d’Art et d’Histoire
du Judaïsme (Museum
of Jewish Art and History)
16.
Musée d’Art Moderne
de la Ville de Paris
35.
Musée d’Orsay
30.
Musée du Louvre/
Carrousel du Louvre
9.
Musée Guimet
36.
Musée Marmottan Monet
38.
Musée National du MoyenAge/Thermes et Hôtel
de Cluny (National Museum
of the Middle Ages)
42.
Musée Picasso
18.
Musée Rodin
31.
Palais-Royal
10.
Panthéon
43.
Parc de la Villette et Cité des
Sciences et de l’Industrie
(Villette Park and City of
Sciences and Industry)
37.
Place de la Bastille/
Opéra Bastille
19.
Place de la Concorde
2.
Place de la Madeleine
3.
Place de l’Odéon
28.
Place de l’Opéra/
Opéra Garnier
5.
Place des Vosges
15.
Place du Châtelet
11.
Place du Tertre
6.
Place Sartre-Beauvoir
25.
Place St-Germain-des-Prés
24.
Place St-Michel
23.
Place St-Sulpice
26.
Place Vendôme
4.
Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower)
32.
Université de Paris-Sorbonne 22.
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Part 1.33
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Montmartre is the site
of the last remaining
vineyard in Paris, the
Clos de Montmartre
on rue des Saules,
which produces about
500 bottles of red wine
annually. The wine is
sometimes featured on
restaurant menus in the
district.
Did you know?
While the houses lining
the Place des Vosges
appear to be made of
brick, many are not.
Only the earliest were
built from bricks; later
houses were faced
with plaster and then
painted to resemble
brick.
A mile or so northeast of Place de l’Opéra is the intriguing hillside
neighborhood of Montmartre (mohn with nasal n MAHR treh) with its
famous Place du Tertre where
artists still paint and display their
works. Once a village outside the
city limits of Paris, Montmartre is
perhaps best known as the site
where the infamous cancan was
performed and where
Toulouse-Lautrec painted his
famous posters of the habitués
at the Moulin Rouge
nightclub. The club in nearby
Maison de
la France/N
icole Lejeun
Pigalle with its famous
Moulin
e
Rouge
windmill façade still offers a
floor show for visitors. Today
the district offers a diverse mix of contrasts
that include cobbled streets, hidden squares, and convivial
nightspots. Watching over it all from a hilltop high above is the whitedomed Basilique du Sacré-Coeur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart).
East of Place de la Concorde, the arcades of the rue de Rivoli are a
lively mix of souvenir shops, cafés, and luxury hotels. Running along
side it is the Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Gardens), the oldest and
loveliest public gardens in the city. East of the gardens is the Musée du
Louvre and the Carrousel du Louvre, an underground mall of shops
and cafés. Just north of the Louvre is the Palais-Royal, a 17th-century
palace with arcaded gardens and lime tree groves.
Eastward along the Right Bank are such landmarks as the Place du
Châtelet, the major crossroads of Paris, with nearby sites the Forum
des Halles, Centre Georges-Pompidou, and Eglise St-Eustache. Not
far away is the Hôtel de Ville, the ornate city hall built in the late 19th
century. A little farther on is the Marais (mah REH) quarter, which
translates to “marsh” because it was once a stretch of swampy ground.
That changed radically in the 17th century when Henri IV laid out the
district’s elegant main square, the Place des Vosges. Soon afterward
wealthy citizens flocked to the Marais and erected hôtels particuliers,
sumptuous mansions that still characterize the neighborhood today.
Several museums are now housed in the mansions include the Musée
d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme (Museum of Jewish Art and
History), Musée Carnavalet, and Musée Picasso.
Adjacent to the Marais is a district known as the Bastille. While the
notorious prison of the same name is no longer standing, the site is
marked by the Place de la Bastille, a traffic rotary centered around
Part 1.34
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Maison de
la France /R
emy
For the origins of Paris, look to Ile de la Cité, an island in the
Seine River that was the center of a Roman settlement called
Lutetia Parisiorum. In many ways still the soul of Paris,
Ile de la Cité is the site of its two most important ecclesiastical
sites, the magnificent Cathédrale de Notre-Dame and the
exquisite Ste-Chapelle. The island is also home to the
delightful flower and bird market at Place Louis-Lépine and
to the Conciergerie, where prisoners awaited their
executions during the Reign of Terror. A little bridge links
Ile de la Cité with another island, Ile St-Louis, a
romantically beautiful enclave of 17th-century houses and
exclusive galleries and shops.
Vallee
a bronze column, Colonne de Juillet (July Column), built to
memorialize those killed during the July Revolution of 1830. On one
side of the square is the Opéra Bastille, the much newer of the city’s
two opera houses, which opened in July 1989 on the 200th anniversary
of the storming of the Bastille. The once shabby Bastille district has
become gentrified in recent years and offers a host of fashionable
restaurants, shops, and jazz clubs.
Cathéd
rale de
Notre-D
ame
On the Left Bank is the intellectual side of Paris, most notably the
Quartier Latin (Latin Quarter) with its wealth of bookstores, cafés,
and schools, including the Université de Paris-Sorbonne, the most
esteemed university in France. A favorite gathering spot for students
is Place St-Michel with its cafés and imposing fountain that depicts
Saint Michael fighting a dragon. Cutting a swath through much of
the Left Bank is the boulevard St-Germain, which is lined with cafés
and restaurants, leading to the hub of the quarter, Place StGermain-des-Prés, an area once frequented by authors such as
Simone de Beauvoir, Ernest Hemingway, and Jean-Paul Sartre. Three
of the most legendary spots, the Brasserie Lipp, Café de Flore, and
Les Deux Magots, are near a charming small square called Place
Sartre-Beauvoir. The square is also the locale of the oldest church in
Paris, the Eglise St-Germain-des-Prés, which dates from the 6th
century and is a venue for classical music concerts. South of the
boulevard, other wonderful spots to explore include Place StSulpice, a peaceful square with a magnificent stone fountain and the
neoclassical-style Eglise St-Sulpice, and the Jardin du Luxembourg,
with formal gardens and a myriad of family attractions. Bordering the
gardens is Place de l’Odéon, a semicircular square that is home to
the 18th-century Théâtre de l’Odéon.
Other important areas on the Left Bank include Montparnasse—an
intellectual center for artists and writers in the post–World War I era—
where the boulevard du Montparnasse offers a wealth of restaurants,
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Part 1.35
Camille
ubert
la France /H
Maison de
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alides
Les Inv
Did you know?
The Seine, which runs
nearly 500 miles from
Burgundy to the
English Channel, was
named by Julius
Caesar.
cafés, and cinemas. The most famous watering hole in the area is
the Closerie des Lilas, a cozy café with a flower-filled terrace
where luminaries from Ernest Hemingway to Henry James to
Pablo Picasso were once regulars. A neighboring district, the
Faubourg–St-Germain, was once the most fashionable neighborhood in Paris and still retains many splendid mansions that
are now used as embassies and cultural centers. It is also the
site of several major visitor attractions, including Les
Invalides, the Musée d’Orsay, Musée Rodin, and Tour
Eiffel (Eiffel Tower).
Among the prime attractions in Paris is the Seine River,
which flows in a crescent shape through the heart of the
city. Along the banks, particularly on the left side, are
dozens of bouquinistes, vendors who sell secondhand books, postcards,
posters, and other items from stalls painted dark green. Within Paris,
the Seine is crossed by 36 bridges, many of them national treasures.
The most ornate of the bridges is the Pont Alexandre III, which is
decorated with candelabra-style lamps, winged horses, nymphs, and
lions. Despite the name, Pont Neuf (meaning new bridge) is the
oldest, built by Henri IV in 1604 and adorned with a statue of the
monarch on horseback. The Pont des Arts, a popular footbridge connects the Musée du Louvre on the Right Bank with the St-Germaindes-Prés area on the Left Bank. It is known for its views of the lovely
Square du Vert-Galant at the tip of Ile de la Cité. The best way for
visitors to enjoy the Seine is to take a ride on the wide, flat tour boats
called bateaux-mouches, which make short leisurely trips up and down
the river. Cruising after dark, when the tour boats illuminate the major
monuments along the river with floodlights, is especially enjoyable.
Local Transportation
Paris offers the Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP), one
of the most efficient public transit systems of any major city in the
world. Its subway system, known as the métropolitain (métro for
short), offers 14 lines and more than 300 stations. Nearly all the major
visitor attractions in the city are within a short walk of a métro station.
A slower but more scenic way to get around the city is via the excellent
public bus system. The city also offers the Réseau Express Régional
(RER), a rail system that links Paris with many suburbs. Visitors can
purchase multiday travel passes that allow unlimited use of the métro,
buses, and RER. The Paris Visite passes are for transportation and also
offer discounts for certain monuments and museums.
Part 1.36
•
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Around Paris: Attractions
Rive Droite (Right Bank)
• Arc de Triomphe (Arch of Triumph)—It stands majestically at the
head of the Champs-Elysées at Place Charles-de-Gaulle, better
known as Place de l’Etoile (étoile meaning star). The monument was
planned by Napoléon I as a monument to his military might and
completed 15 years after his death in 1836. Beneath the archway lies
the Tombe du Soldat Inconnu (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier),
which is marked by a memorial flame. Visitors can reach the arch via
an underground passageway and climb stairs to the top of the
monument for incredible views.
• Basilique du Sacré-Coeur (Basilica of the Sacred
Heart)—Crowning the top of the hill of Montmartre, the
basilica with its distinctive white dome was built between
1873 and 1910. The breathtaking views from the top of
the dome, the second-highest point in Paris after the
Eiffel Tower, are well worth the climb. The base of the
basilica can be reached via a tiny funicular tram.
Maison de
• Bois de Boulogne—Once a bois (forest) filled with wild
la France/H
Basiliqu
ubert Camill
e
e
d
u Sacré
game, the Bois de Boulogne is a 2,200-acre park
-Coeur
stretching along the western edge of Paris. Park gardens include the enclosed Parc de Bagatelle, built around a tiny
18th-century château, and the Jardin Shakespeare, with plants,
flowers, and trees mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays. Other attractions are two horse-racing tracks, a major tennis stadium, and the
Jardin d’Acclimatation, an amusement park and miniature zoo.
• Centre Georges-Pompidou—It is hard to tell which is more arresting—the stunning modern art collection contained within the building or the building itself. Designed in the 1970s, the Centre
Pompidou, also known as Beaubourg, is an amalgam of glass, steel,
and brightly colored pipes, which has inspired some critics to call it
“the gasworks.” On the third and fourth floors is the Musée d’Art
Moderne, which contains one of the world’s largest collections of
modern art, including works by Picasso, Bonnard, Matisse,
Kandinsky, Mondrian, Pollock, Calder, and Bacon. Elsewhere in the
complex is a large public library, cinema, venues for theater and
dance, and a rooftop restaurant with stellar views.
• Champs-Elysées—Stretching between the Arc de Triomphe and the
Place de la Concorde, this grandest of boulevards has been the site
of France’s most monumental events, from the funeral procession of
Charles de Gaulle to the finish line of the Tour de France bicycle
©
•
Part 1.37
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Did you know?
Visitors can get a free
map at the entrance of
Cimetière du PèreLachaise (Father
Lachaise Cemetery)
to see where the most
famous people are
buried. In general, the
more ornate graves
have the more obscure
occupants. Among the
exceptions is the grave
of Oscar Wilde, which is
adorned with a massive
statue of a flying
Egyptian figure.
race. At the east end, the boulevard is lined with lush gardens, while
the western half is a busy commercial strip of cinema complexes,
banks, airline offices, outdoor cafés, and splashy stores.
• Cimetière du Père-Lachaise (Father Lachaise Cemetery)—The
largest and most elite cemetery in Paris is the final resting place for a
host of famous artists, novelists, musicians, and other luminaries.
Within the 108-acre parklike burial ground are memorials to writers
Balzac, Molière, Proust, and Wilde, along with those to painters
Corot, Modigliani, Pissarro, and Seurat. Among the most visited
gravesites are those belonging to Edith Piaf and 1960s rock star
Jim Morrison.
• La Défense—First developed in the 1950s, this business district on
the western edge of Paris contains many of the city’s tallest office
buildings and is headquarters to many of France’s largest corporations. The district also contains several stunning structures, including
the Grande Arche de la Défense, a hollow cube of white marble,
which houses government offices and offers spectacular views of
Paris from its top floor. Adjacent to the Grande Arche is the Parvis,
a wide square dotted with modern sculptures. The square is bordered by the Colline de la Défense, a hilltop complex containing an
IMAX theater and the Musée de l’Automobile, which offers a collection of more than 100 vintage cars.
• Eglise St-Eustache—One of the most beautiful churches in Paris with
almost enough rose windows and flying buttresses to rival NotreDame, St-Eustache is best known for its mammoth organ with 8,000
pipes. Not surprisingly, it is a frequent venue for organ concerts.
• Forum des Halles—Once the site of Les Halles, the great marketplace of Paris, this is now a popular multilevel underground shopping, food, and entertainment complex.
• Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Gardens)—One of the oldest and
most beautiful public gardens in France, the Tuileries was laid out in
1649 for Louis XIV by André Le Nôtre, who also designed the gardens at Versailles and Chantilly. Today it is still a pleasure to walk
among the box-edged flower beds, manicured lawns, fountains,
and statuary and to enjoy the views of the Seine from the garden’s
upper terrace. For children, there are such delights as a carousel,
donkey rides, and the chance to sail old-fashioned toy boats in an
octagonal pond.
Bordering the Tuileries at the west end are two delightful small
museums, the Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume and the
Orangerie. Once a 19th-century citrus nursery, the Orangerie
Part 1.38
•
©
houses a superb collection of Impressionist paintings, including two
dozen works by Renoir. For many, the highlight is the museum’s
lower floor, where Monet’s giant murals of water lilies are on display.
At the Jeu de Paume, built as a royal tennis court in the 19th
century, are changing exhibits of contemporary art.
• Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris—A superb collection of
20th-century art, including works by Picasso, Matisse, and Utrillo, is
the focus of this museum housed in the Palais de Tokyo, a stunning
building erected for the 1937 World Exposition.
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• Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme (Museum of Jewish Art
and History)—Historical religious items, art, and artifacts from
Jewish communities across Europe and North Africa are exhibited.
The collection also includes works by Jewish artists such as Marc
Chagall and exhibits pertaining to the history of Jews in France.
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• Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen (St. Ouen Flea Market)—Just over
the northern Paris city line at métro Porte-de-Clignancourt is the
biggest and most famous flea market, Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen
(sahn with nasal n TWAHN with nasal n). It is said to be the largest
in the world, with more than 2,000 stalls selling everything from
antiques to secondhand clothes and books.
Did you know?
While the vast majority
of museums are
closed on Monday,
some, including the
Louvre and Centre
Georges-Pompidou, are
closed on Tuesday.
• Musée Carnavalet—The history of Paris from Gallo-Roman times
up through the present is the subject of this museum housed in a
pair of 16th- and 17th-century mansions. Among the highlights are
documents from the French Revolution and the cork-lined bedroom
from the apartment of author Marcel Proust.
• Musée Guimet—The museum contains the city’s largest collection
devoted to Asian art, including paintings, art objects, and religious articles from such countries as China, India, Japan,
Korea, Nepal, and Tibet.
• Musée du Louvre—Originally built as a fortress and then
rebuilt as a royal palace in the mid-16th century, the Louvre
is the grand setting for an even grander treasure trove of artwork and antiquities. The single largest building in Paris,
the Louvre offers more than 200 halls filled with collections that encompass the ancient civilizations of Egypt,
Greece, Rome, and the Orient along with many important
works of art produced in western Europe from the
Middle Ages up through the mid-19th century. Among
its many famous paintings is da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, along
with such ancient sculptures as the Winged Victory of
Samothrace and the Venus de Milo.
©
Maison de
la Fr
ance/Danie
The
l Thierry
at the M Pyramide
usée d
u Louvr
e
•
Part 1.39
The sheer vastness of the Louvre means that clients should not try to
see too much in one visit. The best approach is to choose one section of the museum or a specific collection and enjoy it in depth.
When it is time for a break, visitors can head for the Carrousel du
Louvre, an underground mall of cafés and shops that is a relatively
new addition to the museum complex. The main entrance to both
the museum and mall is reached via the Pyramide, a distinctive glass
pyramid designed by architect I. M. Pei. Frequent guided tours in
English depart from the ground-floor information stand.
• Musée Marmottan Monet—This museum in a 19th-century town
house features the world’s largest collection of paintings by Claude
Monet, plus works by other Impressionist artists.
• Musée Picasso—Housed in the beautifully restored Hôtel Salé, a
grand 17th-century mansion, the museum is devoted to the works of
Pablo Picasso, considered by many to be the most important and
prolific artist of the 20th century. The huge collection includes
paintings, ceramics, sculptures, collages, prints, and memorabilia
from the artist’s life. Among the most important paintings on display
are Two Women Running on the Beach and Pipes of Pan. The
museum also houses Picasso’s personal art collection, including
works by Cézanne, Matisse, Renoir, and Rousseau.
e
icole Lejeun
la France/N
Maison de
Garnier
Opéra
• Opéra Garnier (Paris Opera House)—Designed in 1860
by Charles Garnier to celebrate the splendor of Napoléon
III’s France, the opera house is a marvel of exuberant
classical and baroque architecture. The sumptuous interior is
marked by a lavish foyer and grand staircase, while the
theater itself is adorned with scenes from famous operas
and ballets painted by Marc Chagall. Visitors can take
guided tours of the opera house, which also includes a
small museum devoted to the history of opera and ballet.
The structure is one of the city’s main venues for opera
and ballet performances.
• Parc de la Villette et Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie (Villette
Park and City of Science and Industry)—This huge complex on
the northeast edge of Paris contains attractions such as Explora, a
science museum filled with interactive exhibits; Cité des Enfants, a
children’s science museum; and the Géode, a massive spherelike
structure where films are shown on a giant 180-degree screen. Other
places to visit include Cité de la Musique, a concert hall with a
music museum containing more than 900 rare musical instruments
on display.
Part 1.40
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• Place de la Concorde—Once the scene of executions during the
French Revolution, this square is one of the busiest hubs in Paris. The
centerpiece is a 3,000-year-old Egyptian obelisk originally from the
Temple of Ramses in Luxor. The square is flanked by the Hôtel de la
Marine, headquarters of the French Navy, and the Hôtel de Crillon,
one of the city’s most historic and luxurious hotels.
• Place de la Madeleine—Some of the finest gourmet food shops in
Paris can be found around this elegant square. The focal point is the
stately neoclassical Eglise de la Madeleine, an 18th-century church
built to resemble a Greek temple.
Maison de
la France /H
ubert
Camille
• Place Vendôme—The square, actually more of an octagon, is
lined with arcaded and colonnaded buildings dating from
the early 18th century. It is home to some of the city’s most
expensive jewelry stores as well as the ultra-luxurious Hôtel
Ritz. In the center is the Colonne Vendôme, a spiral column made by 1,250 Austrians and Russians captured by
Napoléon at the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805.
• Place des Vosges—One of the most historic and most
beautiful squares in Paris, the Place des Vosges is lined
Place V
with stately 17th-century town houses and graceful
endôm
e
arcades sheltering elegant galleries and cafés. Along the
square is the Maison de Victor Hugo (Victor Hugo
House), the former home of the 19th-century author, which is now
a museum devoted to his life and works.
Ile de la Cité
• Cathédrale de Notre-Dame—A masterpiece of French Gothic
architecture on the Ile de la Cité, the great cathedral dates from
1163 and took nearly 200 years to complete. The magnificent façade
is embellished with gargoyles and flying buttresses, while its great
interior is bathed in light from a spectacular series of stained-glass
rose windows. Clients can get a close-up view of the grimacing gargoyles and a panoramic view of Paris by climbing the 387 spiral steps
to the top of the north tower. If possible, the best time to visit the
cathedral is in the early morning when the crowds are lightest.
• Conciergerie—Originally built as a royal palace during the 14th
century, the Conciergerie served as a prison for many years. During
the French Revolution, nearly 3,000 people awaited execution here;
they included Marie-Antoinette, who was imprisoned for 76 days
before being decapitated in 1793. Visitors can tour such sites as the
Salle des Gens d’Armes (Hall of the People-at-Arms), a massive
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•
Part 1.41
medieval hall now used as a concert venue, and the Salle de la
Toilette (Preparation Room), where the condemned were
prepared for execution.
• Ste-Chapelle—This exquisite jewel of a chapel, one of the
world’s greatest examples of flamboyant Gothic architecture,
was built in the mid-13th century to enshrine religious relics
brought from a crusade to the Holy Land and purchased by
Louis IX. Tucked into a side courtyard of the Palais de
Justice (Law Courts), the chapel is best visited on a sunny
e
ubert Camill
la France/H
day when light coming through its spectacular stainedMaison de
ie
r
e
g
r
glass windows, which comprise the largest expanse of
Concie
stained glass in the world, creates a dazzling sight.
Arranged in chronological order, the windows follow the stories of
the Bible, from the Garden of Eden up through the Crucifixion. SteChapelle is also an atmospheric venue for classical music concerts held
on selected evenings from March through November.
Ile St-Louis
• Ile St-Louis—The smaller of the two river islands, Ile St-Louis is a
tranquil villagelike enclave of elegant gray-stone mansions dating
from the 17th century. The main street, rue St-Louis en l’Ile, is
lined with luxury shops and restaurants, including Maison
Berthillon, a famous ice cream store where there is always a long
line outside.
Rive Gauche (Left Bank)
• Hôtel des Invalides—Originally built by Louis XIV in the 1670s as
a convalescent hospital for the invalides (disabled or wounded
soldiers), Les Invalides is a complex of two churches and several
museums. It is an important site for anyone with an interest in
French military history. Among the noteworthy sites are the tomb of
Napoléon, housed in the Eglise du Dôme, and the Musée de
l’Armée (Army Museum), which exhibits one of the largest
collections of military items in the world.
• Jardin des Plantes (Botanical Garden)—Designed as a medicinal
herb garden in the early 1600s, the Jardin des Plantes is now a major
city park with more than 2,000 plant species from around the world. It
is also the site of a zoo and the Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle,
which features extensive galleries devoted to the world’s ecosystems,
animal species, mineralogy, fossilized plants, and paleontology.
• Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Gardens)—This 60-acre
park in the Latin Quarter is filled with formal gardens, fountains,
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sculptures, ponds, an open-air café, a children’s playground,
and a marionette theater. The park contains the stately 17thcentury Palais du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Palace),
where the upper house of the French Parliament convenes.
The palace is open to the public on the first Sunday of
each month. Also in the park is the Musée du
Luxembourg, which features changing art exhibitions.
• Mosquée de Paris—The oldest mosque in Paris, built in
1926, features a Moorish design and pink-marble
fountains and soaring minarets. The mosque was
funded by the French government in gratitude for
North African support during World War I and is a
popular gathering place during Ramadan, the Muslim holy
period of fasting. Public tours of the buildings, courtyard, and
Moorish-style garden are offered. There is also a tea room and
hammam (Turkish bath).
Maison
de la France
/Fabian Ch
Jardin d
araffi
u Luxem
bourg
• Musée National du Moyen-Age (National Museum of the
Middle Ages)/Thermes et Hôtel de Cluny—Housed in an
architecturally noteworthy complex that includes the remains of
ancient Roman baths and a 15th-century mansion built for the
abbots of Cluny, the museum is filled with medieval treasures that
include furnishings, stained glass, statuary, carvings, and manuscripts.
The highlight of the collection is the Dame à la Licorne (the Lady
and the Unicorn), a six-paneled tapestry depicting the chivalrous
world of courtly love, considered to be the finest in the world.
• Musée d’Orsay—Brilliantly converted in the mid-1980s from a
historic train station, the Musée d’Orsay provides a light and airy
backdrop for France’s incomparable national collection of art created
between 1848 and 1914. The top floor of the museum is devoted to
Impressionist and Postimpressionist paintings, with galleries filled
with famous works by artists such as Degas, Manet, Matisse, Monet,
Pissarro, Renoir, Seurat, Sisley, and van Gogh. Lower-floor galleries
are devoted to Art Nouveau decorative objects, graphic arts,
photography, and the works of artists such as Corot, Delacroix, and
Rodin. The museum’s ornate gold-and-white main restaurant makes
a splendid setting for a leisurely lunch.
• Musée Rodin—An impressive collection of bronze and marble
sculptures by Auguste Rodin, including such famous works as The
Thinker and The Kiss, is housed in this splendid former 18th-century
residence. Visitors will also enjoy the adjoining garden filled with
sculptures and shade trees.
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•
Part 1.43
• Opéra Bastille—A modern landmark facing the Place de la Bastille,
the imposing Opéra Bastille opened on July 14, 1989, the bicentenary of the French Revolution. Inside, a stunning gray granite and
oak auditorium seats 2,700 for world-class opera performances.
Guided tours of the building are available. (Bastille is actually
situated on the Rive Droite.)
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• Panthéon—This domed landmark, originally built as a church in the
late 18th century, is a secular mausoleum for some of the great figures from French history. Within its vast marble interior are the
crypts of Marie Curie, Victor Hugo, Jean-Jacques Rousseau,
Voltaire, and Emile Zola.
Did you know?
Original plans for the
Tour Eiffel (Eiffel
Tower) called for it to
be demolished after 20
years. However, its
height and ironwork
made it such an ideal
antenna for broadcasting that it was spared.
The first radio news bulletin was sent from the
tower in 1921, while
the first television
broadcast took place in
1935. After Paris was
liberated from Nazi
occupation in 1944, the
tower was also used to
collect and later decipher German radio
codes.
Part 1.44
•
• St-Germain-des-Prés—One of the most charming and beautiful
neighborhoods of Paris, St-Germain-des-Prés is filled with elegant
galleries, tiny shops, and ultrachic designer boutiques. Along the
boulevard St-Germain are legendary cafés such as the Café de
Flore and Deux Magots, which were frequented by Ernest
Hemingway, Jean-Paul Sartre, and other noted 20th-century
authors. Across from the Deux Magots is the oldest church in Paris,
the Eglise St-Germain-des-Prés, which dates from the 6th century.
• Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower)—It
is hard to believe that this bestknown symbol of Paris was
considered a radical
monstrosity by many when it
made its début during the
Centennial Exhibition of
1889. Soaring more than
1,000 feet and comprised of
some 18,000 metal
Maison de
sections, the tower offers
la France/H
ubert Camill
e
T
o
u
r Eiffel
three levels with viewing
stations open to the
public. They can be reached by
stairs or escalators (to levels one and two only).
Elevators go to the top but require a change of elevator on the
second level. The first two levels also have restaurants. Adjacent to
the tower is the Parc du Champ-de-Mars, a large rectangular park
filled with flowering trees, lawns, and children’s pony rides and
marionette theaters.
©
The region encircling Paris is the Ile-de-France, named the “Isle of
France” because of the five rivers loosely defining its borders. For more
than 1,000 years much of the area was the domain of royalty, which
built some of the world’s most dazzling palaces in the midst of great
wooded parks and estates. Beautifully preserved palaces such as
Versailles and Fontainebleau continue to draw millions of visitors a
year on easy day trips from Paris.
From Paris, many places in the Ile-de-France are easily reached by
Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF) or RER
suburban railway trains that depart from the city’s six major stations,
the Gare d’Austerlitz, Gare de l’Est, Gare de Lyon, Gare
Montparnasse, Gare du Nord, and Gare St-Lazare. The suburban rail
lines also connect to some Paris métro stations. Other options include
the many guided motor coach day tours of major sites in Ile-de-France.
The tours make regular departures from central Paris.
©
Along with artists, the
Ile-de-France region
also attracted popular
French authors of the
19th century. Fans of
the novelist Emile Zola
will enjoy visiting the
author’s former estate,
now a museum called
the Musée Emile Zola,
in the town of Médan
20 miles northwest of
Paris.
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Along with royalty, many of France’s greatest artists were attracted to
the countryside. Its quaint villages, particularly Auvers-sur-Oise and
Barbizon, and scenic river valleys were a haven and source of inspiration for urban-weary artists Cézanne, Corot, Millet, Renoir, Rousseau,
and van Gogh. Today art lovers can tour the artists’ former haunts and
enjoy some of the same landscapes and vintage buildings that those
artists immortalized on canvas.
Did you know?
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Ile-de-France
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On the first day, start on the Right Bank at the Arc de Triomphe and
walk down the Champs-Elysées to Place de la Concorde. Take a side
trip to visit Place Vendôme and Opéra Garnier. Stroll through the
Jardin des Tuileries and on to the Musée du Louvre and Palais
Royal. Walk along the Seine River past Châtelet and Hôtel de Ville
over to Cathédrale de Notre-Dame on Ile de la Cité and nearby Ile
St-Louis. On the second day, cross over to the Left Bank and walk
through the Quartier Latin/St-Michel area. Walk along the Seine
River and the Pont Neuf, les bouquinistes, the Pont des Arts, and
then up to St-Germain des Prés. Pass the Musée d’Orsay and Les
Invalides on your way to the Tour Eiffel. Cross the Seine River once
again and walk over near the Alma-Marceau métro station to the
bateaux-mouches for a boat trip.
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A Two-Day Walking Tour of Central Paris
Did you know?
Other popular day
trips from Paris include
Chartres, 56 miles
southwest of Paris in
the Loire Valley, and the
towns of Senlis, about
30 miles northeast of
Paris, and Compiègne,
about 50 miles northeast of Paris, both in
Picardie.
Paris and Ile-de-France: Ile-de-France
•
Part 1.45
Around Ile-de-France: Attractions
Attractions are presented geographically in a clockwise direction, beginning with areas of interest north of Paris.
North of Paris
• Chantilly—The imposing Château de Chantilly (shahn with nasal n
tee YEE), which presides over this small town about 30 miles north
of Paris, is perhaps best known as the place where whipped cream
was invented. During the late 18th century, the château was famous
for the quality of the cream produced from its dairy and for the
elegant afternoon teas served there. The charming hameau (hamlet),
a mock rural farming village that housed the dairy, is still on the
grounds along with several remarkable gardens. Visitors will enjoy
walking through the formal Jardin Français (French Garden), the
naturalistic Jardin Anglais (English Garden), and the rustic Jardin
Anglo-Chinois (Anglo-Chinese Garden).
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Maison de
la France /D
aniel
Thierry
• St-Denis—For many centuries
the town of St-Denis (sahn
with nasal n deh NEE) 7 miles
north of Paris was the burial
place for the kings of France.
Many of their tombs and
mausoleums are housed in
the Basilique St-Denis, one
of the earliest Gothic edifices in the world and
known for its 12th-century
rose windows. The tombs,
Basiliqu
e St-De
nis
which date from 1230,
are decorated with life-size figures
of the deceased. Other attractions in town include
the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, which has a collection ranging
from archaeological finds to modern artwork, and the Stade de
France (Stadium of France), an 80,000-seat arena of futuristic
design that is a major venue for sports events and concerts.
Did you know?
During the mid-17th
century, Louis XIV
spent his honeymoon
at one of two royal pavilions on the grounds of
the Château de
Vincennes.
Part 1.46
•
East of Paris
• Château de Vincennes—Sometimes called the “medieval Versailles,”
Vincennes (vahn with nasal n SEN) was transformed over the centuries from a rudimentary hunting lodge into a royal castle. The
early architecture has been well preserved and includes a moat, a castle keep, fortifications, and a 16th-century chapel known for its
stained glass. The château borders the Bois de Vincennes, a large
©
park on the eastern edge of Paris about 5 miles away. Among the
attractions in the park are the Parc Zoologique de Vincennes
(Vincennes Zoo) and the Musée National des Arts d’Afrique et
d’Océanie (Museum of African and Oceanic Art), which features
a collection of art and artifacts from the South Pacific and Africa.
• Disneyland Paris—First opened as EuroDisney in 1992, the theme
park, 17 miles east of Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, has since become one
of the most popular visitor attractions in Europe. The site is organized into three main areas: Disney Village, a complex of shops,
restaurants, and clubs; Disneyland Park, home to familiar favorites
such as Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, and Main Street
USA; and the latest addition, Walt Disney Studios, with rides and
attractions inspired by Hollywood and the movie industry.
Southeast of Paris
• Barbizon—A charming hamlet on the edge of the Fontainebleau
forest 35 miles southeast of Paris, Barbizon (bahr bee ZOHN with
nasal n) was a refuge for landscape artists of the 19th century,
including Corot, Millet, and Rousseau, who were enchanted by the
setting. Many of the artists lived at an inn called the Auberge
Ganne, which is now the Musée de l’Ecole de Barbizon. The
museum features the artists’ locally inspired works, along with decorated furniture and sketches painted right on the walls. Another
attraction is the Maison et Atelier de Jean-François Millet (House
and Studio of Jean-François Millet), which contains examples of
Millet’s work as well as some original furnishings.
• Château de Fontainebleau—Set among 62,000 forested
acres near the valley of the Seine River about 40 miles southeast of Paris, Fontainebleau (fohn with nasal n tehn BLOW)
was a favorite summer residence for the kings of France
from the 16th through the 19th century. Although the
foundations date back to the 12th century, much of the
present décor was developed by François Ier (Francis I) in
1528. The king commissioned the best French and Italian
artists of the day to create artworks that came to be
known as the School of Fontainebleau. Today the palace
rooms are sumptuously replete with parquet floors, gildMaison de
ed carvings, frescoes, tapestries, and furnishings dating
la France/D
Châtea
aniel Thierr
u de Fo
y
from the Renaissance. Two museums inside
ntaineb
leau
Fontainebleau are the Musée Napoléon Ier, which
contains personal effects belonging to Napoléon and his relatives,
and the Musée Chinois (Chinese Museum), which exhibits exquisite ceramics brought to France from China in the 19th century. A
©
•
Part 1.47
great way to explore the grounds is to take a carriage ride through
the woodlands.
• Château Vaux-le-Vicomte—The site of royal intrigue, Vaux-leVicomte (VOH leh vee KAHNT with nasal n), about 30 miles southeast of Paris, was transformed into a magnificent showplace by
Nicolas Fouquet, finance minister to Louis XIV, in the mid-1600s.
The residence was so splendid that Louis, who was invited to a lavish
dinner there, used some of Fouquet’s ideas for the design of his own
palace at Versailles. Today visitors can tour the splendid interior and
wander through what are considered to be some of the finest gardens in France. Also worth a visit are the stables, which contain a
collection of antique carriages.
• Provins—Anyone with an interest in medieval architecture will enjoy
the town of Provins (proh VAHN with nasal n), a town of medieval
fairs classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 57 miles southeast
of Paris. It contains a wealth of half-timbered houses, ramparts,
underground passageways, and fortified gateways. Clients should not
miss the Granges aux Dîmes, a restored tithe barn featuring a
tableau depicting medieval merchants and their wares.
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Southwest of Paris
Did you know?
During the summer
months the gardens of
Versailles are the
scene of synchronized
fountain and music
shows and evening
fireworks displays.
• Musée National du Château de Versailles (Palace of Versailles)—
In the late 17th century, Louis XIV hired the best architects and
landscape artists of the day to transform a former hunting lodge, 13
miles southwest of Paris, into one
of the most magnificent palaces
ever created. While no one can
do justice to Versailles (vehr
SIGH) in a single visit, a good
place to begin is with the state
apartments on the ground
floor of the palace, which
include the famous Galerie
des Glaces (Hall of
Mirrors), once the scene of
Maison de
royal banquets and the
la France/D
aniel Thierr
Galerie
y
des Gla
signing of the Treaty of
ces
Versailles in 1919. The
Queen’s Bedroom is where the
royal children were born.
The gardens of Versailles are equally dazzling, filled with geometric
flower beds and embellished with fountains, statues, and canals. The
grounds are also the site of two smaller palaces, the pink-colonnaded
Part 1.48
•
©
Grand Trianon and the ocher-colored Petit Trianon. Nearby is
Marie-Antoinette’s Hameau de la Reine (Queen’s Hamlet), a charming mock rural village of thatched-roof cottages and farm buildings.
• Rambouillet—The prime attraction in the village of Rambouillet
(rahn with nasal n boo YEH) 32 miles southwest of Paris is the
Château de Rambouillet, originally built in the 14th century and
then expanded by the Count of Toulouse, son of Louis XIV, in the
18th century. For nearly 200 years, the château has been the official
summer residence of the French president. Clients can tour the
turreted château and its spacious grounds on days when the
president is not in residence. Among the chief delights are the
Chaumière des Coquillages (Shell Cottage), an exquisite building
with walls lined in mother-of-pearl, and the Laiterie de la Reine
(Queen’s Dairy), a mock dairy built for Marie-Antoinette. Other
places to visit in town include the Musée du Jeu de l’Oie, a
museum featuring antique board games, and the Musée
Rambolitrain, a museum devoted to toy trains and railway history.
West of Paris
• Marly-le-Roi—The village of Marly-le-Roi (mahr LEE leh RWAH)
14 miles due west of Paris became the site of a royal residence after
Louis XIV decided to build a retreat that would be more intimate
than Versailles. Visitors can tour the grounds of the royal estate,
including the Musée-Promenade de Marly-le-Roi, which includes a
collection of paintings and sculptures as well as an exhibit of the
Marly Water Machine, which supplied water to the ponds of
Versailles. The surrounding gardens are filled with statuary, many
depicting horses. Nearby, the Château de Monte Cristo is a
Renaissance-style château that was the home of author Alexandre
Dumas. Of particular interest is his study, a miniature Gothic-style
castle set in the landscaped parkland.
• St-Germain-en-Laye—Among the attractions of the town of StGermain-en-Laye (sahn with nasal n zhehr MAHN with nasal n ahn
with nasal n LEI) 15 miles slightly northwest of Paris is the Château
St-Germain-en-Laye, the birthplace and home of Louis XIV before
he moved to Versailles. The château, which is known for its outstanding gardens and sweeping views of the Seine River Valley, houses the Musée des Antiquités Nationales (National Museum of
Antiquities) and its collection of archaeological finds from throughout France. Clients may also want to visit the Musée Claude
Debussy, which contains a collection of the composer’s personal
effects in the home where he was born.
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•
Part 1.49
Northwest of Paris
• Auvers-sur-Oise—The little town of Auvers-sur-Oise (oh VEHR soor
WAHZ) on the banks of the Oise River 20 miles northwest of Paris
inspired many of the best Impressionist artists. Vincent van Gogh,
for instance, spent the last frenzied 70 days of his life here in 1890
creating as many paintings, including the House at Auvers, in as
many days. Clients can tour his humble room and view a film of his
life at the Maison de Van Gogh. At the nearby village cemetery are
the graves of Vincent van Gogh and his beloved brother, Theo. The
Musée de l’Absinthe pays homage to the green liqueur that was
outlawed in 1915.
• Giverny—Art lovers from around the world make pilgrimages to the
tiny village of Giverny (zhee vehr NEE) in Normandy 45 miles northwest of Paris to tour the Maison de Claude Monet. Monet’s home
for 43 years, this is where he created many of his most celebrated
works. Surrounding the artist’s charming pastel pink-and-green
house are the exquisite gardens with the pond of water lilies and wisteria-draped Japanese bridge immortalized in the artist’s work. Inside
the house are reproductions of some of Monet’s paintings and his
beloved collection of Japanese woodblock prints. The museum,
which is open from April to October, is a popular day trip from
either Paris or Rouen. The village is also home to Daniel J. Terra’s
Musée d’Art Américain, which displays the works of American
Impressionist painters who flocked to France during the late 19th
and early 20th centuries.
Pronunciation Guide
Part 1.50
•
Auvers-sur-Oise
oh VEHR soor WAHZ
Barbizon
bahr bee ZOHN with nasal n
Chantilly
shahn with nasal n tee YEE
Fontainebleau
fohn with nasal n tehn BLOW
Giverny
zhee vehr NEE
Marais
mah REH
Marly-le-Roi
mahr LEE leh RWAH
Montmartre
mohn with nasal n MAHR treh
©
Provins
proh VAHN with nasal n
Rambouillet
rahn with nasal n boo YEH
St-Denis
sahn with nasal n deh NEE
St-Germain-en-Laye
sahn with nasal n zhehr MAHN
with nasal n ahn with nasal n LEI
St-Ouen
sahn with nasal n TWAHN with nasal n
Vaux-le-Vicomte
VOH leh vee KAHNT with nasal n
Versailles
vehr SIGH
Vincennes
vahn with nasal n SEN
©
Paris and Ile-de-France: Pronunciation Guide
•
Part 1.51
BELGIUM
LUX.
GERMANY
Me
use
R.
Metz
.
Verdun
LORRAINE
Epernay
Saverne
Seille R.
Nancy
ILE-DE-FRANCE
Strasbourg
ALSACE
M
os
el
le
V O
S G
E S
CHAMPAGNEARDENNE
R.
Epinal
Troyes
Sens
Langres
Besançon
Dijon
Dole
Beaune
Santenay
Chalon
Route du
Vin de Jura
BOURGOGNE
Mâcon
J
Tournus
Cluny
SWITZERLAND
R
Arbois
SalinsPupillin les-Bains
Autun
Nevers
AUVERGNE
M
Morvan
R.
T
Côte-d’Or
b
u
Do
.
ôn
Sa
Fontenay
Clamecy
FRANCHECOMTE
S
Montbard
Route
des Vins
d’Alsace
Belfort
A
Auxerre
Vézelay
CENTRE
VAL
DE LOIRE
Colmar
U
R.
Ribeauvillé
Riquewihr
Kayserberg
Mulhouse
Joigny
e
ne
R.
Yo
n
Rh
ine
R
Reims
M T
S .
PICARDIE
Moselle R.
CharlevilleMézières
SaintAmour
Parc Naturel
Régional
du Haut-Jura
RHONE-ALPES
ITALY
Eastern France
53 km
0
Part 1.52
•
53 mi
©
Eastern France
Not surprisingly, Champagne-Ardenne is most famous for the
legendary caves (cellars) that produce everyone’s favorite New Year’s
Eve beverage. But travelers who pop the cork of this region will also
find such riches as magnificent Gothic cathedrals, Gallo-Roman
fortresses, and even an international festival of marionettes.
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A complex blend of European history and culture permeates this
fascinating region that shares its borders with Germany, Switzerland,
Luxembourg, and Belgium. To the northeast, the closely linked regions
of Alsace and Lorraine are separated by the Vosges Mountains but
share a Germanic past that is evident in everything from their medieval
architecture to their crisp white wines and variety of beers.
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E
astern France offers something for any traveler who appreciates the
good life, whether that is defined by savoring fine wines, exploring
world-class museums, or drifting down placid waterways past timeless
villages. A feast for the palate as well as the eyes, even its very place
names—Dijon, Burgundy, Champagne-Ardenne, Lorraine—can evoke
an entire menu of sensory responses.
Did you know?
The vineyards of
Burgundy yield an
estimated 180 million
bottles of wine per year,
more than half of them
exported to 150
different countries.
To the southwest, Bourgogne is also synonymous with fine wines, and
those who come to tour the vineyards and taste their fruits will not be
disappointed. Neither will those who come to enjoy gastronomical
delights, canal barging, or the splendid reminders of a ducal past.
Clients with an outdoor bent will especially enjoy Eastern France’s
most undiscovered region, Franche-Comté, a wonderland of nature
reserves, snowcapped mountain peaks, deep forests, and clear lakes and
rivers. Its dramatic landscape is dotted with intriguing towns and
villages, many guarded by ancient hilltop fortresses and citadels.
Bourgogne
Like the many fine wines long produced there, Bourgogne (boor
GONE yeh) (Burgundy) has only gotten better with age. From Roman
times onward, Burgundy has been an important crossroads between
southern and northern Europe, a place where important developments
in religion, trade, and culture have taken root and burst into full flower.
©
Eastern France: Bourgogne
•
Part 1.53
y
aniel Thierr
la France/D
Maison de
In medieval times Burgundy was a starting point for the vast armies of
the Crusades, many of whom congregated in the hilltop village of
Vézelay where reminders of the era still remain. The birthplace of the
Cistercian order, Burgundy is home to dozens of significant
Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals, churches, and abbeys. Splendid
examples are to be found in such towns and villages as Autun,
Auxerre, Cluny, Sens, and Vézelay.
Although the Romans first brought the concept of wine making
to Burgundy, it was the Cistercian monks who laid the foundation of the modern wine trade. Their legacy flourishes in the
five main winegrowing areas of Burgundy that, from north to
south, include Chablis, Côte-de-Nuits, Côte-de-Beaune,
Côte Chalonnais, and Mâconnais. Despite their importance
to the world wine market, many of the wineries are small
family-run operations whose owners are happy to provide
visitors with a tasting and personal tour.
Savoring the local wines is best done while consuming
some of Burgundy’s famous local wine-infused dishes such
as boeuf bourguignon (beef Burgundy) or coq au vin
(chicken with wine). Other specialties include the garlicky snails known
as escargots and jambon persillé, a cold terrine of ham in parsley aspic.
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route
he wine
t
g
n
lo
A
Did you know?
The village of Flavigny
in northern Burgundy
is famous for its aniseflavored candies.
Water is almost as important to Burgundy as food and wine. The
region offers some 800 miles of rivers and canals, which offer a variety
of ways for clients to float their way through Burgundy. The options
include luxury barge cruises, houseboat rentals, electric boat rentals,
and short boat trips. Burgundy can also be enjoyed from the air, with a
number of companies offering balloon excursions above the vineyards.
The commercial and cultural capital of the region is Dijon (dee ZHON
with nasal n), which was also the seat of a once-vast empire
commanded by the Dukes of Burgundy from the 9th to the 17th
centuries. The Palais des Ducs et des Etats de Bourgogne (Palace of
the Dukes of Burgundy) is a splendid reminder of past glories and is
now the home to both the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) and the Musée
des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museum), a treasure trove of paintings
and sculpture so highly regarded that it is known as “le Petit Louvre.”
After visiting the museum, clients will want to stroll through the
surrounding historic district with its half-timbered houses and such
landmarks as Notre-Dame, a Gothic parish church embellished with
rows of grimacing gargoyles and a mechanical clock that has kept time
since 1383.
Part 1.54
•
©
Dijon is served by the high-speed TGV rail line, with travel time from
Paris about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Around Dijon: Attractions
• Eglise Notre-Dame—Dating from the 13th century, the church is
noted for its façade of grimacing gargoyles and the mechanical
Jacquemart Clock.
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With its meandering country roads and wealth of intriguing villages,
Burgundy is best explored by car. Dijon is located 194 miles southeast
of Paris. From Paris, Autoroute 6 heads southeast to Burgundy and is
the main highway through the region. Burgundy is served on two local
train routes: one linking Sens, Joigny, Montbard, Dijon, Beaune,
Chalon, Tournus, and Mâcon; the other linking Auxerre, Clamecy,
Autun, and Nevers.
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Did you know?
Along with the famous
Dijon mustard, the city
is also known for
crème de cassis (a
black currant liqueur),
which is mixed to make
kir, an aperitif named
for Canon Kir, a former
deputy mayor of the
city.
• Musée Archéologique—The museum, located in the 1,000-year-old
Abbaye de St-Bénigne, traces the history of the region through
archaeological discoveries.
• Musée de la Moutarde (Mustard Museum)—Exhibits are devoted
to the history and production of the spicy condiment.
• Musée de la Vie Bourguignonne (Museum of Burgundian
Life)—The daily life of past generations of Burgundians is illustrated
by exhibits in reconstructed shops and house interiors.
• Musée des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museum)—Housed in the
Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, the museum is one of the most
highly regarded in Europe, with a collection that includes
medieval objects, Renaissance furniture, and paintings by
Courbet, Monet, Manet, Vuillard, and many others. Also of
great interest are the palace’s vast 15th-century kitchens
with their giant fireplaces and the magnificent tombs of two
of the dukes.
Outside Dijon: Attractions
• Château du Clos de Vougeot—A few miles southwest
of Dijon in Vougeot, this 12th-century château was built
by monks who needed a place to make wine for Mass.
Today the château is the headquarters of the Confrérie
des Chevaliers du Tastevin (Brotherhood of the
Knights of Tastevin), an elite national fraternity of wine
©
Maison de
la France/D
Châtea
aniel Thierr
u du C
y
los de
Vougeo
t
•
Part 1.55
connoisseurs, which gathers here in November for a three-day
festival. Visitors can tour the château’s vast cellars and see its 13thcentury grape presses.
Beyond Dijon: Attractions
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• Autun—Founded by the Roman Emperor Augustus, this ancient
walled town in central Burgundy, 53 miles southwest of Dijon, offers
such landmarks as the Théâtre Romain, the largest theater in the
western Roman empire and still the site of an annual pageant
dedicated to Augustus. Treasures unearthed from excavations in the
area are on display in the Musée Rolin. Another important sight is
the 12th-century Cathédrale St-Lazare, noted for its collection of
Romanesque sculpture.
Did you know?
The Hôtel-Dieu des
Hospices de Beaune
is known for its yearly
three-day wine auction
for charity, the Trois
Glorieuses de
Bourgogne, held in
November.
The wine harvest in
Burgundy varies from
year to year but is usually held around mid- to
late September. The
precise dates depend
on the climate and
must be at least 100
days after the blossoms
appear on the vines. It
is a very popular time
to visit the region, so
bookings must be
made well in advance.
Part 1.56
•
• Auxerre—Punctuated by the Gothic spires of the Cathédrale
St-Etienne, the historic town of Auxerre (oh SAIR) on the banks of
the River Yonne, 92 miles northwest of Dijon, is characterized by its
charming half-timbered houses with tiled roofs and the Tour de
l’Horloge (Clock Tower) with its great golden dials. Among the
sights are the Musée LeBlanc-Duvernois, which displays a collection of tapestries and earthenware in an 18th-century town house.
• Beaune—Twenty-four miles
southwest of Dijon, this
exquisite town of mazelike
medieval streets is set in the
heart of the region’s most
celebrated vineyards. Its
focal point is the magnificent Hôtel-Dieu des
Hospices de Beaune
(hôtel-dieu meaning
Maison de
Hôtel-D
la France/D
ieu des
aniel Thierr
general hospital) with its
y
Hospic
e
s
de Bea
tiled roof in a dazzling
une
patchwork of red, gold,
and black. The building, which served as
a hospital from 1443 until 1971, is now a museum with
Rogier van der Weyden’s famous polyptych, the Last Judgment, a
centuries-old pharmacy, a collection of medieval medical instruments,
and a palatial charity ward with vaulted ceilings.
Wine, of course, is also a prominent feature of Beaune, where visitors
can tour the extensive wine cellars, containing millions of bottles,
which lie beneath the ancient town walls. The Musée du Vin de
Bourgogne (Museum of Burgundy Wine) features exhibits that
©
• Côte-d’Or—Either Beaune or Dijon makes an ideal base for
exploring the fabled Côte-d’Or wine route, which starts just south of
Dijon in Marsannay-la-Côte and continues 37 miles to Santenay. It
encompasses both the Côte-de-Nuits and its Route des Grands
Crus (red wines), and Côte-de-Beaune known for its excellent white
wines. Travelers can visit the various vineyards to sample the wines,
among which the reds are some of the most esteemed in the world.
• Fontenay—Deep in the woods 50 miles northwest of Dijon, the
Abbaye de Fontenay is a 12th-century masterpiece of Cistercian
architecture surrounded by extensive gardens and fountains.
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• Cluny—An important religious, political, and artistic center during
the Middle Ages, the village of Cluny, 15 miles northwest of Mâcon,
offers evocative reminders of its past, including the ruins of the
Abbaye de Cluny, the largest of its kind in the Western Christian
world until the 16th century. The village is also noteworthy for its
many Romanesque-style houses and the Musée des Beaux-Arts et
d’Archéologie (Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology).
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trace the history and development of wine making from ancient
times to the present.
Did you know?
Near the wine villages
of the Côte-de-Beaune,
one can visit the
Château of Commarin,
one of the finest in
Burgundy, and the
hilltop village
Châteauneuf with
its majestic castle.
• The Morvan—Rolling green hills, massive forests, highland lakes,
and the ancient ruins of the city of Bibracte comprise this halfmillion-acre park in this region in the heart of Burgundy. Hiking,
mountain biking, and horseback riding are among the outdoor
activities that visitors can enjoy here.
• Nevers—Situated on the banks of the Loire River 113 miles west of
Dijon at the western limit of Burgundy, the town of Nevers is known
for its brightly painted pottery, some fine examples of which are displayed in the Musée Municipal Frédéric Blandin. Particularly
worth exploring is the Old Town with its 14th-century Porte du
Croux gateway tower and the turreted 15th-century Palais Ducal
(Palace of the Dukes), the first of the great Loire châteaux.
• Sens—In Burgundy’s northwest corner midway between
Fontainebleau and Auxerre, this town’s ancient and medieval past is
vividly illustrated in the Palais Synodal (Synodal Palace), a former
bishop’s residence which is now a museum with an important
archaeological collection. Among its treasures are the remains of a
Gallo-Roman villa that were discovered in the basement when the
building was renovated. Also not to be missed is the Cathédrale de
St-Etienne, the earliest of the French Gothic cathedrals and known
for its superb stained glass and ecclesiastical items.
©
•
Part 1.57
Champagne-Ardenne
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While it has many imitators, true champagne comes only from
Champagne-Ardenne (shahm PAHN yeh ahr DEN). According to
French law, only this region produces what can officially be labeled as
champagne. Everything else is sparkling wine. Along with tasting the
bubbly beverage, clients will enjoy seeing how it is grown and bottled
by the famous champagne houses that offer guided tours.
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• Vézelay—A place of pilgrimage during the Middle Ages, this fortified village, 32 miles south of Auxerre, includes the 12th-century
Basilique de Ste-Madeleine, which has been designated a
UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding Romanesque
architecture and sculptured decorations.
Did you know?
The southern part of
the region near Troyes
is dotted with large
reservoirs that control
the levels of the Marne
and Seine Rivers.
Popular for water sports
and birding, many offer
sandy beaches and
cycling paths.
oren
la France /S
Maison de
Rasmussen
Many of the great champagne cellars are located in or, to be exact,
underneath the city of Reims (RHANS). Taittinger, Mumm,
Pommery, and Piper-Heidsieck are among the champagne houses well
worth a visit. Reims is also a good starting point for the Routes du
Champagne where signposted roads meander through the most
important winegrowing areas, including the Marne Valley west of
Epernay and the Montagne de Reims (Reims Mountain) between
Reims and Epernay.
Aboveground, Reims offers many reminders of a proud past,
including the Cathédrale Notre-Dame where 25 kings of
France were crowned between 1223 and 1825. Although
heavily damaged in the two World Wars, many of the most
important historic buildings in Reims have been meticulously
reconstructed or restored.
Reims
ame de
D
e
r
t
o
rale N
Cathéd
Reims is located 89 miles east of Paris. There is direct train
service to both Reims and Epernay from Paris and direct
train service between Reims and Epernay. Reims and Paris
are linked by Autoroute 4. Buses and taxis are widely
available in Reims.
Around Reims: Attractions
• Basilique St-Rémi—Dating from 1007, this is the oldest church in
the city. It features a grand Romanesque nave leading to a magnificent choir crowned with pointed arches. The church abbey is now a
Part 1.58
•
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museum with extensive collections on the history of Reims, regional
archaeology, and military history.
• Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims—This is one of the world’s
most famous cathedrals, where many kings of France were crowned.
Its marvels include a stained-glass window by Marc Chagall,
exquisite 13th-century glasswork, a stone figure of an angel on the
front façade, and a 15th-century astrological clock with moving
figures depicting the Adoration of the Magi.
• Palais du Tau (Tau Palace)—Adjacent to the Cathédrale NotreDame de Reims, this 17th-century archbishops’ palace contains treasures from the cathedral, including items from the royal coronations.
Beyond Reims: Attractions
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Did you know?
Wild boar and wild
mushrooms, which are
both plentiful in the
surrounding forests, are
among the culinary
specialties of
Charleville-Mézières.
©
Maison de
la France/S
oren Rasm
ussen
• Charleville-Mézières—The charming town of Charleville-Mézières
(shar leh VEEL may zee YAIR), on the banks of the Meuse River
about 50 miles northeast of Reims, is known as the marionette
capital of the world. On the front of the Institute of Marionettes is a
fantastic two-story clock called the Puppet Master, which
marks the daylight hours by transforming itself into a puppet
show. The town’s centerpiece is the 17th-century Place
Ducale (Ducal Square), an arcaded square of steeply gabled
roofs. The Musée Arthur Rimbaud traces the life of the
poet and native son.
• Epernay—Although a smaller city than Reims, Epernay,
located 16 miles to the south, is nearly its equal in champagne production. Some 200 miles of champagne cellars
and tunnels lie beneath its chalky foundations. Among
the major champagne companies located here are Moët
& Chandon, Pol Roger, Mercier, and de Castellane. The
most fun to tour is Mercier, which transports visitors in
a laser-guided train through the cellars past great
wooden barrels, thousands of bottles, and a collection of
19th-century posters.
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• Musée des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museum)—This art gallery
housed in an 18th-century abbey contains paintings and furnishings
from the Renaissance to the 20th century, including a superb collection of landscapes by Corot.
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• Musée de la Reddition (Museum of the Surrender)—This former
schoolhouse is the historic spot where the Germans surrendered to
General Eisenhower on May 7, 1945. Exhibits include an illuminated map showing the course of World War II and audiovisual
displays on the postwar rebuilding of Europe.
Cave M
ercier
Eastern France: Champagne-Ardenne
•
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• Hautvillers—About 4 miles north of Epernay, this tiny village is
where, according to legend, the monk Dom Pérignon decided to
speed up the wine-making process by adding a little yeast. The result
was champagne. Abbaye de Hautvillers houses a reconstruction of
Dom Pérignon’s cellar and laboratory.
Did you know?
Bargain hunters are
drawn to Troyes for its
many outlet stores
specializing in brandname clothing and
accessories.
• Langres—Walking along the ramparts is the best way to explore this
ancient town in the southeast corner of the region 47 miles northeast
of Dijon. Once a fortress that guarded a network of Roman roads,
Langres features a 2,000-year-old Porte Gallo-Romaine (GalloRoman Gate), well-preserved Renaissance houses, and the Musée
d’Art et d’Histoire, which has a fine archaeological collection.
• Parc Naturel Régional de la Montagne de Reims—This forested
park just south of Reims is chiefly known for its rare dwarf beech
trees, oddly malformed trees with gnarled and knotted branches that
droop toward the ground in an umbrella pattern.
• Troyes—With its medieval city center appropriately laid out in the
shape of a champagne cork, Troyes (TWAH), midway between
Paris and Dijon, boasts one of the finest collections of 16thcentury half-timbered houses in all of France. The town offers
several noteworthy museums, including the Musée d’Art
Moderne with its outstanding collection of works by such
artists as Picasso, Modigliani, and Matisse. Among the more
unusual museums is the Maison de l’Outil et de la Pensée
Ouvrière (Museum of Tools and Crafts) where intriguing
displays of antique tools include the wooden hands used by
glove makers. The historic Cathédrale St-Paul et StPierre is illuminated by more than 150 spectacular
n
n Rasmusse
ance//Sore
Fr
la
de
stained-glass windows, and the Eglise St-Madeleine is
n
Maiso
s
e
dominated by a magnificent Gothic rood screen lavishly
Troy
embellished with stone decoration.
Lorraine
The bucolic landscape of Lorraine (loh RHEHN), with its rolling hills
and miles of navigable rivers and waterways, belies a turbulent past that
witnessed some of the most devastating battles of World War I. Sharing
its borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany, the region has
been caught in the power plays of Western Europe for centuries and to
this day reflects Flemish and German cultural influences.
While aficionados of military history will find much to see in Lorraine,
so will those with an interest in architecture and the decorative arts.
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•
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In addition to the famous quiche Lorraine (bacon-and-egg quiche),
Lorraine is also known for sweet yellow mirabelle plums that are often
found atop delicious tarts. Clients may also want to try the region’s
hearty, slow-cooked stews such as the bacon and sausage potée lorraine.
Nancy is 185 miles east of Paris. From Paris, there is frequent direct
train service to Nancy and Metz. From Nancy, there is train service to
Metz, Baccarat, and Epinal. From Metz, there is train service to
Verdun. Bus service to Verdun from both Nancy and Metz is operated
by Les Rapides de Lorraine. Both Nancy and Metz offer local bus systems and taxi service.
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The beautiful city of Nancy (NAHN with nasal n see), the cultural
center of the region, is where Art Nouveau design flourished in the
early 1900s. The legacy of Art Nouveau lives on in the stained-glass
windows and elaborate grillwork that grace the façades of many
buildings throughout the town. The city center, particularly the
spectacular Place Stanislas (Stanislas Square), contains some of the
most splendid 18th-century architecture outside Paris. Some of the
world’s finest crystal, including Baccarat, Daum and St-Louis, is
produced in Lorraine.
Did you know?
Part of the famed
Maginot Line, a vast
and mostly underground defense network built before World
War II, runs through
Lorraine. Segments of
the Maginot Line that
can be toured include
Fort de Fermont north
of Verdun, Fort du
Hackenberg near Metz,
and Fort de Simserhof
near Bitche.
Around Nancy: Attractions
• Musée de l’Ecole de Nancy (Museum of the School of Nancy)—
Fanciful Art Nouveau objects, including extravagantly carved furniture, glasswork, and lamps created by Nancy artists, make a dazzling
display in this museum housed in an early-20th-century mansion.
• Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts)—The
museum contains a fine collection of Art Nouveau glass and
superb examples of 14th- to 18th-century paintings from
the Italian, Flemish, and French schools.
• Musée Historique Lorrain—Housed in the 16th-century
palace of the Dukes of Lorraine, the museum has rich
collections of medieval statuary, engravings, and folk art.
The museum also contains the ducal mausoleum,
modeled after the Medici Chapel in Florence, where the
dukes lie beneath a dazzling coffered ceiling in tombs
embellished by angels and stars.
• Place Stanislas (Stanislas Square)—Fabulous rococo
fountains and gilded ironwork characterize this magnificent town square named for a dethroned Polish king, Stanislas
©
Maison de
la Fran
ce/Jacques
Sierpinski
Place S
tanislas
Eastern France: Lorraine
•
Part 1.61
Leszcynski, who ruled Lorraine as duke in the 17th century.
Particularly splendid is the massive gilded wrought-iron gate by Jean
Lamour, especially impressive at night when it is illuminated.
Beyond Nancy: Attractions
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• Baccarat—Thirty-five miles southeast of Nancy, the village is home
to the famous Baccarat crystal glassworks, which offers a retail store
selling items at a discount. Also on the grounds is the Musée du
Cristal, which displays exquisite examples of Baccarat crystal.
Did you know?
The largest U.S. military cemetery in
Europe is the World
War I Meuse-Argonne
American Cemetery at
Romagne-sousMontfaucon, about 30
miles northwest of
Verdun. The largest
World War II cemetery
in Europe, with 10,489
graves, is situated in
Saint-Avold east of
Metz.
• Epinal—Since the 18th century, this town 45 miles southeast of
Nancy has been known for its images of Epinal, colorful wood block
prints. At the Imagerie d’Epinal (Colored-Print Trade of Epinal),
visitors can view some fine examples and watch demonstrations of
how they are made and colored. Also worth a stop is the Musée
Départemental d’Art Ancien et Contemporain, which has a multifaceted collection that runs the gamut from ancient Egyptian artifacts to works by contemporary French artists.
• Metz—Surrounded by a moat formed by the Moselle and Seille
Rivers, the multicultural city of Metz (MESS), 35 miles north of
Nancy next to the German and Belgian borders, has gone back and
forth between German and French control during its long history. The
question was most recently settled by the Battle of Metz in 1944. The
city’s most impressive feature is Cathédrale St-Etienne, a masterwork
of 12th-century Gothic architecture with outstanding stained-glass
windows, including some spectacular examples by Marc Chagall.
Metz is also home to what is believed to be the oldest church in
France, St-Pierre-aux-Nonnains, which was originally built around
400 A.D. as part of a Gallo-Roman spa complex. More remnants of
Metz’s Gallo-Roman past can be viewed at the Musée d’Art et
d’Histoire where antiquities are displayed in a series of 60 mazelike
rooms in a former 17th-century convent.
• Verdun—Nowhere is the tragedy of war more vividly illustrated than
by this fortified city on the Meuse River, 57 miles northwest of
Nancy. Although it saw its first battle in 450 A.D. when it was
ravaged by Attila the Hun, Verdun is best known as the battleground
where more than 800,000 soldiers lost their lives during World
War I. Perhaps the best place for visitors to get an introduction to
Verdun’s role in the war is at the Citadelle Souterraine
(Underground Citadel), which served as a command center during
the conflict. Its vast underground galleries, which are toured in
battery-powered cars, contain audiovisual reenactments of Verdun in
1916. By contrast, the themes of peace and human rights are the
Part 1.62
•
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focus of the nearby Centre Mondial de la Paix (World Center
for Peace).
Managing to be both quaint and cosmopolitan, Alsace (ahl ZAHS) is
where a mix of European cultures come together in a delightful blend.
Tucked in between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River, the
region has been alternately part of Germany or France during various
periods, most recently as World War II. Visitors will see the Germanic
influences in everything from the storybook villages with their storks’
nests and half-timbered houses to the local restaurants, commonly
called winstubs (wine rooms), where hearty dishes of choucroute
(sauerkraut) and smoked meats are likely to be on the menu. Other
local favorites include coq au Riesling, Fois Gras d’Alsace, and
flammeküche (thin onion tart).
With its setting at the crossroads of Europe, it is little wonder
that the city of Strasbourg (STRAHZ boorg) has become a
meeting ground for the continent. Within its borders are
such major institutions as the headquarters of the
European Parliament and the European Court of
Human Rights. The city is also one of the intellectual
centers of Europe, with an international student population of some 40,000.
At the same time, Strasbourg retains a great deal of its
historic charm, particularly in the narrow streets surrounding the great Cathédrale Notre-Dame and in the nearby enclave
called La Petite France, with its canals and medieval houses laden with
pots of geraniums. Clients will enjoy strolling through these areas and
along the pathways of the River Ill with its swans and grassy picnic
areas along the banks.
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Alsace
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In the countryside just northeast of the city are many reminders of
the grueling Battle of Verdun, which started in February 1916 and
dragged on for some 300 days. Perhaps the most poignant is the
Ossuaire de Douaumont (Ossuary in Douaumont), which contains the remains of some 130,000 unidentified French and German
soldiers, and offers an audiovisual presentation of the battle. About a
mile from the memorial is Fort de Douaumont, the strongest of the
39 forts and bastions built to protect Verdun. In the nearby village
of Fleury is the Mémorial de Verdun, a museum with documents,
photographs and a re-created battlefield.
Did you know?
“La Marseillaise,” the
stirring French
national anthem, was
written in Strasbourg in
1792 by a young army
engineer named
Claude-Joseph Rouget
de Lisle.
Maison de
la France/H
ubert Camill
e
Strasbo
urg
One of the most delightful times to visit Strasbourg is in December, a
©
Eastern France: Alsace
•
Part 1.63
period when the city goes all out for the holiday season, starting on
December 5. The focal point of activity is the month-long Christkindelsmärk (Christmas Markets), a tradition since 1590, with vendors
selling hot mulled wine, spiced cakes, hand-carved toys, and candles.
Outside Strasbourg, visitors can get a taste of the region by exploring
the Route des Vins d’Alsace (Alsace Wine Road), a series of signposted country roads that starts southwest of Strasbourg and meanders
south for about 80 miles along the eastern foothills of the Vosges
Mountains. Along with tasting the crisp local white wines at the roadside cellars, visitors will want to stop and explore charming medieval
villages such as Kaysersberg, Ribeauvillé, and Riquewihr.
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Strasbourg is located 303 miles southeast of Paris. There is frequent
direct train service to Strasbourg from Paris, about a four- to five-hour
trip. Transportation options within Strasbourg include tram and bus
systems, both excellent. Strasbourg also offers a wealth of cycling paths,
and bicycles can be rented from the city-operated Vélocation offices in
several locations.
Did you know?
Accommodations in
Strasbourg can be
difficult to come by
when the European
Parliament is in session,
usually one week per
month except in August.
Weekends in December
are also busy periods
because of the
Christmas festivities.
Getting around Alsace is best done by car, particularly if clients want to
explore the Alsace Wine Road. Reliable train service connects
Strasbourg with Colmar and Mulhouse.
Around Strasbourg: Attractions
• Cathédrale Notre-Dame—With its soaring spires and ornate
statuary, the cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic design. Its most
arresting feature is the 16th-century Horloge Astronomique
(Astronomical Clock) with its mechanized wooden figures that
present an automated pageant of the Apostles and Ages of Man
at midday.
• Musée Alsacien—Three 16th- and 17th-century houses comprise this
charming museum that depicts daily Alsatian life over the centuries.
• Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain—The museum’s outstanding collection, devoted to art from the late 19th century
onward, includes works by Monet, Renoir, Gris, and Picasso.
• Musée de l’Oeuvre Notre-Dame—The museum’s collection
includes many early sculptures and architectural features taken from
Cathédrale Notre-Dame.
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• Palais Rohan (Rohan Palace)—The former residence
of the city’s bishops houses three museums: the Musée
Archéologique, with exhibits from Paleolithic times to 800
A.D.; the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, which features a
series of lavish 18th-century rooms; and the Musée des
Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts), which exhibits
paintings by European masters from the 14th to the
19th century.
• Parlement Européen (European Parliament)—On
weekdays guided tours are offered on weekdays of this
modern building where members of the European
Union meet at various times during the year. Visitors
can also sit in on the sessions for up to an hour.
Maison de
la Fran
ce/Fabian
Charaffi
Palais R
ohan
Beyond Strasbourg: Attractions
• Colmar—With its maze of cobbled streets and pitched-roof houses
adorned with pots of geraniums, Colmar, 42 miles south of
Strasbourg, is the quintessential old Alsatian town. One of the chief
delights for visitors is simply to walk and gawk at the delightful
medieval and Renaissance buildings. Among the standouts are the
Maison des Têtes (House of the Heads), with its fantastic stone
façade of grimacing faces and animal heads, and Maison Pfister, with
its carved wooden balcony and exterior painted with biblical figures.
Colmar is comprised of several intriguing historic neighborhoods,
including the Quartier des Tanneurs (Tanners’ District) with its
medieval Ancienne Douane (Old Customs House), which is now
used for concerts and temporary exhibits. A wonderful area to
explore either on foot or by punt is Petite Venise (Little Venice)
with its waterways lined with vintage half-timbered houses painted in
a rainbow of colors.
Among Colmar’s museums, the most noteworthy is Musée
d’Unterlinden (Under the Linden Trees Museum) with its famed
16th-century Retable d’Issenheim (Issenheim Altarpiece) by the
artist Grunevald depicting the crucifixion of Christ and an important
collection of medieval and Renaissance artwork. Also worth a visit is
the Musée Bartholdi, which displays the sculptures and memorabilia
of Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty, in
the house where he was born. There is also the Musée Animé du
Jouet et des Petits Trains (Animated Museum of Toys and Little
Trains), which is devoted to dolls, antique windup toys, and toy trains.
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• Kaysersberg—About 7 miles northwest of Colmar, this is one of the
loveliest villages along the Alsace Wine Road. Kaysersberg’s most
famous native son is Nobel Peace Prize recipient Dr. Albert Schweitzer
whose home is now a museum, the Centre Culturel AlbertSchweitzer. The town center is well worth exploring for its splendid
old houses and such historic sites as the fortified bridge over the River
Weiss and ornate 17th-century Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall).
• Mulhouse—Although primarily an industrial city, Mulhouse (mew
LOOSE), about 70 miles south of Strasbourg, is known for its 12
museums devoted to everything from wallpaper to locomotives. Its
star attraction is the Musée National de l’Automobile, which displays more than 500 classic cars, including rare Bugattis.
Did you know?
The town of Ornans, a
few miles southwest of
Besançon, is the
birthplace of the 19thcentury French realist
painter Gustave
Courbet. The Musée
Courbet, situated in
the house where the
artist was born, displays
some of his work.
• Riquewihr—Another popular
Alsace Wine Road stop, the
village of Riquewihr (REEK
veer), about 7 miles northwest of Colmar, is encircled
by 16th-century ramparts
and includes a number of
fascinating medieval landmarks such as the Tour
des Voleurs (Tower of
Thieves), a former dungeon with instruments of
Riquew
ihr
torture on display. Just
outside the village is the
Château de Haut Koenigsbourg, the
largest castle in Alsace. The imposing red-sandstone structure,
heavily reconstructed during the early 20th century, offers panoramic
views across the Rhine Valley.
Maison de
la France/J
acques Sier
pinski
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• Ribeauvillé—One of the most heavily visited villages along the Alsace
Wine Road, this picture-postcard village, about 10 miles northwest of
Colmar, has an intriguing historic center with such sights as the 13thcentury Tour des Bouchers (Butchers’ Bell Tower) and the 16thcentury town hall with its Renaissance fountain.
• Saverne—Tucked into the northwest corner of Alsace, 23 miles
northwest of Strasbourg where the Zorn River meets the Marne-toRhine Canal, Saverne is a popular center for pleasure boating. The
town’s most outstanding attraction is the 18th-century Château du
Cardinal de Rohan, which, because of its grand architecture and
gardens, is sometimes called the “Alsatian Versailles.” Inside are
museum displays devoted to archaeology and history.
Part 1.66
•
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Franche-Comté
Much of Franche-Comté (frahnsh kon with nasal n TAY), a region
along the Swiss border, is dominated by the Jura Mountains, with their
deep valleys and an abundance of lakes and forests. Its unspoiled
centerpiece is Parc Naturel Régional du Haut-Jura, which
encompasses dozens of tiny hamlets and farms within its borders and
offers more than 600 miles of hiking trails. The park is also ideal
for cross-country skiing, boating, fishing, and a host of other
outdoor activities.
A good way to explore Franche-Comté, which is known for
its vin jaune (yellow wine) and a dessert wine called vin de
paille, is to drive along the Route du Vin de Jura (Jura
Wine Route). The route stretches for 50 miles from Salins-les-Bains to
Saint-Amour and includes the lovely winegrowing towns of Arbois and
Pupillin. Along with sampling the wine, visitors will want to try such
regional foods as Morteau sausages, comté and morbier cheeses, and
pochouse, a freshwater fish stew.
Maison de
la France/I
mages Phot
othèque
The dramatic landscape of Franche-Comté also yields a number
of intriguing towns watched over by mountaintop citadels.
Among them are Besançon (beh zan with nasal n SOHN with
nasal n), the regional capital that is a handsome university
town with a historic center encircled by the River Doubs, and
Belfort, with its red-sandstone lion guarding the city from
on high.
Besanç
on
Besançon is 243 miles southeast of Paris. The towns of Besançon and
Dole are served by the high-speed TGV rail line from Paris, about a
2 1/2-hour trip to Besançon and 2 hours to Dole. By car, Besançon is
linked to Paris by the A6 and A36 highways. The city offers local bus
service and train connections to Belfort and Dole.
Around Besançon: Attractions
• Cathédrale St-Jean—Dating from the 12th century but lavishly
embellished with 18th-century baroque architectural details, the
cathedral is known for its beautiful, round, white-marble altar and its
mechanized astronomical clock, which notes the seasons, tides, and
times in 16 parts of the world.
• Citadelle—Perched on a steep hill overlooking the town, the Citadel
is a magnificent fortress built for Louis XIV by the great military
©
Eastern France: Franche-Comté
•
Part 1.67
architect Vauban between 1688 and 1711. Within its ramparts and
watchtowers are three museums devoted to local history, natural history, and the Resistance movement during World War II.
• Musée des Beaux-Arts et d’Archéologie (Museum of Fine Arts
and Archaeology)—The museum features a noted collection of
paintings by French and Italian artists and exhibits on the city’s
importance as a clock-making center.
• Musée du Temps (Museum of Time)—Housed in a 16th-century
Renaissance mansion with an arcaded courtyard, the museum
features a collection of historic clocks.
Beyond Besançon: Attractions
• Arbois—Twenty-eight miles southwest of Besançon, center of the
region’s winegrowing area, the history of wine making is presented
in the Musée de la Vigne et du Vin (Museum of Wine). In and
around Arbois are a dozen or so cellars that welcome visitors for
tastings and tours.
Several of the region’s prettiest villages lie south of Arbois and
include Baume-les-Messieurs, surrounded by massive cliffs studded
with 6th-century ruins, and Poligny, known for the rich, nutty
cheeses produced there. The village offers numerous cheese shops
and a museum, Musée du Comté, with exhibits on the local cheese
(called comté) industry.
• Arc-et-Senans—About 20 miles southwest of Besançon, the village
is home to the Saline Royale (Royal Saltworks), a UNESCO
World Heritage Site. More than just a place where salt was
manufactured, the 18th-century complex was designed as a
self-contained city of the Industrial Age.
• Belfort—The town of Belfort is 56 miles northeast of
Besançon. Its dominant feature is the imposing hilltop
Citadelle, an 18th-century engineering marvel designed by
Vauban that took more than 20 years to build and now
contains an art and history museum. The structure is
flanked by the Lion de Belfort, a sculpture of a lion
created by the sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, who
also designed the Statue of Liberty.
othèque
mages Phot
la France/I
Maison de
-Haut
me-du
otre-Da
N
e
ll
e
Chap
Part 1.68
•
A few miles west of Belfort is the village of Ronchamp,
where the Chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Haut, designed in
1955 by noted French architect Le Corbusier, is
©
considered one of the masterpieces of 20th-century design. Its sweeping curved roof was said to be inspired by the shell of a hermit crab.
• Dole—Situated midway between Besançon and Dijon, an attractive
town on the River Doubs, Dole commemorates its most famous
native son, Louis Pasteur, at Maison Natale de Pasteur et Musée
Pasteur (Pasteur Birthplace and Museum). The museum
chronicles the scientist’s early life and the importance of his work on
bacteria and vaccination. The capital of the region during medieval
times, Dole has a beautifully preserved historic district lined with
houses from the 15th to 18th centuries. Also well worth a visit is the
Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts), with exhibits on
local archaeology and paintings by Courbet, Pointelin, and other
French artists.
Pronunciation Guide
Alsace
ahl ZAHS
Auxerre
oh SAIR
Besançon
beh zan with nasal n SOHN with nasal n
Bourgogne
boor GONE yeh
Champagne-Ardenne
shahm PAHN yeh ahr DEN
Charleville-Mézières
shar leh VEEL may zee YAIR
Dijon
dee ZHON with nasal n
Franche-Comté
frahnsh kon with nasal n TAY
Lorraine
loh RHEHN
Metz
MESS
Mulhouse
mew LOOSE
Nancy
nahn with nasal n SEE
Reims
RHANS
Riquewihr
REEK veer
Strasbourg
STRAHZ boorg
Troyes
TWAH
©
Eastern France: Pronunciation Guide
•
Part 1.69
SWITZERLAND
FRANCHECOMTE
BOURGOGNE
Lac Léman
S
Evianles-Bains
P
Chamonix
Mont Blanc
Annecy
R.
Pérouges
L
Villefranchesur-Saône
BEAUJOLAIS
WINE REGION
Lyon
ôn
e
Lac d’Annecy
Rh
ire
Lo
Lac d’Aiguebelette
R.
Vienne
Albertville
A
Gorges
ire
de la Lo
Saône R.
Geneva
(Switzerland)
TignesVal d’Isère
Courcheval
Chambéry
Les Trois
Vallées
Parc National
de la Vanoise
Grenoble
Isèr
eR
.
Lac du Bourget
S
RHONE-ALPES
ITALY
L
P
S
AUVERGNE
P
Parc National
des Ecrins
L
A
DROME
WINE REGION
S
A
Rhône
R.
Drac R.
P
LANGUEDOCROUSSILLON
A
L
RIVIERA
COTE
D’AZUR
PROVENCE-ALPESCOTE D’AZUR
Rhône-Alpes
30 km
0
30 mi
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
Part 1.70
•
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Rhône-Alpes
W
hether your clients crave outdoor adventure or prefer to satisfy
their cravings at the table, they will find much to enjoy in the
Rhône-Alpes (the French Alps and the Rhône River Valley). The
region encompasses the soaring peaks of the French Alps with their
glamorous ski resorts, mountainside villages, and elegant spa towns. At
the same time, it is also defined by the fine wines of the Rhône Valley,
the gastronomic and cultural pleasures of Lyon, and historical sites
dating back to ancient Rome.
Opportunities to enjoy winter sports abound in the French Alps,
the site of three Winter Olympics—at Chamonix (1924),
Grenoble (1968), and Albertville (1992). One of the bestequipped skiing areas in the world, the French Alps contain
nearly 200 ski resorts and offer some 3,750 miles of ski circuits,
including the Porte du Soleil, running along the Franco-Swiss
border, Courchevel, and the Espace Killy (Tignes and Val
d’Isère), a 190-mile circuit of challenging slopes named for
Olympic gold medalist Jean-Claude Killy. Among the many
famous ski resorts are Chamonix, which sits at the foot of
Maison de
la France/C
Hiking
hristian Arna
l
the Fre
Mont Blanc; Les Trois Vallées (meaning the three valleys),
nch Alp
s
the largest ski area in the world; and Tignes and Val
d’Isère, adjacent to a high glacier where skiing is possible all
year. Many areas of the French Alps are also equipped for such varied
activities as snowboarding, dogsledding, and snowshoe hiking.
The region also offers some of Europe’s most spectacular mountain
scenery, much of it protected in several nature parks and in more than
two dozen nature reserves, which offer a wide array of summer activities including hiking, golfing, river rafting, horseback riding, hang gliding, and bicycling. Among the most scenic spots are its two national
parks: Parc National des Ecrins, which is in the southern part of the
region, and Parc National de la Vanoise, which borders on Italy. The
area is also blessed with large and beautiful alpine lakes such as Lac
Léman (Lake Geneva), Lac du Bourget, Lac d’Aiguebelette, and
Lac d’Annecy, where the clear waters are ideal for boat excursions,
sailing, and swimming.
The Loire River cuts a swath through the northwest corner of the
region where it forms the dramatic Gorges de le Loire, a place of
©
Rhône-Alpes
•
71
steep cliffs and spectacular views. Sitting high atop the gorge is the
medieval village of Saint-Victor-sur-Loire, an important stopping
point for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. To
the south, the Drôme countryside takes on the characteristics of
neighboring Provence with fields of lavender, groves of olive trees, and
hilltop fortified villages. In the southwest corner of Rhône-Alpes, the
wildly beautiful Ardèche region is filled with chestnut groves and sucs
(strange petrified hillocks of volcanic origin).
Equally renowned for gastronomy, the Rhône-Alpes region
encompasses the third-largest wine-producing region in France. Most
of the wines are reds, including the famous Beaujolais wines produced
from the Gamay grape vineyards covering much of the rolling hills
north of Lyon. Other great reds are the Côtes du Rhône wines such as
Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie. Additional wines to try are Condrieu and
Clairette de Die, a sparkling wine from the Drôme region.
ain Courtois
etel and Al
/André Chas
ce
an
Fr
la
Maison de
Its verdant meadows have helped make it one of the largest and most
varied cheese-producing areas of France. Among the selections are
buttery beaufort, creamy mountain tomme, refined reblochon, and
St-Marcellin, a cow’s milk cheese so tasty it is often called the “king of
cheese.” The district is also known for its prized Bresse chickens, wild
mushrooms and truffles, sausages, olive oil, and fragrant lavender.
in Lyon
lk café
a
w
e
id
As
The capital city of Lyon (lee YOHN with nasal n), known as the
gastronomic capital of France, has produced many of the
country’s most celebrated chefs, including Paul Bocuse. Among
the local specialties are delicate quenelles made of
pike fish, Bresse chickens covered in truffles, and ravioli
stuffed with herbal cheese. Earthy fare can be found at the
city’s bouchons, informal bistros where the menu may feature
local sausages, salads tossed with crisp lardons of bacon, or
tablier de sapeur (crispy pancakes of tripe). Fine-quality
chocolate is also a specialty of the city, which features many
elegant chocolate shops where the delectable offerings are
expertly made.
Lyon is also France’s primary arts and culture capital after Paris,
featuring world-class opera, ballet, concerts, and theater, along with a
rich array of art and history museums. With roots that stretch back into
Roman times and a wealth of carefully preserved monuments, the
entire historic center of Lyon has been classified by UNESCO as a
World Heritage Site. Much of the city’s ancient heritage can be
appreciated in Fourvière, a hillside area filled with Roman sites, and
Croix Rousse, an enchanting district that once housed the city’s canuts
(silk weavers).
Part 1.72
•
©
The heart of the commercial city center is called the Presqu’île
(Peninsula), a strip of land almost completely surrounded by the Saône
and Rhône Rivers. Its focal point is the Place Bellecour, a sweeping
regal square dominated by an impressive statue of Louis XIV on horseback. Among the Peninsula’s other noteworthy sites are the ornate
17th-century Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) and the 19th-century Opéra
de Lyon, the city opera house with a dramatic modern glass room.
Lyon is located 268 miles southeast of Paris. Lyon has both a bus
system and a four-line subway system that run throughout the city.
Lyon also offers direct train service to cities throughout France and
is linked to Paris by the high-speed TGV train line, a two-hour trip
from Paris’s Gare de Lyon (Lyon Train Station) and from Charles de
Gaulle Airport.
Elsewhere in the region, many of the major cities, towns, and ski
resorts, including Chamonix, Grenoble, and Chambéry, are linked by
frequent direct train service to both Paris and Lyon.
Around Lyon: Attractions
• Cathédrale St-Jean—The highlights of the cathedral, built between
the 12th and 15th centuries, are its Gothic façade decorated with
stone medallions, original stained glass, and an astronomical clock.
• Centre d’Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation—This
museum, which is devoted to the history of Nazi atrocities committed in Lyon and the heroism of French Resistance fighters, is located
in the former World War II headquarters of notorious Gestapo chief
Klaus Barbie.
• Croix Rousse—The hilltop neighborhood of Croix Rousse (kwah
RHOOSE), which literally means “russet cross,” was the center of
the city’s silk-weaving industry during the 19th century. The Maison
des Canuts (Silk Weavers’ House), with a small museum and traditional workshop, gives visitors insight into this era. The silk weavers’
history is also vividly painted on the Mur des Canuts, a wall mural
located on the corner of the Boulevard des Canuts.
• Fourvière—The slopes of Fourvière (foor vee YAIR), known by
locals as the “hill of prayer,” are where the Romans built the city of
Lugdunum more than 2,000 years ago. Visitors can take a funicular
train to the top for spectacular views of Lyon and its environs. At the
crest of the hill is the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière, built in
©
Rhône-Alpes
•
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1896 and lavishly embellished with marble and gilded mosaics. A
fine collection of religious art is on view at the Musée de Fourvière.
Did you know?
Lyon is known for its
maze of traboules,
passageways and
covered alleys linking
one building with
another. Some date
from Roman times, but
many were built by
19th-century silk
weavers to transport
their goods during
inclement weather.
Remains of the ancient Roman city, along with archaeological finds
from all over the Rhône Valley, are on display at the nearby Musée
de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine. Among the items on display are
stone coffins, a remarkable four-wheeled vehicle, bronzes, and
mosaics. Part of the museum complex includes two adjacent Roman
theaters, dating from 15 B.C. and unearthed in 1933, now used for
summer concerts.
• Institut Lumière—The home of the father of pioneer filmmakers,
the brothers Louis and Auguste Lumière, who were shooting motion
pictures as early as 1885, includes exhibits that trace the beginnings
of cinematic art and technology. On the grounds is a theater where
classic films are screened.
• Musée d’Art Contemporain—The museum focuses on art created
after 1960 and features many temporary exhibitions.
• Musée de l’Imprimerie de Lyon (Museum of the History of
Printing)—Reflecting the fact that Lyon has been a center for printing technology since the 15th century, the museum is devoted to the
art of printing. The collection includes a page from a Gutenberg
Bible and rare examples of books printed before 1500.
• Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts)—The museum
collection features a wide range of sculptures and paintings
representing nearly every period of European art history.
• Musée des Tissus (Textile Museum) and Musée des Arts
Décoratifs—Housed in a splendid 18th-century former private
residence, the Textile Museum features sumptuous locally made silks,
along with French and Asian textiles and carpets. In the same
building, the Museum of Decorative Arts has a collection that
includes prime examples of 18th-century furniture, tapestries,
wallpapers, silver, and ceramics.
• Musée Gadagne—Two museums, the Musée de la Marionnette
(Puppet Museum) and the Musée Historique de Lyon, are
housed in the Hôtel Gadagne, an early 16th-century mansion once
owned by two Florentine bankers. The former was founded by 19thcentury puppet master Laurent Mourguet and displays a fascinating
collection of historic puppets. The latter traces the history of Lyon
from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.
• Musée Urbain Tony-Garnier—This unusual open-air museum is
Part 1.74
•
©
• Place Bellecour—One of the largest public squares in Europe,
Bellecour was designed in the 17th century and features an elegant
park with a statue of Louis XIV at the center.
Outside Lyon: Attractions
• Pays Beaujolais (Beaujolais Country)—The vineyard-covered hillsides that start about 25 miles north of Lyon are known for the
bright-red fruity wines called Beaujolais. The wineries produce three
types of Beaujolais: the premium-quality crus, the everyday villages,
and the young nouveau. There is no predetermined wine route in
this area, but there are about 150 châteaux. Clients can taste and
learn about Beaujolais throughout the area, which offers several wine
museums, including the excellent Hameau en Beaujolais (Hamlet
in Beaujolais) in the village of Romanèche-Thorins. The countryside is also noted for its wealth of pretty stone villages, many of them
clustered along the La Route des Pierres Dorées (Route of the
Golden Stones), which follows along the D70 roadway south of
Villefranche-sur-Saône through the Saône River Valley.
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• Parc de la Tête d’Or—This English-style park on the left bank of
the Rhône River features a lake, botanical garden, miniature golf
course, rose garden, and zoo.
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named for architect Tony Garnier who designed the 1930s apartment complex in which it is located. The subject of the museum is
the 24 wall murals that adorn the apartment buildings.
Did you know?
The majority of wine
produced in the
Beaujolais region is of
the nouveau variety,
which is considered
best to drink very early.
The Beaujolais
Nouveau harvest is celebrated every year on
the third Thursday in
November when the
first of the new wine is
released and quickly
transported to cities all
over the world.
• Pérouges—A picturesque hilltop village about 20 miles northeast of
Lyon, Pérouges (pay ROOZH) is characterized by its cobbled streets
and half-timbered houses with overhanging roofs and mullioned windows. The village is also known for its craft galleries and charming central square shaded by an ancient linden tree. Local history is recounted at the Musée du Vieux
Pérouges (Museum of Old Pérouges), which offers a fantastic view from the top of its tower.
• Vienne—Once an important Roman colony, this town
straddling the Rhône River 20 miles south of Lyon features many reminders of its ancient past. Prime attractions include the Temple d’Auguste et de Livie, a
2,000-year-old Roman temple built in honor of the
Emperor Augustus and his wife, Livia, and the open-air
Théâtre Romain, a Roman amphitheater that is now a
venue for an annual two-week jazz festival held from
©
Maison de
la France/M
ichel Guillar
d (Scope)
Vien
ne
Rhône-Alpes
•
Part 1.75
mid-June to mid-July. On the right bank of the river is an excavated
site of a Gallo-Roman settlement called St-Romain-en-Gal.
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Beyond Lyon: Attractions
Did you know?
The ski season in the
French Alps usually
starts shortly before
Christmas and ends in
late April. Prices are
highest and accommodations are at the
fullest during the
Christmas holidays and
school holidays in
February. Discounts on
rooms and lift tickets
can often be had in
January and at the
beginning and end of
the season.
Part 1.76
•
• Annecy—The attractive town of Annecy (ahn SEE) at the northern
tip of the Lac d’Annecy, 85
miles east of Lyon, is
sometimes called the “Venice
of the Alps” for its canals,
maze of cobbled streets, and
flower-bedecked houses. In
the heart of the historic
district, a canal forms a
natural moat around the
Palais de l’Isle, a former
12th-century prison that
Maison de
la France/N
icole Lejeun
is now an intriguing
e
Annecy
museum devoted to
regional history.
Overlooking the town is the Musée
Château, a natural history museum housed in a medieval
castle that was once home to the Dukes of Savoie (Savoy).
• Chambéry—Set in a wide valley between Annecy and Grenoble,
Chambéry (shahn with nasal n bay RHEE), about 60 miles east of
Lyon, was a stronghold of the Dukes of Savoy who presided over the
surrounding area from the 13th century to the mid-16th century.
Their stronghold was the impressive Château des Ducs de Savoie
(Castle of the Dukes of Savoy), a 14th-century fortress housing
local government offices. Guided tours include a medieval chapel
that contains the 70-bell Grand Carillon, the largest bell chamber
in Europe. The historic quarter surrounding the château is filled
with charming old houses, including many with ornate stucco
façades. Among its splendid landmarks is the Fontaine des
Eléphants, a fountain embellished with four massive elephants
sculpted in 1838.
The town also offers several interesting museums including the
Musée Savoisien (Museum of the History of Savoy), exhibits on
local archaeological finds and traditional life in the region, and the
Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts), which is renowned
for its collection of 14th- to 18th-century European art. The Musée
des Charmettes is devoted to the life and works of philosopher
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who lived in the hamlet of Charmettes from
1736 to 1742.
©
Maison de
la
France/Jac
ques Sierpi
Skiing
nski
at Cham
onix
• Evian-les-Bains—France’s world-famous mineral water, Evian,
has its source at Evian-les-Bains (ay vee YAHN with nasal n lei
BAHN with nasal n), a smart spa resort town on the edge of Lake
Léman, about 25 miles north of Annecy. Cruises to the Swiss side of
the waterway are among the enjoyable activities here. The town also
offers such diversions as thermal baths, water sports, tours of the
Evian bottling factory, and gambling at an elegant domed casino.
• Grenoble—The intellectual and economic center of the French Alps,
Grenoble (greh NOH bleh), 64 miles southeast of Lyon, is a bustling
university city set in a broad valley ringed by mountains. Clients can
take the gondola up to Fort de la Bastille, a fort built by the great
military architect Vauban in the 16th century to protect the city, for
views that stretch all the way to Mont Blanc. A former prison, the
fort now houses a collection of vintage automobiles.
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For those who would rather not climb on foot, the surrounding
mountains offer a number of cable cars and railways to get to the top
for incredible views. Not to be missed is the exciting cable-car ride
up to the top of the Aiguille du Midi, a frozen peak looming above
vast glaciers and rocky crags. A cog railway built at the turn of the
20th century climbs to the Mer de Glace (meaning sea of ice), the
second-largest glacier in the Alps. Open during the summer months,
the Grotte de la Mer de Glace is an ice cave that enables visitors to
get a look at the inside of the glacier. Another great excursion is the
breathtaking cable-car ride across Mont Blanc to Pointe
Helbronner on the Italian border.
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• Chamonix—A popular resort in both summer and winter,
Chamonix (shah moh NEE), 58 miles east of Annecy, is
surrounded by some of the most dramatic mountain
scenery in all of Europe. It is watched over by the icy
spires of Mont Blanc, at 15,771 feet the highest
mountain peak in Europe. The town, which is close to
nine ski areas and a myriad of hiking trails, is a great
base for exploring the French Alps and enjoying
everything from snowboarding to mountain climbing.
At the Musée Alpin (Alpine Museum), visitors can
learn about the history of mountain climbing and
other alpine sports.
Did you know?
Grenoble’s Place
Victor Hugo is the site
of a major Christmas
market during two
weeks in December.
The event, which draws
more than 150,000
shoppers, features
choirs, processions of
children carrying
lanterns, and about 50
market stalls selling
handmade gifts, decorations, and food items.
Grenoble offers a rich assortment of museums, including the Musée
Dauphinois (Museum of the Province of Dauphiné), which is
housed in a 17th-century convent and contains exhibits on the crafts
and history of the surrounding Dauphiné region. The Musée de
Grenoble offers a wonderful collection of paintings and sculpture,
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Rhône-Alpes
•
Part 1.77
which includes works by Rubens, Chagall, Matisse, Monet, and
Picasso, to name just a few. Contemporary art is the focus of Le
Magasin, an art center housed in an industrial hall built in 1900 by
the workshop of Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel. The Musée Stendhal is
devoted to the life and times of the author Stendhal, who wrote the
classic novel The Red and the Black.
Visitors will enjoy walking around the historic quarter of St-Laurent
with its 14th-century gateway and narrow streets filled with old
houses and ethnic restaurants. At the Musée de l’Ancien Evêché
(Old Bishop’s Palace Museum), exhibits featuring interactive kiosks
trace the history and heritage of the city.
Pronunciation Guide
Part 1.78
•
Annecy
ahn SEE
Chambéry
shahn with nasal n bay RHEE
Chamonix
shah moh NEE
Croix Rousse
kwah RHOOSE
Evian-les-Bains
ay vee YAHN with nasal n
lei BAHN with nasal n
Fourvière
foor vee YAIR
Grenoble
greh NOH bleh
Lyon
lee YOHN with nasal n
Pérouges
pay RHOOZH
©
SWITZERLAND
Southeast France
60 km
0
60 mi
RHONEALPES
ITALY
AUVERGNE
PROVENCEALPESCOTE D’AZUR
Parc National
des Cévennes
Gorges
du Tar
n
Parc National
du Mercantour
e
Fré
ôn
Rh
in
art er
p-M r-M
Ca su
n/ ne- heins
nto bru nc
Me que llefra -Mer es-P
Ro e/Vi -sur uan-l
Nic gnes es/J
el
Ca tib
ha
An es
ap
n
n
-R
ez
Ca
/St
op
-Tr
int
Gorges du
RIVIERA
Verdon
COTE D’AZUR
Orange Vaison-la-Romaine Castellane
MONACO
Uzès
Carpentras
Pont
du
Gard
MIDI-PYRENEES
Vence
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Saint-PaulNîmes
de-Vence
Roussillon
Parc Régional
Avignon
Ménerbes
du Haut Languedoc
Grasse
Montpellier
Arles
Aix-en-Provence
Béziers
Marseille
Oppidum
Sète
d’Ensérune
Narbonne
Toulon
Parc Naturel
i
id
M
Régional
de
Camargue
u
d
Canal
Carcassonne
Gulf of Lion
Château
de Quéribus
Perpignan
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
Collioure
LANGUEDOCROUSSILLON
jus
R.
Sa
Bastia
ANDORRA
SPAIN
Calvi
CORSE
Corte
Parc Naturel
Régional de la Corse
Aléria
Ajaccio
Filitosa
PortoVecchio
Bonifacio
Part 1.80
•
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Southeast
France
W
hile the north and west of France look toward the Atlantic, it is
the Mediterranean, with its ancient past and sun-blessed climate,
that makes Southeast France a destination all its own. From
Languedoc-Roussillon, which borders Spain at the southwest, to the
Côte d’Azur, which borders Italy at the east, this is a region that has
almost as much in common with its Mediterranean neighbors as it does
with the rest of France.
Côte d’Azur
Whether you call it the Côte d’Azur or the French Riviera, this is
undoubtedly the most sophisticated seaside playground in the world.
But not far beneath the glittering surface of luxury yachts and international socialites, there is also a rich cultural legacy left by the dozens of
early-20th-century artists who were as captivated by the French
Riviera’s balmy climate and dazzling beauty as visitors are today.
What enchanted everyone from Renoir to Picasso is the region’s
luminous light and its stunning geography of dramatic rocky hillsides
looming above the deep-blue coves of the Mediterranean. Steep
winding coastal or cliff roads called corniches offer thrilling views as
they zigzag through such villages perchés (perched villages) as Eze,
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, and Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Fragrant fields
of roses and other flowers that grow throughout the region form the
basis for an important perfume industry in the town of Grasse, while a
dazzling array of exotic blooms can be enjoyed everywhere from public
gardens to the famous flower market of Nice.
The area is also home to the Alpes d’Azur, a range of mountains
with peaks rising to 10,000 feet above sea level. The highest peaks are
less than 30 miles from the Mediterranean. With temperatures
considerably higher than the Northern Alps, the mountains enjoy an
average of 300 days of sunshine a year. The mountains also offer vast
forests, a hundred or so lakes, many miles of rivers, and some 2,000
plant species, including 200 rare varieties. The Alpes d’Azur are also
home to the Parc National de Mercantour, an area of more than
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Southeast France: Côte d’Azur
•
Part 1.81
435,000 acres of protected land. For outdoor activities, the mountains
provide numerous hiking paths, cycling trails, rock-climbing sites, and
navigable rivers.
No matter what time of year, it is celebration time in the French
Riviera, which has spawned nearly 150 annual festivals devoted to
history, music, theater, and gastronomy. While the most famous is the
Festival International du Film de Cannes (Cannes International Film
Festival) in Cannes, others range from a celebrated annual summer jazz
festival in Antibes/Juan-les-Pins to a light-hearted February
celebration of lemons in Menton.
Local dishes that combine the pungent flavors of the French Riviera
include salade niçoise (a fresh mix of greens, tuna, olives, and hardboiled eggs) and pissaladière (a pizza of onions, olives, and anchovies).
Others to try include socca (a crisp pancake made from chickpea flour)
and petits farcis (stuffed vegetables).
Nice (NEESE), the capital of the region, offers just about everything the
French Riviera is known for: a palm-lined beachfront, outdoor cafés,
music festivals, and a fine assortment of art galleries and museums. Its
central square is called Place Masséna, and Vieux Nice, the old town
and its Cours Saleya, are enjoyable to explore on foot. Its most enjoyable walking path is the Promenade des Anglais (les anglais meaning the
English), named for the 19th-century colony of English visitors drawn to
the city, which follows along the beach and the Baie des Anges
(meaning bay of angels). Centrally located and filled with hotels in all
price ranges, it makes a good base for exploring the French Riviera.
y
aniel Thierr
la France /D
Maison de
Nice is located about 580 miles south of Paris. It is linked
to Paris by high-speed TGV train service, about a five-hour
and forty-five minute trip. Within the region there is frequent
train service from Nice to places such as Antibes, Cannes,
Menton, and Monaco. Sunbus, a city bus system, offers service
around Nice.
Around Nice: Attractions
odoxe
le Orth las
a
r
d
é
h
t
Ca
St-Nico
Russe
Part 1.82
•
• Cathédrale Orthodoxe Russe St-Nicolas (Russian
Orthodox Cathedral of St. Nicholas)—Reflecting all the
glory of Imperial Russia, this cathedral built in the early20th century is crowned by onion domes faced with colorful glazed tiles and features a fine assortment of woodwork, icons, and frescoes.
©
• Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain—The prime focus
of the museum is avant-garde works by French and American artists,
including Andy Warhol’s famous pop art depiction of a Campbell’s
soup can. The striking building with glass walkways and marble towers is an attraction in itself, along with the rooftop garden and gallery.
• Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts)—Located in a
handsome 19th-century villa, the museum collection includes
ceramics created by Picasso while he was living in nearby Vallauris
and a fine array of paintings by Fauvist Raoul Dufy. Another
highlight are the Belle Epoque lithographs created by locally born
artist Jules Chéret.
• Musée et Site Archéologiques—The museum is entered through
the excavated site of the Roman city of Cemenelum, which includes
a marble swimming pool and a small amphitheater. Inside the museum is a model of the ancient city and a collection of artifacts found
at the site, including vases, coins, jewelry, and statues.
• Musée Matisse—The museum houses a fine collection of works by
Henri Matisse in a 17th-century villa surrounded by olive groves.
• Musée National Message Biblique Marc Chagall (Marc Chagall
Biblical Story Museum)—The museum was built specifically to
house Chagall’s richly colored cycle of paintings depicting stories
from the Old Testament.
• Parc du Château—This tree-shaded park on a high hill on the eastern side of the city affords great views of Nice and the sea. All that
remains of the 12th-century château that once graced the site is the
Tour Bellanda (Bellanda Tower), which houses the Musée Naval.
• Vieux Nice (Old Nice)—Within the old section of Nice are such
delights as a flower and vegetable market, colorful façades, artisans,
narrow streets, baroque churches and palaces, lovely shops, and an
antique district. The Cours Saleya (Saleya Court) is an elongated
plaza in Vieux Nice that is the scene of the famous Marché aux
Fleurs (Flower Market) held daily except Monday when there is a
flea market instead. Along with a vivid assortment of blooms, the
market offers such regional food specialties as glazed fruits. Facing
the plaza is the Chapelle de la Miséricorde (Chapel of Mercy), an
18th-century baroque chapel with a glorious interior.
Beyond Nice: Attractions
• Antibes—Just across the bay, 13 miles southwest of Nice, Antibes
(ahn with nasal n TEEB) has beautiful sandy beaches, 16th-century
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Part 1.83
ramparts along the shore, and a quaint historic district of winding
streets and flower-bedecked houses. Its prime attraction is the Musée
Picasso located in the Château Grimaldi, a castle which the artist
used as his studio in 1946. More than 200 works by Picasso are
exhibited here.
Contiguous with Antibes is Juan-les-Pins, known for its sandy beach
backed by pine trees and nightlife that has been in full swing since the
1920s. The resort town is the scene of a popular jazz festival, Jazz à
Juan, held during the second half of July. A little farther south along
the coast is ultraexclusive Cap d’Antibes, a jasmine-scented enclave
where the Grand Hôtel du Cap has long attracted celebrity guests,
including F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald during the 1920s.
Did you know?
The Cannes
International Film
Festival is held every
year for 10 days in the
middle of May. Drawing
thousands from the film
industry, including
celebrities and journalists, it is nearly impossible to get accommodations in the city during
the festival unless you
book a year in advance.
Faure
• Cagnes-sur-Mer—A charming
seaside town with a fortified
medieval quarter on the hillside
above, Cagnes-sur-Mer
(KAHN yeuh sur MEHR),
8 miles west of Nice, was the
home of Impressionist painter
Pierre-Auguste Renoir from
1907 to 1919, when he lived
and worked in a villa surCagnes
rounded by olive groves on
-sur-Me
r
the edge of town. The villa
is now the Musée Renoir, which
displays several of his works. More artwork by
Renoir, along with paintings by Chagall, Matisse, and other artists,
are on exhibit at the 14th-century Château Grimaldi, which houses
the Château-Musée de Cagnes-sur-Mer.
Maison de
la France /D
aniel
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• Biot—The charming hillside village of Biot (bee OHT), about 5
miles from Antibes, has been known for its earthenware products
since Roman times and is still a great place to shop for locally made
handicrafts, particularly ceramics and art glass. Glass artists at work
can be observed at the La Verrerie de Biot (Biot Glassworks),
while exhibits on locally made glass and ceramics are at the Musée
d’Histoire et de Céramique Biotois. The village’s main attraction
is the Musée National Fernand Léger, which features 360 works by
the early-20th-century artist that include paintings, mosaics, stainedglass windows, and ceramics.
• Cannes—Known best for the annual Cannes International Film
Festival, Cannes (KAHN), 16 miles southwest of Nice, has been a
popular seaside resort city since the mid-19th century when wealthy
Part 1.84
•
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English and Russian tourists first flocked there. Elegant apartment
buildings and hotels, including the Belle Epoque–era Carlton InterContinental with its famous twin cupolas, line the main promenade,
the Boulevard de la Croisette, known as La Croisette. The city’s
historic quarter, Le Suquet, climbs up a hill above the Vieux Port
(Old Harbor) where magnificent yachts and fishing boats bob in
the water. In a château at the top of Le Suquet is the Musée de la
Castre, which offers a fine collection of antiquities from the
Mediterranean and the Middle East.
• Grasse—Undoubtedly the most fragrant place in France is Grasse
(GHRAHSS), a hillside town 22 miles west of Nice, that is an
important center for perfume manufacture. Of the 40 or so
perfumeries in Grasse, only 3—Fragonard, Galimard, and
Molinard—are open to the public. Guided tours take visitors
through every step of production, including the work of the nez
(nose), the term used for perfume masters who are experts at
judging and refining the scents. Another source of information is the
Musée International de la Parfumerie (International Perfume
Museum), which traces 400 years of perfume making in Grasse and
the details of its production. The museum also offers a rooftop
conservatory filled with the heady aromas of lavender, mint, thyme,
and jasmine.
Other places to visit in Grasse include the Cathédrale Notre-Damedu-Puy, which includes some fine paintings by Rubens and native
son Jean-Honoré Fragonard. More of Fragonard’s work is on view at
the Villa Musée Fragonard where the artist lived in 1790. Also
worth a stop is the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire de Provence, which
exhibits Gallo-Roman artifacts, period furniture, and ceramics.
• Iles de Lérins—Across the bay from Cannes, the Lérins Islands of
Ste-Marguerite and St-Honorat are known for their tranquility and
natural beauty. Especially worth discovering on Ste-Marguerite are
the botanical gardens of Fort Royal (where “the Man in the Iron
Mask” was held prisoner). The island of St-Honorat belongs to a
small community of Cistercian monks and is the site of an impressive
11th-century fortified monastery.
• Menton—Just a few miles from the Italian border and 18 miles
northeast of Nice, Menton is a tranquil seaside resort town where
the aptly named Promenade du Soleil (soleil meaning sun) runs
along the beachfront. Surrounded by lemon groves, the town
celebrates every February with the Fête du Citron (Lemon
Festival), which features giant sculptures made from lemons. Among
its historic landmarks is the Eglise St-Michel with a sumptuously
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•
Part 1.85
ornate 17th-century baroque interior. The multitalented Jean
Cocteau, who excelled as a poet, artist, dramatist, and filmmaker, is
the focus of the Musée Jean Cocteau, located in a 17th-century
seaside fortress with exterior walls decorated by Cocteau himself.
More of Cocteau’s work can be seen at the Hôtel de Ville (Town
Hall) where the walls in the Salle des Mariages (Marriage Hall)
are adorned with his frescoes. Another place to visit is the Musée de
Préhistoire Régionale, which traces human habitation in the French
Riviera from its earliest beginnings.
aniel
la France /D
Maison de
Faure
• Monaco—Occupying its own glamorous corner of the Riviera
between Nice and Menton, the tiny independent principality of
Monaco, known for its Grand Prix Automobile Race, requires no
border formalities. A legendary sight is the Palais Princier (Prince’s
Palace), where a changing of the guard takes place each day at
11:55 A.M. Visitors can tour the state apartments and the Musée des
Souvenirs Napoléoniens, which displays personal items belonging
to Napoléon in the west wing of the palace. The tomb of the late
Princess Grace can be visited in the Cathédrale de Monaco.
Vence
aul-deP
t
in
a
S
Perhaps Monaco’s most famous building is the fabulously ornate
Casino de Monte-Carlo designed by Charles Garnier, architect of
the Paris Opéra. Along with the gaming rooms with their marble
floors and crystal chandeliers, the casino has its own miniature opera
house, Salle Garnier, where top opera stars perform. Also well worth
a visit is the Musée Océanographique et Aquarium, which offers
exhibits on ocean exploration and nearly 100 tanks of marine life.
Spectacular views can be enjoyed from the hillside Jardin
Exotique (Exotic Garden), where the plantings include more
than 7,000 varieties of cacti and succulents.
• Saint-Paul-de-Vence—Within the ramparts of this charming
perched village, 19 miles north of Nice, are winding streets
filled with shops and art galleries. In the main square is the
legendary La Colombe d’Or (The Golden Dove), a
restaurant and inn, which displays a fabulous art collection
that includes works by Picasso, Derain, Matisse, Dufy, and
Bonnard. The collection was acquired by the original owner
who was only too happy to accept paintings from
impoverished artists in lieu of cash for their meals or rooms.
Just outside the walls is the world-renowned Fondation Maeght, a
modern art museum with a permanent collection of some 6,000
works by nearly every major artist of the past century. The gardens
surrounding the museum are filled with sculptures and mosaics by
such masters as Chagall, Miró, Giacometti, and Calder.
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•
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• Vence—This small village is home to the Chapelle du Rosaire
(Chapel of the Rosary), also known as the Matisse Chapel. The
artist designed this strikingly simple church to thank the nuns who
nursed him back from a serious illness. He claimed that it was his
masterpiece.
• Villefranche-sur-Mer—Set around a picturesque harbor overlooking
the Cap-Ferrat peninsula, 4 miles east of Nice, the town offers a
well-preserved historic quarter, which includes the 17th-century
Chapelle St-Pierre adorned with frescoes by Jean Cocteau. An
impressive citadel guards the port.
Provence
Sunshine, the scents of lavender and thyme, the tangy tastes of olives
and wild strawberries, the dazzling sight of the blue Mediterranean and
ocher-colored villages are all just part of what makes Provence a feast
for the senses. Like the open-air markets that move from village to village, there is an ever-changing array of things to see and experience.
For clients who are ancient history enthusiasts, there is a wealth
of evocative ruins to explore stemming from the days when
Julius Caesar claimed the region. Superb examples of Roman
theaters, baths, amphitheaters, mosaics, and villas still stand in
a remarkable state of preservation in such cities as Arles,
Fréjus, Orange, and Vaison-la-Romaine. Today some of
these theaters and amphitheaters are still in use as venues for
cultural festivals, bullfights, and concerts.
Art lovers can gaze at the sunflower fields that inspired
Maison de
Vincent Van Gogh, who painted in tortured frenzy while
la France/D
Ruins a
aniel Faure
t Vaison
living in Arles, or explore the picturesque harbor of Saint-la-Rom
aine
Tropez, which Pointillist Paul Signac immortalized on
canvas. The life and times of Paul Cézanne are recounted in Aixen-Provence, where the artist was born and did much of his work.
Perhaps the greatest pleasure of visiting Provence lies simply in
exploring its abundance of enchanting villages that dot the hillsides
through the region. Among the many are Roussillon, built almost
entirely of red sandstone; l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, known for its canals and
antique shops; and Ménerbes, the setting for author Peter Mayle’s
best-selling book A Year in Provence. Many of the towns and villages
feature wonderful outdoor markets, the most famous of which is the
Friday market in Carpentras. Shoppers will find tables laden with such
treats as marmalades, fresh herbs, olives, nougat, truffles, and fruits and
vegetables of all kinds.
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Southeast France: Provence
•
Part 1.87
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Did you know?
Bouillabaisse, which
was invented by the
fishermen of Marseille, is actually a twocourse meal. The first
course is fish soup garnished with croutons
and rouille sauce, while
the second consists of
the fish poached in the
soup. The three classic
fish used in the dish are
scorpion fish, red gurnet, and conger eel.
With its own distinctive Mediterranean-inspired cuisine that emphasizes
tomatoes, peppers, and olive oil rather than butter or cream, local dishes
to try include daube (a savory beef stew), roast lamb, pistou (a basilinfused vegetable soup), tapénade (an olive and anchovy spread), and
bouillabaisse (the classic fish soup from Marseille served with croutons
and a garlicky sauce called rouille). Among the many fine red wines of
the area are Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas. The regional aperitif is
pastis, an anise-flavored liqueur diluted with water.
The 2,600-year-old capital of Provence is Marseille (mahr SAY),
France’s most important seaport and the largest one in Europe after
Rotterdam. Long a magnet for immigrants, the city has a diverse ethnic
population from around the Mediterranean basin, West Africa, and
Indochina. The city boasts a rich assortment of museums, ethnic
restaurants, and vibrant nightlife. The calanques are deep narrow inlets
cut into the limestone cliffs along the coast between Marseille and the
tiny charming port of Cassis, about 20 miles southeast.
Marseille’s most intriguing area is the Vieux Port (Old Harbor), situated at the lower part of the main street called La Canebière, where
ships have docked since the time of Greek mariners around 600 B.C.
Locally born author Marcel Pagnol in his classic trilogy of books,
Marius, Fanny, and César, immortalized the lively waterfront with its
bars, cafés, and open-air fish markets. Filled with fishing craft and pleasure boats, the Vieux Port is flanked on each side by two imposing
fortresses built by Louis XIV, Fort St-Nicolas and Fort St-Jean.
To the south of the Vieux Port is Place Thiars, a square with late-night
restaurants and cafés. North of the harbor is Le Panier, a former redlight district which is now a picturesque enclave of narrow streets and
old houses. Its centerpiece is the Centre de la Vieille Charité (Old
Charity Hospital), which began as an elegant poorhouse and now
houses two excellent museums.
Marseille is situated about 480 miles south of Paris. It is linked to Paris
by high-speed TGV train service, about a three-hour trip. The city also
has frequent train connections to Avignon, Arles, Aix-en-Provence, and
other destinations in Southeast France. For getting around Marseille,
there is a two-line subway, a tramline, and an extensive bus system.
Around Marseille: Attractions
• Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde—Crowning a hilltop south of
the old port, the basilica is a wonder of 19th-century neo-Byzantine
design with its massive dome, bell tower, and embellishments of
Part 1.88
•
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colored marble, mosaics, and murals. The basilica is at the highest
point in the city and provides panoramic views.
• Centre de la Vieille Charité (Old Charity Hospice)—A
magnificent 18th-century stone building, which has been used as a
poorhouse and soldiers’ rest home, now serves as the palatial setting
for two museums. The Musée d’Archéologie Méditerranéenne
features a notable collection of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman
artifacts, while the Musée d’Arts Africain, Océanien, et
Amérindien has a fascinating collection of ritual artifacts.
• Château d’If—This fortress prison on an offshore island was made
famous by the author Alexandre Dumas, who used it as the setting for
his classic book The Count of Monte Cristo. In real life, the prison dungeons incarcerated hundreds of political prisoners over the centuries.
Regularly scheduled ferries leave the Vieux Port for guided tours.
• Musée Cantini—Devoted to 20th-century art, the museum includes
works by Cubist artists and Paul Signac’s shimmering painting View
of the Port of Marseille.
• Musée d’Art Contemporain—This large new museum features a collection of artworks produced during the mid-20th century forward.
• Musée de la Mode (Fashion Museum)—With a collection of more
than 2,000 clothing and accessory items, the museum explores
trends in French fashion over the past three decades.
• Musée des Docks Romains—This museum on the site of an ancient
Roman dockside warehouse features exhibits on the city’s 2,600year-old history as a mercantile port.
• Musée d’Histoire de Marseille—The city’s long history as an
important port is traced at this museum, which includes the remains
of a merchant vessel dating from the 3rd century A.D., Roman
mosaics, and other items.
• Musée du Vieux Marseille (Museum of Old Marseille)—The
museum, housed in an elegant Louis XIV mansion, traces the history
of the city during the 18th and 19th centuries.
• Palais Longchamp (Longchamp Palace)—Built during the 1860s to
disguise a water tower, the two wings of the colonnaded palace house
two museums. The Musée des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museums)
features paintings from the 15th to 19th century, while the Musée
d’Histoire Naturelle is devoted to flora and fauna of the region.
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•
Part 1.89
Beyond Marseille: Attractions
aniel Faure
la France /D
Maison de
• Aix-en-Provence—The nearly 100 fountains that grace the shaded
streets and squares of Aix-en-Provence (ecks ahn with nasal n
proh VAHNS), or Aix to locals, 20 miles north of Marseille, are a
bubbling reminder that the city has been known for its thermal
waters since Roman times. The city’s wide central boulevard,
Cours Mirabeau, is flanked by two superb fountains—at the
west by the large cast-iron Fontaine de la Rotonde and at the
east by the Fontaine du Roi René, which depicts the 15thcentury monarch holding a bunch of muscat grapes. Also
along the boulevard is the Fontaine d’Eau Thermal, which
spouts heated water from the natural springs. Along with its
fountains, the tree-lined boulevard is known for its pleasant
cafés, among them Les Deux Garçons (meaning the two
nce
e
v
o
r
P
n
waiters), as it was founded by two waiters in 1792.
in Aix-e
A fount
ain
A university city that is, in many ways, the cultural and historical
capital of Provence, Aix is filled with fine museums and a wealth of
ocher-colored 17th- and 18th-century hôtels particuleurs (private
mansions) lining such squares as Place des Quatre Dauphins and
Place d’Albertas. The birthplace of Paul Cézanne, the pioneering
Impressionist artist, Aix honors its native son with a trail of bronze
markers that depict places where he lived, relaxed, and worked. At the
Musée Granet, several of Cézanne’s paintings are on display, along
with those by artists such as Rubens and Rembrandt. More works by
the artists are on view at the Petit Musée Cézanne, while the Atelier
Paul Cézanne (Cézanne Studio) preserves his last work space.
Other noteworthy museums include the Musée des Tapisseries
(Tapestry Museum) housed in the Palais de l’Ancien Archevêché
(Former Archbishops’ Palace) with a collection of Beauvais tapestries, and the Musée Paul Arbaud, which displays books, manuscripts, and a collection of Provençal earthenware. The courtyard of
the Palais de l’Ancien Archevêché is transformed into a theater each
summer for opera performances during the Festival d’Art Lyrique
(Lyric Art Festival). Adjacent to it is Cathédrale St-Sauveur, representing a mosaic of architectural styles that include a 5th-century baptistery, an 18th-century cupola supported by Roman columns, a
Romanesque doorway, and an elaborate Gothic façade. Among its
interior treasures is a 17th-century triptych by Nicolas Froment,
which combines scenes from the Old and New Testaments.
• Arles—The former Roman capital of Provence 55 miles northwest of
Marseille, Arles (AHRL) is an attractive city on the banks of the
Rhône River offering reminders of its ancient past and the life of its
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Van Gogh, who came to Arles in 1888 and produced some 200 canvases within a year, is commemorated at the Fondation Vincent Van
Gogh, which exhibits paintings by artists whom he inspired. Van
Gogh reproductions, along with letters written to his brother Theo,
are on view at a gallery called La Rose des Vents. A former hospital
and gardens where the artist recovered after cutting off his ear,
Espace Van Gogh is often the venue for changing art exhibitions.
Visitors with an interest in traditional Provençal life will not want to
miss the Musée Arlaten, a museum founded by the Nobel Prize–
winning poet Frédéric Mistral. Housed in a 16th-century town house,
the museum is filled with furniture, crafts, costumes, and life-size
dioramas. The Musée Réattu is noted for its fine collection of
photographic works, paintings by 18th- and 19th-century
Provençal artists, and drawings by Picasso. Arles also boasts
one of the finest Romanesque churches in Provence,
Cathédrale St-Trophime, which features an elaborately
carved scene of the Last Judgment on its portal.
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most famous resident Vincent Van Gogh. The Roman and
Romanesque monuments in Arles are classified as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. The Romans built Les Arènes (The Amphitheater), a
12,000-seat venue for gladiator contests, which is now primarily a
stadium for bullfights held between Easter and the end of September.
Visitors can also tour the Théâtre Antique, a ruined Roman theater
used for open-air film, dance, and music festivals during the summer.
Other Roman sites include Thermes de Constantin, riverside baths,
and the Cryptoporticus du Forum, vast underground storerooms.
The Musée de l’Arles Antique offers a rich collection of Roman artifacts along with early Christian items.
Did you know?
Other Roman and
medieval sites in
western Provence
include Saint-Rémyde-Provence, where
Nostradamus was
born, and is associated
with Van Gogh; the
Roman settlement of
Glanum, one of the
most important archaeological sites in France,
and the fortified village
of Les Baux-deProvence with its
ruined 11th-century
citadel.
• Avignon—Encircled by 3 miles of ramparts and
crenellated towers, Avignon (ah veen YOHN with nasal
n), 66 miles northwest of Marseille, offers an enchanting
combination of medieval alleyways, old stone houses,
Maison de
and chic shopping streets. A major religious center durla France/D
aniel Faure
Festiva
l
d
’A
v
ignon
ing the Middle Ages, Avignon was the seat of power for
seven popes who lived at the Palais des Papes (Palace
of the Popes) within the walled city. The magnificent courtyard of
this 14th-century palace is a major venue for theatrical performances
during the world-famous Festival d’Avignon held every year from
early July to early August. Hundreds of actors, dancers, musicians,
and other artists stage performances all over town during the event.
Other notable sites include Musée du Petit Palais (Museum of the
Small Palace), a museum located in a former bishop’s palace with an
outstanding collection of Italian religious paintings from the 13th to
©
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The cowboys who ride
the herds of horses
and bulls within the
Camargue are called
gardiens. These
mounted herdsmen,
who dress in cowboy
boots and leather hats,
are honored during the
Fête des Gardiens
(Herdsmen’s Festival)
held during the first
weekend in May in
Arles.
Did you know?
Every July and August
the Théâtre Antique in
Orange is a lively
venue for all-night concerts and cinema
screenings during Les
Nuits du Théâtre
Antique (The Nights
of the Ancient
Theater).
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•
Perhaps the city’s most famous landmark is the Pont St-Bénezet,
the remains of the 13th-century bridge that inspired the French
nursery song “Sur le Pont d’Avignon.” Four of the original 22 spans
remain standing in the waters of the Rhône River.
• The Camargue—The marshy delta at the western end of Provence
where the Rhône River meets the Mediterranean Sea is called the
Camargue. This vast area of wetlands and pastures is home to more
than 400 bird species, including flocks of pink flamingos that nest
during the summer near the Etang de Vaccarès and Etang du
Fangassier. The area is also home to herds of cream-colored horses
and black bulls that are raised for the bullfighting events popular in
the region. Much of the delta is protected land encompassed by the
Parc Naturel Régional de Camargue, which has its main
information center at Pont de Gau just north of the seaside village
of Stes-Maries-de-la-Mer.
• Fréjus—Midway between Cannes and Saint-Tropez and 2 miles
inland from Saint-Raphael, Fréjus, known for its Roman ruins, was
colonized by Julius Caesar in 49 B.C. Among its ancient Roman
monuments are a 1st-century Roman amphitheater, the remains of a
theater, and the Porte d’Orée, an arcade that was once part of the
thermal baths. Housed in a beautiful 13th-century cloister built with
columns from a Roman temple is the Musée Archéologique, which
features a 3rd-century mosaic depicting a leopard and marble statue
of Hermes.
• Gorges du Verdon—Carved
out of a limestone plateau
midway between Avignon and
Nice is the largest canyon in
Europe, the Gorges du
Verdon. Motorists can enjoy
views of the spectacular
gorge on such roadways as
the Corniche Sublime,
which follows the southern
rim past overlook points
Gorges
du Verd
such as the Pont de
on
l’Artuby, the highest
bridge in Europe. The gorge also offers
Lejeune
Did you know?
Maison de
la France /N
icole
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the 16th century. The Musée Calvert offers archaeological items
from prehistory to Roman times and a collection of paintings from
the 16th to the 20th century, including works by Corot, ToulouseLautrec, Utrillo, and Seurat.
©
• Roussillon—Perched high above the Fées Valley, the charming village of Roussillon (rhoo see YOHN with nasal n), about 30 miles east
of Avignon, is known for its distinctive ocher earth used for producing pottery glazes. The entire town is built of the reddish local
stone, making it a dazzling sight among the deep green conifers and
whitish hills. Visitors can enjoy the scene by walking the Sentier des
Ocres (Ocher Trail), which winds through a lovely landscape
around the town.
• Saint-Tropez—A quaint seaside fishing village turned resort, about
50 miles southwest of Cannes that became a favored haunt of Brigitte
Bardot and jet-setters of the 1960s, Saint-Tropez still retains some of
the charm that drew artists such as Pointillist Paul Signac many years
earlier. Signac’s work, along with that of Matisse, Dufy, Bonnard, and
Derain, can be enjoyed at the Musée de l’Annonciade, a museum
devoted to modern art. The town’s maritime history, including the
Allied landings that took place here in 1944, is the subject of the
Musée Naval. Just southeast of town are several superb beaches such
as Plage de Tahiti and Plage de Pampelonne.
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• Orange—Among the outstanding Roman ruins in the small town of
Orange (oh RHANGE),16 miles north of Avignon, is the Théâtre
Antique, which was built during the reign of Augustus Caesar in the
1st century and still has its stage wall intact. Equally remarkable is
the Arc de Triomphe, a Roman triumphal arch with a magnificent
frieze commemorating Julius Caesar’s victory over the Gauls in 49
B.C. A delightful way to tour the town is to take one of the 54-seat
tourist trams that depart from the theater and go up to the Colline
St-Eutrope (colline meaning hill) for views of the sights below.
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opportunities for hiking and white-water rafting. A tourist information center for Gorges du Verdon activities is located in the nearby
town of Castellane.
Did you know?
Every July and August
the Théâtre Antique
in Orange is a lively
venue for all-night
concerts and cinema
screenings during Les
Nuits du Théâtre
Antique (The Nights
of the Ancient
Theater).
Near Roussillon, clients
can visit the
picturesque perched
village of Gordes, near
the Abbaye de
Sénanque and
romantic Fontaine-deVaucluse, the source
of the Sorgue River.
• Vaison-la-Romaine—This town, about 30 miles northeast of
Avignon and known during Roman times as Vasio Vocontiorum, has
large areas of Roman ruins comparable to Pompeii in the vivid illustration they give of ancient daily life. At a site called Fouilles de
Puymin (fouilles meaning archaeological excavations), visitors can
see fresco-decorated villas, mosaics, and the ruins of a 1st-century
theater designed to seat 6,000 people. Artifacts from the site are displayed at the Musée Archéologique and include the silver bust of
prominent citizens and statues of the Emperor Hadrian and his wife,
Sabina. More ancient houses and mosaics can be explored at another
site, Fouilles de la Villasse.
©
•
Part 1.93
Curving around the western edge of the French Mediterranean,
Languedoc-Roussillon is a pleasing mix of ancient Roman sites, rolling
vineyards, medieval walled villages, and sunny coastal resorts. At the
north is a rugged landscape of steep mountain gorges that gradually
gives way to the salubrious Mediterranean shore and towns near the
Spanish border that are as Catalan in nature as they are French.
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The Romans who settled in Languedoc-Roussillon around 100 B.C. left
behind some of the most evocative ancient ruins in Europe. Millions of
visitors each year flock to view the spectacular Pont du Gard, a 2,000year-old aqueduct spanning the Gard River. The nearby city of Nîmes is
a veritable living museum of Roman treasures, including a magnificent
amphitheater and a splendid temple, the Maison Carrée, which inspired
Thomas Jefferson’s design for the state capitol in Richmond, Virginia.
Did you know?
The author Robert
Louis Stevenson
crossed the Cévennes
Mountains in northern
Languedoc, now part
of the Parc National
des Cévennes, with a
donkey in 1878. A year
later he published a
book, Travels with a
Donkey in the
Cévennes. Today donkey treks are a popular
activity in the park.
Other monuments bear witness to the rise and fall of the Cathars, a religious sect that took hold in the region during the 11th to 13th century.
Reviled by the Roman Catholic Church as heretics, the Cathars were
victims of the Crusades. They found refuge with the local feudal lords
and also built impressive, almost impenetrable mountaintop fortresses as
defense against their enemies. Among the most impressive and dramatically situated Cathar fortresses is the Château de Quéribus, perched
precariously above a river gorge in the Massif des Corbières.
With vast tracks of protected forests and parklands, including the
Gorges du Tarn, Parc National des Cévennes, and Parc Régional
du Haut Languedoc (haut meaning upper), the countryside is filled
with opportunities for hiking and bird-watching. Other popular outdoor pursuits are barge trips and boat excursions on LanguedocRoussillon’s many inland waterways, including the Canal du Midi, the
17th-century engineering marvel that crosses the area’s midsection on
its way to the Mediterranean.
With nearly a million acres of vineyards between the mountains and the
sea, Languedoc-Roussillon is the largest winegrowing region in France.
Among the many locally produced red wines to try are Blanquette de
Limoux, Coteaux-du-Languedoc, Côtes-du-Roussillon, Fitou, La
Clape, and Minervois. Among the specialty dishes of the locale is cassoulet (the stew of white beans cooked with duck and sausages or
pork). Some of the Catalan-influenced dishes in the southern part of
the region are flavored with Romesco sauce, a savory blend of tomatoes, toasted almonds, olive oil, peppers, and bread crumbs.
The capital city, Montpellier (mohn with nasal n peh lee YAY), has a
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Maison de
la France /N
icole
Lejeune
nicely preserved historic quarter of pedestrian streets, narrow
alleys, and splendid hôtels particuliers (private mansions) built
during the 17th and 18th centuries. The cultural heart of the
city is Place de la Comédie, a handsome café-lined square overlooked by an ornate 19th-century theater.
Montpellier is located 471 miles southwest of Paris. It is
linked to Paris by high-speed TGV train service, about a
three-hour trip. Within the region, there is frequent train
service from Montpellier to Carcassonne, Perpignan,
Narbonne, and Nîmes. Within Montpellier, there are new
high-speed tram and city bus systems.
Montpe
llier
Around Montpellier: Attractions
• Hôtel de Varennes—This historic mansion built by a wealthy
merchant is home to two local history museums. The Musée du
Vieux Montpellier (Montpellier History Museum) contains
artifacts, portraits, and maps of the city dating back to the Middle
Ages, while the Musée Fougau presents exhibits on traditional life
and customs in the area.
• Jardin des Plantes (Botanical Garden)—The oldest botanical garden in France was founded in 1593 and features several magnificent
400-year-old trees, exotic succulents, and other specimen plants.
• Musée Atger—The museum collection focuses on drawings, mostly
by French, Italian, Flemish, Dutch, and German artists of the 15th
to 18th century.
• Musée Fabre—Considered one of the finest art museums in France,
the Musée Fabre features French, Italian, Flemish, and Dutch
paintings from the 16th century forward. The museum has a
particularly fine assortment of works by 19th-century French painter
Gustave Courbet.
• Musée Languedocien—The museum that is housed in a former
hôtel particulier (private mansion),the palatial Hôtel des Trésoriers
de France, features Greek and Roman archaeological finds discovered in the Languedoc region, plus galleries devoted to locally made
antique ceramics and other decorative art objects.
• Promenade du Peyrou—This tree-lined square in the western part
of the city is dominated at one end by the Arc de Triomphe, built
in 1692 in honor of Louis XIV, and the Château d’Eau, a water
tower designed to resemble a neoclassical temple.
©
Southeast France: Languedoc-Roussillon
•
Part 1.95
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Did you know?
A major part of the
Cloisters Museum in
New York City was
constructed from the
abbeys of StGuilhem-le-Désert and
St-Michel-de-Cuxa,
located in the
region.
Beyond Montpellier: Attractions
• Béziers—The wine capital of the area, Béziers, 44 miles southwest of
Montpellier, is the scene of a popular wine harvest festival in
October. The town is centered around the Allées Paul Riquet, a
tree-lined promenade named in honor of the builder of the nearby
Canal du Midi. Overlooking the town is the 14th-century
Cathédrale St-Nazaire, an edifice of massive towers and heavy
fortifications. Behind it is the Hôtel Fabrégat, which houses the
Musée des Beaux Arts (Museum of Fine Arts) with a diverse
collection. Other noteworthy museums in town include the Musée
Fayet, a historic mansion filled with 18th- and 19th-century
paintings and decorative arts, and the Musée du Biterrois (biterrois
meaning inhabitants of Béziers), with a variety of exhibits devoted to
archaeology, ceramics, and wine making.
A few miles southwest of Béziers are the ruins of the Oppidum
d’Ensérune, a pre-Roman village that began as a fortified trading
center under Greek rule in the 6th century B.C. The site includes foundations from the village and a museum with a collection of ancient
artifacts, including Greek and Etruscan ceramics from the village.
• Canal du Midi—Running about 150 miles from Toulouse to the
Mediterranean port of Narbonne, the Canal du Midi was built over a
period of 39 years in the late 17th century, requiring more than
12,000 men to complete its construction. It is classified as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. The serene canal, which is
bordered by plane trees on both sides and features more than
100 locks, is a popular place for float trips lasting either a few
hours or a few days.
• Carcassonne—The largest medieval walled city in Europe,
Carcassonne, 57 miles southeast of Toulouse, is encircled
by centuries of fortifications built by the Romans, Gauls,
Visigoths, Moors, and Franks. The city was once a
y
aniel Thierr
la France/D
Maison de
stronghold of the Cathars, a persecuted religious sect
ne
n
o
s
s
a
prominent in southern France from the 11th to 13th
Carc
century. The historic center of Carcassonne is known as
the Cité (cité meaning city), an enclave of medieval buildings
surrounded by a moat and 52 stone towers. Among its major sites is
Château Comtal, a walled 12th-century castle, and the Romanesque
Basilique St-Nazaire, known for its exquisite stained glass.
• Collioure—The quaint fishing village of Collioure (koh lee YOOR),
17 miles southeast of Perpignan, is dominated by the Royal Castle,
the former summer residence of the Kings of Aragon. It was a
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• Nîmes—The handsome city of Nîmes (NEEM ), 37 miles northeast
of Montpellier near the Provençal border, boasts some of the bestpreserved Roman buildings in all of Europe. Founded by Emperor
Augustus, the city flourished as a Roman enclave during the 2nd
century A.D. The sophisticated Roman aqueduct, the Pont du Gard,
that supplied water to Nîmes still spans the River Gard 20 miles
northeast of the city. Considered one of the wonders of the ancient
world and classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the aqueduct is a marvel of Roman engineering with a triple row of arches
looming 160 feet above the river.
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• Narbonne—A quiet town that was once an important Gallo-Roman
center, Narbonne, 58 miles southwest of Montpellier, offers several
noteworthy sights from its long past. Chief among them is the
massive Cathédrale St-Just with its unusually high Gothic choir,
14th-century cloister, and treasures that include Flemish tapestries.
Adjoining the cathedral and facing the main city square is the Palais
des Archevêques (Archbishops’ Palace) with its square 13thcentury tower and an exterior ornately embellished in the 19th
century. Along with the town hall, the building houses the Musée
d’Art, which has a fine collection of paintings and 18th-century
ceramics, and the Musée Archéologique, which has many items
dating from the town’s Roman era. More Roman artifacts, including
architectural fragments, are on display at the Musée Lapidaire.
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favorite haunt of early-20th-century Fauvist artists such as Henri
Matisse and André Derain. In honor of Matisse and Derain, the
village has placed copies of their works at spots where they once set
their easels. Among the artists’ featured subjects was the 17thcentury church, Eglise Notre-Dame des Anges, on the waterfront.
The works of artists inspired by the Fauves can be viewed at the
Musée d’Art Moderne, which is housed in a villa overlooking a
terraced olive grove.
Did you know?
In the 18th century,
Nîmes became known
for the production of a
twill fabric called
serge de Nîmes, now
known as denim. When
Levi Strauss began
manufacturing trousers
for miners during the
California gold rush of
1849, he found the
fabric ideal. The result
was, of course, blue
jeans or Levis.
Within the city, the outstanding Roman structures include Les
Arènes, a 24,000-seat amphitheater built about 100 A.D. With its
four tiers of seats and exit passages still intact, the amphitheater now
serves as a venue for sporting events and concerts. Facing the main
plaza is the Maison Carrée, a rectangular Roman temple supported
by six Corinthian columns, that, over the centuries, has been a
meeting house, private residence, church, and archive. By contrast,
the Carré d’Art across from the temple is a stunning contemporary
building of glass and steel. It houses a public library and the Musée
d’Art Contemporain, which offers both permanent and changing
exhibitions.
©
Southeast France: Languedoc-Roussillon
•
Part 1.97
Other vestiges of ancient Rome can be viewed at the Jardins de la
Fontaine (Fountain Gardens), a park of waterways and monuments
such as the Temple de Diane, a shrine to the goddess of the hunt.
The Tour Magne (tour meaning tower) is the largest of a series of
towers that were once part of the city’s Roman ramparts. Both
Roman and pre-Roman items discovered near the city are the
focus of the Musée d’Archéologie.
e
icole Lejeun
la France/N
Maison de
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n
erpigna
let in P
il
t
s
a
C
Le
Did you know?
Uzès was the location
for the 1990 film
Cyrano de Bergerac
starring Gérard
Depardieu.
• Perpignan—Close to the Spanish border 40 miles south of
Narbonne, Perpignan (pehr peen YOHN with nasal n) is a
seaside city that once was part of Catalonia in Spain. It
retains much of its Catalan feel with brightly painted boats
and annual festivals such as Tio Tio, a pre-Lenten carnival
celebration. Among the major landmarks is the centuriesold Le Castillet, a red brick gated fortress that was once
part of the fortified walls encircling the city. It houses the
Musée Casa Pairal, a museum with items pertaining to
traditional Catalan life, including a 17th-century kitchen.
The city is also home to the 13th-century Palais des Rois de
Majorque (Palace of the Kings of Majorca), the oldest royal palace
in France. Much of the structure, including its great hall, chapel, and
state apartments, can be toured. Topped by a lacy 19th-century
wrought-iron tower is the Cathédrale St-Jean with a striking stone
façade and magnificent marble altarpiece.
• Sète—France’s largest Mediterranean fishing port, this attractive
town, about 20 miles south of Montpellier, has canals, beaches, and
outdoor cafés. The town is known for its joutes nautiques (water
jousting contests), during which rivals spar with each other from
boats, trying to knock each other into the water. The contests are
part of the lively Fête de la St-Louis (St. Louis Festival), a weeklong festival held in late August. Attractions in town include the
Musée Paul Valéry, which contains exhibits on local history and the
life of the poet Valéry, who was born in Sète in 1871.
• Uzès—A picturesque hill town above the River Alzon with winding
streets and houses with Renaissance façades, Uzès (oo ZESS), about
15 miles north of Nîmes, offers such well-preserved structures as the
Château Duché (Ducal Palace), which was built and added onto
between the 11th and 18th centuries. Visitors can take guided tours
of the splendid period rooms filled with fine furniture, paintings, and
tapestries. Other places to visit include the 17th-century Cathédrale
St-Théodorit, with its soaring tower, and the Musée Municipal,
which offers a diverse collection of artwork and local historical items.
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For centuries a magnet for invaders, Corsica, which became part of
France in 1769, retains a cultural atmosphere all its own. It even has its
own language, Corsu, which is closer to Italian than French. Ruled by
the Italian city-state of Genoa during the Middle Ages, Corsican towns
such as Calvi and Bonifacio are still protected by the fortifications
built by the Genoese.
The earthy cuisine of Corsica includes smoked ham, sausages, and stew
made of wild boar. Dotted with chestnut trees, the island is also known
for its delicious pastries made from chestnut flour. Other sweet treats to
be found include pains des morts (a raisin-and-nut bread) and canistrelli
(anise-flavored cookies).
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The large Mediterranean island of Corse (Corsica), 100 miles southeast of the southeast coast of France which spawned and nurtured
Napoléon Bonaparte, offers some of the most diverse geography in the
Mediterranean. Its dramatic southwest coast is defined by rocky coves
and chalky limestone cliffs capped with watchful fortresses, while its
eastern shores draw sun seekers to sandy beaches. In between the coasts
is ruggedly beautiful terrain marked by deep gorges, glacial lakes, and
mountain peaks dusted by winter snows. Much of the scenic interior is
encompassed by the Parc Naturel Régional de la Corse, which offers
ample opportunities for hiking and many other outdoor sports.
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Corse
Did you know?
Corsica is known for
its polyphonies, folk
songs or chants sung
by choirs a capella
(without musical
accompaniment).
Sacred chants can be
heard in village churches around the island.
The town of Calvi
hosts an annual fiveday music festival,
Rencontres
Polyphoniques, in
mid-September.
Maison de
la France /D
aniel
Faure
Most visitors travel to Corsica by ferry from Nice, Toulon, or Marseille,
with service provided to major ports such as Ajaccio, Bastia, and Calvi.
While most crossings take about 6 1/2 hours, there is high-speed
express ferry service from Nice that cuts the time of the trip in
half. Overnight car ferry service is available, but it should be
booked well in advance. For getting around the island, there are
trains and public buses that connect most of the major towns.
Around Corse: Attractions
• Ajaccio—The birthplace of Napoléon Bonaparte, Ajaccio
(ah JAHKS see yoh) is the island’s largest city and cultural
center. This seaport of pastel-colored buildings honors its
most famous native son with an abundance of statues
and several museums. Among them are the Musée
National de la Maison Bonaparte (Bonaparte House
National Museum), the house where Napoléon was
born and raised until the age of nine. There is also the
Salon Napoléonien (Napoleonic Room) on the first floor of the
©
Ajaccio
Southeast France: Corse
•
Part 1.99
Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), which contains Napoleonic medals,
paintings, and busts. At the Musée Fesch is a collection acquired by
Napoléon’s maternal uncle that features 14th- to 19th-century Italian
paintings, including works by Botticelli and Titian. Inside the 16thcentury Cathédrale Ste-Marie is Napoléon’s marble baptismal font.
• Aléria—This ancient site in the mountains on the eastern side of the
island of Corsica was first settled by the Greeks in 564 B.C. and was
later a Roman city. The Musée Jérôme Carcopino exhibits a prize
collection of Greek vases and other artifacts discovered at the site.
• Bonifacio—The town of Bonifacio (boh nih FAH chee oh), dramatically perched on white limestone cliffs above the sea, seems to stand
guard over the southern tip of the island, 84 miles south of Ajaccio.
A medieval citadel envelops an historic district lined with narrow,
tall, looming stone houses and twisting alleyways. Among the sites to
explore are Eglise Ste-Marie Majeure, a church with a distinctive
square bell tower, and the Escalier du Roi d’Aragon (Staircase
of the King of Aragon), with its 197 steps leading down the
cliffs to the sea.
aniel
la France /D
Maison de
Faure
• Bastia—On the island’s northern peninsula, Cap Corse (Cape
Corsica), and 94 miles northeast of Ajaccio, Bastia is the island’s
second-largest city and its main commercial center. Visitors will enjoy
walking around the old harbor and the historic neighborhood of
Terra Vecchia. The town’s focal point is Place St-Nicolas
(St. Nicholas Square), a long esplanade guarded by a statue of
Napoléon dressed as a Roman emperor. Bastia’s major landmark is
the 15th-century Palais des Gouverneurs (Governors’ Palace),
which houses the Musée d’Ethnographie and its exhibits on the
history and geology of the area.
Calvi
• Calvi—Sitting on a promontory on the northwest coast of the
island 58 miles southwest of Bastia, Calvi overlooks a turquoise
bay and sandy beach. The Genoese, who settled and controlled
the city for centuries, left behind impressive citadel ramparts
and buildings such as the Palais des Gouverneurs
(Governors’ Palace), which now serves as a barracks and
mess hall for officers of the French Foreign Legion. Dating
from the 13th century is Cathédrale St-Jean Baptiste that is
known for its Christ of the Miracles, an ebony statue of Jesus.
• Corte—Ringed by magnificent mountain gorges, this town, 50 miles
northeast of Ajaccio at the center of the island, served as the seat of
Corsican government during the island’s brief era as an independent
republic in the mid-18th century. The main attraction is the Musée
Part 1.100
•
©
de la Corse, which offers excellent exhibits on the island’s folklore,
crafts, agriculture, economy, and anthropology. Just outside the town
are some of the island’s most spectacular scenic areas, including
Gorges de la Restonica, a deep granite gorge, and glacial lakes such
as Lac de Melo.
• Filitosa—The island’s most important prehistoric site is located 37
miles south of Ajaccio on an olive tree–shaded hillside off the N196
highway. Inhabited from about 5850 B.C. until the Roman period,
the site remains include mysterious small statues of what appear to
be armed invaders. Artifacts and other findings from the site are
exhibited at a small museum.
• Porto-Vecchio—This resort town on the east coast of the island 17
miles north of Bonifacio, especially popular with vacationers from nearby Italy, is known for its beaches, sailing harbor, and medieval quarter.
Pronunciation Guide
Aix-en-Provence
ecks ahn with nasal n proh VAHNS
Ajaccio
ah JAHKS see yoh
Antibes
ahn with nasal n TEEB
Arles
AHRL
Avignon
ah veen YOHN with nasal n
Bonifacio
boh nih FAH chee oh
Biot
bee OHT
Cagnes-sur-Mer
KAHN yeuh sur MEHR
Cannes
KAHN
Coullioure
koh lee YOOR
Grasse
GHRAHSS
Marseille
mahr SAY
Montpellier
mohn with nasal n peh lee YAY
Nice
NEESE
Nîmes
NEEM
Orange
oh RHANGE
Perpignan
pehr peen YOHN with nasal n
Roussillon
rhoo see YOHN with nasal n
Uzès
oo ZESS
©
Southeast France: Pronunciation Guide
•
Part 1.101
BOURGOGNE
CENTRE
VAL DE LOIRE
Moulins
Allier R.
POITOUCHARENTES
AUVERGNE
Vichy
se
eu
Cr
Guéret
R.
Oradour-sur-Glane
Limoges
R.
Riom
Thiers
RHONE-ALPES
Clermont-Ferrand
LIMOUSIN
Vé
zè
re
R.
Brive-laGaillarde
Turenne
Le Mont-Dore
èze
R.
Corr
Segur-le-Château
gn
eR
.
ne
Gimel-lesCascades
Puy de Sancy
M A S S I F
rdo
en
Do
Vi
Volvic
Puy-de-Dôme
Aubusson
MON TS D U
Tulle
C A N TA L
CollongesTournemire
la-Rouge
Cère
Parc Naturel Régional
des Volcans d’Auvergne
C E N T R A L
Le Puyen-Velay
R.
AQUITAINE
Aurillac
MIDI-PYRENEES
LANGUEDOCROUSSILLON
Central France
0
0
46 km
46 mi
Gulf of Lion
(Mediterranean Sea)
Part 1.102
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Central France
W
hile the rock-solid heart of France is less known to visitors than
other areas of the country, that just makes it all the more
pleasant to explore. Lightly populated and relatively unaltered by
modern development, Central France is dominated by the Massif
Central, a vast mountainous landscape marked by volcanic craters,
dramatic river gorges, mineral springs, and lush pastures. Its two
regions, Limousin and Auvergne, are filled with hidden pleasures that
are as diverse as hiking up a volcanic peak and strolling through a stone
village where little has changed since medieval times.
Limousin
A region of deep gorges, green meadows, and some of the loveliest
villages in France, Limousin (lee moo ZAHN with nasal n) is ideal for
those who want to get off the beaten track without leaving the
comforts of civilization behind. Hugging the western slopes of the
Massif Central, Limousin offers such unspoiled areas as the newly
created Parc Naturel Régional Périgord-Limousin as well as an
abundance of rivers and lakes throughout the area. Sailing, kayaking,
canoeing, and cycling are among the many recreational pursuits that
can easily be enjoyed here.
History enthusiasts will also find much to savor, including a number of
turreted castles dating back to the time of Richard the
Lionhearted, who was crowned Duke of Aquitaine in the city of
Limoges in 1189. Among them are Coussac-Bonneval, a
richly furnished castle looming above the village of Coussac,
and Arnac-Pompadour, a castle that was once a present from
Louis XV to his mistress, Madame de Pompadour. The
region, which was long ago a main pilgrimage route to the
shrine of Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain, is
equally rich in historic churches and abbeys.
The river valleys and gorges of Limousin make a spectacular setting for numerous tiny villages, each one prettier
than the next. Among the most idyllic are Turenne, a
slate- and stone-roofed hamlet perched high on a hilltop,
and Collonges-la-Rouge, built almost entirely of deep-red
sandstone.
©
Maison de
la France/J
.P. Gratien
Turenne
Central France: Limousin
•
Part 1.103
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Did you know?
Limoges was founded
in 16 B.C. by the
Roman Emperor
Augustus and named
Augustoritum
Lemovicensium in his
honor. Archaeologists
are still unearthing the
ruins of Roman villas
and aqueducts
beneath the modern
city.
A largely agricultural region, Limousin is famous for its beef cattle and
sheep. Not surprisingly, local restaurants often feature hearty beef and
lamb dishes accompanied by another local specialty, wild mushrooms.
Other local dishes to try include pâté de pommes de terre, a layered
potato cake wrapped in delicate pastry, and clafoutis, a fruit (often black
cherry) and custard dessert pastry.
The capital city, Limoges (lee MOZH), built on high ground
overlooking the River Vienne, has been associated with fine porcelain
since the 1770s and with enamelware since the 12th century. Limoges
is a great place to view superb examples of porcelain and enamelware in
local museums such as the Musée National Adrien-Dubouché.
Shopping for both antique and contemporary pieces at galleries
throughout the central city excels as well.
Limoges also offers charming historic areas to explore, including a
district that was once the domain of butchers and their families. The
area surrounding Rue de la Boucherie (Butchers’ Street) is filled with
more than 100 fine old half-timbered buildings that have been carefully
restored. Visitors will also enjoy exploring Les Halles, a covered market
that is a superb example of 19th-century iron-and-glass architecture.
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Did you know?
Deposits of rare
metallic oxide near
Limoges make it possible to create the rich
colors that characterize
the city’s enamelware.
Limoges is situated 246 miles south of Paris. Limoges is linked by regular train service to Paris, about a three-hour trip. Within the region,
there is train service from Limoges to Aubusson and Tulle. Autoroute
20 is the main highway through the area.
Around Limoges:
Attractions
• Bernardaud la Manufacture
(Bernardaud Porcelain
Factory)—Visitors can
tour the factory and watch
demonstrations of porcelain
manufacture and
decoration.
Maison de
la France/J
Porcela
.P. Gratien
in artisa
n at wo
rk
• Cathédrale St-Etienne—
Construction on the pale
granite cathedral was in progress
from 1273 until 1888. Among its highlights are a
flamboyantly Gothic carved portal and a lavishly decorated
Renaissance rood screen.
Part 1.104
•
©
• Musée Municipal de l’Evêché (Municipal Museum of the
Bishop’s Palace)—This museum housed in an 18th-century bishop’s
palace contains a collection of enamel works dating from the 12th to
the 20th century. It also includes some paintings by Pierre-Auguste
Renoir, who was born in Limoges in 1841.
• Musée National Adrien Dubouché—The museum exhibits one of
the most extensive ceramics collections in France, including some
fine Limoges pieces. An informative video traces the history of
porcelain and the stages involved in its manufacture.
• Rue de la Boucherie (Butchers’ Street)—The pedestrian street
and surrounding lanes are lined with medieval half-timbered houses,
many of them former butchers’ shops. One of the former shops, La
Boucherie, is now a museum showing how the butchers’ families lived.
Beyond Limoges: Attractions
• Aubusson—This small town, 55 miles east of Limoges, has been
acclaimed for its fine carpets and tapestries for approximately
500 years. The town and surrounding region are home to
more than 30 tapestry workshops, including Manufacture
de Tapis et de Tapisseries St-Jean, which visitors can tour
and get a close-up view of master dyers and weavers at
work. Tapestries from a variety of workshops are on display
in the town hall at the Forum de la Tapisserie (Tapestry
Maker’s Center) from June through September.
Changing exhibits of both antique and contemporary
tapestries are the focus of the Musée Départemental de
la Tapisserie (Tapestry Museum), while the Maison
du Tapissier (Tapestry House) is devoted to the
history of the weaver’s art.
Maison
de la France
/J.P. Gratie
A weav
n
er at w
ork
• Brive-la-Gaillarde—Set on the banks of the Corrèze River 55
miles south of Limoges, the town is known for its open-air market
brimming with fresh produce and other food items. Well worth a
visit is the Musée Labenche, a museum with extensive galleries
devoted to antique tapestries, art, natural history, and archaeology.
• Collonges-la-Rouge—This tiny hamlet, 10 miles south of Brive-laGaillarde, is composed of red-sandstone buildings draped with
wisteria vines. Its lovely multitowered church, built between the
11th and 15th centuries, was an important stop for pilgrims on their
way to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain. Not
far is Carennac, a superbly preserved medieval village on the
Dordogne River in the Midi-Pyrénées region.
©
Central France: Limousin
•
Part 1.105
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Did you know?
A fun option for families is Guéret’s Giant
Maze, a labyrinth that
winds over six acres.
Visitors can follow the
clues for a one- or twohour circuit or simply
enjoy the scenery in a
forested picnic area.
• Gimel-les-Cascades—Located in a deep gorge carved by waterfalls,
this hamlet, six miles from the town of Gimel, is surrounded by
some of the most spectacular scenery in the region. Its attractions
include the 15th-century Eglise St-Pardoux, which is adorned with
an early enamel reliquary, and the Pont de Péage, a beautifully
preserved medieval toll bridge. Visitors can explore the gorge on
hiking trails just outside the village.
• Guéret—Surrounded by wooded hillsides, Guéret (gay RHEH),
situated 55 miles northeast of Limoges, is best known for the Musée
de la Sénatorerie, a museum with a wide-ranging collection of
paintings, porcelain, dolls, enamelware, tapestries, sculpture, and
artifacts from Egypt and China. Surrounding the museum is a lush
park with botanical gardens. Another noteworthy museum is Musée
du Présidial Louis-Lacrocq, which is devoted to local history,
archaeology, and geology.
• Oradour-sur-Glane—The scene of horrific events during World
War II, the town, situated about 15 miles northwest of Limoges, was
set afire by the Nazis in June 1944, and nearly all of its inhabitants
perished. Today the ruins of this town are preserved as a silent
memorial to the victims, and the museum, Le Centre de la
Mémoire, documents the tragedy.
• Segur-le-Château—This village about 30 miles south of Limoges,
filled with medieval half-timbered houses, is watched over by the fortified château built by Henry IV, who reigned from 1589 to 1610.
• Tulle—The home of France’s last accordion factory, the riverside village of Tulle (TEWL), about 50 miles southeast of Limoges, hosts a
spirited accordion festival every September that draws musicians
from around the world. The Musée des Armes Anciennes
(Antique Armaments Museum) displays historic firearms from the
city’s 200-year-old armaments manufactory, while the Musée du
Cloître (Cloisters Museum) features an eclectic collection that
includes lace, ceramics, watercolors, and accordions dating from the
early 19th century.
Auvergne
To call Auvergne (oh VEHRN yeh) the “Land of the Volcanoes” would
not be a misnomer. This scenic region is dominated by more than 80
extinct volcanic craters rising above a land of lush pastures and deep
forests. Auvergne’s thermal geology has also made it famous for natural
springs and mineral waters, resulting in a number of celebrated spa
towns, which have drawn health-conscious visitors for centuries.
Part 1.106
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Many trails through the
hills of Auvergne are
marked by burons (tiny
stone huts) where
herdsmen live during
the summer while taking their animals up
from the valleys to the
mountain pastures.
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While Auvergne may be better known for such internationally exported
mineral waters as Volvic and Vichy, it also produces fine wines such as
the dry whites produced in the Bourbonnais region near Moulins. The
area also produces many acclaimed cheeses, including the blue-veined
Fourme d’Ambert and creamy St-Nectaire. Among its culinary
specialties are la potée Auvergnate (Auvergne stew), a hearty concoction
of cabbage, potatoes, pork loin, and sausages, saucissons d’Auvergne
(sausages), and la pompe aux pommes, a dessert of apples baked on a
shortbread crust.
Did you know?
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Since medieval times, fortresses have crowned the hilltops and peaks of
Auvergne, and the remains of many can still be spotted above the
valleys they once protected. The locale also offers its fair share of
elegant châteaux, including Château d’Anjony, a 15th-century manse
overlooking the village of Tournemire and filled with rich tapestries,
elegant furnishings, and Renaissance frescoes.
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Much of the area is encompassed by the Parc Naturel
Régional des Volcans
d’Auvergne, which contains at
least 90 volcanic craters, the
largest concentration in
Europe, and 186 villages.
The French word for crater
is puy (PWEE). Among the
most impressive are the
e
ill
ubert Cam
la France/H
Maison de
4,806-foot Puy-de-Dôme,
Dôme
Puy de
t
a
g
which watches over the
in
il
Parasa
regional capital city of
Clermont-Ferrand, and
the 6,184-foot Puy de
Sancy, near the spa town of Le Mont-Dore. The unspoiled parklands
offer miles of hiking trails through the hills and charming villages fashioned out of volcanic stone. Wildlife is also abundant and include wild
sheep, chamoix, marmots, rock thrushes, and peregrine falcons.
Did you know?
Clermont-Ferrand is
the hub of France’s
rubber industry and
headquarters for the
Michelin Tire
Company.
Clermont-Ferrand (klair MOHN with nasal n fair RHAHN with
nasal n), the regional capital, is built on and out of the volcanic rock
that is so abundant in the surrounding countryside. The city offers
two attractive historic quarters to explore, Vieux Clermont and
Montferrand, which was a town in its own right up until the 17th
century. Especially interesting are the streets surrounding Cathédrale
Notre-Dame de l’Assomption in Vieux Clermont, many of them lined
with specialty shops and elegant 17th- and 18th-century town houses.
©
Central France: Auvergne
•
Part 1.107
Clermont-Ferrand is 248 miles south of Paris. While Clermont-Ferrand
is compact enough to explore on foot, it also offers frequent bus service around the city and to outlying districts. The city has frequent
train service to Paris and Lyon, both about three hours away. Within
Auvergne, there are train connections between Clermont-Ferrand and
such towns as Vichy, Le Mont-Dore, Riom, and Le Puy-en-Velay. The
main highways are Autoroutes 71, 72, and 75.
Around Clermont-Ferrand: Attractions
• Basilique Notre-Dame-du-Port—Known for its splendid
Romanesque architecture, this church is a UNESCO World Heritage
Site that dates from 1150. Important details are scenes from biblical
stories carved into the capitals of the pillars.
• Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption—Volcanic stone from
the surrounding countryside was used to build this soaring Gothic
cathedral. Its vast interior contains some fine examples of early
stained glass and 15th-century frescoes.
• Musée d’Archeologie Bargoin—The museum features a collection
of prehistoric Celtic items and finds from the city’s Gallo-Roman era,
including mosaics, statuettes, and a tunic. The Musée du Tapis
d’Art et des Arts Textiles (Carpet and Textile Art Museum) can
be found on the first two floors of this museum. This small museum
presents a collection of finely woven carpets from the Near East.
• Musée d’Art Roger-Quilliot—This museum displays an acclaimed
collection of sculpture, paintings, and art objects from the Middle
Ages through the 20th century.
• Statue de Vercingétorix—The focal point of the city’s main square
is this statue of a young Gallic chieftain who fought bravely against
Julius Caesar’s army as the Romans marched through Auvergne.
Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, who created the Statue of Liberty,
sculpted the statue, which depicts Vercingétorix on horseback.
Outside Clermont-Ferrand: Attractions
• Puy-de-Dôme—Spectacular views of the surrounding region are
afforded from the top of this impressive volcanic mountain, a favorite
spot for hang gliders. Visitors can either make the steep one-hour
climb to the summit on foot or take a shuttle bus.
Part 1.108
•
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• Vulcania—Just west of Clermont-Ferrand, this new 140-acre scientific theme park is devoted to volcanoes and the role they have
played in the formation of the earth. The park’s innovative exhibits
are presented in a unique underground complex.
Did you know?
Beyond Clermont-Ferrand: Attractions
• Aurillac—The pleasant market town of Aurillac (oh rhee YAHK),
100 miles southwest of Clermont-Ferrand, makes a good base for
exploring the nearby Monts du Cantal (Cantal Mountains), a vast
extinct volcanic mountain range now covered with pastures and dotted with quaint hamlets. Visitors can learn about volcanoes at the
Musée des Volcans and also explore the Musée d’Art et
d’Archéologie, which includes exhibits of European paintings and
local archaeological finds.
There are alpine ski
slopes on the north
side of Puy de Sancy
as well as an extensive
network of crosscountry ski trails just
outside Le Mont-Dore.
• Moulins—The town about 60 miles north of Clermont-Ferrand,
which was once the capital for the Dukes of Bourbon during the
14th to 16th centuries, is filled with intriguing medieval alleys
and architectural reminders of its courtly past, particularly
along the Rue de Paris. Its most splendid edifice is
Cathédrale Notre-Dame, built in striking white stone and
containing a magnificent late Gothic triptych painted by an
artist known simply as the Master of Moulins.
• Le Puy-en-Velay—This old city, 80 miles southeast of
Clermont-Ferrand with steep cobblestone streets, is set
among volcanic pinnacles, one of which is capped by a
statue of the Virgin Mary and another topped by a 10thcentury chapel. The narrow streets are lined with
Le Puy
medieval houses built of dark volcanic stone. Long a
-en-Vela
y
religious pilgrimage site, the city’s major landmarks
include the Romanesque Cathédrale Notre-Dame, with its
ornately painted stonework, and the nearby Chapelle des Pénitents,
©
Maison de
la France/H
ubert Camill
e
• Le Mont-Dore—A lovely spa town perched above the Dordogne
River 30 miles southwest of Clermont-Ferrand, Le Mont-Dore offers
fantastic views and makes a good base for exploring the surrounding
Puy de Sancy area. Just south of town, a cable-car system ferries riders to the top of Puy de Sancy for even better views. Another option
is to take the funicular railway to the top of Pic du Capucin (pic
meaning peak), a wooded plateau above the town. Within Le MontDore, the main attraction is the Etablissement Thermal, a huge spa
complex, offering a variety of hydrotherapy treatments. Visitors can
also tour the spa for a look at its sumptuous neo-Byzantine interior
dating from the mid-19th century.
Central France: Auvergne
•
Part 1.109
with its richly decorated Renaissance ceiling panels. The town also
features two educational centers devoted to lace making that can be
toured: the Centre d’Enseignement de la Dentelle aux Fuseaux
and the Atelier Conservatoire National de la Dentelle (dentelle
meaning lace). Antique lace items and other traditional arts are on
display at the Musée Crozatier. Perched above the town is the
Chapelle-St-Michel-d’Aiguilhe, a Romanesque church.
• Riom—The capital of Auvergne during the Middle Ages, the small
town of Riom, 10 miles north of Clermont-Ferrand, is lined with
merchants’ houses made of dark volcanic stone. Its Musée
d’Auvergne offers exhibits on life in the region during past centuries,
while the Musée Mandet contains a collection of classical art,
medieval sculptures, and paintings from the 17th to the 19th century.
• Thiers—Perched on a slope above the Dore Valley, Thiers (tee
YAIR), 25 miles northeast of Clermont-Ferrand, has been the cutlery-producing center of France since the 19th century and is filled
with shops selling fine knives. Visitors can watch a knife maker at
work at the Maison des Couteliers (Cutlers’ House) and view a
vintage collection of knives at the Musée de la Coutellerie
(Cutlery Museum).
• Vichy—One of Europe’s best-known spa towns, Vichy (VEE shee),
33 miles northeast of Clermont-Ferrand, is also known as the place
where French officials made concessions to meet German demands
during World War II, establishing the so-called “Vichy Government.” While little evidence of the war period remains, there are
many reminders of the town’s heyday as a chic spa resort during the
belle époque of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Among them
are the Parc des Sources, a pleasant place with a covered promenade, and the Hall des Sources, where six different types of mineral
water may be sampled. Across from the park is the 1903 Grand
Etablissement Thermal, a domed and tiled former spa that is now a
shopping arcade. Other charming landmarks include the Art
Deco–style Eglise St-Blaise, adorned with neo-Byzantine mosaics
and the Musée de Vichy, a small art museum housed in an Art
Deco theater.
Along with sampling the waters from the town’s famous springs,
there are also several modern spas offering thermal baths and a variety of other treatments. Among them are Thermes de Vichy Callou
and Les Célestins.
Part 1.110
•
©
Pronunciation Guide
Aurillac
oh rhee YAHK
Auvergne
oh VEHRN yeh
Clermont-Ferrand
klair MOHN with nasal n fair RHAHN
with nasal n
Guéret
gay RHEH
Limoges
lee MOZH
Limousin
lee moo ZAHN with nasal n
Thiers
tee YAIR
Tulle
TEWL
Vichy
VEE shee
©
Central France: Pronunciation Guide
•
Part 1.111
Part 2
• Southwest France
• Northern France
• Western France
• Overseas Regions
• Selling France
CENTRE
VAL DE LOIRE
Southwest France
50 km
0
50 mi
POITOUCHARENTES
LIMOUSIN
AUVERGNE
Gironde
Estuary
.
Périgueux
e
UX
EA
RD INE N
BO W GIO
RE
r
zè
R
Vé
Lascaux
Les Eyzies-deTayac-Sireuil
Dordogne R.
Rocamadour
Sarlat-laCanéda
Bordeaux Saint-Emilion Bergerac
Figeac
Arcachon
na
ld
es
.
tR
Lo
De
ux
M
Cahors
s
AQUITAINE
rn
Ta
Moissac
Fourcès
Condom
R.
Albi
Montauban
Toulouse
Biarritz Bayonne
MIDI-PYRENEES
Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Conques
Saint-CirqLapopie
Agen
er
COT
E
D’A
RGE
NT
Ca
Castres
Ca
n
Mi al du
di
Narbonne
Pau
Nive
R.
Parc National
des Pyrénées
Lourdes
Foix
LANGUEDOCROUSSILLON
Cauterets
Gavarnie
SPAIN
114
•
ANDORRA
©
Southwest
France
W
ith everything from a sunny coastline to tranquil river valleys to
snowcapped mountain peaks, Southwest France is a world unto
itself. Set within this beautiful and diverse landscape is a rich assortment
of cultures and a historic legacy that includes some of the earliest signs
of human habitation on earth.
Prehistoric people have left their mark here, evidenced in the amazingly
vivid cave paintings carved deep into the hillsides in places such as the
Vézère River Valley, where the Decorated Grottoes including Lascaux
have been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Centuries later the
region came into flower with the creation of Romanesque churches and
abbeys, which for centuries have drawn visitors to admire their graceful
architecture and sculpted detail.
A place of almost constant war during the Middle Ages, Southwest
France is dotted with dozens of bastides (fortified villages). Built by feudal lords to attract settlers, the towns feature central market squares,
arcaded houses, and streets laid out with defense purposes in mind.
Today these medieval towns, often encircled by ramparts and guarded by
imposing châteaux, are fascinating places for visitors to explore. Among
the many prime examples are Domme, 8 miles south of Sarlat-la-Canéda
in the Dordogne region of Aquitaine, and Fourcès, 40 miles southwest
of Agen in the Gascogne (Gascony) region of the Midi-Pyrénées.
One of the most pleasant ways for clients to get an overview of
France’s Southwest castles and fortifications, many of which overlook
rivers and canals, is to rent a péniche (houseboat) for a leisurely trip
down such waterways as the Lot River or the Canal des Deux Mers,
which links Bordeaux with Toulouse. Float trips can also be taken on
the Canal du Midi, which runs about 150 miles from Toulouse to the
Mediterranean port of Narbonne.
Southwest France is also a major gastronomical center, known for such
gourmet specialties as cheese, foie gras, and truffles as well as cassoulet,
the classic hearty stew in which white beans are combined with various
ingredients such as duck, goose, sausage, or pork. Among the many
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Southwest France
•
Part 2.1
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other taste treats are Roquefort cheese, Bordelaise wine sauce, poulet
au pot (a chicken and vegetable stew), confit (preserved duck or
goose), and piperade (a tomato and spicy green pepper omelet).
Did you know?
Aquitaine
The Gascony region in
Aquitaine and MidiPyrénées is where
France’s oldest brandy,
Armagnac, has been
produced for more than
700 years. Throughout
Gascony are Armagnac
cellars, some of them
located in châteaux,
that welcome visitors.
Two of the finest are
Ryst-Dupeyron, located in the village of
Condom, and Le
Domaine d’Ognoas in
Arthez d’Armagnac.
World-renowned wines, prehistoric cave dwellings, Basque festivals, and
chic oceanside resorts are all part of what gives this region, which hugs
the southwest coast of France, a distinct flavor. On hillsides above its
rolling vineyards and deep river valleys are medieval castles and
fortresses, reminders of the days when both France and England vied
for control of the area, a conflict that began in the 12th century when
Aliénor (Eleanor) of Aquitaine married Henri Plantagenêt, who became
King Henry II of England.
In the northeast of Aquitaine is the fascinating Dordogne area, named
for one of the longest and loveliest rivers in France. Remains of some
of the earliest known human cultures can be found at such sites as
Lascaux, sometimes called the “Sistine Chapel of Prehistory,” with its
cave paintings dating back about 17,000 years. The Romans also left
their mark on the Dordogne, which includes the ruins of a 30,000-seat
amphitheater carved into the hills above the city of Périgueux. Today
the forests of the Dordogne are a rich source of delicacies such as rare
black truffles and wild mushrooms.
is Tripelon
ean-Franço
la France/J Marie-Josée Jarru
Maison de
and
The southern stretch of Aquitaine, which borders Spain, is French
Basque country. Here the unique culture of the Basque people, who
first settled the area in the 6th century, is richly evident in such seaside
towns as Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The Basques retain their
ancient language, Euskara, and pelota, a term used to denote a variety
of games played with rubber balls and scoop-shaped rackets.
Basque music and dance, along with pelota tournaments, can be
enjoyed at local festivals throughout the year.
aux
u Marg
Châtea
Part 2.2
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The city of Bordeaux (bohr DOH) is not only the capital of
the region but one of the world’s great wine capitals. The
wines produced in the surrounding vineyards include Côtesde-Bordeaux, Entre-Deux-Mers, Margaux, Médoc, Pauillac,
Sauternes, to name just a few. A great starting point for
visitors is the Bordeaux Tourist Office, located in central
Bordeaux, where staff at the public inquiry desk can arrange
half-day or full-day wine country tours and provide information on local wine festivals and venues for wine tasting.
Bordeaux itself is an elegant city of wide avenues,
neoclassical architecture and formal gardens. Its focal
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Bordeaux is situated 365 miles southwest of Paris. From Paris, there is
direct high-speed TGV train service to Bordeaux and Biarritz.
Bordeaux offers a public bus system within the city and train service to
Bayonne, Toulouse, and other cities in the Southwest. The main highway through the region is Autoroute 10.
Around Bordeaux: Attractions
• Cathédrale St-André—Dating from the 11th century, the cathedral
features an ornate tympan depicting the Last Supper and an intricate
web of buttresses. Its detached bell tower is worth the climb for
superb views of the city.
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point is the Place Gambetta, a handsome square bordered by 18th-century arcades and filled with leafy gardens. East of the square are chic shopping streets with everything from department stores to trendy boutiques.
Did you know?
Bordeaux has served
as the capital of
France on three brief
occasions during various wars. The first was
during the FrancoPrussian War of
1870–1871, the second was in 1914 at
the beginning of World
War I, and the third was
for two weeks in 1940
during World War II.
• Centre National Jean Moulin—The museum is devoted to the
Resistance movement during World War II and features the reconstructed office of Resistance leader Jean Moulin and such items as a
folding motorcycle designed to be carried during a parachute drop
into enemy territory.
• Croiseur Colbert—Docked at Quai des Chartrons, the Colbert is a
French navy missile cruiser in service from 1957 to 1991 that is now
a floating museum. Visitors can tour the security post, admiral’s
quarters, kitchens, machine rooms, hospital, and crew posts.
• Grand Théâtre—Built between 1773 and 1780, the theater is a
superb example of neoclassical architecture with its stately columns
topped by statues of the 12 Muses and Graces. Operas, ballets, and
classical music concerts are staged at the theater throughout the year.
• Musée d’Aquitaine—More than 25,000 years of history are represented in the museum collection, which includes a prehistoric basrelief from a cave dwelling in the Dordogne region and sculpture,
coins, and mosaics from the Gallo-Roman era.
• Musée d’Art Contemporain—Housed in a vast early-19th-century
warehouse, the museum is a venue for changing exhibitions of some
of the world’s finest contemporary art.
• Musée des Arts Décoratifs—The museum offers an extensive collection of antique porcelain, pottery, furniture, art glass, silverwork,
costumes, and more.
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Southwest France: Aquitaine
•
Part 2.3
• Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts)—The museum has
a strong collection of 17th-century paintings by Flemish, Dutch, and
Italian masters, along with examples of French artists Delacroix,
Corot, and native son Albert Marquet.
• Vynorama—Situated in a traditional chai (wine store), the museum
traces the history of vineyard cultivation and wine making from
Gallo-Roman times. Wine tasting is offered at the end of the tour.
Outside Bordeaux: Attractions
• Bordeaux Winegrowing Region—Many of the world’s most celebrated wines are produced in the 330,000 acres of vineyards around
the city of Bordeaux. The area has more than 500 châteaux or
domaines, terms that refer to the individual properties where the
wine grapes are grown and processed into wine. While many of the
better-known châteaux are open to the public, advance reservations
are often required to visit them. Most of the famous châteaux that
can be toured are in the Médoc area northwest of Bordeaux. Among
them are Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild,
and Château Margaux. Visitors can make reservations for half-day
and full-day wine country tours at the Bordeaux Tourist Office.
• Maison des Bordeaux et Bordeaux Supérieur, Planète
Bordeaux—Located off Route Nationale 89 a few miles outside
Bordeaux, this new museum features interactive exhibits devoted to
the making, cultivation, and drinking of wine. In a section of the
museum called La Cave, visitors can sample wines from more than
1,000 vintners in the region.
Beyond Bordeaux: Attractions
Sudres
ean-Daniel
la France/J
Maison de
u Pilat
Dune d
Part 2.4
•
• Arcachon—Fresh oysters and the highest sand dune in
Europe are among the delights of Arcachon (ahr kah SHOHN
with nasal n), a small town about 40 miles southwest of
Bordeaux on a wide bay along the Côte d’Argent (argent
meaning silver). Stretching more than 120 miles from the
mouth of the Gironde Estuary to Biarritz, it is the longest
coast in Europe. Long a popular oceanside resort, its main
beach is bordered by the Ville d’Hiver (Winter Town), a
hillside of charmingly decorated 19th-century villas. Just
south of the town is the enormous white Dune du Pilat,
a sand dune more than 1.5 miles long and 347 feet high,
which moves slightly every year. Visitors can climb to the
top of a wooden stairway, preferably at sunset, for
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• Bergerac—An attractive city along the Dordogne River about 60
miles east of Bordeaux, Bergerac is gateway to the Pérogord region.
It contains many fine half-timbered houses and other reminders of its
importance as a crossroads during medieval times. Long an important
tobacco-growing center, Bergerac is home to the Musée du Tabac
(Tobacco Museum), which traces the history of snuff, pipes, cigars,
and cigarettes in Europe. A handsome 16th-century cloister is the
site of the Maison des Vins, headquarters of the regional wine
council, which offers wine tastings of the local vintages.
• Biarritz—Once a simple fishing village, Biarritz, situated 120 miles
southwest of Bordeaux, near Bayonne, was transformed into a stylish
oceanside resort in the 19th century when it caught the fancy of
Impératrice Eugénie, wife of Napoléon III and empress of France.
Queen Victoria and her son Edward VII also visited the town, and
both have streets named after them. Lined with striped bathing
tents, the main beach, the Grande Plage, draws thousands of summer visitors who also come to try their luck at the waterfront Casino
Municipal. The beaches on the north side of town are some of the
best in Europe for surfing.
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On the other side of the river is Petit Bayonne, a charming old
district filled with popular bars and restaurants. One of its star
attractions is the Musée Bonnat, which contains a fine collection of
paintings and sculptures, much of it donated by the artist Léon
Bonnat. Other works are by El Greco, Rubens, Goya, and Raphael.
The recently restored and reopened Musée Basque offers an
extensive collection pertaining to Basque culture.
Bayonn
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• Bayonne—The cultural capital of the French Basque
country, this lively city 115 miles southwest of Bordeaux is
divided into two old quarters by the River Nive. Its Basque
charm is found in such touches as the riverside houses
adorned with shutters in the traditional colors of red and
green. Grass-covered ramparts dating from the 17th
century surround much of the central city. The Grand
Bayonne district is the main shopping and commercial
area. The focal point is Cathédrale Ste-Marie, which
was started in the 13th century when Bayonne was
under English rule. Its vaulted ceiling bears both the
English coat of arms and the symbol of France, the fleur-de-lis.
Maison de
la France/H
ubert Camill
e
impressive views. Oysters fresh from Arcachon Bay are a
specialty of many local restaurants.
Did you know?
The first Wednesday in
August is the starting
point for the annual
five-day Bayonne
Festival, a celebration
of Basque culture with
music, dance, bullfighting, fireworks, and
parades. It also includes
a humorous version of
the Running of the
Bulls in Pamplona that
involves cows instead
of bulls.
The statue of Cyrano
de Bergerac in the
town square of
Bergerac is in honor of
the character with the
prominent nose in the
famous play by Edmond
Rostand.
At the north end of the Grande Plage is the Hôtel du Palais, a
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Part 2.5
luxury hotel that is a splendid example of early-20th-century
Belle Epoque architecture. Across the street is the onion-domed
Eglise St-Alexandre Nevsky, built in 1908 for the Russian
aristocrats who frequented Biarritz. Other attractions are the
Musée de la Mer, an aquarium devoted to local marine life,
and the Musée Historique de Biarritz, which traces the
town’s development from fishing port to seaside resort.
• Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil—This small village, 28
miles southeast of Périgueux where the Vézère and Beaune
d
ean Leonar
la France/J
Maison de
Rivers meet, is at the epicenter of many of the world’s
z
it
r
r
earliest known prehistoric sites. A good introduction to
Bia
the area is provided by the Musée National de la
Préhistoire, which is built into a cliff and contains the largest
collection of Paleolithic reliefs and sculptures in the world. Just
north of the museum is the Abri Pataud, a 37,000-year-old CroMagnon shelter with a display of artifacts and ceiling carvings
estimated to be more than 20,000 years old.
• Grotte de Lascaux and Lascaux II (Lascaux Caves)—Discovered
in 1940 by a pair of teenaged boys searching for their dog, the
Grotte de Lascaux, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is about 30
miles southeast of Périgueux in the Vézère River Valley. It contains
some of the oldest artwork on earth—cave paintings of wild deer,
horses, and other animals in vivid colors. The paintings are between
15,000 and 17,000 years old. Because the original cave is too fragile
to be open to the public, a replica, Lascaux II, was opened in 1983
a few yards away. Visitors can tour the replica and see its meticulous
re-creation of the original cave paintings. Lascaux II is often visited
in conjunction with the nearby Le Thot Espace Cro-Magnon,
which features audiovisuals on prehistoric art and exhibits on how
Lascaux II was created.
On the northeast outskirts of the village is the Grotte de Font-deGaume, a prehistoric cave with perhaps the finest collection of
prehistoric paintings still open to the public. Cro-Magnon people
drew the cave’s polychrome figures of bison, reindeer, horses, bears,
and mammoths more than 14,000 years ago. Another fascinating site
in the area is the Village Troglodytique de la Madeleine, originally
a cave dwelling village for people living 10,000 to 14,000 years ago.
The site also contains the ruins of a French medieval village. Other
nearby prehistoric caves open to the public include the Grotte des
Combarelles, a 600-foot-long cave with hundreds of engraved
animal and human figures, and the Grotte de Rouffignac, where a
train takes visitors deep into the 1.5-mile-long cave to view its
paintings and engravings.
Part 2.6
•
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• Pau—Known for its lovely parks and breathtaking views of the
Pyrénées Mountains, Pau (POH), 126 miles south of Bordeaux, also
offers a prime sightseeing attraction, the 16th-century Château de
Pau, which is filled with treasures, including tapestries, Sèvres porcelain, and a tortoiseshell cradle belonging to Henri Plantagenêt. The
Musée Bernadotte is devoted to the improbable life of Jean-Baptiste
Bernadotte, a French general serving under Napoléon who became
the crown prince of Sweden and Norway. At the Musée des BeauxArts (Museum of Fine Arts) is a collection of 17th- to 20thcentury paintings, including works by Rubens, El Greco, and Degas.
• Périgueux—Founded more than 2,000 years ago, Périgueux (pay
rhee GEUH), about 80 miles northeast of Bordeaux, is filled with
many reminders of its multilayered history. The town is also a gastronomic center known for its black truffles and foie gras, both of
which can be found at the market stalls of the twice-weekly Marché
de Gras. Among its most distinctive landmarks is Cathédrale StFront, which has an impressive multidomed rooftop that is especially
dazzling when illuminated at night. The town’s Gallo-Roman past
can be appreciated at the ruined 1st-century Jardin des Arènes
(Roman Amphitheater), built to hold 30,000 spectators, and the
Tour de Vésone (tour meaning tower), a tower that is the remaining section of a temple dedicated to the goddess Vesuna.
The Musée de Périgord features a large collection of tools and
other artifacts from Stone Age cultures, along with jewelry, mosaics,
and sculptures from Gallo-Roman times. The Musée Militaire displays swords, firearms, uniforms, and insignia from the Napoleonic
wars and the two World Wars.
• Saint-Emilion—An exquisite medieval village, 26 miles
east of Bordeaux on a limestone plateau above the
Dordogne River Valley, St-Emilion (sahnt with nasal n tay
mee lee YOHN with nasal n), a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, is surrounded by world-famous vineyards and sits
atop a network of cellars storing wines noted for their fullbodied flavor. Among its most unusual features is the
Eglise Monolithe, a church built into a limestone cliff
by Benedictine monks in the 9th century. Also intriguing
are the nearby Grotte de l’Ermitage, a hermit’s cave
converted into a chapel, and the Cloître de la
Collégiale, a 14th-century cloister.
Maison de
la France/J
ean-Franço
is Tripelon
and Marie
Saint-E
Josée Jarr
y
mil
ion
• Saint-Jean-de-Luz—Part of the charm of this small oceanside
resort, 9 miles south of Biarritz, is that it is still a working fishing
port with a small bustling harbor where boats bring in catches of
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Part 2.7
Did you know?
St-Jean-de-Luz is the
site of two annual festivals with a seafood
theme. La Fête du
Thon (Tuna Festival)
on the first Saturday in
July brings traditional
Basque music, midnight
fireworks, and food
stalls brimming with
fresh tuna dishes. La
Nuit de la Sardine
(Night of the
Sardine), which takes
place on the Saturday
nearest August 14, is
an evening of outdoor
music and dancing.
Near Sarlat-la-Canéda,
the village of La
Roque-Gageac, built
into a cliff overlooking
the Dordogne River, is
considered one of the
most beatiful villages in
France. Not far away is
another pretty village
Beynac, also situated
on a cliff above the
river, with a castle.
sardines, tuna, and anchovies. Its Eglise St-Jean Baptiste is
considered the finest Basque church in all of France, with a splendid
interior of vaulted ceilings, painted panels, finely carved statues, and
a gilded 17th-century altarpiece. Another prime attraction is the
Maison Louis XIV, a house built in 1643 by a wealthy shipowner
that is grandly furnished in period style.
• Sarlat-la-Canéda—A beautifully preserved town of golden sandstone buildings dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, Sarlat-laCanéda, 6 miles southeast of Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, is a great
place to wander down cobblestone streets lined with gabled houses
and stone fountains. The town is famous for its Saturday market in
Place des Oies (oies meaning geese), where such regional delicacies
as foie gras are on display in the square.
Among the most elegant structures is the ornate Maison de la
Boétie, birthplace of the 16th-century
writer Etienne de la Boétie. Just
outside town and worth a visit are
Les Jardins du Manoir
d’Eyrignac, formal gardens with
artfully trimmed topiaries, and
the Château de Castelnaud, a
medieval castle that makes an
atmospheric location for the
Musée de la Guerre au
Moyen Age (National
Museum of Medieval
Warfare) and its collection of
Sarlat-la
-Canéd
a
early military items.
Maison de
la France/H
ubert Camill
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Midi-Pyrénées
The Pyrénées mountain range, which forms a natural border between
France and Spain, contains some of the most ruggedly beautiful terrain
in France. Its soaring peaks and abundant wildlife can be enjoyed in the
nature preserve, the Parc National des Pyrénées. A paradise for winter
sports, the region offers hundreds of miles of ski trails and nearly two
dozen ski resorts.
Midi-Pyrénées (mee DEE peer rhay NAY) is also a land of religious miracles, drawing millions of visitors a year to Lourdes and the sacred
springs discovered by a young peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous, who
became a saint. The area is also filled with magnificent churches and
abbeys that were important pilgrimage sites in the Middle Ages. Many
Part 2.8
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Often called the Ville Rose because its buildings are made of rosecolored bricks, Toulouse retains a good deal of historic charm. The
focal point is the bustling Place du Capitole, flanked on one side by its
magnificent city hall and on the other by graceful arcades painted with
scenes from the county capital’s long history.
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The regional capital, Toulouse (too LOOZ) is the fourth-largest city in
France and boasts the country’s second-largest university student population. As such, visitors will find a city charged with youthful exuberance and offering no shortage of cafés, bookstores, and nightspots. The
city is also the hub of France’s aerospace industry and has played a pioneering role in everything from World War I aviation to the development of space rockets and the Concorde supersonic aircraft.
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pertain to the routes pilgrims traversed through the region to Santiago
de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, classified as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, to meditate before the remains of the apostle-martyr.
Did you know?
Toulouse prospered in
the 16th century as a
trade center for woad,
a plant that produces a
deep-blue dye. Many of
the city’s most splendid
mansions once
belonged to merchants
in the woad trade.
One of the best ways to explore Toulouse is to walk along pathways
lining the city’s several canals, including the Canal du Midi, a 17thcentury engineering marvel that runs all the way from Toulouse to the
Mediterranean. The canals, along with the Garonne River, can also be
explored on short boat excursions departing from the Quai de la
Daurade or Ponts Jumeaux.
Toulouse is located 438 miles southwest of Paris. From Paris, it is served
by high-speed TGV trains via Bordeaux, about a 5 1/2-hour trip. From
Toulouse, there is direct train service to many cities and towns in the
Southwest, including Albi, Bayonne, Lourdes, Castres, and Montauban.
The main highway through the region is Autoroute 62.
For getting around the city, Toulouse offers both a local bus and an
underground métro system.
Around Toulouse: Attractions
• Basilique St-Sernin—One of the largest and best-preserved
Romanesque structures in France, much of the basilica was
constructed in the late 11th century. Its most arresting feature is an
eight-sided multitiered tower that rises like a wedding cake above
the church.
• Capitole—Dominating the main square, the block-long Capitole
houses both the city hall and the city’s main theater, a venue for
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Southwest France: Midi-Pyrénées
•
Part 2.9
operas and operettas. Built in 1759, the brick-and-stone structure is supported by gleaming marble columns. Inside visitors
can tour the gilded theater and staterooms adorned with
painted ceilings and 19th-century artworks.
y
aniel Thierr
la France/D
Maison de
pitole
The Ca
• Cité de l’Espace—On the eastern outskirts of the city,
this space museum and planetarium reflects the fact that
Toulouse has long been the hub of the French aerospace
industry. Interactive exhibits and displays explore such subjects as satellites and space stations. Visitors can even try
their hand at a simulated rocket launch.
• Eglise Les Jacobins—Devoted to the Jacobin order
founded in 1215, the Gothic church features a spectacular vaulted
ceiling with a palm tree–like design, a unique octagonal bell tower,
and a marble altar containing the relics of the Italian philosopher
St. Thomas Aquinas.
• Galerie Municipale du Château d’Eau—Located in a 19th-century
water tower, this gallery is devoted to photographic art and features
changing exhibits from leading photographers.
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• Hôtel d’Assézat and Fondation Bemberg—An excellent example
of the city’s many splendid 16th- and 17th-century mansions, the
structure was once the home of a wealthy merchant and now contains the fine private museum collection of paintings, bronzes, and
decorative objects of the collector George Bemberg.
Did you know?
After ToulouseLautrec died in 1901,
his mother offered hundreds of his works to
the Louvre Museum,
which rejected them.
His hometown of Albi
was happy to receive
them, and the collection
became the foundation
of the Musée
Toulouse-Lautrec.
Part 2.10
•
• Musée des Augustins—Housed in a former Augustinian
monastery, the museum displays a rich collection of paintings and
Renaissance statuary.
• Musée Paul Dupuy—A wealthy collector donated the items for this
museum located in a grand 18th-century mansion. Among the items
on display are rare clocks and watches, paintings, glassworks,
medieval religious art, and armaments.
Beyond Toulouse: Attractions
• Albi—A town largely built from the reddish clay of the Tarn River,
Albi, 47 miles northeast of Toulouse, is dominated by the massive,
fortresslike Cathédrale Ste-Cécile, which dates from 1282. The redbrick cathedral contains such marvels as a fierce depiction of the Last
Judgment, an intricately carved rood screen, and a choir embellished
with polychrome biblical figures. For art lovers, Albi’s star attraction
is the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec, which is devoted to the work of
native son Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec who vividly captured Parisian
©
cabaret life of the late 19th century. The museum contains
more than 600 examples of his work and also features the
work of other artists such as Degas, Rodin, and Matisse.
• Cahors—Surrounded on three sides by the River Lot,
Cahors, 55 miles north of Toulouse, was an important
commercial center during the Middle Ages and still features an intriguing medieval quarter of historic houses
and narrow alleyways. Major sites to explore include
Pont Valentré, a fortified medieval bridge with tall
defense towers, and Cathédrale St-Etienne, which is
crowned by two Turkish-inspired cupolas and features
well-preserved 14th-century interior wall paintings.
The local red wine is named after the town.
Maison de
la France/D
aniel Thierr
y
Albi
• Castres—The town, 48 miles east of Toulouse, has an historic district
that contains many impressive old houses and public buildings dating
from its days as an important textile-manufacturing center during the
17th century. Among the finest buildings in Castres (KASS treh) is a
former bishop’s palace, which now houses the Musée Goya. The
museum boasts an impressive collection of paintings and engraved
works by the Spanish artist Francisco José de Goya.
• Conques—Named for its conch shell–shaped site, the hillside village
of Conques (KOHNK), south of the Lot River and 27 miles east of
Figeac, is filled with delightful stone cottages and gardens. The main
attraction is the Abbatiale Ste-Foy (St. Foy Abbey-Church), a
major pilgrimage site known for a 9th-century golden-statue reliquary embossed with precious stones and an outstanding rendition
of the the Last Judgment carved over the main doorway.
• Figeac—Founded by Benedictine monks in the 9th century, Figeac
(fee ZHAHK), 44 miles northeast of Cahors, is a pleasant riverside
town with many historic houses dating from the 12th to the 18th
century. The main attraction is the Musée Champollion, a museum
devoted to native son Jean-François Champollion, a 19th-century
Egyptologist who cracked the code of the ancient hieroglyphs on the
Rosetta Stone. The museum contains a collection of Egyptian
antiquities and exhibits on the scientist’s life and discoveries. Another
museum worth a visit is the Musée du Vieux Figeac, which is
located in a 13th-century mint and offers a collection of antique
clocks, coins, and minerals.
• Foix—Set on the confluence of two rivers about 50 miles south of
Toulouse, Foix (FWAH) has an intriguing old quarter lined with
medieval houses and a picturesque market square bordered by the
©
Southwest France: Midi-Pyrénées
•
Part 2.11
14th-century Eglise St-Volusien. Guarding the town are the
massive towers of the Château des Comtes de Foix, a fortresslike
counts’ castle dating from the 10th century. Today the castle houses
an archaeological museum.
• Lourdes—Once a sleepy market town, Lourdes, 25 miles southeast
of Pau, became an internationally famous pilgrimage site after a
young peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous, reported seeing a series of
visions of the Virgin Mary in 1858 in a grotto outside the town.
Today Lourdes draws more than 5 million visitors a year, many of
whom come on a religious pilgrimage or seek a cure from the natural
springs believed to have healing powers.
West of the town center is a huge religious complex, Sanctuaire
Notre-Dame de Lourdes, centered around the cave Grotte de
Massabielle, where Bernadette’s visions took place. The complex
contains churches, including the massive subterranean Basilique de
St-Pie X, which can accommodate up to 20,000 people at a time.
Leading from the complex up into the hills is the Chemin de la
Croix (Way of the Cross), which is lined with replicas of the 14
Stations of the Cross.
Other sites include the Musée de Lourdes, which features
exhibits on Bernadette and the history of the town, and
Château Fort, a 13th-century hilltop castle housing a small
museum, Musée Pyrénées, devoted to local folk culture. For
spectacular views of Lourdes, visitors can ride a funicular up
to the top of a nearby mountain peak, Pic du Jer.
pinski
acques Sier
la France/J
Maison de
re
St-Pier
Abbaye
• Moissac—The main reason to visit this small town,
44 miles northwest of Toulouse, is the magnificent
Abbaye St-Pierre, a Benedictine abbey that is adorned
with some of the finest Romanesque sculpture in all of
France. Among its most impressive features are the 12thcentury doorway depicting St. John’s vision of the
apocalypse and the 16th-century cloître (cloister)
carved with biblical scenes.
• Parc National des Pyrénées—This national park runs for more than
60 miles along the Spanish border from Pic de Laraille south of
Lescun in the west to beyond Pic de la Munia east of Gavarnie. It
encompasses some of the most beautiful areas of the Pyrénées mountains and is home to dozens of animal species, some of them very
rare or endangered. Ibex, chamoix, and bears may be spotted, along
with golden eagles, bearded vultures, and falcons. The park also
offers more than 200 lakes and hundreds of miles of trails for hiking,
skiing, and snowshoeing. Park offices and visitor information centers
Part 2.12
•
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• Saint-Cirq-Lapopie—Perched on a cliff high above the River Lot
about 20 miles east of Cahors, this tiny village of golden-stone
buildings with tiled roofs affords spectacular views, particularly
from the ruins of a 13th-century château. Visitors will enjoy
strolling and browsing along the narrow streets lined with
half-timbered houses and craft studios selling leather goods,
pottery, and jewelry. The Musée Rignaud features a collection of French furniture and artifacts from China and Africa.
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• Rocamadour—Perched along a cliff face high above the River Alzou
30 miles northwest of Figeac, this tiny village with a spectacular
setting was an important pilgrimage stop during the 12th to 14th
century. Believers still flock to its Gothic Chapelle Notre-Dame,
which contains a 12th-century statue known as the Black Madonna
that is believed to hold miraculous powers. The steep main street
leads up to a plateau crowned by L’Hospitalet, a 14th-century
château with stunning views from its ramparts. The château grounds
include the Grotte des Merveilles, a stalactite cave with prehistoric
paintings.
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are located in such towns as Cauterets, about 20 miles of south of
Lourdes, and Gavarnie, about 30 miles south of Lourdes.
Did you know?
About 12 miles northeast of Rocamadour is
the Gouffre de
Padirac, a huge limestone sinkhole with
impressive stalactites,
waterfalls, and underground lakes. Visitors
view the area on guided
boat tours.
Pronunciation Guide
Arcachon
ahr kah SHOHN with nasal n
Bordeaux
bohr DOH
Castres
KASS treh
Conques
KOHNK
Figeac
fee ZHAHK
Foix
FWAH
Midi-Pyrénées
mee DEE peer rhay NAY
Pau
POH
Périgueux
pay rhee GEUH
St-Emilion
sahn with nasal n tay mee lee YOHN
with nasal n
Toulouse
too LOOZ
©
Maison de
la France/H
ubert Camill
Saint-C
e
irq-Lap
opie
Southwest France: Pronunciation Guide
•
Part 2.13
English Channel
UNITED KINGDOM
Utah
Beach
Etretat
Fécamp
Omaha
Le
Havre
Beach
Rouen
Deauville
Honfleur
Trouville
Giverny
Bayeux
Caen
Cherbourg
Guernsey
Jersey
Channel Islands
(U.K.)
PICARDIE
Seine R.
Paris
NORMANDIE
Dinard
St-Malo
ILE-DE-FRANCE
Mont-St-Michel
Chartres
Alençon
Brest
Dinan
BRETAGNE
Locronan
Quimper
Ra
nce
R.
Rennes
Le Mans
Odet R.
Concarneau
Lorient
Pointe Pont-Aven
du Raz
Carnac
Quiberon
Orléans
PAYS DE LA LOIRE
Vannes
Loire R.
St-Nazaire
Belle-Ile-en-Mer
Angers
Tours
Saumur
Nantes
La Baule
Loire R.
Blois
Bourges
Amboise
CENTRE
VAL DE LOIRE
Poitiers
te
en
Angoulême
Royan Cognac
R.
Rochefort
Saintes
ar
Ile d’Oléron
Ch
St-Martin-de-Ré
Ile de Ré
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Ile d’Aix
POITOUCHARENTES
La Rochelle
LIMOUSIN
AUVERGNE
Bay of Biscay
AQUITAINE
MIDI-PYRENEES
Western France
80 km
0
80 mi
SPAIN
Part 2.14
•
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Western France
F
rom fairy-tale castles and idyllic gardens to military fortresses and
battlefields, Western France offers an amazing diversity of
attractions for visitors to explore. Each of its five regions, Normandie,
Bretagne, Centre Val de Loire, Pays de la Loire, and Poitou-Charentes,
has its own special character and appeal.
Comprising a quarter of the entire country, Western France has just
about everything France is known for: ocean- and seaside resorts, soaring Gothic cathedrals, Romanesque art, sumptuous châteaux, tranquil
river valleys, fine wines, and gourmet treats. It is also convenient. Most
of the region can be easily reached from Paris in one to four hours by
high-speed train or by car, and, on the north coast, it is linked to
Britain and Ireland by ferry service.
Normandie
Its peaceful beauty has inspired artists such as Claude Monet, while its
strategic position on the northwest coast of Europe made it a pivotal
point for some of the hardest fighting of World War II. A wealth of
reminders of the region’s artistic and military heritage is among the
many aspects that make Normandie (Normandy) one of the most
popular sightseeing regions in France.
While the D-Day landings of World War II are the region’s bestknown military event, Normandy has long been the site of
invading armies that have included Celts, Romans, and
Norsemen. It was the Norse (or Norman) invaders, who began
arriving in Viking ships during the 9th century, who gave the
region its name. This militaristic spirit also gave rise to
Guillaume Ier le Conquérant (William the Conqueror), the
Duke of Normandy who led an army across the channel to
conquer England at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. During
the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1457), England was able to
turn the tables by recapturing Normandy for a brief period
until the French took permanent control in 1450.
Rid
ing alon
g
When train travel made much of Normandy easily accessible from Paris during the 19th century, seaside resorts
such as Deauville and nearby Trouville began to blossom along the
©
Maison de
la France/H
ubert Camill
e
the bea
ch at D
eauville
Western France: Normandie
•
Part 2.15
north coast. The sight of tourists strolling along the seaside promenades, together with the magnificent light and pastel shades of the
Normandy coast and inland river valleys, became popular subjects for
Impressionist painters. Both their work and subject matter can be
enjoyed in such places as Honfleur, a picturesque fishing village where
native son Eugène Boudin played a pioneering role in the Impressionist
movement, and Giverny, the bucolic spot where Monet lived and
worked for more than 40 years.
Along with sightseeing, visitors will also find that Normandy is prime
territory for enjoying the pleasures of the table. A land of prosperous
dairy farms, the region is famous for the quality of its butter, cream,
and wealth of soft cheeses such as Camembert and Neufchâtel. Pork
cooked in cider and lamb from the farms near Mont-Saint-Michel are
also among the culinary highlights.
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What wine grapes are to other regions in France, apples are to
Normandy, which produces both unfermented and fermented cider,
often enjoyed with meals in place of wine. Another famous apple product is Calvados, a potent brandy traditionally served in coffee or
between courses as a digestive.
Did you know?
The old streets of
Rouen near the cathedral are filled with
antique shops, most
of them in historic
buildings. Porcelain, old
maps, jewelry, and silver
items are among the
treasures to be found.
Normandy also offers plenty of opportunities for recreation, including
superb golf on nearly 40 courses. The quality of golf in Normandy
recently prompted the International Association of Golf Tour Operators
to list the region as one of the world’s top 10 golf destinations. With its
extensive network of graded footpaths and country lanes, Normandy
offers a fair amount of horseback riding, hiking, and cycling.
Rouen (rhoo WAHN with nasal n), the cultural capital of the area, is
aptly called the “City of Spires” for its choice collection of historic
churches and cathedrals. Compact and pedestrian-friendly, the city
offers a walking tour that starts at the beautifully restored Cathédrale
Notre-Dame and explores the many cobbled streets lined with hundreds of half-timbered houses.
The city’s main street, the rue du Gros-Horloge, is named for the
huge clock spanning the street overhead. It leads from the cathedral to
Place du Vieux-Marché (Old Market Square), the square where
young Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc) was burned at the stake for heresy in
1431. Facing the square is the stunningly modern Eglise Ste-Jeanne
d’Arc, which commemorates the life of the warrior saint.
Train service links many of the major towns within Normandy to each
other and with Paris. Rouen is 84 miles northwest of Paris.There is
Part 2.16
•
©
frequent train service between Paris and Rouen, about a 70-minute
trip. Ports along the Normandy coast, including Cherbourg, Dieppe,
and Le Havre, are gateways for ferry service across the channel from
England and Ireland. From Le Havre, Rouen is about 45 minutes by
train. Within Rouen itself there is an extensive local bus network and a
subway system.
Some of the major attractions within Normandy, especially Giverny, are
popular day tours from Paris via motor coach.
Around Rouen: Attractions
• Cathédrale Notre-Dame—A masterpiece of French Gothic architecture with a dazzling white-stone exterior and soaring spires, the
cathedral inspired a series of paintings by Monet. Its interior contains
such impressive features as stained-glass windows in vivid blue tones,
an 11th-century crypt, and opulent tombs. The late-16th-century yellow-stone Tour de Beurre (literally translates as “Tower of Butter”)
was reportedly financed by wealthy townspeople in exchange for not
having to give up butter and other luxuries for Lent.
• Eglise Ste-Jeanne d’Arc—Created in 1981 to commemorate the
550th anniversary of the death of Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc), the
striking boat-shaped edifice contains 16th-century stained-glass windows taken from an earlier church destroyed in 1833. A museum
across from the church, Musée Jeanne d’Arc, illustrates the life of
St. Joan with waxwork exhibits.
Maison de
la France /G
illes
Rigoulet
• Eglise St-Ouen—Set in a lovely garden, this light and airy
15th-century abbey church with its renowned pipe organs is
a popular concert venue.
• Gros Horloge (Great Clock)—The rue du Gros-Horloge,
a pedestrian street in the Old City, is spanned by a
16th-century gatehouse adorned with a huge medieval
clock. The clock’s gilded double face shows both the time
and date.
• Musée de la Céramique—Along with a fine collection
of 16th- to 19th-century faïence (decorated earthenware), the museum illustrates the history of ceramics
production in France.
Gros H
orloge
• Musée des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museum)—A fine collection of
art from the 15th to the 20th century is especially notable for its
Impressionist works by Monet and Sisley and earlier works such as
Caravaggio’s Flagellation of Christ.
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•
Part 2.17
• Musée Le Secq des Tournelles (Blacksmith Museum)—The art of
the blacksmith is showcased in this museum, with an amusing collection of wrought-iron objects that includes ornate gateways, inn
signs, and keys dating from the 3rd to 19th century.
• Palais de Justice (Law Courts)—A notable example of early-16thcentury Gothic architecture, the structure once served as the site of
the Normandy parliament. It contains a wonderful courtyard
surrounded by gargoyles and statuary.
• Tour Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc Tower)—Joan of Arc was
imprisoned here just before her execution. The tower, which
includes two exhibition rooms, is the lone survivor of eight towers
that once ringed a 13th-century château.
Beyond Rouen: Attractions
• Alençon—A former lace-making center about 90 miles southwest of
Rouen, the town is filled with charming 18th-century houses with
wrought-iron balconies. The eclectic collection at the Musée des
Beaux-Arts et de la Dentelle (Museum of Fine Art and Lace
Making) includes an exhibit of Flemish, Dutch, and French artwork
and an area devoted to the history of lace making and its techniques.
• Bayeux—An attractive town of fine half-timbered houses and several
noteworthy museums, Bayeux (bye YEUH), about 20 miles northwest of Caen, has twice been associated with two of history’s most
epic battles: the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in
1066 and the Allied D-Day landings on the nearby beaches of
Normandy on June 6, 1944. The first town in France to be liberated
from the Nazi occupation, it makes a good base for exploring the
D-Day beaches.
Bayeux had a role in the Norman invasion of England as displayed in
the Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux (Bayeux Tapestry
Museum). The Bayeux Tapestry is a remarkable 230-foot strip of
embroidered linen with 58 panels illustrating the Battle of Hastings
and how William the Conqueror won the English crown. The 11thcentury piece, which is displayed in the Centre Guillaume le
Conquérant, was commissioned by Odo, a bishop of Bayeux and
half brother to William. An audio guide follows the drama depicted
by the tapestry, including an appearance of Halley’s comet just
before the battle.
Other notable landmarks include the 11th-century Cathédrale
Notre-Dame, with its copper dome and frescoes depicting the
Part 2.18
•
©
murder of St. Thomas, and the Conservatoire de la Dentelle (Lace
Conservatory), where visitors can watch traditional lace makers
create intricate and delicate designs. Antique lace, along with local
porcelain and 15th- to 19th-century paintings, are on display near
the cathedral at the Musée Baron Gérard.
The town’s World War II connection is illustrated at the MuséeMemorial de la Bataille de Normandie (Museum of the Battle of
Normandy), which displays a huge collection of photographs,
weapons, uniforms, and re-created scenes from the D-Day invasion
and ensuing battles,
• Caen—Like Bayeux, Caen, 76 miles southwest of Rouen, is also a
good base for touring the nearby D-Day beaches. Although heavily
shelled during World War II, the city retains many reminders of its
past, including its heyday in the 11th century as a major seat of
power under William the Conqueror and his wife, Matilda of
Flanders. The twin Romanesque abbeys built by the couple,
Abbaye-aux-Hommes (Abbey for Men) and Abbaye-aux-Dames
(Abbey for Women), still stand and are open for tours. Also worth
visiting is the multiturreted Eglise St-Etienne, which is
attached to the Abbaye-aux-Hommes and now serves as the
town hall.
Caen’s most famous attraction is the Mémorial de Caen, a
museum for peace. With the intent of promoting world
peace by illustrating the horrors of war, the exhibits at the
memorial trace the events that plunged Europe into
World War II and then, with the use of documentary film
footage, powerfully portray the war itself. Other exhibits
include one honoring recipients of the Nobel Peace
Prize. The museum also offers D-Day tours.
Maison de
la France/H
ubert Camill
Mémor
e
ial de C
aen
Other places to explore include the Château de Caen,
an enormous fortress encircled by 12th-century ramparts and
one of the oldest civic buildings in the area. Surrounding the
complex is the Jardin des Simples, a garden of medicinal and
aromatic herbs. Caen is also home to two notable museums, the
Musée de Normandie, which depicts traditional life in the region
through its collection of historical artifacts, and the Musée des
Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts), which has a wide collection of
paintings and sculptures from the 15th to 20th century.
• Cherbourg—Long an important naval port and gateway for crosschannel ferries, the city, 78 miles northwest of Caen, draws art lovers
to its Musée Thomas-Henry, which has a fine collection of works
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•
Part 2.19
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by French, Italian, and Flemish painters. It is especially noteworthy
for its display of paintings by locally born Jean-François Millet.
Clients may also want to visit the Musée de la Libération, a
museum chronicling the buildup to the D-Day landings and the
subsequent fighting that liberated Cherbourg from the Nazis.
Did you know?
The anniversary of
D Day is still observed
throughout areas near
the battle sites; as a
result, hotels are heavily
booked during the
period around June 6.
• D-Day Coast—The beginning of the end of World War II finally
came when Allied forces, some 135,000 troops arriving in a flotilla
of almost 7,000 boats, stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6,
1944. The landings were followed by the Battle of Normandy, which
resulted in more than 400,000 casualties on both sides during 76
days of fighting and led to the eventual liberation of Europe from
Nazi occupation.
A 60-mile stretch of coastline northwest of Bayeux and Caen is filled
with museums, memorials, cemeteries, and other reminders of the
historic events that changed the course of the war. The most brutal
fighting on D Day took place at Omaha Beach, code-named for the
U.S. sector of the Allied forces and now a popular swimming beach
lined with holiday cottages. Evidence of its more turbulent past is
marked by the American Military Cemetery near Colleville-surMer, where the graves of more than 9,000 American soldiers are
marked by white crosses and Stars of David on rolling lawns high
above Omaha Beach. At the nearby Musée Omaha, visitors can view
weapons and vehicles left on the beach, while the Musée des
Epaves-Sous-Marines du Débarquement (Museum of the
Submarine Wrecks of D-Day) contains artifacts of salvaged operations from the warships lost during D Day.
To the west, Pointe du Hoc marks the site where U.S. Army
Rangers scaled the cliffs to capture a German command post and
gun emplacements. The site of a fierce two-day battle, the ground is
still marked by holes left from heavy shelling. The Musée des
Rangers in nearby Grandcamp-Maisy traces the history of the
Pointe du Hoc battle. To the west of Pointe du Hoc is Utah Beach
where the Utah Beach Musée du Débarquement (Utah Beach
Landing Museum) tells the story of this important unloading site.
In nearby Quinéville, the Musée de la Liberté contains exhibits on
the years leading to World War II and life under Nazi occupation.
These and the many other D-Day sights can be seen via car by following along the D514 coastal route. An alternative is to take one of
the many half-day bus tours available from Bayeux.
• Deauville—Normandy’s premier seaside resort, about 30 miles
northeast of Caen, is a magnet for Parisians during summer weekends. Its pleasures include an old-fashioned boardwalk called the
Part 2.20
•
©
Promenade des Planches and an elegant gaming club, the Casino
de Deauville. The town is also the site of the annual Festival du
Film Américain (American Film Festival), which draws Hollywood
stars during the first week of September. Neighboring Trouville,
another popular seaside resort, also boasts a well-known
casino, the Louisiane Follies, and is the site of the annual
Festival Folklorique, which fills the streets with dancers and
musicians during the third week of June.
• Giverny—Art lovers from around the world make a pilgrimage to
this tiny village, nearly midway between Paris and Rouen, to tour the
Maison de Claude Monet, Monet’s home for 43 years and where
he created many of his most celebrated works. Surrounding the
artist’s charming pastel-pink-and-green house are the exquisite
gardens with the pond of water lilies and wisteria-draped Japanese
bridge immortalized in the artist’s work. Inside the house are reproductions of some of Monet’s paintings and his beloved collection of
Japanese wood-block prints. The museum, which is open from April
to October, is a popular day trip from either Paris or Rouen.
The village is also home to the Musée d’Art Americain, which
displays the works of American Impressionist painters who flocked
to France during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
©
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• Fécamp—This village on the northeast coast 46 miles northwest of
Rouen is where Benedictine monks have been making their famous
liqueur called Benedictine since the 16th century. The ornate Palais
Bénédictine (Benedictine Distillery) illustrates the history and
production of the aromatic drink and also includes a gallery of
modern art.
Maison de
la France/H
ubert Camill
e
Etretat
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• Etretat—France’s answer to the white cliffs of Dover can
be enjoyed in Etretat (ay treh TAH), a stunning resort
village on northeastern Normandy’s Côte d’Albâtre
(Alabaster Coast), 56 miles northwest of Rouen. The
village’s focal points are the magnificent chalk cliffs,
outcroppings, and rock arches extending out into the
sea, all of them popular subjects for the Impressionist
painters. Atop Falaise d’Amont, a cliff, is a sailors,
chapel and small museum, Musée Nungesser et Coli,
which commemorates the failed attempt of two French
aviators to cross the Atlantic in 1927. In the village center are a
number of charming 16th-century town houses and Les Halles, a
covered wooden market built in 1926.
Did you know?
While Monet’s water lily
paintings have made
Giverny the most
famous garden spot in
Normandy, the region
has many other gardens worth a visit. The
Arboretum d’Harcourt
in Harcourt, the
Château de
Beaumesnil et
Jardins (Beaumesnil
Castle and Gardens)
in Beaumesnil, and the
Parc du Bois des
Moutiers in
Varengeville-sur-Mer
are among the many
outstanding botanical
sites.
•
Part 2.21
• Le Havre—A bustling commercial port that is a gateway for ferries
to Britain and Ireland, Le Havre, 55 miles west of Rouen, is also a
university city with an abundance of good restaurants and shopping
areas. For visitors, its main attraction is the Musée des Beaux-Arts
André-Malraux (André Malraux Fine Arts Museum), which has
an outstanding art collection spanning four centuries, with particular
emphasis on the Impressionists.
• Honfleur—Visitors, among them scores of 19th-century
Impressionist painters, have long been drawn to this pretty seaside
town about 50 miles west of Rouen at the mouth of the River Seine.
With its Vieux Bassin (Old Harbor) lined with cafés, art galleries,
and tall, narrow 17th-century houses faced with blue-gray shingles, it
is not hard to see why. Visitors will enjoy exploring the harbor and
the adjacent neighborhood of vintage timber-framed buildings,
including the 15th-century Eglise Ste-Catherine with its diamondpaned windows and roof built by local shipbuilders. Visitors can also
opt for one-hour boat tours of the harbor and nearby port area.
The town’s artistic tradition is best illustrated by the Musée EugèneBoudin, a museum named for its native son, an early Impressionist
painter who was a mentor to many younger artists such as Monet.
Along with works by Boudin, the collection includes paintings by
Monet and other Impressionists. Also worth a visit are the Musée de
la Marine (Maritime Museum), which contains model ships and
ship carpenters’ tools, and the Musée d’Ethnographie et d’Art
Populaire Normand (Museum of Ethnography and Norman Folk
Art), which contains period rooms depicting shops and homes dating
from the 16th to 19th century.
• Mont-Saint-Michel—One of the world’s most dramatic sights is
this ancient abbey perched on a 260-foot-high rock island
surrounded by ebbing and flowing tides at the westernmost
point in Normandy, 30 miles east of Saint-Malo. It is classified
as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors enter by walking
across a causeway and through a gate in the ramparts to the
Grand Rue, a street leading up to the abbey lined with
restaurants, souvenir stands, and hotels.
e
ubert Camill
la France/H
Maison de
hel
aint-Mic
Mont-S
Part 2.22
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At the top of the Grand Rue, a stairway connects to the
abbey, which took more than 1,000 years to reach
completion. According to legend, the idea for the abbey
was born in A.D. 708 when the bishop of Avranches had a
vision of the Archangel Michael, who ordered that a
place of worship be built on the site. Through the
centuries buildings were added to the abbey, with
©
Bretagne
While every region in France has its own distinct identity, Bretagne
(Brittany) may be the most distinctive of all. Settled by Celts from as
far back as 600 B.C., parts of the area, especially the southwest, still
make use of Celtic language and customs that predate the union of
Brittany with France in 1532.
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masonry brought to the island by boat and then hauled up by ropes.
The most recent addition is a late-19th-century gilt statue of St.
Michael that crowns the abbey spire. Visitors can wander on their
own or take a guided tour through the abbey, which includes a
13th-century dining hall, a beautifully carved cloister, and the abbey
church, which is built at the island’s highest point.
Did you know?
Not far from MontSaint-Michel are
Villedieu-les-Poêles
known for copper pans
and the spa town of
Bagnoles-de-l’Orne.
No matter where you go in Brittany, you are never far from the sea.
Some 750 miles of dramatic coastline ring this peninsula-like area at the
northwest edge of France on three sides. Wide sandy beaches, rocky
cliffs, and hundreds of bays, inlets, and tiny fishing villages offer endless
opportunities for fun and exploration. Brittany is also known for its
365 islands—one for every day of the year.
Not surprisingly, fresh seafood, especially oysters and other shellfish, is
among the chief culinary delights of Brittany. For a real feast, nothing
outdoes the traditional Breton seafood platter, an array of shellfish
artistically arranged on a bed of seaweed. Depending on what is
available, a platter may contain several varieties of crab, prawns,
scallops, lobster, clams, mussels, and oysters.
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Celtic legends abound in Brittany, including the saga of King Arthur
and his Knights of the Round Table. Many sites in the region have an
Arthurian connection, especially the Forêt de Pampoint (Pampoint
Forest) southwest of Rennes, where the knights searched in vain for
the Holy Grail. Legend also has it that the forest was the site of
Merlin’s spring of eternal youth and the home of his fairy mistress
Vivian, the Lady of the Lake.
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At the many festivals that celebrate Celtic traditions, such as the
Festival de Cornouaille (Cornwall Festival) in Quimper, some
Bretons will appear in traditional dress that includes tall, elaborate lace
headdresses for women. Spirited Celtic music and dance are also a part
of these festivals, particularly at the annual Festival Interceltique
(Interceltic Festival) held at Lorient in early August, which draws
more than 500,000 visitors, many of them from Celtic pockets such as
Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, and the Isle of Man.
Did you know?
Typical of Brittany are
the parish closes and
stone calvaries or altar
carvings, the oldest of
which is Notre-Damede-Tronoen, just west
of Pont-l’Abbé.
Western France: Bretagne
•
Part 2.23
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Did you know?
Near Rennes, the
ancient inland borders
of Brittany include
Vitré, a beautifully preserved medieval town
with a fortress, and
Fougères, another
medieval town with a
castle that stood guard
more than 1,000 years.
Another delicious staple of the region is the famous thin pancakes
called crêpes if they are made with wheat flour and galettes if they are
made with buckwheat. In Brittany there are an estimated 4,000
crêperies, restaurants that serve the crêpes with dozens of sweet or
savory fillings and toppings accompanied with apple cider.
Rennes (RHEHN), the capital of Brittany, is a vibrant university city
packed with bistros and bookstores along its intriguing old streets and
squares. A devastating fire in 1720 caused some sections of the city to
be rebuilt in grand 18th-century style, while the old quarter of Rennes
surrounding Cathédrale St-Pierre is filled with medieval timber frame
houses and ancient fortifications.
Rennes is situated 218 miles southwest of Paris. It is linked to Paris by
the high-speed TGV rail line, about a two-hour trip. Within Brittany,
frequent trains connect Rennes to Quimper, Brest, Vannes, and
St-Malo. The city also offers a local bus system and bus service to
Mont-Saint-Michel.
In order to really explore the countryside, which is filled with
intriguing seaside villages and stunning coastal views, clients should
rent a car or a bike.
Around Rennes: Attractions
• Jardin du Thabor (Thabor Garden)—A popular gathering
spot, the 40-acre park is lined with inviting walkways, terraces, and
flower beds.
• Museé des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts)—The museum’s
wide-ranging collection includes Egyptian artifacts and works by
Picasso, various Impressionists, and a number of Breton artists.
Its most famous painting is The Newborn, a brilliantly colored
17th-century depiction of a baby, by Georges de La Tour.
• Palais du Parliament de Bretagne—Although destroyed by fire in
1994, the 17th-century Breton parliament building and law courts
have since been handsomely restored.
• Place du Champ-Jacquet—This delightful little square in the heart
of the old city is surrounded by timber frame houses and contains a
statue of Leperdit, the mayor of Rennes during the French
Revolution.
Part 2.24
•
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Beyond Rennes: Attractions
Near Carnac is
Locmariaquer, a pretty
fishing village known
for its dolmens and
menhirs.
Chastel and
Alain
Maison de
la France /A
ndré
• Carnac—Mysterious stone megaliths erected some 6,000
years ago dot the landscape all over Brittany’s south-central
Morbihan region, but the greatest concentration of them is
in Carnac, 12 miles north of Quiberon, which consists of a
village, Carnac-Ville, and a modern seaside resort, CarnacPlage. Most of the more than 10,000 megaliths can be
found at sites north of the village. Built thousands of years
before the ancient Celts arrived in Brittany, the origin and
purpose of the megaliths are unknown. Scholars have
organized the structures into two main categories: dolmens, tablelike slabs of stone sheltering burial sites, and
menhirs, long figures of stone pointing to the sky.
Did you know?
Courtois
Although not many old buildings remain in Brest, a 14th-century
tower, Tour Tanguy, exhibits items from the town’s past, including
photographs of Brest just prior to the war. Another historic site is
the fortified 13th-century Château de Brest, home of the Musée de
la Marine (Maritime Museum), which traces the history of the
town’s shipbuilding tradition and of the château itself.
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• Brest—Overlooking a beautiful bay on Brittany’s northwestern edge
about 150 miles northwest of Rennes, Brest has long been an
important naval port and, as such, saw plenty of action during World
War II. The town’s main attraction is the excellent Océanopolis, a
multifaceted aquarium with exhibitions on marine life from the
world’s oceans, including sea creatures found off Brittany’s coast.
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• Belle-Ile-en-Mer—Legend has it that, a very long time ago, the
queen of the forest fairies in Brocéliande threw her crown of flowers
into the sea. It grew and became the most beautiful of all islands:
Belle-Ile-en-Mer. The name of Brittany’s largest island, easily accessible by ferry 4 miles from Quiberon, is well justified. The coast is
interspersed with cliffs, caves, islets, and beaches onto which crash
powerful Atlantic waves. The interior of the island is surprisingly hilly
with forests, fields, and tiny valleys. All the homes in each little village are in harmony, with white walls and brightly painted shutters.
Megalit
hs at C
arnac
The largest site, the Alignements du Ménec, is just outside the
village and contains some 1,100 menhirs, which can be viewed from
outside a roped-off area. Opposite the site is the Archéoscope,
which offers a 25-minute show of special effects about life in
Neolithic times. At a smaller site of menhirs, the Alignements de
Kerlescan, visitors are free to wander among the stones. Among the
more impressive dolmen sites is the Dolmen des Pierres Plates, a
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•
Part 2.25
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massive stone chamberlike structure decorated with engravings. In
Carnac-Ville, the Musée de la Préhistoire displays ancient artifacts
found at the megalith sites.
Did you know?
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In Cancale, near Dinan,
clients can lunch or
dine on famous oysters
from the bay while
enjoying a view of
Mont-Saint-Michel.
Did you know?
Other points of interest
near Quimper include
Pont-Aven, where
Paul Gaughin and
other artists, who broke
from mainstream
Impressionism, formed
the School of PontAven; Concarneau, the
third most important
fishing port in France,
with its heavily fortified
Ville Close, known as a
city of flowers;
Locronan, one of the
most beautiful medieval
villages in Brittany; and
the Pointe du Raz, the
westernmost point in
France, a rocky peninsula jutting out into the
Atlantic Ocean.
Part 2.26
•
• Dinan—A beautifully preserved medieval walled town, Dinan, about
20 miles south of Saint-Malo, is a wonderful place for both strolling
along the cobbled streets lined with gray stone buildings or taking a
boat excursion on the lovely Rance River. The prime streets for
browsing in art galleries or just admiring the 15th-century houses
are Rue du Jerzual and Rue du Petit-Fort. Visitors can also walk
along the 13th-century ramparts for stunning views of the river and
the old town. Places worth a stop include the Musée du Château,
which relates the history of Dinan, and the Basilique St-Sauveur,
where the heart of the fierce 14th-century knight, Bertrand du
Guesclin, is kept in the crypt.
• Dinard—A seaside resort with an old-fashioned feel, this town, 8
miles west of Saint-Malo, makes a good base for exploring the Côte
d’Emeraude (Emerald Coast) of northern Brittany. Dinard features
a pleasant waterfront promenade, sandy beaches with striped bathing
tents, a casino, and ornate late-19th-century mansions overlooking
the sea. The site of an annual British film festival in early October,
the town features a statue of Alfred Hitchcock with two seagulls
perched on his shoulders. Along with swimming in the sea, visitors
can also enjoy a huge covered, heated saltwater pool, the Piscine
Olympique (piscine meaning swimming pool). The history of
Dinard is chronicled at the Musée du Site Balnéaire, housed in a
sumptuous villa built for the wife of Napoléon III.
• Quimper—Considered by many to be the true artistic and cultural
capital of Brittany, Quimper (kahn with nasal n PEHR), 135 miles
west of Rennes, is perhaps best known for the charming earthenware
pottery that bears its name. At the Musée de la Faïence
(Earthenware Museum), a collection of more than 500 pieces
dating from the 19th century are on display. At the adjacent factory,
the HB Henriot Faïenceries de Quimper, visitors can tour the
workshops to see how the pottery is made.
Beyond pottery, there is much to see and enjoy in this historic city on
the banks of the Odet River. Its dominant landmark is the twin-spired
Cathédrale St-Corentin, which features a statue of King Gradlon,
legendary founder of the city in the 5th century. Housed in the former bishop’s palace is the Musée Départemental Breton, which features exhibits on the history, culture, and archaeology of the area.
European paintings from the 16th to the 20th century are the focus
of the nearby Musée des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museum).
©
A center for other crafts besides pottery, including lace making, the
streets of Quimper are lined with galleries and sidewalk vendors. The
arts and culture of the region are celebrated every year between the
third and fourth Sundays of July during the Festival de
Cornouaille (Cornwall Festival).
• Saint-Malo—This popular resort area 45 miles northwest of
Rennes at the mouth of the Rance River was a prosperous
seaport during the 17th and 18th centuries, financed
largely by government-sanctioned pirates called corsairs
who raided the high seas and claimed their cargo for
France. A walk along the remparts (ramparts), designed
by the great military architect Vauban, affords one the
best views of the bay and islets. Although heavily damMaison de
la France/A
aged in World War II, much of the fascinating old city
ndré Chaste
l and Alain
Courtois
Saint-M
has been rebuilt and restored. Still intact are the outalo
standing medieval stained-glass windows at Cathédrale
St-Vincent, which also features a striking modern altar in
bronze. The history of the seaport is traced at the Musée de la Ville
(Saint-Malo City Museum), while marine life can be enjoyed at the
Grand Aquarium St-Malo. When the tide is out, visitors can walk
across the causeway to the Ile du Grand Bé, an island where the
18th-century writer Chauteaubriand is buried. A popular side trip is
to the nearby picturesque British Channel Islands of Jersey and
Guernsey, which were formerly French.
In neighboring Saint-Servan, the Musée International du Long
Cours Cap-Hornier is devoted to the history of sailing expeditions
around Cape Horn from the 17th to early 20th century.
• Vannes—The attractive university town of Vannes (VAHN), 70 miles
southwest of Rennes, is the gateway to the Golfe du Morbihan, an
inland sea dotted with 40 small islands. Although most are privately
owned, the two largest, Ile aux Moines and Ile d’Arz, offer sandy
beaches, palm groves, and quaint villages that can be enjoyed on day
excursions.
The medieval heart of Vannes is a great place for a walking tour,
affording such sights as the black-roofed Vieux Lavoirs (Old
Laundry Houses), the massive 13th-century Cathédrale St-Pierre,
and the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts), which is
housed in a 14th-century former law court where the Act of Union
between Brittany and France was signed in 1532. The Musée
d’Archéologie du Morbihan features a collection of ancient axes,
jewelry, pottery, and other items found at nearby Neolithic sites.
©
•
Part 2.27
Centre Val de Loire
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From the 15th to the 18th century the Centre Val de Loire (Loire
Valley) was the royal playground of France. Convenient to Paris and
offering a gentle climate and pleasing landscape, it made the idyllic
place for nobles to retreat to lavish pleasure palaces filled with treasures
and surrounded by sumptuous gardens. Today the region, often called
Châteaux Country, is dotted with dozens of these remarkable châteaux,
ranging from fortified medieval castles to neoclassical manors, which
continue to fascinate visitors from around the world.
Did you know?
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Did you know?
When Leonardo da
Vinci was invited to
France by François Ier,
he traveled to the Loire
Valley from Italy on a
donkey and carried the
Mona Lisa with him.
Thierry
Maison de
la France /D
aniel
The Loire Valley has
more than 1,000 historic châteaux, and
approximately 120 of
them are open to the
public.
While touring the châteaux is reason enough to explore the Loire
Valley, there is much more to the
area. One of the greatest sites in
all of Europe is the Gothic
Cathédrale Notre-Dame in
Chartres, called the “Acropolis
of France” by the sculptor
Rodin, famous for its masterful
blue stained-glass windows and
Cathéd
statuary. On a much smaller
rale No
tre-Dam
scale is the fascinating 12the in Ch
artres
century l’Abbaye de
Noirlac, about 30 miles south of
Bourges near St-Amand-Montrond along the Cher River,
which houses the Centre de l’Enluminure et de l’Image Mediévale
(C.E.I.M.) (Center of Illumination and Medieval Images).
Not all of the Loire Valley’s beauty is the work of human hands. The
Sologne area offers more than 3,000 lakes and deep forests with an
abundance of wildlife and hiking trails. Often called the “granary of
France,” the region is covered with rolling hills and meadows, many of
them planted with wheat. France’s longest river, the Loire, is popular
for canoeing, kayaking, and river cruising. One way for clients to get an
overview of the countryside is to take a balloon or helicopter tour.
Food and drink are also good reasons for visiting the Loire Valley,
known particularly for its fine white wines such as Sancerre, Vouvray,
and Pouilly-Fumé. Perhaps the region’s most famous dish is tarte
Tatin, France’s delectable answer to apple pie, an apple upside-down
tart. Many restaurants also feature local game dishes from the Sologne
woods and salmon and trout from the rivers.
Distinctive accommodations are also part of the experience of enjoying
the Loire Valley. Lodgings in historic castles and manor houses are
Part 2.28
•
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abundant, with a listing available from such associations as Bienvenue
au Château, which offers some 120 choices throughout Western France
(www.bienvenue-au-chateau.com). A most unusual option for clients is
to spend a night in a comfortably appointed cave dwelling in such complexes as Doué-la-Fontaine and Rochecorbon. Now catering to
tourists, these were once early-20th-century semiunderground communities with houses, churches, and schools carved into the mountainside.
The Loire Valley offers a number of historic and attractive cities, many
dominated by mighty castles and cathedrals. Its capital, Orléans
(ohr lay AHN with nasal n), is the city in which the army of Jeanne
d’Arc (Joan of Arc) saved France from the English during the Hundred
Years’ War in 1429. A year later the city began its tradition of staging
an annual festival, Fêtes Johanniques (Joan of Arc Festival), during a
week in early May that commemorates the liberation of the city with
street parties, pageants, and parades. The historic heart of Orléans
survived heavy bombing during World War II and offers such wellpreserved sites as the Renaissance-style Hôtel Groslot and the
Cathédrale Ste-Croix, which dates from 1601. The streets of the old
city are lined with charming timber-framed houses, some of them
converted into cafés and shops. One of the houses, the Maison de
Jeanne d’Arc, commemorates the life of the young warrior.
Orléans is 83 miles southwest of Paris. Direct train service from Paris is
provided to Orléans, Blois, Bourges, Tours, and Chartres, while highspeed TGV train service is available from Paris to Tours. There is
frequent train service between Orléans and Tours. The main highway
through the region is Autoroute 10.
Orléans offers a new two-line tram system for getting around the city.
Both Tours and Blois are departure points for motor coach tours of the
nearby châteaux.
Around Orléans: Attractions
• Cathédrale Ste-Croix—The twin-towered cathedral, built between
the 13th and 19th centuries, contains a series of stained-glass
windows depicting the life of Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc).
• Hôtel Groslot—A palatial mansion built during the 16th century
for a high-ranking public official, Jacques Groslot, the structure
features a lavish interior, including a bedroom where a young king of
France, François II, died in 1560.
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Western France: Centre Val de Loire
•
Part 2.29
• Maison de Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc House)—A reconstruction
of the 15th-century house where Joan of Arc stayed for a few days in
1429, the museum contains exhibits pertaining to Joan of Arc’s life.
• Musée des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museum)—The museum
features an extensive collection of European art from the 15th to the
20th century, including treasures from the neighboring châteaux and
churches that were seized during the French Revolution.
Beyond Orléans: Attractions
• Amboise—The charming town
of Amboise (ahn with nasal n
BWAHZ), 16 miles northeast of
Tours, is dominated by a hilltop
castle, the fortified Château
d’Amboise, which was the
occasional home of such
monarchs as Charles VIII and
François Ier. Along with
fantastic views of the town
and the Loire Valley, the
Maison de
la France/D
aniel Thierr
Châtea
château is filled with
y
u d’Am
boise
luxurious period rooms
with vaulted ceilings and
floors stamped with fleur-de-lis symbols.
Amboise is also known for another famous residence, Le
Clos-Lucé, a brick manor house where the Renaissance artist and
inventor Leonardo da Vinci lived for the last three years of his life.
Now a museum, the house contains restored rooms, a lovely garden,
and scale models of Leonardo’s many inventions.
• Blois—A hive of political intrigue from medieval times up through the
17th century, the town, midway between Orléans and Tours, was the
seat of the counts of Blois (BLWAH) and a secondary location for the
royal court of France. Many important events of the era took place at
the outstanding Château de Blois, the town’s dominant landmark
overlooking Place Victor-Hugo. Dating from the 13th century, the
massive château is an amalgam of several architecture styles, including
16th-century Gothic and 17th-century classical. The many restored
period rooms in the château include the Salle des Etats Généraux
(Estates General Hall), where the counts of Blois meted out justice
during medieval times. The château also contains several museums,
including the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts), which
has a strong collection of 19th-century paintings, and the Musée
Lapidaire, which contains examples of the stonemason’s art.
Part 2.30
•
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Across from the château is the fascinating Maison de la Magic
(House of Magic), where visitors can enjoy live magic shows and
view interactive exhibits devoted to the magician’s art. In the
medieval quarter of the city surrounding Cathédrale St-Louis are
such sights as the Maison des Acrobates, a 15th-century house with
timbers decorated with paintings of jesters, and the lovely Jardin de
l’Evêché (Garden of the Bishop’s Palace), a park with views of the
town and Loire River.
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• Bourges—This university city in the geographic heart of France, 75
miles southeast of Orléans, is the site of Cathédrale St-Etienne, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site and the first French Gothic cathedral
to be built south of the Loire. The vast cathedral, which is as large as
Notre-Dame in Paris, offers a treasure trove of 13th-century
sculpture, soaring rows of Gothic arches, and a magnificent rose
window added at the end of the 14th century. Also well worth a visit
are the Palais Jacques Coeur, a mansion built for a fabulously
wealthy merchant which contains a wealth of Gothic sculpture and
elaborately carved fireplaces, and the Musée du Berry, which
features a re-created Gallo-Roman necropolis and exhibits on the
history of the region.
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Blois makes a good base for exploring several of the Loire
Valley’s most splendid châteaux. In the tiny village of
Chambord, about 10 miles east of Blois, is the spectacular
Château de Chambord, built as a royal hunting lodge for
François Ier starting in 1519. That the structure took
more than 15 years to complete is no surprise, with such
elaborate features as an ornate double-spiral staircase,
believed to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci.
About 10 miles southeast of Blois is the Château de
Cheverny, built from 1604 to 1634. It is known for its
Maison de
la France/D
Châtea
aniel Thierr
magnificently furnished period rooms, including a
y
u de C
hambo
rd
dining room with three dozen panels illustrating the
story of Don Quixote. Twelve miles southwest of Blois
is the Château de Chaumont, which resembles a feudal castle with a
drawbridge, cylindrical towers, and rooms filled with medieval
tapestries. Visitors can tour the grounds of Chaumont in horsedrawn carriages. The château is also home to the Festival
International des Jardins (International Festival of Gardens)
held annually in the summer.
Did you know?
Every year in April a
six-day music festival,
Printemps de
Bourges, draws more
than 100,000 young
musicians eager to
prove their talents.
• Chartres—This small town surrounded by wheat fields 56 miles
southwest of Paris draws visitors from around the world to its
Cathédrale Notre-Dame, considered the best-preserved medieval
cathedral in France and one of the country’s most outstanding sites.
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Western France: Centre Val de Loire
•
Part 2.31
It is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Miraculously
spared by the ravages of war that damaged so many other cathedrals,
its interior glows with a blue light from the more than 170 original
stained-glass windows, most dating from the 13th century. There is
an original 13th-century labyrinth on the floor of the nave. Well
worth the climb to the top is the Clocher Neuf (New Bell Tower),
a lacy Gothic spire built in the early 16th century, for a close-up view
of the cathedral’s magnificent flying buttresses and copper roof.
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East and northeast of the cathedral, the historic section of Chartres
is filled with well-preserved 16th- and 17th-century houses and
churches, including the lovely Eglise St-Aignan with its vaulted
wooden roof and blue-and-gold interior. The Musée des BeauxArts (Museum of Fine Arts) contains some artifacts from the
cathedral and a collection of tapestries and Renaissance paintings.
Did you know?
King Henri II’s mistress,
Diane de Poitiers,
received the Château
de Chaumont upon his
death in 1599. Henri’s
vengeful wife,
Catherine de Médici,
then evicted Diane from
the Château de
Chenonceau, where
she had been living and
moved there.
Part 2.32
•
• Tours—A vibrant cosmopolitan city with a large student population,
Tours (TOOR), about 70 miles southwest of Orléans, is both a base
for exploring nearby châteaux and a place to enjoy for its wide 18thcentury avenues, public gardens, museums, and the Gothic-style
Cathédrale St-Gatien. Featuring both a lovely garden and a noteworthy art collection dating from the 14th to the 20th century is the
Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts) housed in a former
archbishop’s palace. Also worth a visit are the Musée du
Compagnonnage (Guild Museum), filled with traditional crafts,
and the Musée du Gemmail, devoted to 20th-century stained glass.
Several outstanding châteaux can easily be visited from Tours on a
day excursion. About 20 miles southeast of Tours is the Château de
Chenonceau, a 16th-century castle straight out of a fairy tale with
its moat, drawbridge, towers, and turrets. Its most arresting feature
is the long gallery of rooms
built on an arched foundation
spanning the Cher River. A
number of powerful women
including Catherine de
Médici (wife of Henri II)
and Diane de Poitiers
(Henri’s mistress who, at
different times, lived at the
château and designed
some of the magnificent
Maison de
la France/D
Châtea
aniel Thierr
gardens) are associated
u de C
y
henonc
eau
with the Château de
Chenonceau. About 10
miles southwest of Tours is Château de
©
Villandry, famous for its geometric gardens filled with intricately
designed flower beds and artistically pruned hedges and trees.
Floating on an island in the Indre River, Château d’Azay-le-Rideau,
about 18 miles southwest of Tours, is enchanting for both its tranquil
grounds and unspoiled early-16th-century design. Another gem is the
nearby Château de Langeais, in the town of the same name, a 15thcentury fortified castle with the ruins of a 1,000-year-old dungeon
and a forbidding drawbridge. Its interior contains beautifully
preserved period rooms with medieval tapestries and 15th- and 16thcentury furnishings.
Western Loire is home to more than 500 wine makers who produce
such notable red wines as Saumur-Champigny, Côteaux de la Loire,
and Anjou. Esteemed white wines from the region include Muscadet,
Savennières, and Jasnières. Some 600 miles of wine routes meander
through the region, following the Loire River and out to Nantes
where Muscadet is produced.
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Bordered by four of its sister regions, Pays de la Loire (Western
Loire) embodies much of what makes Western France a special place
to visit. Like the Loire Valley, it has a gentle landscape dotted with
hundreds of historic castles and châteaux as well as stone cliffs studded
with troglodyte cave dwellings such as at Chênehutte-les-Tuffeaux
near Saumur and Troo near Tours. It also has some of the world’s
finest golf courses and 300 miles of seacoast offering a mix of lively
port cities and popular beach resorts.
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Pays de la Loire
Did you know?
The best-known
culinary creation of
the Western Loire is
the rillettes, which are
made from a delicate
paste of pork, goose, or
tuna and served cold in
a deep ceramic pot.
Also native to the area is the bittersweet Cointreau liqueur derived
from orange peels. Visitors can tour the Cointreau distillery in SaintBarthélemy-d’Anjou, which produces 30 million bottles per year.
The capital, Nantes (NAHNT with nasal 2nd n), is the sixth-largest
metropolis in France and one of its most compelling. On the Atlantic
coast, Nantes is a city of handsome 18th-century buildings and iron
balconies built for wealthy shipbuilders. Among those fascinated by the
great ships arriving and departing from Nantes was young Jules Verne,
the visionary science-fiction author who grew up in the city during the
1830s. The city was also a departure point for colonists headed for the
New World and where King Henri IV signed the Edict of Nantes in
1598, granting religious freedom to Protestants.
A stroller’s delight, Nantes offers gardens and pathways along the
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Western France: Pays de la Loire
•
Part 2.33
Local
Transportation
Maison de
la France /H
ubert
Camille
Erdre River and intriguing shopping areas such as the Passage
Pommeraye, an arcade of shops
dating to 1843. The Théâtre
Graslin, a playhouse built in
1788, and La Cigale, a landmark brasserie of rococo
design, border its attractive
main square, Place Graslin.
Passag
e Pomm
eraye
Nantes is located 240 miles southwest of Paris. From Paris and Charles de Gaulle
Airport, there is frequent high-speed TGV train service to Nantes, Le
Mans, La Baule, and Angers. The main highway through the region is
Autoroute 11. Nantes offers both bus and tram systems for getting
around the city.
Around Nantes: Attractions
• Cathédrale de St-Pierre et St-Paul—With an exterior of
flamboyant Gothic architecture, the cathedral contains such treasures
as Prudence, a Renaissance statue with a female face on one side and
a male face on the other.
• Château des Ducs de Bretagne (Castle of the Dukes of
Brittany)—Surrounded by a moat and high walls, the château
features Renaissance-style period rooms and an area for temporary
exhibitions.
• Jardin des Plantes (Botanical Garden)—One of the oldest and
most exquisite public gardens in France, the Botanical Garden was
designed in 1688 and features a unique collection of more than 400
varieties of camellias, beautiful flower beds, a duck pond, and two
19th-century conservatories filled with specimen plants.
• Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts)—The museum’s
esteemed collection of paintings features works by Picasso, de La
Tour, Kandinsky, and other major artists.
• Musée Dobrée—The museum’s collection concentrates on classical
antiquities and artifacts, including rare manuscripts, Renaissance
furniture, and items pertaining to the French Revolution.
Part 2.34
•
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• Musée Jules Verne—The science-fiction author, who was born in
Nantes in 1828, is the focus of this museum, which contains many
first editions, documents, and posters.
Artwork of a different sort is the focus of the Galerie David d’Angers,
a gallery housed in a stunningly modernized 11th-century abbey that
contains sculptures by locally born artist David d’Angers (1788–1856).
Also well worth a visit is the Cathédrale St-Maurice, which features a
beautiful series of stained-glass windows from the 12th to 16th
century. Just behind the cathedral is the Maison d’Adam, an ornate
medieval house adorned with carved wooden sculptures.
In the immediate environs of Angers are several noteworthy
châteaux, including the Château de Serrant, a superb example of
Renaissance architecture with a library of some 12,000 books, and
the Château de Brissac, an ornate jewel box with 203 elaborately
furnished rooms and a whimsical theater lit by chandeliers.
• La Baule—A chic resort on the Atlantic Coast about 50 miles
northwest of Nantes, La Baule draws sun worshippers to its five
miles of sandy beaches protected by a wide bay. In October the town
is the scene of the Festival International du Cinéma Européen
(International European Film Festival).
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• Angers—Once the seat of power for the counts of Anjou in
medieval times, Angers (ahn with nasal n ZHAY), 57 miles northeast
of Nantes, offers a well-preserved historic quarter on the banks of
the Maine River. The counts held court in the Château d’Angers, a
13th-century fortress of dark towers on a rocky promontory above
the river. Inside is the 500-foot-long l’Apocalypse, a tapestry that
contains 68 scenes illustrating the last book of the Bible.
Commissioned by Louis Ier in 1375, it is believed to be the oldest
tapestry of its size in the world. A series of modern tapestries, also
illustrating mankind’s destruction, is the subject of the Musée Jean
Lurçat et de la Tapisserie Contemporaine (tapisserie meaning
tapestry), which exhibits 10 monumental hangings by Jean Lurçat
called The Song of the World.
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Beyond Nantes: Attractions
Did you know?
The Grand Parc in the
village of Puy-du-Fou,
about 20 miles southeast of Nantes, offers a
re-created medieval
city where visitors can
enjoy such diversions as
Gallo-Roman games,
horse jousting, falconry,
traditional music, and
crafts demonstrations.
On weekend nights
from May to September,
the park puts on a
spectacular sound-andlight festival with
knights in armor, fireworks, lasers, and geysers of water spouting
from a lake.
• Le Mans—Best known for its 24-hour car race in mid-June, Le
Mans, midway between Paris and Nantes, pays homage to the event
with its excellent Musée de l’Automobile, which includes vintage
cars and exhibits on the history of car racing. The city also offers a
nicely preserved historic district with cobbled streets, art galleries,
and half-timbered houses.
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Western France: Pays de la Loire
•
Part 2.35
Maison de
la France /N
icole
• Saumur—What race cars are to
Le Mans, mushrooms are to
Saumur, a small town nearly
equidistant from Angers and
Tours noted for its limestone
caves that supply 65 percent
of all the edible fungi in
France. At the Musée du
Champignon (Mushroom
Museum) visitors enter a
cave to view a living
example of how
mushrooms are grown
and harvested.
Lejeune
• St-Nazaire—France’s fourth-leading port, St-Nazaire, about 40
miles northwest of Nantes, was the place where such legendary
ocean liners as the Normandie and the Ile de France were built. Its
main attraction is the portside Ecomusée, where visitors can tour the
Espadon, the first French submarine to sail under the ice of the
North Pole.
Châtea
u de S
aumur
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Saumur also has a celebrated equestrian tradition, evidenced
by its Cadre Noir, an elite riding troupe based at the Ecole
National d’Equitation (National Riding School). Visitors can
tour the school, which trains riders for the Olympics and has the
largest indoor riding arena in Europe. The Musée du Cheval
(Horse Museum), a museum dedicated to horses, is housed in the
Château de Saumur, a fairy-tale-like castle overlooking the town.
Outside Saumur is the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, a
magnificent 12th-century abbey that was one of the largest monastic
domains in Europe and where Aliénor (Eleanor) of Aquitaine, Henri
II, and Richard the Lionhearted are enshrined in gilded medieval
tombs. Visitors can tour the vast kitchens, herb garden, and large
Renaissance cloisters.
Did you know?
Besides cognac, the
Poitou-Charentes
region is known for a
beverage called pineau
des Charentes, a mixture of cognac and
unfermented grape
juice.
Part 2.36
•
Poitou-Charentes
Tucked in between the Loire Valley and the Bordeaux vineyards,
Poitou-Charentes (pwah TOO shah RHAHNT with nasal n) is often
referred to as “Cognac Country” because of the great cognac
distilleries headquartered there. And, much like that carefully aged
beverage, the region is best savored in a leisurely way.
©
The elite vineyards that yield the grapes for cognac production
are all concentrated in a valley along the Charente River, which
King François Ier called the most beautiful waterway in
France. In the town of Cognac visitors can tour the major
cognac houses, many of which have their cellars right on the
river quays. Beyond Cognac, the Charente flows past
Angloulême, Saintes, and other ancient towns punctuated
with medieval ramparts and Gallo-Roman ruins. An
important pilgrimage route in the 11th and 12th centuries,
the river valley is filled with superb examples of
Romanesque churches and abbeys.
Maison de
la France/J
ean-Franço
is
and Marie-J Tripelon
Cognac
osée Jarry
co
One of the best ways to enjoy Poitou-Charentes is to simply drift along the bayoulike canals of the Marais Poitevin, a
200,000-acre area north of the Charente River often referred to as the
“Green Venice.” Originally created by medieval monks, the willowshaded waterways can be explored with or without a guide on flat-bottomed boats available for rent in villages along the way.
untrysid
e
With its stretch of Atlantic coastline, Poitou-Charentes is also a place to
find chic oceanside resorts with sandy beaches and historic port cities
where explorers once set sail for the New World. Sampling local
seafood is a delight, particularly with such local dishes as grilled red
mullet with rosemary, mussels in curried cream sauce, and chaudrée
fourasine (a savory fish stew).
The capital of the region, Poitiers (pwah tee YAY), was an early religious center and contains some of the finest Romanesque churches and
artifacts in all of France. It is also known for a popular theme park,
Futuroscope, where film and video technology is presented in an
entertaining way for visitors of all ages.
Poitiers is 207 miles southwest of Paris. From Paris and Charles de
Gaulle Airport, there is direct high-speed TGV train service to Poitiers
(1 1/2 hours), Angoulême (2 1/4 hours), and La Rochelle (3 hours).
The main highway through the region is Autoroute 10.
Around Poitiers: Attractions
• Baptistère St-Jean (St. John Baptistery)—The oldest Christian
edifice in France dates from the 4th century and was rebuilt in the
10th century as a parish church. Now a museum of ancient religious
statuary, the building retains its medieval frescoes and an octagonal
hole once used for baptism. The twin-towered Cathédral St-Pierre
is nearby.
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Western France: Poitou-Charentes
•
Part 2.37
• Cathédrale Notre-Dame-la-Grande—Dating from the 11th
century, the cathedral’s west exterior is decorated with stone carvings
of biblical scenes, while its interior features original frescoes on the
dome above the choir and pillars embellished with geometric
Moorish designs. On summer nights the cathedral is illuminated with
spotlights.
• Eglise Ste-Radegonde—Built in the 6th century as a funerary
chapel for nuns, the church has centuries worth of noted
architectural features and decorations, including 13th-century wall
paintings and 15th-century statues of the saints of Poitiers.
• Eglise St-Hilaire—This beautiful church, a stopping point for
medieval pilgrims, features a series of Romanesque apses decorated
with frescoes of animals and other figures.
• Musée Rupert de Chièvre—Located in an elegant town house, the
museum collection contains examples of antique furniture, paintings,
and decorative art objects that belonged to a wealthy 19th-century
globe-trotter.
• Musée Ste-Croix—The museum features exhibits on the history of
Poitiers from prehistoric times to the 19th century. An eclectic
collection of art objects ranges from Romanesque carvings to
sculptural works by Rodin and Max Ernst.
Outside Poitiers: Attractions
• Futuroscope—This theme
park a few miles north of
Poitiers is devoted to
cinematic innovation and
features a series of screening
pavilions using IMAX
technology to showcase the
art of the moving image.
The pavilions are equipped
with giant screens and
such virtual-reality special
Maison de
la France/P
hilippe Bona
effects as hydraulic seats
Futuros
n
cope
that move and shake
with the action on-screen.
The park offers a constantly changing
program of films, along with attractions such as Cyber
Avenue with multimedia screens, video games, and Internet access.
Part 2.38
•
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• La Rochelle—La Rochelle is equidistant from Nantes and Poitiers,
about 90 miles from each. The harbor of this city with a long seafaring past is protected by three medieval stone towers, Tour de la
Chaîne, Tour de la Lanterne, and Tour St-Nicholas. All of them
are open to visitors and afford fine views. The historic section of the
city is worth exploring for its 17th- and 18th-century ship owners’
homes, Gothic clock tower, and arcaded shopping streets. Housed in
one of the most palatial of the ship owners’ houses, the Musée du
Nouveau Monde (New World Museum) features exhibits devoted
©
Cognac or brandy is
actually a Dutch invention called brande wijn
or “burnt wine.” Cognac
is made from various
grape eaux-de-vie
(brandies), which are
aged in oak barrels and
mixed by an experienced cellar master.
The quality classifications for cognac
include VS (aged 5 to
7 years), VSOP (aged
8 to 12 years),
Napoléon (aged 15 to
25 years), and XO
(aged 40 years or
more).
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• Rochefort—This historic town 85 miles southwest of Poitiers, an
important 17th-century military port for Louis XIV’s fleet, celebrates
its maritime past with such attractions as the Corderie Royale
(Royal Rope Factory), which features exhibits on shipbuilding and
rope making. It also includes a dry dock reconstruction of
Lafayette’s frigate Hermione, which served in the American
Revolution. Finely crafted scale models of historic ships are the
subject of the nearby Musée de la Marine. Maison Pierre Loti is a
museum located in the former town house belonging to a prominent
naval officer and novelist. The house is lavishly furnished with his
wildly diverse collection of objects from around the world,
particularly Asia.
Did you know?
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• Cognac—This small town on the Charente River 27 miles east of
Angoulême is known around the world for the amber-colored
double-distilled spirits produced from the grapes of the surrounding
vineyards. The major cognac distilleries, among them Courvoisier,
Hennessey, Martell, and Rémy Martin, are headquartered here and
offer tastings and tours of their production facilities and cellars. The
tours require an admission charge and usually last for a little more
than an hour. The Musée de Cognac offers exhibits on cognac
history and production.
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• Angoulême—Angoulême is located 70 miles southwest of Poitiers.
The historic sector of the city is set on a hill high above the
Charente River, while the industrial section is in the valley below.
The old city’s most striking feature is the Cathédrale St-Pierre with
its huge cupola and façade covered with illustrations of the Last
Judgment. The former bishop’s palace is now the Musée des BeauxArts (Museum of Fine Arts), which features a diverse collection
that includes African carvings and a 4th-century Celtic gold helmet
discovered in a nearby cave. French cartoons and comics are the
focus of the Centre National de la Bande Dessinée et de l’Image
(National Comic Strip and Image Museum).
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Beyond Poitiers: Attractions
Did you know?
The Ile de Ré is sometimes called “the white
island” for its chalky
cliffs, dunes, and
beaches. The island
offers several seawater
therapy centers and
sailing schools.
Western France: Poitou-Charentes
•
Part 2.39
to early French exploration of the Americas and the slave trade of the
18th and 19th centuries.
Jacques Cousteau’s research ship, Calypso, is among the maritimerelated exhibits at the Neptunéa Musée Maritime, which also offers
a fishing boat and other vessels that visitors can board. Other local
museums worth a visit include the Musée d’Orbigny-Bernon, with
its collection of ceramics from around France, and the Musée des
Modèles Réduits (Scale Models Museum), which offers scale
models of villages, cars, ships, and a naval battle scene.
While La Rochelle does not offer sandy beaches, several nearby
islands do. Linked to La Rochelle by a bridge, Ile de Ré is a flat
island with 19 miles of pleasant beaches and a quaint fishing village,
St-Martin-de-Ré. Beachcombers, along with cyclists and windsurfers, are also drawn to the islands of Aix, reachable by ferry, and
Oléron, which is connected to the mainland by a bridge.
• Royan—Royan is situated 76 miles northwest of Bordeaux, equidistant from Rochefort and Saintes. A popular seaside resort, Royan
draws sun worshippers to its wide choice of sandy beaches and
secluded bays. Along with offering sailing, fishing, tennis, and golf,
Royan is the scene of an annual international marbles championship.
• Saintes—This ancient riverside town 86 miles southwest of Poitiers,
a onetime capital of the Roman province of Aquitaine, is filled with
impressive Gallo-Roman ruins such as the Arc de Germanicus
dating from the 1st century and a 15,000-seat Roman amphitheater
built by Claudius I. The Musée Archéologique contains exhibits
pertaining to the town’s long past.
Saintes (SAHNT with nasal n) is also known for its 11th-century
Abbaye aux Dames (Abbey for Women), which was once a
convent school for noble ladies and is adorned with graphic
sculptures depicting martyrdoms. Another prime attraction is Musée
Dupuy-Mestreau, a museum housed in a grand 18th-century house
filled with antiques, costumes, fans, miniatures, and enameled
pottery.
Part 2.40
•
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Pronunciation Guide
Amboise
ahn with nasal n BWAHZ
Angers
ahn with nasal n ZHAY
Bayeux
bye YEUH
Blois
BLWAH
Etretat
ay treh TAH
Nantes
NAHNT with nasal 2nd n
Orléans
ohr lay AHN with nasal n
Poitiers
pwah tee YAY
Poitou-Charentes
pwah TOO shah RHAHNT with nasal n
Quimper
kahn with nasal n PEHR
Rennes
RHEHN
Rouen
rhoo WAHN with nasal n
Saintes
SAHNT with nasal n
Tours
TOOR
Vannes
VAHN
©
Western France: Pronunciation Guide
•
Part 2.41
Dunkerque
UNITED
KINGDOM
le
pa
O
te
d’
Calais
BELGIUM
Cô
Boulogne-sur-Mer
ENGLISH
Lille
NORD PAS-DE-CALAIS
Douai
CHANNEL
Arras
Albert
Amiens
PICARDIE
Laon
Compiègne
Beauvais
Soissons
Chantilly
Senlis
NORMANDIE
Paris
CENTRE
VAL DE LA LOIRE
PAYS DE
LA
LOIRE
ILE-DE-FRANCE
Northern France
41 km
0
Part 2.42
•
CHAMPAGNEARDENNE
BOURGOGNE
41 mi
©
Northern
France
B
ordered by the Ile-de-France region to the south, Belgium to the
northeast, and the English Channel to the north and west, Northern
France encompasses two regions, Nord Pas-de-Calais and Picardie. While
each has its distinct flavor, both share a long, sometimes turbulent history
and offer a wealth of architectural and cultural attractions.
Nord Pas-de-Calais
This area alongside the English Channel and the Belgian border in the
northern corner of France was, along with parts of Belgium and the
Netherlands, part of the medieval feudal principality known as Flanders.
Today its Flemish heritage is still very much evident in the graceful
architecture of the public buildings and the Dutch-influenced Flemish
language spoken by many people.
For visitors traveling to France from the United Kingdom, the city of
Calais, France’s main hub of cross-channel transport and the Channel’s
shortest crossing, is likely to be their port of entry. Stretching south of
the city to Boulogne-sur-Mer is the scenic Côte d’Opale (côte meaning
coast),with more than 60 miles of dramatic cliffs and sand dunes along
the Straits of Dover. The area is part of the Parc Naturel Régional
Nord Pas-de-Calais, which offers trails for hiking, bicycling, and
horseback riding.
Food and drink in the area are hearty and unpretentious. Among the
specialties are flamiche aux poireaux (a savory tart filled with leeks), and
coq à la bière (chicken cooked in beer). Locally brewed beers include
blanche de Lille, a pale brew often served with a slice of lemon.
The capital city, Lille (LEEL), boasts two outstanding art museums and
is characterized by its wide public squares lined with colonnaded 17thand 18th-century Flemish houses. The heart of the city is the Grand’
Place, officially the Place du Général de Gaulle, named for the
famous French leader and former president who was born in Lille in
1890. Facing the square is the 17th-century Vieille Bourse (Old
©
Northern France: Nord Pas-de-Calais
•
Part 2.43
Stock Exchange), a masterpiece of ornate Flemish design
consisting of 24 separate buildings. A flower and book market
is held every day but Sunday in its cloistered courtyard. North
of the square is Vieux Lille (Old Lille), a district filled with
elegant old town houses, many of which have been converted
into chic shops.
ascal Mores
la France/P
Maison de
Lille
scene in
Street
Lille is located 134 miles north of Paris. It is linked to
Paris by high-speed TGV train service, about a one-hour
trip. The city is served by the transchannel Eurostar trains
to London, taking about two hours. Calais is also linked
to Paris by TGV service and to London by the Eurostar.
Within Lille there are two subway lines and an extensive bus system
that serves both the city and metropolitan area.
Around Lille: Attractions
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• Citadelle—The great 17th-century military architect Vauban created
this massive fortress after the French army captured Lille in 1667. Its
star-shaped design is said to have inspired the form of the Pentagon in
Washington, D.C. Although still functioning as a military base, the
citadel’s outer ramparts are open to the public. Surrounding the
fortress is a 124-acre public park with a zoo and small amusement park.
Did you know?
The Grande Braderie
de Lille, a massive flea
market and antique
fair selling local handicrafts and specialty
foods, is held in the
streets of Vieux Lille
every year during the
first weekend in
September.
• Musée d’Art Moderne—Located east of Lille in Villeneuve-d’Ascq,
the museum displays a noteworthy collection of works by artists such
as Picasso, Calder, Modigliani, and Miró.
• Musée Charles de Gaulle—This house in a quiet neighborhood in
the northern part of the city is the birthplace of the French general
and political leader. Exhibits illustrate his life with texts, photos, and
his own military writings.
• Musée de l’Hospice Comtesse—Housed in a beautiful 17thcentury former hospital and poorhouse, the museum offers a fine
collection that includes ceramics, furniture, religious art, and 17thand 18th-century paintings. Among its highlights are the magnificent Salle des Malades (Hospital Ward) decorated with early 18thcentury tapestries and a pair of rooms lined with delft tiles.
• Palais des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts)—This recently renovated museum possesses one of the finest art collections in France,
with outstanding works from the 15th to the 20th century.
Part 2.44
•
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Among the highlights are Rodin’s sculpture The Shadow and Goya’s
paintings vividly depicting Youth and Age.
Outside Lille: Attractions
• Tourcoing—This town about 10 miles northeast of Lille is known
for musical festivals and its Musée des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts
Museum) with changing exhibits featuring the work of major artists
from a variety of periods.
• Wambrechies—For more than 200 years, this town 4 miles north of
Lille has been the site of Distillerie Claeyssenes, a distillery that
makes both gin and whiskey using its original equipment. Regular
guided tours are offered.
Beyond Lille: Attractions
• Boulogne-sur-Mer—Most sites of interest in this major fishing port
about 70 miles northwest of Lille are clustered in the historic Ville
Haute (Upper City) area, an enclave of centuries-old buildings,
ramparts, and cobbled streets. Its main square, Place Godefroi-deBouillon, is fronted by the 18th-century Hôtel de Ville (Town
Hall), which affords spectacular views of the harbor from its belfry.
©
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Well worth a visit is the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine
Arts) located in the Abbaye de St-Vaast, a former Benedictine
abbey. The collection includes medieval sculpture, locally made
porcelain, and landscape paintings by Corot. The Musée
Robespierre is a museum devoted to the life and times of
Maximilien de Robespierre, a leader of the French Revolution who
was born in Arras.
Maison de
la France/P
ascal Mores
Les Bo
ves
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• Arras—The town of Arras (ah RHASS) is known for its
handsome 17th- and 18th-century Flemish houses, many of
them clustered around the spacious historic market squares
of Place des Héros and Grand ’Place. Dominating the
Place des Héros is the massive Flemish Gothic Hôtel de
Ville (Town Hall), with an interior decorated with
murals of Grecian maidens and a depiction of life in
14th-century Arras. Visitors can climb to the top of the
building’s belfry for panoramic views. Beneath the town
squares are les Boves, a labyrinth of underground
passageways, which over the centuries have been used
as wine cellars, chalk mines, and shelters. Regular tours of
the underground, which leave from the town hall, are available.
Did you know?
Géants (festival
giants), huge wicker
masks animated from
the inside by humans,
are a popular part of
festivals in northern
France. Two fine examples are on display in
the town hall in Arras.
Northern France: Nord Pas-de-Calais
•
Part 2.45
Housed in a 13th-century castle, the Château-Musée (Castle
Museum) contains an eclectic collection that includes Egyptian
mummies, 18th-century porcelain, and Inuit masks from Alaska.
Down on the waterfront is the town’s most popular family attraction, Nausicaa, a large aquarium with comprehensive exhibits on
ocean ecosystems. The aquarium is filled with hands-on exhibits and
contains such attractions as a sealed tropical environment and a simulation of a fishing trawler in the midst of an Atlantic storm.
• Calais—Separated from the English town of Dover by scarcely more
than 50 miles, Calais (kah LAY), about 20 miles northeast of
Boulogne-sur-Mer, has long been a major ferry port for travel
between the United Kingdom and France. While much of the city
has been rebuilt since World War II, notable exceptions include the
13th-century Tour de Guet (Watchtower) facing the main square,
Place d’Armes. Nearby is the Flemish-style Hôtel de Ville (City
Hall), fronted by Auguste Rodin’s bronze statue The Burghers of
Calais, built to honor six local citizens who tried to save the city
from English conquest in 1347.
Interesting local museums include Musée de la Guerre (War
Museum), which is devoted to World War II history and located in a
concrete bunker that was once a German naval headquarters. At the
Musée des Beaux-Arts et de la Dentelle (Museum of Fine Arts
and Lace), there are exhibits on mechanized lace making, which
began in Calais during the early 19th century. The collection also
includes paintings, ceramics, and sculpture (including pieces by
Rodin) from the 15th to 20th century.
• Douai—The historic town of Douai (doo AY), 25 miles south of
Lille, is noted for the town hall’s massive belfry and carillon, which
is said to contain the largest collection of bells in Europe, some 62 in
all. Visitors can climb to the top for panoramic views. The town’s
other major attraction is the Musée de la Chartreuse, which contains a noted art collection, including works by local artists such as
15th-century painter Jean Bellegambe and post-Impressionist HenriEdmond Cross. Others represented include Pissarro, Renoir, Rodin,
and Sisley.
• Dunkerque—In 1940, this seaport town 44 miles northwest of Lille
became famous as the site of a massive evacuation of nearly 350,000
Allied soldiers who found themselves surrounded by the German
army. Braving air attacks and heavy artillery, hundreds of civilian
volunteers joined British army units to take boats across the Channel
to ferry the troops to England. Dunkerque’s wartime history is
Part 2.46
•
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chronicled at the Musée de la Guerre (War Museum), while its
long history as a fishing port is the focus of the Musée Portuaire
(Port Museum).
Picardie
With some of the earliest and finest Gothic cathedrals in France,
important World War I battle sites, and its fair share of splendid
gardens and châteaux, Picardie (Picardy) offers a good deal of
historical and architectural interest within a small geographic area.
Bordering on the Ile-de-France region, many sites in Picardy can be
enjoyed during day trips from Paris.
Prehistoric stones found in the area have provided evidence that
humans settled in Picardy’s Somme Valley, sometimes called the birthplace of France, more than 500,000 years ago. Some fine exhibits from
the prehistoric era, along with Gallo-Roman archaeological finds, are
on display at the Musée de Picardie in Amiens and the Musée
Boucher de Perthes in Abbeville. Just outside Abbeville is the Parc
Archéologique de Samara, which offers replicas of prehistoric habitats,
crafts workshops, botanical gardens, and archaeological exhibits.
Largely rural, Picardy also offers such outdoor pleasures as an
unspoiled coastline, waterways ideal for barge cruising, nearly
two dozen golf courses, and secluded trails and paths for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. On the coast near the
Somme Bay is the Parc Ornithologique du Marquenterre
or “Marcanterra” (Marquenterre Bird Park), a nature preserve that is home to dozens of bird species including storks,
sandpipers, Canada geese, and spoonbills.
Local food specialties to have clients try include smoked
eel, duck pâté, Maroilles cheese, and carbonade flamande
(a hearty stew of beef cooked in beer and onions). When
it comes to sweets, Picardy not only is known for its macaroons but is also the birthplace of crème Chantilly
(whipped cream), named after the town of the same name.
Masicon de
Changin
la France/G
uy Goemar
g room
e
s along
the coa
st
The major city, Amiens, features one of the most spectacular cathedrals
in France and a picturesque historic district called the Quartier StLeu. The district, which borders the Somme River, is laced with many
waterfront restaurants and pubs. The earliest origins of Amiens can be
observed at Place Gambetta, a square in the heart of the commercial
district where two glass-covered shafts expose the remains of an earlier
Gallo-Roman settlement.
©
Northern France: Picardie
•
Part 2.47
Amiens is situated 75 miles north of Paris. From Paris, Amiens is about
a 1 1/2-hour trip by train. Within the region, Amiens is also linked by
train to Lille, Calais, and Arras.
Around Amiens: Attractions
• Cathédrale Notre-Dame—This, the largest cathedral in France, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its Gothic architecture, particularly its soaring, light-filled interior embellished with
magnificently carved choir stalls and rose windows. Its west façade
has been called “the Bible in stone” for its hundreds of carved depictions of saints and apostles. Much of the cathedral was completed in
the 50 years following 1220, which gives it more unity of style than
many other such structures.
• Centre International Jules Verne—The futuristic author Jules
Verne lived at this turreted house during the late 19th century and
wrote many of his best-known books here. The museum contains
exhibits on his life and work.
• Les Hortillonnages (Market Gardens)—A network of canals runs
around and through this vast array of flower and vegetable gardens,
which have supplied Amiens with produce since medieval times.
Visitors can take leisurely one-hour canal tours on punts that leave
from a small kiosk.
• Musée de Picardie—The grand 19th-century architecture and
ornate detail of the museum make it a superb setting for the
museum’s fine exhibits. The diverse galleries offer displays of
archaeological finds, medieval art, and fine paintings by artists such
as El Greco, Fragonard, and Boucher.
Outside Amiens: Attractions
• Mémoriaux de la Bataille de la Somme (Battle of the Somme
Memorials)—Some of the worst fighting of World War I took place
in July 1916 in the Somme Valley countryside northeast of Amiens
near the town of Albert about 20 miles away. Today the Circuit de
Souvenir (Remembrance Tour) takes you around the region dotted
with cemeteries and memorials honoring the thousands slain that
include the Mémorial National Australien (Australian National
War Memorial), Mémorial National Sud-Africain (South African
National Memorial), and Mémorial de Thiepval (Thiepval
Memorial). At La Grande Mine (also called Lochnagar Crater
Part 2.48
•
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Memorial) visitors can see an actual crater that was made by
tunneling under German trenches and planting explosives. Exhibits
devoted to the history and consequences of World War I can be
viewed at the Historial de la Grande Guerre (Museum of the
Great War) in the town of Péronne.
Beyond Amiens: Attractions
• Beauvais—The town, about 40 miles south of Amiens, is known for
its great half-finished cathedral, the Cathédrale St-Pierre, the nave
of which collapsed shortly after it was built in the 13th century.
Nevertheless, the cathedral is an awe-inspiring sight with its soaring
Gothic vaulting, cobalt-blue-and-purple stained-glass windows, and
elaborate mechanical clock. Well worth a visit is the Musée
Départemental de l’Oise (Museum of the Department of Oise)
with its collection of French and Italian paintings, medieval wood
carvings, and Art Nouveau ceramics. The Galerie Nationale de la
Tapisserie (National Tapestry Gallery) celebrates the town’s reputation as a tapestry center with fine examples of the craft.
• Chantilly—The imposing Château de Chantilly (shahn with
nasal n tee YEE), which presides over this small town equidistant from Paris and Beauvais, is perhaps best known as the
place where whipped cream was invented. During the late
18th century, the château was famous for the quality of the
cream produced from its dairy and for the elegant afternoon teas served there. The charming hameau (hamlet), a
mock rural farming village that housed the dairy, is still on
the grounds along with several remarkable gardens.
Visitors will enjoy walking through the formal Jardin
Français (French Garden), naturalistic Jardin Anglais
(English Garden), and the rustic Jardin AngloChinois (Anglo-Chinese Garden).
Maison
de la France
/Fabian Ch
Châtea
araffi
u de C
hantilly
The château comprises two attached buildings, the 16thcentury Petit Château and the Grand Château, which was completely rebuilt in the late 19th century after being demolished during
the French Revolution. Among its highlights are the Musée Condé,
an art museum filled with notable Renaissance paintings, and the
Cabinet des Livres (Library), which has an important collection of
medieval illuminated manuscripts and rare books, including a
Gutenberg Bible. Also not to be missed are the 18th-century
Grandes Ecuries (Great Stables), which house the Musée Vivant
du Cheval (Horse Museum) with its finely groomed horses of
almost every breed. The museum is also adorned with equine-related
art, toys, and equipment.
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Northern France: Picardie
•
Part 2.49
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Did you know?
The Paris-Roubaix,
one of the world’s most
challenging one-day
cycling races, starts in
Compiègne on the
first Sunday after
Easter.
Near Laon,
Pierrefonds is noted
for its massive classic
medieval castle
restored by the architect Viollet-le-Duc.
• Compiègne—Long a favorite retreat of royalty, Compiègne (kohn
with nasal n pee EN yeh), equidistant from Paris and Amiens, is best
known for the Château de Compiègne where Napoléon III enjoyed
throwing lavish hunting parties during his reign in the late 19th
century. Inside the palace are grand royal period rooms of the 18th
and 19th centuries and the Musée de la Voiture (Automobile
Museum), which displays early automobiles. Another intriguing local
attraction is the Musée de la Figurine Historique, with its
collection of more than 100,000 tin soldiers. On the outskirts of
town is the lovely Forêt de Compiègne (Compiègne Forest),
where the peace agreement ending World War I was signed in a
railway carriage parked at a site now known as the Clairière de
l’Armistice (Armistice Clearing).
• Laon—Perched on a ridge top, the historic Ville Haute (Upper
City) of Laon (LON with nasal n), 74 miles southeast of Amiens,
commands stellar views of the countryside below. Visitors can reach
the district by taking the Poma 2000, an automated overland minimétro from the railway station. Its main attraction is the Cathédrale
Notre-Dame, considered one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in
France. Among its unique features are stone carvings of oxen near the
top of its five towers. As legend has it, oxen were used to transport
the heavy masonry used to build the cathedral up to its hilltop site.
Nearby is the Musée de Laon, which offers a collection of European
paintings and ancient artifacts from Mediterranean cultures.
• Senlis—A charming medieval village encircled by Gallo-Roman
walls, Senlis (sahn with nasal n LEESE), 62 miles south of Amiens,
boasts one of the earliest of French Gothic cathedrals, the
Cathédrale Notre-Dame, noted for its sculptures of biblical
prophets adorning its west façade. Next door at the Musée de
l’Hôtel Vermandois are exhibits and a slide show devoted to the
cathedral’s history and architecture. Other museums in town include
the Musée de la Vénerie (Hunting Museum), which traces the history of hunting with hounds in France, and the Musée d’Art et
d’Archéologie, which has a strong collection of ancient and
medieval artifacts and artworks.
• Soissons—Among the main attractions in Soissons (swah SOHN
with nasal n), around 20 miles southwest of Laon, is the Musée
Municipal housed in a medieval abbey and offering a collection that
includes some fine sculpture from the Middle Ages. Also noteworthy
are the ruins of an ancient abbey, the Abbaye de St-Jean-desVignes, with its 230-foot-tall towers and beautiful cloister walls still
intact. Outside town at the Château de Blérancourt is the Musée
National de la Coopération Franco-Américaine, which includes a
Part 2.50
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fine assortment of artworks by French and American artists. The
collection also commemorates the humanitarian efforts of Anne
Morgan, an American who set up volunteer services at the château
during World War I.
Pronunciation Guide
Arras
ah RHASS
Calais
kah LAY
Chantilly
shahn with nasal n tee YEE
Compiègne
kohn with nasal n pee EN yeh
Douai
doo AY
Laon
LON with nasal n
Lille
LEEL
Senlis
sahn with nasal n LEESE
Soissons
swah SOHN with nasal n
©
Northern France: Pronunciation Guide
•
Part 2.51
Part 2.52
•
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Equator
North
America
Polynésie Française
Archipel de la Société
Tahiti
Tropic of Capricorn
Tropic of Cancer
Pacific Ocean
Arctic Ocean
Overseas Regions
South
America
La Guyane
Guadeloupe
Martinique
St-Martin
St-Barthélemy
St-Pierre- France
et-Miquelon
Atlantic Ocean
Greenland
Africa
E
u
r
o
e
Mayotte
Réunion
p
Indian
Ocean
s
Antarctica
A
i
Australia
Pacific Ocean
Nouvelle-Calédonie
a
Overseas
Regions
T
ouches of France are found far beyond its borders, thanks to its
overseas regions scattered around the globe. In the Caribbean,
they include the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, St-Martin, and
St-Barthélemy (St. Barts), while South Pacific destinations include
Tahiti, Nouvelle-Calédonie, and Wallis and Futuna. There are also
Réunion and Mayotte, islands in the Indian Ocean; St-Pierre-etMiquelon, an island group off the coast of Newfoundland; and La
Guyane, on the northeast coast of South America.
Antilles Françaises
While they offer sunny beaches and lush interiors, the French islands of
the Caribbean—the Antilles Françaises (French West Indies)—can
also be counted on to deliver a little something extra in the way of fine
dining, vibrant nightlife, and chic boutiques. In the Lesser Antilles of
the eastern Caribbean are Guadeloupe, Martinique, St-Barthélemy
(St. Barts) and St-Martin.
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe (ghwah duh LOOP) is one of the string of islands in the
Lesser Antilles that alternated between English and French control in
the 1600s and 1700s, falling under lasting French rule in 1815. The
shape of the island, which has been likened to that of a butterfly,
consists of two “wings” divided by the narrow strait called the Rivière
Salée (Salt River). Each is quite different. Basse-Terre, the larger of the
two, is mountainous with a rugged coastline, a partially active volcano,
and Le Parc National, which offers many hiking trails and scenic
wonders. The other side, Grande-Terre, consists primarily of beautiful
beaches and a string of resorts.
Guadeloupe is about 20 percent larger than its sister French island,
Martinique, and has a more diverse population. It is the second-largest
island in the Lesser Antilles and is a varied destination. Vacationers
can laze at a top beach resort, shop at some of the Caribbean’s best
©
Overseas Regions: Antilles Françaises
•
Part 2.53
ATLANTIC OCEAN
La Pointe de la Grand Vigie
Porte d’Enfer
Grande-Terre
Ste-Rose
Grande Anse
La Désirade
Le Moule
Rivière
Salée
Porte d’Enfer
Maison Zévalos
Lamentin
Pointe-à-Pitre
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Did you know?
The island of
Guadeloupe’s
predominantly French
culture is immediately
apparent in the
language as well as in
the architecture and
food. Most people
speak Creole in
addition to the French
they learn in school.
The strong influence of
African, West Indian,
and even Hindu
cultures creates a
fascinating Creole mix.
Basse-Terre
Ilet Pigeon
Pointe des Châteaux
St-François
Gosier
La Route
de la Traversée
Plage de la
Caravelle
Le Parc
National
Ilet du Gosier
La Soufrière
Chutes du Carbet
Basse-Terre
Marie-Galante
Ilet à Cabrit
Le Bourg
Terre-de-Bas
Terre-de-Haut
Grand Îlet
Les Saintes
Guadeloupe
0
11 km
CARIBBEAN SEA
0
14 mi
outdoor markets, or tour volcanoes, rain forests, and lesser-developed
offshore islands.
Flights land at Pointe-à-Pitre, Grande-Terre, near the center of the
island. Most travelers from the United States connect in San Juan,
Puerto Rico, or in Miami. Sleek, comfortable ferries connect
Guadeloupe with neighboring islands such as Martinique, Dominica,
and St. Lucia.
If visitors are staying anywhere other than the resort-filled southern
coast of Grande-Terre, or if they want to tour the island’s scenic spots,
they will need to rent a car. Ferry service is available to the offshore
island groups.
Part 2.54
•
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Around Guadeloupe: Attractions
• Basse-Terre—Basse-Terre (bahs-TAIR) is the more scenic part of
Guadeloupe, and it draws the most visitors. A road circles the entire
coast, and clients can take it in either direction after crossing one of
the bridges from Grande-Terre. La Route de la Traversée
(Transcoastal Highway) also crosses the middle of the island and
goes through the heart of the national park, which contains the
Cascade aux Ecrevisses (Crayfish Falls), lush rain forests,
mahogany and bamboo trees, and numerous hiking and nature trails.
It also offers a zoological park and botanical gardens to explore.
The most spectacular sight in the park is La Soufrière (lah soo free
AYR), a volcano that last erupted in the 1970s and still gives off
rumbles, steam, and sulfurous fumes. Other craters, lava pools, and
volcanic remains lie in the vicinity.
Another Basse-Terre scenic spot is the Chutes du Carbet (Carbet
Falls), where visitors climb a steep path to viewing points at the 65foot, 360-foot, and 410-foot levels. On the north coast are nice
beaches at Lamentin and Ste-Rose as well as Grande Anse, one of
the best beaches in Guadeloupe. The town of Basse-Terre, the capital, was founded in 1640 and offers narrow streets, old buildings, a
relaxed pace, and a lovely setting.
• Grande-Terre—On the Grande-Terre side of Guadeloupe is the
island’s major city of Pointe-à-Pitre (pwahnt uh PEE treh). It offers
some 19th-century French architecture and an interesting Caribbean
market, but noise, traffic, and commercialism can lessen the charm
for some visitors. Travelers staying at the beach resorts may want to
visit the city at least once to shop or visit the market and museums.
The Musée Schoelcher contains personal items of the French politician Victor Schoelcher, who helped abolish slavery on the
island in 1848, and the Musée Saint-John Perse is a tribute
to the Guadeloupe-born Nobel Prize winner for literature.
Just east of the city is Fort Fleur d’Epée, scene of some
French-English battles, and the large Aquarium
Guadeloupe. From here begins a 20-mile stretch of
beaches and resort complexes. The first town is Gosier
(goh zee AY), with plenty of hotels, inns, cafés, bars, and
shops. To the east is the outstanding Plage de la
Caravelle (Caravelle Beach), a long reef-protected
stretch of sand and home to Club Med. More beaches
Castle
Courtesy of
rocks a
Joe Petroci
k
t Pointe
line the coast from St-François, a once-sleepy fishing
des Ch
â
t
e
aux
village and is now the site of luxury resorts, to Pointe
des Châteaux, a seascape of crashing waves carving castlelike
shapes out of the cliffs and rocks.
©
•
Part 2.55
On the northern side of Grande-Terre are sights that include
Maison Zévalos, once the manor house of one of the island’s largest
sugar plantations; Porte d’Enfer (Hell’s Gate), where two jagged
cliffs are battered by the wild Atlantic; and Le Moule, a charming
port city that was the island’s original capital.
• Offshore Islands—The largest of Guadeloupe’s offshore islands is
Marie-Galante, circular in shape and covering 60 square miles.
Sugarcane fields, ruined sugar mills, and rum distilleries make up
much of this island, which is relatively undiscovered by tourists and
where few locals speak English. La Cohoba, a 100-room hotel,
opened in 1999, but most accommodations are in innlike establishments of 6 to 15 rooms.
Les Saintes, an eight-island archipelago, lies off the south coast of
Basse-Terre. Only three of the islands are inhabited. Terre-de-Haut
receives both day-trippers and those staying for a longer time. The
island offers several small hotels, mostly in Le Bourg, a picturesque
fishing village. Terre-de-Bas is almost as large but is not developed
for tourism. Tiny Ilet à Cabrit west of Terre-de-Haut has only a few
inhabitants.
Martinique
Martinique (mahr tih NEEK) is considered the flagship of French
culture in the Caribbean. Its urban areas have a stylish feel, with avantgarde shopping, international cuisine, nightlife, and gambling. Chic
resorts reminiscent of the French Riviera are located on its western and
southern coasts. The countryside contains inns and small restaurants
that hint of Provence. There is even an exact replica of Basilique du
Sacré-Coeur in Paris, a Gauguin museum, and a small château or two.
Martinique is a typical Caribbean island, with waterfalls, tropical forests,
lush green mountain slopes, a dormant volcano, a desert of petrified
wood, and flowers everywhere. White-sand beaches are found on the
southern coast; volcanic silver-blue-sand beaches are on the northern
coast. Like Guadeloupe, it is one of the islands of the Lesser Antilles
that alternated between English and French control in the 17th and
18th centuries before coming solely under French jurisdiction in 1815.
From the United States there are charters from a few major population
centers on the East Coast and direct flights from Miami. There are also
flight connections through San Juan. Sleek, comfortable catamaran ferries connect Martinique to the neighboring islands of Dominica,
Guadeloupe, and St. Lucia.
Part 2.56
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ATLANTIC OCEAN
Grande Rivière
Mont Pelée
Presqu’île
de la Caravelle
Parc
Naturel
Régional
de la
Martinique
St-Pierre
Musée
Gauguin
Le Carbet
Pitons du
Carbet
Fort-de-France
Fort-de-France Bay
Pointe du Bout
Martinique
0
Trois-Ilets
5.6 km
La Pagerie
Diamant
0
7 mi
Rocher du Diamant
Grande Anse des Salines
Savane
des
Petrifications
Around Martinique: Attractions
• Fort-de-France and the South Coast—With narrow streets lined
with pastel-colored houses and lacy wrought-iron balconies, the
island’s main city of Fort-de-France will immediately remind
Americans of the French Quarter in New Orleans. La Savane, a
waterfront park, is a good spot to watch the life of the city as well as
arrivals from cruise ships in the harbor. Fort St-Louis, dating from
the 1600s, looms next to the park; it is still used by the military and
is open only by special arrangement. One of the chief photo opportunities is the wildly elaborate Bibliothèque Schoelcher
(Schoelcher Library), stylized in Byzantine-Egyptian-Romanesque
architecture, which was originally built in Paris for the 1889
©
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From the airport, which is five miles inland from Fort-de-France, taxis
are the most convenient transfer option to the resorts. Clients can also
take taxis collectifs, taxilike minivans that pick up and drop off passengers along set routes between Fort-de-France and some island resorts.
There is also ferry service between Fort-de-France and Pointe du Bout
across the Fort-de-France Bay.
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CARIBBEAN SEA
Did you know?
Martinique produces
17 varieties of rum,
which were awarded
the prestigious désignation appellation
d’origine contrôlée,
previously reserved only
for the finest wines in
France.
•
Part 2.57
Exposition and then disassembled and shipped to Martinique.
Cathédrale St-Louis and the Vieux Hôtel de Ville (Old City
Hall) are nearby.
k
Joe Petroci
Courtesy of
erie
La Pag
Just across the bay are the beaches and resorts of Pointe du
Bout and the small village of the Trois-Ilets, where the
Empress Josephine, wife of Napoléon Bonaparte, was born in
1763. La Pagerie, the museum at her birthplace, is one of the
most visited sites on the island. South of Pointe du Bout is a
succession of beautiful beaches, resorts, and charming fishing
villages. The most notable sight is the Rocher du Diamant
(Diamond Rock), a rock jutting 573 feet out to sea, just
offshore. This mini Gibraltar was fortified by the British in
the early 1800s and manned by 1,200 troops who, after 18
months of hard fighting, surrendered to the French.
Farther along the coast is the Savane des Petrifications
(Petrified Savannah), an eerie desertlike field of volcanic
boulders in the shape of logs.
• The North—The road between Fort-de-France and St-Pierre is the
most traveled route in Martinique. It reminds some visitors of the
French Riviera. The road is lined with small towns and fishing
villages, among them Le Carbet, where Columbus landed and
where French settlers arrived in 1635. At Anse Turin, the Musée
Gauguin commemorates the artist’s stay on the island in 1887
before he moved to Tahiti. On the northeast coast of the island is
the Presqu’île de la Caravelle (Caravelle Peninsula), a narrow
finger of land that is home to a nature preserve that is part of the
Parc Naturel Régional de la Martinique.
Looming over the island is 4,600-foot Mont Pelée, a dormant
volcanic mountain that can be reached by the coastal road or the
scenic inland Route de la Trace, which winds through a steep rain
forest. In the town of St-Pierre, now known as the “little Pompeii of
the Caribbean,” the Musée Volcanique and the Musée Historique
de St-Pierre tell the story of the eruption that killed 30,000 people
in 1902.
St-Barthélemy
Located 15 miles southeast of St-Martin, St-Barthélemy, most commonly referred to as St. Barts, is chic and expensive. It boasts fine dining and some of the Caribbean’s best beaches, but most island parallels
end there. Its small size and population, and distinctive clientele, have
left its customs and heritage more intact than those of many larger
islands. Most of the residents are descendants of emigrants from
Part 2.58
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ATLANTIC OCEAN
St-Barthélemy
0
0.6 km
0
0.8 mi
Pointe Milou
Plage de
Lorient
•
Corossol
Plage de Maréchal
•
St-Jean
Bay
Marigot
• Lorient
•
Morne
du Vitet
St-Jean
Gustavia
Anse
de Toiny
CARIBBEAN SEA
Plage
de
Grande
Saline
Normandy and Brittany in northwest France and from Sweden, which
ruled St. Barts for more than 90 years. While French is the official language of the island, English is spoken in most places.
Many hotels will arrange to pick up visitors at the airport, and there is
also taxi service. Exploring the island in depth requires a rental car.
Around St-Barthélemy: Attractions
The island’s only town of any size is Gustavia, founded by King
Gustav of Sweden in the 18th century as a free port, a status it retains
to this day. Shoppers will enjoy its elegant French boutiques and minimall. Traces of the town’s Swedish heritage remain in the street names,
fort, stone houses, and the triangular-roofed clock tower known as the
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There is no long-haul flight service to the island. Most visitors arrive on
connecting commuter flights from St-Martin or other neighboring
islands. There are also frequent ferry connections from St-Martin,
which take about 1 1/2 hours.
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Did you know?
The restaurant-bar Le
Select, known for its
funky charm, has been
the social center of
Gustavia for decades.
The Jimmy Buffet
song “Cheeseburger in
Paradise” is about the
restaurant.
•
Part 2.59
“Swedish belfry” on a hill overlooking the harbor. St-Jean,
northeast of Gustavia, is the island’s earliest settlement and
now the most developed tourist area, brimming with bistros,
small hotels, and boutiques.
k
Joe Petroci
Courtesy of
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or
ia harb
Gustav
Did you know?
St-Martin offers some
of the best dining in
the Caribbean. Not only
is there the strong
influence of French
cuisine, but restaurant
menus also reflect
Creole influences.
There is a good
diversity of ethnic
restaurants that include
Moroccan, Vietnamese,
and, on the Dutch side,
Indonesian.
To the northwest is the charming fishing village of
Corossol, where many residents still wear the traditional
garb of 17th-century Normandy, including ankle-length
dresses and sunbonnets. Intricate, locally made straw work
made from lantana palms is sold in this area.
The rest of the island is defined by rugged hills and
beautiful vistas created by an irregular coastline. St. Barts
offers more than 20 beaches, each with its own distinctive flavor.
Lorient is popular with surfers and those who like rolling waves, while
Marigot and Maréchal offer the best snorkeling. Grande Saline and
Anse de Toiny are known for their wild beauty.
St-Martin
Located in the Leeward Islands group of the eastern Caribbean, StMartin (sahn with nasal n mahr TAHN with nasal n) is well known for
being the smallest island in the world that is divided between two
sovereign nations: half is French; the other half is Dutch. The Dutch
side of the island is called Sint Maarten (sint MAR tin). While StMartin is part of the French overseas department of Guadeloupe, Sint
Maarten is administratively a part of the Netherlands Antilles, an
autonomous territory of the kingdom of the Netherlands. Not only are
visitors given a two-for-one destination, but St-Martin is also a hub for
visiting the nearby islands of Anguilla, St-Barthélemy, Saba, and St.
Eustatius, which can be seen on day trips.
St-Martin is an island for vacationers who like to keep busy. Visitors
could spend weeks enjoying the water sports, excellent beaches, golf,
tennis, gambling casinos, shopping, active nightlife, and great restaurants on both sides of the island. Hotel choices range from lavish
resorts to inns on the beach—with more than 100 to choose from. The
standard of living is one of the highest in the Caribbean, and English is
spoken everywhere.
Nonstop jets from U.S. and European locations are frequent, especially
on weekends. The island has airports on both the Dutch and French
sides, but all international flights arrive at Juliana Airport on the Dutch
side. L’Espérance is the French regional airport with flights to
Guadeloupe, St. Barthélemy, Martinique, and other nearby islands.
Part 2.60
•
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ATLANTIC OCEAN
St-Martin
0
2.8 km
Plage
d’Orient
•
0
3.5 mi
Grand Case
Pic du Paradis
ST-MARTIN
Marigot
SINT MAARTEN
Philipsburg
CARIBBEAN SEA
Buses run frequently between Philipsburg, Marigot, and Grand Case.
They do not serve most of the hotel areas or the airport.
Around St-Martin: Attractions
• Marigot and the French Side—The French capital of Marigot
(mah rhee GOH) is a great place to browse through boutiques, relax
at bistros and cafés, and soak up some French atmosphere, islandstyle. Farther up the coast on the French side is Grand Case, a picturesque village with small multicolored houses lining the road, each
one a gourmet restaurant. So dedicated are these local restaurateurs
(many of them chefs who have worked throughout France) that they
have earned Grand Case the reputation as the “restaurant capital of
the Caribbean.”
There are 37 beaches on the island, and many are sparsely populated.
However, Plage d’Orient (Orient Beach), known for its water
sports and beach-bar restaurants, tends to be more crowded than
other beaches. The highest point on the island is Pic du Paradis
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•
Part 2.61
(Paradise Peak), at 1,400 feet. A bumpy road leads up to the
top, where there are splendid vistas, including views of the
surrounding islands.
• Philipsburg and the Dutch Side—Philipsburg, the capital of the
Dutch side, is famous for its shopping, considered second in the
Caribbean only to St. Thomas. Front Street is the town’s 15-blocklong “mall,” home to most of the shops and 2 of the Dutch side’s
12 casinos.
La Guyane
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Once primarily a penal colony, this small tropical region on the northeast edge of South America is now a popular destination for adventure
travelers. Bordering Brazil and Suriname, La Guyane (French Guiana)
is mostly covered by equatorial rain forest, a verdant habitat for monkeys, caimans, tapirs, ocelots, and anteaters. The coastline is lined with
mangrove swamps and a few sandy beaches.
Did you know?
Some of the most
recent immigrants to
French Guiana are
Hmong people from
Laos who settled there
in the 1970s. The
Hmong village of
Cacao offers a fascinating Sunday market
selling embroidery,
weaving, and traditional
noodle dishes.
An overseas department of France since 1946, French Guiana enjoys
one of the highest standards of living in South America. While the main
language is French, many of the locals speak a Creole dialect. Among
visitor activities are surfing, windsurfing, and sailing on the waters near
Cayenne and Kourou. River trips on the Rivière Maroni (Maroni
River) and hiking to the top of Montagne du Mahury (Mahury
Mountain) are also possible.
Air service links between the main city of Cayenne and the United
States are primarily from Miami through Guadeloupe or Martinique.
There is also air service from France, Brazil, and Venezuela. Within
French Guiana, flight service on Air Guyane links Cayenne with StGeorges and Maripasoula. There is also bus service between most of
the main towns.
Around La Guyane: Attractions
• Cayenne—The capital and major port, Cayenne (kai YEN) has a
relaxed tropical atmosphere. Its main social hub is Place des
Palmistes, a square lined with cafés and outdoor food stalls. Spots to
visit include the ruins of the 17th-century Fort Cépérou and the
Musée Départmental, which offers exhibits on the indigenous people, colonial history, and the penal colony.
Part 2.62
•
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aro
ni
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Riv
ièr
eM
Iles du Salut
Kourou
Cayenne
Montagne du Mahury
ière
Ri v
i
ron
Ma
SURINAME
BRAZIL
La Guyane
0
0
91 km
114 mi
• Iles du Salut—Surrounded by shark-infested waters, these three
isles, called Salvation Islands, are the site of the notorious Devil’s
Island penal colony, which once housed up to 2,000 prisoners in the
19th century. Visitors can tour the islands, known for ecotourism
and rare species of butterflies, on boat excursions departing from the
coastal town of Kourou, launch site of the Ariane missiles.
Nouvelle-Calédonie
Nouvelle-Calédonie (noo VEHL kah lay doh NEE)—or New
Caledonia (NOO kal ah DOAN yuh) in English—is a scenic island
group about 1,000 miles northeast of Sydney, Australia, south of the
equator and west of the international date line. It consists of one
mountainous main island, also called New Caledonia; the Iles
Loyauté (Loyalty Islands); the Iles Bélep (Belep Islands); the Ile
des Pins (Isle of Pines), which is known for its caves and grottoes;
and a few uninhabited islands.
©
Overseas Regions: Nouvelle-Calédonie
•
Part 2.63
Nouvelle-Calédonie
0
50 km
0
62 mi
Ile
s
Bé
le
p
Ouvéa
Lifou
es
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Il
ya
ut
Maré
é
G
r
Did you know?
Captain Cook named
the main island New
Caledonia because it
reminded him of
Scotland (Caledonia in
Latin). The island had
cannibals, so explorers
bypassed it until
France sent in soldiers
to protect explorers
and missionaries. From
1864 to 1897, it was a
French penal colony.
Lo
a
n
d
Nouméa
R
é
c
i
Ile des Pins
f
Several international airlines serve Nouméa on the main island of New
Caledonia. Approximate flight time from Los Angeles is 12 hours.
Domestic flights from Nouméa serve airfields elsewhere on the island
and some of the outer islands. For getting around New Caledonia,
there are taxis, buses, and rental cars.
Around Nouvelle-Calédonie: Attractions
Nouméa (noo MAY uh) is a busy small French colonial city with a
diverse ethnic population. Attractions here include Cathédrale StJoseph, a market, old colonial houses, and the Aquarium Municipal, a
center of marine scientific research. The Centre Culturel Tjibaou,
named for political leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou, showcases Melanesian
artifacts and the performing arts in stunning contemporary buildings.
The city offers dozens of restaurants, a varied nightlife, and boutiques
selling stylish French casual clothes.
The island is known for excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. New
Caledonia has a large barrier reef, Grand Récif, offering marine
Part 2.64
•
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reserves and shipwreck sites. Diving centers offering training and certification are abundant on both the main island and outlying islands.
Also popular are whale watching (July to September), windsurfing, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, golf, and boat trips in outrigger canoes.
The term Polynésie Française (French Polynesia) is applied to the
118 scattered French possessions in the South Pacific, all of which are
south of the equator and east of the international date line. For visitors,
the most important are the spectacularly beautiful Archipel de la
Société (Society Islands), which includes the islands of Tahiti,
Moorea, and Bora Bora.
While Polynesian history goes back at least 1,700 years, the European
period began during the active sea trade of the 18th century. In
1842, the French made the islands a protectorate; then in 1880 the
island group became the colony it is today. French is spoken
throughout the territory, although most people involved in the tourist
industry speak English.
French Polynesia offers some of the world’s best scuba diving, and dive
centers can be found on the major islands, including Tahiti, Moorea,
Archipel de la Société
0
AR
CH
IPE
50 km
LD
ES
MA
RQ
0
UIS
ES
62 mi
A
R
C
PACIFIC OCEAN
H
I
Tupai
P
E
L
D
E
Bora Bora
Vaitape
Pointe
Matira Tahaa
Raiatea
S
T
U
A
Huahine
M
O
T
Paopao
Haapiti
Moorea
Maiao
©
Mahina
U
Papeete
Tahiti
Overseas Regions: Polynésie Française
•
Part 2.65
Bora Bora, and others. Also popular are shark-feeding expeditions on
which visitors plunge into the water and hold onto a rope while a guide
opens a food bucket to attract the sharks.
Frequent international flights serve Papeete, the major city on Tahiti
and capital of the territory. Air Tahiti has daily interisland service connecting the Society Islands and less frequently to the Archipel des
Tuamotu (Tuamotu Archipelago) and the Archipel des Marquises
(Marquesas Archipelago). There is a daily ferry service that connects
Tahiti and Moorea. Cruise lines can offer sailing itineraries throughout
the Society Islands, and some include the Marquesas.
For getting around on Tahiti, Le Truck, a brightly painted open-sided
bus, goes all over the island.
Around Polynésie Française: Attractions
• Bora Bora—Located 161 miles northwest of Papeete, Bora Bora is a
lovely small volcanic island surrounded by a coral reef and a
turquoise lagoon. Most of the island’s stores, banks, and businesses
are in or near the town of Vaitape, while the finest beaches are along
the Pointe Matira (Matira Point) at the island’s southern tip. The
largely paved and level 20-mile road around the island makes it easy
to explore by bicycle. The island has an abundance of accommodations, ranging from budget to luxury.
• Moorea—Just 11 miles from Tahiti, heart-shaped Moorea (mo uh
RAY uh) is the relaxed South Seas isle of the travel brochures. The
island has dramatic scenery, volcanic peaks, mountainsides blanketed
by pineapple fields, picturesque bays, white-sand beaches, and a
range of resort accommodations. Tourism on Moorea is concentrated along the north coast around Paopao and Haapiti. Daytime
excursions usually visit the Vallée d’Opunohu (Opunohu Valley),
an ancient dwelling place uninhabited for centuries, with 500 structures including marae (open-air meeting houses), some of which
have been restored.
• Tahiti—The main city is Papeete (pah pay AY tay) on the northwest
side of the hourglass-shaped island between the mountains and the
sea. With more than 100,000 residents, it has French restaurants,
nightclubs, high-rise buildings, and duty-free shopping. The business
district rambles along the waterfront where food trucks, known as
Les Roulottes, offer inexpensive fare. The Musée de Tahiti et Ses
Iles (Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands) offers an overview of
Part 2.66
•
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history, culture, and the environment, while the Musée Paul
Gauguin exhibits reproductions by Gauguin, who created many of
his memorable works in Tahiti. Most accommodations are in the
Punaauia to Mahina strip outside the city.
Réunion
This volcanic island in the Indian Ocean, about 500 miles east of
Madagascar, draws hikers and trekkers to its dramatic mountainous
interior and steep gorges. The highest piton (peak) on the island is
Piton des Neiges at 10,066 feet, while Piton de la Fournaise is an
active volcano that last erupted in 1966. Mountain biking and water
sports are also popular activities as well as the Mafate, Cilaos, and
Salazie Circus.
Réunion (rhay yoon YOHN with nasal n), which has a diverse French,
African, Indian, Pakistani, and Chinese population, offers a lively
French Creole culture evident in its traditional dances, music, and spicy
cuisine. French is the official language, but the local Creole dialect is
more widely spoken. Few people on the island speak English. For
clients with an interest in hiking, the best time to visit Réunion is during the dry season, April through September. The island, which is
roughly the size of Rhode Island, offers a wide range of accommodations, from camping to upscale resorts.
Réunion
0
St-Denis
0
7 km
8.6 mi
• St-Gilles-les-Bains
Piton
des Neiges
Piton de la
Fournaise
INDIAN
OCEAN
©
Overseas Regions: Réunion
•
Part 2.67
There is direct flight service to Réunion from France, but most other
international flights to the island connect through the island of
Mauritius. For getting around the island, the Cars Jaunes serve most of
the major points.
Mayotte
Mayotte (Web site:
www.ctt.mayotte.free.fr) is
located in the Comoro
Islands 186 miles west of
Madagascar. From north to
south runs a chain of mountains with a coastline deeply
indented and small offshore
islands. A coral reef encloses
the world’s largest lagoon.
The capital city is Dzaoudzi.
The best way to reach
Mayotte is via Réunion or
Madagascar on Air Austral or
Air Madagascar.
Around Réunion: Attractions
• St-Denis—The attractive waterfront capital of the island offers a
taste of France in the Indian Ocean with its sidewalk cafés, elegant
Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), and stately Cathédrale de St-Denis.
The city is also known for impressive Creole mansions and the central market, the Grand Marché, the place to shop for handicrafts,
spices, and baskets.
• St-Gilles-les-Bains—The most popular beach resort area on the
island, St-Gilles-les-Bains (sahn with nasal n ZHEEL lay bahn with
nasal n) allows visitors their choice between white sandy beaches and
those of black volcanic sand. Packed with restaurants and hotels, the
main sightseeing attraction in town is the Musée de Villèle, the
home of a sugar baroness. Just inland from the town is a stunning
series of waterfalls and pools, which are excellent for swimming.
St-Pierre-et-Miquelon (St.-Pierre and Miquelon), a group of eight
small islands where the local economy has long been based on cod
fishing, is located just 15 miles south of Newfoundland and about 800
miles northeast of Boston. Despite their close proximity to Canada, the
islands have remained under French jurisdiction for more than 500
years. Some of the islands’ more colorful history is tied to smuggling,
most recently during the Prohibition era of the 1920s when
bootleggers from the United States found the islands an ideal place for
stashing liquor.
There is flight service to St.-Pierre and Miquelon from Montreal,
Quebec, and from Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia. Air and ferry service connect the two major islands, Miquelon and St.-Pierre.
Part 2.68
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Miquelon
Miquelon
St-Pierre-etMiquelon
0
3 km
Grand Barachois
0
3.8 mi
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
Langlade
Grande Colombier
Ile aux Pigeons
Ile aux Vainqueurs
St-Pierre
•
Ile aux Marins
St-Pierre
Around St-Pierre-et-Miquelon: Attractions
• Ile aux Marins—The island, named for the marins (meaning
sailors), is primarily comprised of restored sites dedicated to a long
history as a fishing community. Among the attractions are a wooden
church with an inverted hull-shaped vault and a history museum.
• Miquelon—The largest island in the group, Miquelon offers a small
village inhabited mostly by the descendants of Basque and Acadian
settlers. Here is where the island’s hotels and restaurants are concentrated. The main church, Notre-Dame-des-Ardilliers, was largely
built from wrecked sailing ships. To the south of town is Grand
Barachois, a protected lagoon that is a habitat for seals and a wide
variety of bird species. Miquelon is connected by a sand dune to the
island of Langlade, largely the domain of summer holiday cottages
and small farms.
• St.-Pierre—St.-Pierre is not only the name of the island, but it is
also the largest town in the island group. The harbor is lined with
colorful houses, small shops, and cafés. Sightseeing attractions
include the Pointe aux Canons, a historic lighthouse, and the
Musée Arche with exhibits on island history and culture.
©
Overseas Regions: St-Pierre-et-Miquelon
•
Part 2.69
Pronunciation Guide
Part 2.70
•
Basse-Terre
bahs TAIR
Cayenne
kai YEN
Gosier
goh zee AY
Guadeloupe
ghwah duh LOOP
Marigot
mah rhee GOH
Martinique
mahr tih NEEK
Moorea
mo uh RAY uh
New Caledonia
NOO kal ah DOAN yuh
Nouméa
noo MAY uh
Nouvelle-Calédonie
noo VEHL kah lay doh NEE
Papeete
pah pay AY tay
Pointe-à-Pitre
pwahnt uh PEE treh
Réunion
rhay yoon YOHN with nasal n
St-Gilles-les-Bains
sahn with nasal n ZHEEL lay bahn
with nasal n
St-Martin
sahn with nasal n mahr TAHN
with nasal n
Sint Maarten
sint MAR tin
La Soufrière
lah soo free AYR
©
UNITED KINGDOM
BELGIUM
GERMANY
English Channel
LUX.
Channel
Islands (U.K.)
SWITZ.
ITALY
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Bay of Biscay
MONACO
Gulf of Lion
ANDORRA
SPAIN
Part 2.72
•
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
CORSE
©
Selling France
What’s Special About France?
• Cultural Capital—There is only one Paris and France has it. For
many visitors, the City of Light simply has no equal.
Maison de
la France/D
aniel Faure
• Great Cuisine—Dining in France—in either a humble bistro
or a three-star restaurant—is an experience not to be missed.
Especially delightful is the chance to try the many specialties
of the various regions. Whether it is fresh oysters or orchard
fruits, the French prize local ingredients in season and
make magic with them.
• Fine Wine—The world’s most renowned producer of
wine, France offers many opportunities to sample varieties that may not even be available in the United States.
Regions such as Bourgogne (Burgundy), ChampagneArdenne, Centre Val de Loire (Loire Valley), and the
Bordeaux area of Aquitaine are wonderful places to
learn about and enjoy the fruits of the vine.
Wine a
nd dine
• Art—France not only spawned many of the great artists of the past
several centuries, but it offers a wealth of superb museums in which
to admire their work. Fine museums are not confined to Paris; they
also abound in provincial cities and towns throughout the country.
Visitors can also enjoy some of the actual sites, including Monet’s
gardens at Giverny, which inspired many famous artistic works.
• Architecture—France is a paradise for architecture enthusiasts, with
everything from majestic Gothic cathedrals to the ultramodern
structures designed by Le Corbusier. There is a period and style to
intrigue just about everyone.
• Heavenly Treasures—The many great cathedrals, churches, abbeys,
and basilicas of France are not only noteworthy for their external
beauty, but they house some of the country’s greatest works of art.
Medieval sculpture, magnificent wall paintings, carved screens, and
brilliant stained-glass windows make them veritable museums.
• Grand Palaces—The aristocracy of France spared no expense to
create the elegant châteaux, which grace the countryside in such
©
Selling France: What’s Special About France?
•
Part 2.73
regions as the Ile-de-France and the Centre Val de Loire
(Loire Valley).
• Perched Villages—Capping some of the steepest hillsides in the
nation are numerous tiny villages built of stone and protected by
ancient ramparts, each one a fascinating, timeless world to explore.
• Alpine Sports—The French Alps offer some of the largest and most
renowned ski areas in the world, along with opportunities for lake
cruising, hiking, mountain biking, and other active pursuits.
• Mediterranean Idyll—Southeast France, with its balmy climate,
glorious light, ultrachic resorts, and quaint villages, has an aura all
its own.
• Prehistoric Legacy—The fascinating cave paintings and prehistoric
shelters, especially prevalent in Southwest France, are vivid illustrations of human habitation dating back many thousands of years.
• Something to Celebrate—Whether celebrating local
traditions or international art and music, festivals in France are
some of the best in the world. Almost any time of year is
festival time in some corner of the country.
• Fashion Statement—Paris is the fashion capital of the
world. This is the place to see what the rest of the world will
be wearing in six months.
e
ubert Camill
la France/H
Maison de
la
Fête de
sance
Renais
• Exquisite Craftsmanship—Some of the world’s finest
porcelain is manufactured in Limoges. The town of
Baccarat in Lorraine is equally synonymous with fine
crystal. Also highly sought after by collectors are crystal
pieces manufactured by Lalique and the charming
earthenware pottery known as Quimper.
• Sensational Scents—France makes many of the world’s finest perfumes, with some of the most famous perfume manufacturers headquartered in Paris. The town of Grasse in southern France, which
boasts 40 or so perfumeries, offers clients a rare chance to see how
perfume is made.
Cruise Call
On sea cruises, stops in France are most frequently included during
itineraries on the western Mediterranean. Several cruise companies offer
7- to 10-day cruises disembarking in France, Italy, and Spain, with
Part 2.74
•
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ports of call that include Cannes, Marseille, Monte-Carlo, Nice,
St-Tropez, Sète, and Villefranche-sur-Mer. Some also call at ports in
Corse (Corsica), including Ajaccio and Calvi. Such stops usually include
just enough time for a day tour of the city or the surrounding area. Less
frequently available are cruises between Lisbon and London that make a
call or two along the west coast of France. Ports of call here most typically include Bordeaux and St-Jean-de-Luz in Aquitaine, St-Malo, and
Brest in Bretagne (Brittany), and Le Havre and Rouen in Normandie
(Normandy). Itineraries are found in such publications as the
Official Cruise Guide and individual cruise line brochures.
In contrast to sea cruises, which offer only a brief glimpse of
France’s outer edges, canal and river cruises give visitors the
chance to take a leisurely journey into the heart of the
country. With more than 6,000 miles of navigable rivers and
canals, traveling through the countryside by water is possible
in just about every region.
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▲
While clients can charter their own houseboats or other
Maison de
la France/J
vessels, the most luxurious options are the many allCanal c
acques Gu
illard
ruise at
Strasbo
inclusive cruises available on hotel barges. Most of these
urg
feature small but comfortable cabins, private bathrooms,
viewing decks, hot tubs, lounges, and gourmet meal service that
includes a buffet lunch and a multicourse dinner with wine. They travel
at speeds so slow that it is often possible for passengers to keep up with
▲▲▲▲
the barge by walking or cycling on paths alongside the canal. Just as
▲▲
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▲
ocean cruise lines do, barge cruise companies offer shore excursions.
▲
Hotel barges are usually low-key in nature and offer the chance to visit
local abbeys, châteaux, markets, picturesque villages, and wineries.
Did you know?
Bourgogne (Burgundy), where there are 750 miles of navigable waterways, is noted for its barge cruises. Elsewhere in Eastern France, the
regions of Alsace, Champagne-Ardenne, Franche-Comté, and Lorraine
also offer extensive networks of rivers and canals that connect many
major towns. In Southwest France, popular cruising areas include the
Lot River and the Canal du Midi, which flows about 150 miles from
Toulouse to the Mediterranean. Brittany and the Centre Val de Loire
(Loire Valley) also have barge cruises.
Sales Strategies
Although relatively small in size when compared to the United States,
France is so rich in history and culture that it would take countless trips
to explore it all in any kind of depth. Ideally, your clients will be so
enchanted with their first visit that they will want to come back again
and again.
©
An intriguing feature of
canal cruises is the
locks that barges pass
through at frequent
intervals. Engineering
marvels often built
during the 18th and
19th centuries, locks
enable the canal to rise
or descend according
to the topography.
Surrounding many locks
are the homes of the
lockkeepers, often
pretty houses with
manicured gardens.
Selling France: Sales Strategies
•
Part 2.75
For first-time visitors, the best itinerary may be one that is split between
Paris and one other region. While based in Paris, they can also take
advantage of the many day tours available to major sites not far from the
capital, including Chartres, Giverny, the Loire Valley, and Versailles.
There is so much to see and do in Paris that at least a week is necessary
to skim the surface. That said, many Americans only have a week to
travel, and the majority stay only three to five days, especially if they are
combining Paris with another part of the country. Even on an organized
tour itinerary, one does not usually see a one-week stay in Paris.
What other region or regions to explore on a first trip should
be based on what most interests your clients. Wine lovers will
enjoy exploring the fabled vineyards of Burgundy and
Bordeaux, while those who love sun and beach resorts will
especially enjoy the Côte d’Azur (French Riviera) or the coast
of the Aquitaine region. If time is limited, clients can use a
provincial capital such as Nice or Dijon as a base and make
day trips by car or train to the nearby points of interest.
Repeat visitors may want to spend less time in Paris
(although bypassing it altogether is unthinkable for many)
and zero in on a region that they have not yet discovered. Again, determining their interests and preferences
will help determine where they should go. And the characteristics of
the regions may not be the only factors to consider. For instance, if
clients love staying in historic châteaux, then it may be best to create an
itinerary combining the best of these properties in several regions. If
they have been to France several times and want a completely different
way to experience it, then an option such as a barge cruise or cycling
tour may be in order.
nski
ques Sierpi
France /Jac
la
de
n
so
Mai
Nice
As one of the world’s leading tourist destinations, France is served by a
wide spectrum of wholesalers who offer tours and customized travel to
suit just about every taste. These providers work with many levels and
styles of accommodations and offer a myriad of ways to explore each
region. Once you have determined what your clientele wants to explore
and how they want to go about it, there is no lack of resources to make
it happen.
Despite the fact that most Americans who visit France have a deep
affection for the country, negative stereotypes about the country still
persist, primarily among people who have never been there. Some travelers fear that they will be treated rudely, especially in Paris, if they
speak little or no French. Others believe that dining out in French
restaurants is prohibitively expensive. Here are a few ways to counteract
these fears.
Part 2.76
•
©
• Rudeness—Contrary to popular belief, the French, including
Parisians, are not at all rude to most American tourists. If visitors
make just the smallest effort to be polite, such as greeting a shopkeeper or waiter with a friendly “Bonjour,” they will be treated in
kind. It is only those who live up to the stereotype of the loud and
brash “ugly American” who get the reception they deserve.
• Expensive Dining—One of the great pleasures of visiting this
country is the chance to enjoy wonderful French food at
affordable prices. While it is possible to pay stratospheric bills
in the grand restaurants, many bistros and brasseries, even in
Paris, offer multicourse meals for much less than what the
equivalent would cost in the United States. In addition, a
wealth of delicatessens, bakeries, and food markets offer
the chance to create a gourmet picnic for very little
money. Similarly, France offers opportunities to sample
wonderful wines, many of which are never exported, at
reasonable prices. As is true in every country, the less
expensive cafés and restaurants are usually outside the
immediate tourist areas. And the food is often better.
Maison de
la France/H
ubert Camill
e
• Language Barrier—English is widely spoken in Paris, and many
restaurants have English menus available. The best tactic, however, is
not to just begin a conversation in English. If visitors instead start
with “Parlez-vous anglais?” (Can you speak English?), most Parisians
will be as helpful as they can. Contrary to popular belief, the French
do not disdain visitors’ attempts to speak French, no matter how feeble, but really appreciate even the smallest effort. Although English
is less likely to be spoken outside Paris, most young people throughout France study English in school and know at least a little.
A café
in Paris
Itinerary Planning
and Sample Itineraries
The biggest challenge in planning an itinerary in France is to pack
everything in that clients will want to see. If time is limited, there is the
danger of their trying to see too much without really seeing anything
in enough depth. Rather than have your customers travel from one end
of the country to the other, it is best to choose a region and stick
within it as much as possible. For most tours, Paris is the logical departure point as it offers high-speed train service to all the various regions.
A word about booking accommodations: Except for Paris and the
French Riviera, many hotels are small, and even the most deluxe may
be only 10 or 12 rooms. Therefore, itineraries in tourist brochures are
©
Selling France: Itinerary Planning and Sample Itineraries
•
Part 2.77
often based on hotels that can accommodate a group of 20 to 30.
Other locations might be more convenient—or more interesting—for
the individual traveler.
The following pages present a combination of multiregion as well as
more in-depth single-region sample itineraries. The multiregion itineraries are circle trips whereas the in-depth single-region itineraries are
not. You may encounter places on the in-depth itineraries that have not
been treated separately in the text. You might want to combine regions
that seem to go well together:
Bourgogne (Burgundy) and Champagne-Ardenne
Lorraine and Alsace
Côte d’Azur (French Riviera) and Provence
Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon
Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrénées
Normandie (Normandy) and Centre Val de Loire (Loire Valley)
Bretagne (Brittany) and Pays de la Loire (Western Loire)
Nord Pas-de-Calais and Picardie (Picardy)
UNITED KINGDOM
BELGIUM
GERMANY
NORD PASDE-CALAIS
English Channel
LUX.
PICARDIE
LORRAINE
Channel
Islands (U.K.)
NORMANDIE
Paris
ILE-DEFRANCE
ALSACE
CHAMPAGNEARDENNE
BRETAGNE
CENTRE
VAL DE LOIRE
PAYS DE
LA LOIRE
BOURGOGNE
FRANCHECOMTE
SWITZ.
POITOUCHARENTES
LIMOUSIN
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Bay of Biscay
AUVERGNE
AQUITAINE
RHONE-ALPES
ITALY
RIVIERA
PROVENCE- COTE D’AZUR
MIDI-PYRENEES LANGUEDOCALPESROUSSILLON COTE D’AZUR
MONACO
Gulf of Lion
ANDORRA
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
SPAIN
CORSE
Part 2.78
•
©
Sample Itinerary:
(7 days)
This itinerary allows visitors to be
based in Paris while taking the
many available coach day tours to
points of interest outside the city.
café such as Les Deux Magots or
the Café de Flore. On the Rive
Droite (Right Bank), visit the elegant Place des Vosges and shop in
the gourmet food stores around
Place de la Madeleine. Take a dinner cruise on the Seine River.
Day 4
Day 1
Arrive in Paris, transfer to hotel.
The balance of the day at leisure,
perhaps including a walk along the
rue de Rivoli or through the Jardin
des Tuileries, the oldest and loveliest public gardens in the city.
Dinner at a bistro.
Day trip from Paris, including morning visit to the state apartments at
Versailles and an afternoon visit to
the magnificent cathedral in
Chartres. Or take a full-day tour of
Versailles, where the afternoon can
be spent walking the exquisite
grounds.
Day 5
Morning at leisure in Paris, followed by an afternoon guided tour
of Monet’s home and gardens at
Giverny. Or take a full-day tour
combining Giverny with the charming village of Auvers-sur-Oise,
where van Gogh lived and worked.
Maison de la France/Robion
Cruising past Musée d’Orsay
Day 2
Morning orientation coach tour of
Paris, including such highlights as
the Champs-Elysées, Arc de
Triomphe, and the Tour Eiffel.
Afternoon free to shop or explore
sights such as the Musée du
Louvre or Musée d’Orsay. Evening
ballet performance at the Opéra
Garnier or a revue at the Moulin
Rouge nightclub.
Day 3
Sightseeing in Paris. Visit the
Cathédrale de Notre-Dame and
nearby Ste-Chapelle, followed by a
walking tour of the Ile St-Louis and
seeing the 17th-century architecture. Or explore the Rive Gauche
(Left Bank), browsing in the exquisite small shops and stopping at a
©
Day 6
Sightseeing and shopping in Paris.
Dinner at a bistro, followed by visit
to a jazz club or concert at SteChapelle.
Sample Itinerary:
In-depth (6 days)
This itinerary is based in Beaune or
Dijon, or in the countryside nearby.
Day 1
Explore the city of Beaune, an
ancient town rich in history, art, and
architecture. From the Gauls to the
Romans to the Dukes of Burgundy,
Beaune stood at the center of their
world. Visit the Hôtel-Dieu des
Hospices de Beaune, founded in
1443 to care for the needy; visit
the museum housing Rogier van
der Weyden’s famous polyptych the
Last Judgment; and tour the
ramparts of the city.
Day 2
Explore some of the nearby wine
villages along the Côte-de-Beaune,
set among the hillsides of vineyards. Include a visit to the
Château of Commarin, regarded as
one of the finest in Burgundy, and
the hilltop village of Châteauneuf,
with its own majestic castle and
eagle’s nest setting, before returning to Beaune.
Day 3
Day 7
Full-day coach tour to ChampagneArdenne region includes a morning
visit to Reims for sightseeing, a
tour of a famous champagne cellar
such as Piper-Heidsieck, and lunch.
Afternoon drive through the vineyards to Epernay to tour the champagne cellar of Moët & Chandon.
Or take a coach tour through the
Centre Val de Loire (Loire Valley),
with guided tours of the châteaux
of Blois, Chenonceau, Cheverny,
and Chambord.
In the 11th century, King Robert
bought the city of Dijon and made
it the capital of the duchy of
Burgundy. The Dukes of Burgundy
rivaled—and surpassed—the king of
France. “Burgundy” once encompassed Holland, Belgium,
Luxembourg, and much of today’s
northern France. Its seat of power
was Dijon. Today explore medieval
Dijon, with its ducal palace and the
Musée des Beaux-Arts, one of
Europe’s finest art museums.
(continued on next page)
•
Part 2.79
Day 4
A religious revival in the 11th
century led to the establishment of
the great monastic orders, whose
influence and wealth radiated from
Cîteaux, Cluny, Fontenay, Pontigny,
and Vézelay and played a central
role in Western civilization. Visit the
Cistercian Abbaye de Fontenay,
founded in 1118 by Saint Bernard
and one of the best preserved of
its kind. Continue to Vézelay, a
major pilgrimage site in the Middle
Ages, to visit Basilique de SteMadeleine, renowned for housing
the relics of St. Mary Magdalene,
and a special stop on the route to
Santiago de Compostela. It was
here that St. Bernard preached the
Second Crusade. The basilica is
classified by UNESCO as a World
Heritage Site.
ecclesiastical treasures. Continue
to the medieval town of Joigny,
which preserves half-timbered
houses and an historic aspect, and
then to Auxerre with winding
medieval streets, the magnificent
Cathédrale St-Etienne, Tour de
l’Horloge, and the oldest
Carolingian wall paintings in France,
winding medieval streets, and a
magnificent cathedral.
Spend the day visiting the city’s
many fine art museums, especially
those devoted to Art Nouveau
design, which originated in Nancy.
If desired, make a trip to the
nearby village of Baccarat to visit
the crystal factory and museum.
Maison de la France/Daniel Thierry
Day 5
Day 6
Spend a day exploring western
Burgundy, with the city of Sens,
once the capital of a Gallo-Roman
province and then the seat of the
archbishopric—the Cathédrale de
St-Etienne was one of the first
built of the Gothic cathedrals and
is rich in stained glass and
Part 2.80
•
Travel to Nancy, stopping for lunch
and sightseeing in Metz, a multicultural city with noteworthy
Cathédrale St-Etienne and Musée
d’Art et d’Histoire. Late-afternoon
arrival in Nancy, the capital of the
Lorraine region. Make an evening
visit to Place Stanislas, where the
fabulous rococo fountains and gilded ironwork are illuminated at
night.
Day 4
Auxerre
Explore the current religion of
Burgundy, the wines and vines for
which it is justly famous throughout
the world. Visit the famous grands
crus villages of the Côte-de-Nuits,
following the “Route des Grands
Crus.” Stop in the village of
Vougeot to see the historic
Château du Clos de Vougeot,
which housed the wine-making
facilities of the Cistercian monks
from the 12th century until the
French Revolution. It is best to call
ahead for winery visits, especially
at the best-known vineyards.
Day 3
Sample Itinerary:
Highlights of Eastern
France (7 days)
Day 1
Early-morning transfer from Paris
to Reims. Tour the historic sights,
including the renowned cathedral,
and visit one or two of the famous
champagne cellars for a tasting
and a tour.
Day 2
Travel north to Charleville-Mézières,
a charming town on the banks of
the Meuse River known for its
Institute of Marionettes and shows.
Enjoy lunch and continue to Verdun
to explore this historic city and the
nearby World War I battle sites.
Day 5
Travel east from Nancy to
Strasbourg, spending most of the
day visiting sights such as the
majestic Gothic Cathédrale NotreDame and Parlement Européen.
Walk along the canals of La Petite
France historic district. Enjoy an
Alsatian dinner of sauerkraut and
smoked meats at a local restaurant
or winstub (wine room).
Day 6
Tour the Routes des Vins d’Alsace,
which starts southwest of
Strasbourg and meanders for 80
miles along the Vosges Mountains.
Sample the crisp white wines at
local cellars and explore charming
medieval villages such as
Kaysersberg and Riquewihr.
Day 7
Morning sightseeing in Strasbourg,
followed by afternoon train transfer
to Paris.
©
Sample Itinerary:
Exploring Rhône-Alpes
(7 days)
Day 1
Early-morning transfer from Paris
to Lyon. Afternoon of sightseeing,
including a funicular ride to the top
of Fourvière hill for spectacular
views of the city. Visit museums
and walk around the Place
Bellecour, one of the largest and
most elegant public squares in
Europe. Enjoy dinner at one of the
city’s famous gourmet restaurants.
An alternative to the starred
Michelin restaurants is dinner in a
bouchon, the Lyonnais version of a
bistro, to sample local cuisine and
specialties.
Day 2
Morning sightseeing in Lyon.
Afternoon excursion to Pérouges, a
remarkably well-preserved
medieval village northeast of the
city known for its craft galleries.
Day 5
Day 3
Spend the day in Chamonix enjoying the mountain scenery, including
nearby Mont Blanc, the highest
peak in France. Take a cable-car
ride up the Aiguille du Midi, an icy
spire looming above glaciers, or
take the cog railway to the Mer de
Glace, the second-largest glacier in
the Alps.
Drive from Nice to Aix-enProvence, stopping to explore the
fountains, shaded squares, and
museums. Continue on to Arles,
home base for the next two nights.
Day 6
Travel southwest through the Alps
to Grenoble, stopping for lunch in
Chambéry, an historic town with
the magnificent 14th-century
Château des Ducs de Savoie and
Grand Carillon. In Grenoble, take
the gondola to the top of the Fort
de la Bastille for views of the city
and environs.
Day 4
Morning sightseeing in Arles, followed by a short drive to Avignon
to explore its important medieval
landmarks, including the Palais des
Popes. Return to Arles.
Day 7
Morning sightseeing of museums
and historic quarter of Grenoble.
Afternoon train transfer to Paris.
Maison de la France/Nicole Lejeune
Pont du Gard
Day 5
Day 3
Spend a day touring the Pays
Beaujolais, which is north of Lyon
and is famous for its young red
wines. Visit a wine museum such
as the Hameau en Beaujolais in
the village of Romanèche-Thorins.
Sample Itinerary:
Highlights of Southeast
and Southwest France
(10 days)
Day 1
Day 4
Travel east through the spectacular
French Alps, stopping for lunch and
sightseeing in the lakeside town of
Annecy. Enjoy the lake, canals,
cobbled streets, and historic district. Continue to the chic mountain
resort of Chamonix.
©
Transfer to Nice, regional capital of
the Côte d’Azur. Spend afternoon
exploring the city’s historic district
and visit the famous flower market.
Stay in Nice for next two nights.
Day 2
Journey eastward from Nice along
the coast to the principality of
Monaco, enjoying the thrilling seaside views. Explore Monte-Carlo
and have lunch in a local restaurant. Return to Nice in the late
afternoon.
Depart Arles for a drive into
Languedoc-Roussillon, stopping in
Nîmes to explore the city’s Roman
ruins and the nearby Pont du Gard,
an amazing Roman aqueduct spanning the Gard River. Late-afternoon
arrival in the medieval walled city of
Carcassonne for a two-night stay.
Day 6
Spend the morning exploring the
fascinating ramparts and maze of
narrow streets winding through the
old city of Carcassonne. Take an
afternoon boating excursion along
the Canal du Midi.
•
Part 2.81
Day 7
Travel through the scenic mountains
from Carcassonne to Albi in the MidiPyrénées region. Explore Albi’s
fortresslike Cathédrale Ste-Cécile
and its museum devoted to the work
of native son Toulouse-Lautrec. Stay
overnight in Albi or nearby, home
base for the next two nights.
Sample Itinerary: Côte
d’Azur (French Riviera) and
Beyond In-depth (6 days)
This itinerary is based in Nice or
the surrounding area.
Day 1
Begin in Nice, the capital of the
region and a city rich in history, art,
and culture. Visit the colorful market at the Cours Saleya with its
produce and Provençal spices,
stroll the Promenade des Anglais,
explore Vieux Nice, with its Italian
flavor (Nice was once part of Italy).
Then choose from among the
wealth of Nice’s museums.
Day 2
Drawing by Toulouse-Lautrec
Day 8
Travel over scenic back roads to the
village of Rocamadour, an important
pilgrimage site perched on a cliff
above the Alzou River. Visit the village’s Chapelle Notre-Dame with
the Black Madonna statue and the
Grotte des Merveilles, a stalactite
cave with prehistoric paintings.
After lunch, enjoy the scenic landscape along the Dordogne River.
Return to Albi area.
Day 9
Drive from the Albi area into the
Bordeaux wine region, stopping at
the historic winegrowing village of
Saint-Emilion for lunch. Arrive in
Bordeaux, regional capital of
Aquitaine, in late afternoon.
Day 10
Morning sightseeing in Bordeaux,
afternoon transfer by high-speed
train to Paris.
Part 2.82
•
The most glamorous spot on the
Côte d’Azur is, without a doubt,
Monte-Carlo. The dizzying ride
along the Grande Corniche, or the
slightly less daring route of the
Moyenne Corniche, leads into
Monaco through some of the best
views along the coast. Once there,
visit the Palais Princier, Musée
Océanographique et Aquarium,
Jardin Exotique, and, of course, the
Casino de Monte-Carlo. Return to
Nice by way of Eze, one of the
best-known and most characteristic perched villages.
Day 3
Follow the coast westward to
Antibes, with the Château Grimaldi
housing the Musée Picasso, then
turn inland and climb to St-Paulde-Vence, a perched village “discovered” in the 1920s by a group
of struggling artists who met in a
local café. The café evolved into
the very posh Colombe d’Or, whose
walls are now adorned with the
works of those now-famous
painters. St-Paul-de-Vence is also
home to the Fondation Maeght, a
striking modern art museum with
very fine collections. Continue to
Vence, to visit the Chapelle du
Rosaire designed by Matisse and
complete a day full of artistic
wealth.
Day 4
Follow the coast again, this time to
Cannes, the site of the famous
International Film Festival. Stroll La
Croisette and enjoy the lovely setting, as well as the Vieux Port.
Continue to Saint-Tropez, once a
sleepy fishing village and now a
full-fledged resort. Enjoy the
beaches or the surrounding countryside before circling back toward
Nice via Grasse, the perfume capital of the French Riviera. Here travelers may visit some of the perfume factories, the Musée
International de la Parfumerie, or
just enjoy the flower market.
Day 5
For a truly idyllic day, take a boat
ride to the Iles d’Hyères—also
called the Golden Isles. The largest,
the Ile de Porquerolles, is easily
accessible, and bikes can be
rented to explore the island. Return
via the dramatic Esterel coast, with
its red-rock coastline.
Day 6
Beyond the well-known coastline
lies a more hidden south—sample
these treasures by visiting Peillon,
one of the French Riviera’s spectacular villages, with its frescoadorned chapel, or follow part of
the Route Napoléon—Napoléon’s
march on his return from Elbe—
through the mountains as far as
Digne-les-Bains for a different view
of the region.
©
Sample Itinerary: Provence
In-depth (7 days)
This itinerary could be based in
Avignon, Arles, Nîmes, or even Aixen-Provence.
Day 1
Spend the day in Nîmes, a charming and lively city just west of
Provence, best known for its outstanding Roman ruins. Visit the
nearby Pont du Gard and one of
the colorful markets (the Saturday
market in Uzès, for example).
Day 2
Explore the papal city of Avignon,
then continue on to the charming
village of St-Rémy-de-Provence,
birthplace of Nostradamus and
home to van Gogh towards the end
of his life. Visit the remains of the
Roman settlement of Glanum, then
continue to Les Baux-deProvence.
Day 3
Visit Orange, famous for its Roman
monuments, followed by a stop in
Châteauneuf-du-Pape for wine
tasting. Continue on to Gordes, a
beautiful perched village;
Roussillon, famous for its red-ocher
setting; and Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.
Spend a day exploring the wild and
lovely countryside of the Camargue, the largest wetland area in
Europe, home of wild horses, bulls,
flamingos, and the French answer
to cowboys—the gardiens.
killed by Nazis in June of 1944.
From here, continue eastward to
another village famous for its
craftsmanship—Aubusson, known
for centuries for its tapestries.
Some studios and workshops can
be visited, or stop at the Musée
Départemental de la Tapisserie.
Continue to Clermont-Ferrand, the
capital of the Auvergne region.
Day 7
Day 4
Explore the coast of Provence, the
fishing village of Cassis, take a boat
ride on the fjordlike calanques, and
sample the wine in Bandol.
The Parc Naturel Régional des
Volcans d’Auvergne stretches for
thousands of acres in the area
near Clermont-Ferrand and is the
largest such park in France. Take
time to hike or at least walk a part
of the region, including Puy-deDôme, the highest and oldest of
these extinct volcano cones. Climb
or ride to the summit and have an
eagle’s-eye view as far as Mont
Blanc.
the season, it is possible to tour
the lavender distilleries.
Day 6
Sample Itinerary: Heart of
France—Poitou-Charentes,
Limousin, and Auvergne
(6 days)
Day 1
Transfer by train from Paris to
Poitiers for late-morning arrival.
Afternoon sightseeing of the city’s
museums and historic churches,
including the pilgrim church of
Cathédrale Notre-Dame-la-Grande
and the twin-towered Cathédrale
St-Pierre.
Day 2
Day 4
Today head for Aix-en-Provence,
traveling via Arles, with its Roman
ruins and associations with van
Gogh, and Salon-de-Provence.
Day 5
Take a morning walking tour in the
footsteps of Cézanne, or visit his
favorite subject, the Mont SaintVictoire. Then explore the
countryside and hilltop villages of
the Luberon and fields of lavender
and almond trees. Depending on
©
Travel south through the
countryside of the PoitouCharentes region for a visit to the
village of Cognac, where the great
cognac distilleries are located.
Enjoy lunch and a tour and tasting
at a distillery. Continue east to
Limoges for sightseeing, visit a
porcelain factory, and overnight.
Day 3
Near Limoges are the remains of
the village of Oradour-sur-Glane;
nearly all of its inhabitants were
Day 5
Today visit Le Puy-en-Velay, 80
miles southeast of ClermontFerrand. It is one of the most dramatic sights in France—with three
peaks, each topped with a church
or statue. A pilgrimage site on the
route to Santiago de Compostela,
the Cathédrale Notre-Dame holds
the Black Madonna of Auvergne.
Those who wish can take the long
climb up to the Chapelle St-Micheld’Aiguilhe.
Day 6
Today return to Poitiers, with a
drive through Vichy, known worldwide for its waters and luxurious
spa, and on through Bourges, with
the splendid Cathédrale St-Etienne
and Palais Jacques Coeur, the
15th-century house of the finance
minister of Charles VII. Coeur was
once the richest man in France.
•
Part 2.83
Sample Itinerary:
Bordeaux and Dordogne
In-depth (6 days)
This itinerary is based in the city of
Bordeaux or Saint-Emilion, followed by the Sarlat-la-Canéda
area—town or countryside. Some of
the nicest and most interesting
hotels are located in the smaller
towns or in the country. This is also
a great area for house rentals.
Day 1
Arrive in Bordeaux and spend the
remainder of the day visiting the
city, with a heritage of 18th-century
architecture and a lively center.
Day 2
Visit Saint-Emilion, the charming
medieval wine village, with 13thcentury ramparts and church dug
out of a cliff. Visit some of the local
wineries and taste—but remember
to make reservations if clients want
to see some of the best-known
names.
Day 4
Spend the day focusing on prehistory in an area full of caves and
ancient sites. The day could include
a visit to Lascaux II, the prehistory
center at Les Eyzies-de-TayacSireuil, Le Thot Espace CroMagnon, and/or other caves in the
region, such as Font-de-Gaume or
Grotte de Rouffignac, famous for
its drawings of mammoths. Clients
might also visit La Roque StChristophe, a prehistoric troglodyte
site.
Day 5
Journey eastward to Rocamadour,
a spectacular pilgrimage site since
the Middle Ages, with an abbey
perched on the shoulders of the
village. Go early (Rocamadour is
one of the most visited sites in
France), and then spend the day
exploring a circle of “most beautiful
villages,” including Saint-CirqLapopie, Collonges-la-Rouge, and
Day 3
Head for the Dordogne Valley—
driving along the river, clients will
see castles with increasing frequency. Spend part of the day visiting Sarlat-la-Canéda, the first town
restored under Malraux’s initiative.
Stroll the old town, with its
medieval and Renassiance architecture and its charming small
streets. Continue to La RoqueGageac, a village built into a cliff
overlooking the Dordogne and one
of the “most beautiful villages” in
France.
Part 2.84
•
Sample Itinerary:
Highlights of Western
France—Normandie
(Normandy), Bretagne
(Brittany) and Centre Val
de Loire (Loire Valley)
(10 days)
Day 1
Transfer from Paris to Rouen,
regional capital of Normandy.
Spend remainder of the day sightseeing, visiting the renowned
cathedral and the sites associated
with Joan of Arc. Drive to Caen or
Bayeux, or the surrounding countryside, which will be home base
for the next two nights, stopping en
route at the picturesque harbor
town of Honfleur.
Day 2
Spend the morning touring the
World War II landing sites along the
D-Day coast, including Omaha
Beach and the American Military
Cemetery. In the afternoon, visit the
medieval city of Bayeux and the
famous 11th-century Bayeux
Tapestry, with 58 panels chronicling
the story of William the Conqueror.
Day 3
Maison de la France/Hubert Camille
Carennac
Carennac, each different but lovely.
Day 6
Castles and bastide towns are the
two major forms of public building
in the region. Pick a castle—or several. Beynac and Cazenac, facing
each other across the river, are
striking. For bastide towns, try
Domme.
Travel to and tour the famous
Mont-Saint-Michel and its abbey
perched above the sea on an
island rock. Continue on through
bayside villages to the medieval
Breton port of Saint-Malo, home
base for the next two nights.
Day 4
Cross the Rance Estuary, which
flows into the English Channel.
Explore the scenic estuary and tiny
villages along the road to Dinan.
Explore the quaint streets of Dinan
before returning to St-Malo for a
relaxing afternoon.
©
Day 5
Drive along the Breton coast to
Cap Fréhel, then head south to
Josselin, a town known for its
medieval architecture and puppet
museum. Arrive in Quimper or
Concarneau, home base for the
next three nights.
Day 6
Travel to Quimper, stopping in
Carnac to explore the prehistoric
megaliths. Enjoy lunch and sightseeing in the attractive market
town of Quimper, known for its
earthenware pottery. On the way
back, stop at Pont-Aven, a picturesque town that inspired
Gauguin and other artists.
Sample Itinerary:
In-depth (6 days)
Day 1
If starting in Paris, stop on the way
north to visit Giverny, Monet’s home
and garden, as well as the Musée
d’Art Américain with its fine collection. Continue to Rouen, see the
cathedral painted so many times by
Monet, and experience the historic
associations with Joan of Arc.
Spend some time exploring the city
and its rich heritage.
Day 7
Travel by ferry out to the offshore
island of Belle-Ile-en-Mer, spending
a day exploring its ramparts, walkways, and lovely landscape.
Day 8
Day 9
Tour the surrounding château
country, including the 16th-century
Château de Chenonceau, with a
long gallery spanning the Cher
River, and the magnificent Château
de Villandry, famous for its geometric gardens.
Day 10
Transfer by train to Paris.
©
Day 4
Continue to Bayeux to see the
Bayeux Tapestry, an amazing work
made in 1077, chronicling another
dramatic invasion many centuries
earlier, that of William the
Conqueror. Bayeux itself is one of
the few towns not heavily damaged
in World War II, and its medieval
center is worth a visit.
Day 5
Maison de la France/Hubert Camille
Travel to Tours in the Loire Valley,
stopping in Angers to visit the
13th-century Château d’Angers
and other sights. Arrive in Tours,
home base for the next two nights.
Sword, Utah, and Omaha—hold a
special place in America’s shared
history with France. Begin at the
Mémorial de Caen, a museum of
peace, for an overview and
background, then continue to
Omaha Beach and the American
Military Cemetery. Those especially
interested in World War II history
will want to spend at least a
second day along the coast.
Honfleur
Day 2
Continue on to Honfleur, a
charming port with an old town
center, famous for its associations
with the early Impressionists.
Spend the day exploring the coast
that inspired painters, from the
cliffs at Etretat and the old town of
Dieppe to the posh resort city of
Deauville.
Day 3
Spend the day exploring the
modern history of Normandy. On
June 6, 1944, the Allied Forces
landed at five beaches along the
coast of Northern France to begin
the thrust eastward toward
Germany. It was the largest
invasion force in history. The
beaches—code-named Gold, Juno,
Mont-Saint-Michel, called “La
Merveille” by the French and
considered one of the great
achievements of Western
civilization, is perched on an island
once reached only during low tide.
Visit the abbey, and imagine the
pilgrims climbing up this same
steep street for hundreds of years.
Day 6
The Norman countryside is rich and
beautiful, famous for cheese and
apples and a pastoral grace. Spend
the day exploring the “Norman
Switzerland,” after passing through
Villedieu-les-Poêles known for
copper pans, stopping in Bagnolesde-l’Orne, the most prominent
Norman spa town.
•
Part 2.85
Sample Itinerary:
Bretagne (Brittany)
In-depth (6 days)
This itinerary is based near SaintMalo or Dinan for the first half and
near Quimper for second half.
Day 1
Coming from the Loire Valley,
clients first encounter Vitré, once a
fortress protecting the borders of
Brittany and still displaying a
wealth of medieval architecture.
Continue to Fougères, whose castle has stood guard for more than
1,000 years. Among the medieval
houses in the town, the Villéon
museum contains many works by
one of the last great Impressionist
painters, Emmanuel de la Villéon.
Continue on to Mont-Saint-Michel,
on the border between Normandy
and Brittany with its abbey called
“La Merveille,” which remains one
of the most striking and impressive
sights in France.
Day 2
The Rance River links the towns of
Dinan and Saint-Malo, each
distinctively different, but both are
thoroughly Breton in spirit. SaintMalo, the corsair city, is best known
for its medieval ramparts and the
privateers that once sailed from its
shores. Climb the ramparts—
fortifications designed by the great
military architect Vauban—and
explore the 16th-century town,
carefully restored after heavy
bombing in World War II. Visit the
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•
Ile du Grand Bé and the gravesite
of Chateaubriand, just outside the
town. Stop in Dinard, a fashionable
resort town, and continue to Dinan,
noted for ancient timber-framed
houses and encircling walls and
ramparts, the longest and the
oldest in Brittany. Make an
excursion to Cancale for a lunch or
dinner of the famous oysters
farmed in the bay, and enjoy the
long view of Mont-Saint-Michel.
Day 3
Continue the exploration of
Brittany by heading toward the city
of Quimper on the southern coast.
Along the way, discover more of
the rocky coast and small villages
of dark-gray stone. Quimper is best
known for its characteristic pottery,
but the town itself, with footbridges
and flowered quais, narrow streets
and old churches, is full of
atmosphere.
Day 4
Brittany’s history is often carved in
stone. Just west of Pont l’Abbé
stands the calvary of Notre-Damede-Tronoen, the oldest of these
famous stone altar carvings in
Brittany. Locronan, one of the most
beautiful villages in Brittany, lies
just a short distance from Quimper.
The village is built of silvery granite,
impeccably preserved, and boasts
a wonderful collection of
Renaissance houses. Continue on
along the coast as far as the
Pointe du Raz, the westernmost
point in France, where the sea has
carved out the rocky peninsula dotted with lighthouses and sea views.
Day 5
In the opposite direction from
Quimper is Concarneau, at once a
bustling fishing port, walled city,
and summer resort. Explore the
port, then take the coast road to
Pont-Aven, a charming town
favored by Gauguin and his fellow
painters in the 19th century.
Farther along the coast lies
Locmariaquer, a pretty fishing
village endowed with a huge
collection of prehistoric megaliths,
dolmens, and other ancient stones.
Even farther along is Carnac, with
hundreds of standing stones.
Day 6
Spend the day exploring the water
side of the coast by taking the
ferry from Quiberon to Belle-Ile-enMer, the largest of Brittany’s offshore islands, with a fortified 16thcentury port and a long history of
famous and infamous visitors. The
island has four villages to explore
and wonderful views of the rugged
Côte Sauvage (Wild Coast).
Maison de la France/Jean-Daniel Sudres
Bretagne’s Fête de la Mer
©
Sample Itinerary: Centre
Val de Loire (Loire Valley)
and Pays de la Loire
(Western Loire) (6 days)
Sample Itinerary: Nord
Pas-de-Calais and
Picardie (Picardy) (6 days)
This itinerary is based in or around
Tours or in and around Saumur.
There are many château-hotels to
choose from in the region.
An hour from Paris by TGV, Lille is
an ideal place to begin exploring
the north. Visit Vieux Lille, with its
Flemish Renaissance architecture
and Grand’ Place (officially Place
Charles de Gaulle for Lille’s
famous native son). Continue to
Lille’s Palais des Beaux-Arts, considered second only to the Musée
du Louvre in Paris in the wealth of
its collections—Flemish and Dutch
old Masters, works by Goya and El
Greco, and French paintings from
David to Renoir. Outside the town,
stop to admire a masterpiece of a
different sort, the pentagon-shaped
Citadelle, designed by France’s
great military architect Vauban.
Day 1
Day 1
Tours is the main city in the region
and a good place to begin. Spend
the first day exploring the capital of
the Touraine region, with an historic
heart and elegant public buildings.
Day 2
Begin with one of the most beautiful of the châteaux, Chenonceau,
built for a mistress and claimed by
a queen. Stroll the elegant gardens
before continuing to Amboise, with
a massive château, and stop at Le
Clos-Lucé, the last home of
Leonardo da Vinci, where clients
can see models of his inventions.
Day 3
Today visit the largest of the Loire
castles, the Château de Chambord,
with its remarkable architecture
and hundreds of rooms. Continue
to the Renaissance gardens of the
Château de Villandry, noted for
their symmetrical beds and intricate
designs. For a jaunt off the beaten
path, check out the town of
Villaines-les-Rochers, an entire village of basket makers, where local
crafts are alive and well.
Day 4
Lovers of castles will have enough
to do to last a lifetime. Possibilities
include Chaumont (famous for its
garden festival), Azay-le-Rideau,
Blois—it has a spectacular open-air
staircase—and many others.
©
Chinon
Day 5
Head for Chinon, birthplace of
Rabelais and, yes, another castle,
this one a fortress dominating the
hillside and the town. Continue to
Saumur to stop and taste the
sparkling wine of the region, or visit
some of the troglodyte houses and
dwellings at Chênehutte-lesTuffeaux or in the village of Troo.
Stop to see the Abbaye Royale de
Fontevraud, once a great and powerful abbey, where Eleanor of
Aquitaine and her son, Richard the
Lionhearted, were laid to rest.
Many gardens in this region are
open for visitors.
Day 6
The Loire continues to the sea
through Angers, famous for its
Apocalypse Tapestry and fine
Renaissance buildings, as well as
for the production of Cointreau.
Visit Brissac, one of the most distinctive of the Loire châteaux, or
the moated 15th-century Château
du Plessis-Bourré.
Day 2
North of Arras lies the Parc
Mémorial Canadien Vimy, one of
the most striking monuments of
the region, commemorating the
assault of April 1917 and the
75,000 Canadians who died there.
Continue to Arras, once famous for
its tapestries and still boasting 155
houses with 17th-century Flemish
façades lining its two major
squares. In the town hall, see the
géants, the huge puppets who
parade through the town during
festivals. South of Arras, near
Albert, are the Mémoriaux de la
Bataille de la Somme, site of some
of the most devastating battles of
World War I. Follow the Circuit de
Souvenir, a 38-mile route through
the major sites, including the
Luytens Memorial and the Ulster
Tower.
•
Part 2.87
Day 3
Day 4
Today head for the coast, stopping
first in Abbeville, with its great
cathedral of St-Vulfran. Continue to
St-Valery, the port from which
William the Conqueror set sail for
England in 1066, and Rue, a
charming small town that was once
a seaport before its harbor silted
up. Bird-watchers will want to
linger at the Parc Ornithologique
du Marquenterre, a huge private
nature preserve. Otherwise, continue to Le Touquet, a stylish 19thcentury seaside resort town still
thriving today.
In Amiens, the capital of Picardy,
visit Cathédrale Notre-Dame, the
largest of the Gothic cathedrals in
France as well as the colorful StLeu neighborhood, with flower-lined
canals and a pedestrian center. To
the east is Les Hortillonnages, the
ancient market gardens grown and
irrigated in the small branches of
the Somme River.
Day 5
Spend today visiting Laon, where
the Ville Haute rises dramatically
above the surrounding plains. Laon
boasts 80 historic monuments,
making it one of the most impor-
tant and most beautiful sites in
Northern France. Explore the
Cathédrale Notre-Dame, the first
built in the Gothic style in France,
and the medieval town before continuing to Pierrefonds, noted for a
massive castle restored by the
famous architect Viollet-le-Duc.
Day 6
Stop today in Compiègne, home of
a royal château built by Louis XVI
and restored by Napoléon. Stop to
walk or picnic in the vast forest of
Compiègne and see the Clarière
de l’Armistice, commemorating the
spot where the armistice ending
World War I was signed.
Niche Markets and Sample Itineraries
France’s abundant historic, gastronomic, and cultural attractions appeal
to a variety of niche markets. If your clients want their trip to reflect a
specific interest such as gastronomy or art, there are many wholesalers
who can accommodate them with either escorted tours or customized
programs. For a comprehensive listing of such wholesalers, the best
source is a French Government Tourist Office publication called Easy
Reference Guide France. Some major niche markets are presented below,
but other specialty markets, such as hot air ballooning, also exist.
Wine and Gastronomy
For those interested in wine and gastronomy, France offers limitless
possibilities. Many wholesalers offer escorted tours through the main
winegrowing regions of the country, with private tours of the top wine
estates and the chance to meet with wine makers and other experts.
Exquisite meals, with each course paired with an appropriate local wine,
may also be included. For clients with a passion for the culinary arts,
wholesalers can also arrange tours centered around the great cooking
schools where participants can view cooking demonstrations and take
hands-on lessons under expert guidance. The cooking programs may
also include visits to such sites as foie gras farms, cheese producers, and
wine or cognac cellars.
Part 2.88
•
©
Wine Itineraries
Day 2
Day 6
Please note: In Bourgogne
(Burgundy) and Bordeaux both,
tastings at the famous vineyards
are by appointment, for both
groups and individuals.
Appointments can be made by tour
operators, or frequently by the
hotel where the client is staying.
Day tours are available locally and
can provide a good introduction.
Some wineries do have public
hours—the tourist office will have
information. Some smaller ones will
also post “Dégustation” signs
(meaning tasting)—for clients with
a more casual approach.
The Côte-de-Nuits, south of Dijon
and north of Beaune, produces
some of the greatest red wines in
the world. Stop for tours and tastings here (clients will need reservations at the best-known wineries or
a guide), and visit the Château du
Clos de Vougeot, a 12th-century
castle with a long and distinguished history—as well as ancient
wine presses and cellars.
On the way back to Paris (or on
the way from Paris) is a good time
to stop in Chablis, renowned for its
white wines, and nearby Vézelay,
best known for the Basilique de
Ste-Madeleine, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
Sample Itinerary:
Wine Tour (6 days)
This itinerary can be based in
Beaune, Dijon, or the surrounding
area.
Day 1
Spend the first day in Burgundy in
Beaune, the wine capital of this
region. Visit the famous Hôtel-Dieu
des Hospices, once (until quite
recently) a hospital but best known
among wine lovers for the wine
auctions—called the Trois
Glorieuses de Bourgogne—which
take place here in November.
Clients may also visit the Musée du
Vin de Bourgogne. Beaune has
more wine-tasting centers than
could be explored on one visit, but
each is an excellent source with
knowledgeable help.
©
Day 3
The Côte-de-Beaune, just north
and south of Beaune, is less
famous than the Côte de Nuits, but
it produces very fine reds and
some extraordinary whites. The villages and hillsides are among the
prettiest in the region, so visitors
can spend the day exploring and
tasting such names as CortonCharlemagne and PulignyMontrachet.
Sample Itinerary:
Bordeaux Wine Tour
(6 days)
This itinerary stays in Saint-Emilion
or the surrounding countryside.
Day 1
Begin with a stop in Bordeaux,
especially to visit the Musée des
Chartrons for an introduction to the
history of wine in Bordeaux. Clients
might also visit Planète Bordeaux,
on the outskirts of town, for some
interesting wine tasting.
Day 4
For a day a bit off the beaten path,
explore the scenic route through
the southern Hautes-Côtes-deBeaune, which is sprinkled with tiny
villages, small-scale wine makers,
and Roman ruins—a good area for
casual tasting. Stop at Château de
La Rochepot to admire the turrets
and many-colored roof tiles.
Day 5
The Beaujolais is the southernmost
of the Burgundy wine regions and
one of the prettiest, with tiny stone
villages, and steep hillsides. Visit
the cru villages and for a good
introduction to the region, stop at
the Hameau en Beaujolais.
Day 2
The Médoc is one of the most
famous wine regions in France, and
home to many well-known names.
Follow the route along the Gironde
through Margaux and Pauillac,
through vineyards whose rows all
end in rosebushes. Tasting appointments must be made at all the
best-known châteaux—hotels and
local tour operators can assist with
this.
(continued on page 90)
Selling France: Niche Markets and Sample Itineraries
•
Part 2.89
Day 3
Saint-Emilion is Bordeaux’s largest
wine district and possibly its most
beautiful village. Saint-Emilion
wines are also quite distinctive
from those of the Médoc. Spend a
day in the village—steep streets,
medieval stone houses, and a magnificent church carved from the hillside—and visit the wineries in the
surrounding area. Nearby is
Pomerol, yet another uncommon
red wine district with many wellknown names.
Day 4
The Sauternes district is composed
of five villages including Barzac,
the largest, and the area produces
a wonderful sweet white wine
sometimes called “sunshine in a
glass.” Stop also to see Château de
Cazeneuve, which dates to the
11th century.
Day 5
The Graves district reaches along
the south bank of the Garonne
River from Bordeaux and is known
mainly for its white wines but also
has some reds. Some of the best
known here are Château HautBrion and Château Smith-HautLafitte. On the east bank lies the
Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, still
worth a visit, as is St-Macaire, a
lovely medieval village overlooking
the Garonne River.
Sample Itinerary: Art,
Architecture, and Design
Tour of Provence (8 days)
Days 1-2
Transfer from Paris or Marseille to
Arles, which will be home base for
the week. Enjoy a dinner of
Provençal specialties. Spend the
next morning on a walking tour of
old Arles, concluding with a visit to
the Musée Arlaten to see exhibits
on the arts and crafts of Provence.
After lunch, visit the Roman ruins
of Arles, including the amphitheater
and baths.
Day 3
In the morning, visit areas of Arles
associated with the artwork of van
Gogh, who painted many of his
most famous works there. Drive to
the town of St-Rémy, the backdrop
for van Gogh’s Starry Night, for
lunch and sightseeing. Visit the
town of Glanum, founded by
ancient Greeks, and stop at a pottery manufacturer on the way back
to Arles.
Day 5
Drive to Avignon for a day of sightseeing, including the Palais des
Papes, the city’s magnificent medieval architecture, and museums.
Day 6
Drive to l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and
investigate this village of charming
canals and dozens of antique
shops.
Day 7
Drive to Aix-en-Provence, birthplace of Paul Cézanne, for a morning visit to the studio where he
produced many of his masterpieces. Explore the city’s art museums and visit the outdoor market
to shop for linens, coins, artwork,
pottery, fabrics, and antiques.
Day 8
Transfer from Arles to Marseille or
Paris.
Day 4
Drive from Arles through the
Rhône Valley to Vaison-la-Romaine,
known for Roman ruins and a wonderful outdoor market. Spend the
day browsing for collectibles,
antiques, crafts, flowers, and foods
at the market and exploring the
archaeological sites.
Day 6
Eastward from Bordeaux lies the
wine region called “Entre-DeuxMers”—the land between the
Dordogne and the Garonne Rivers.
Spend the day sampling the wines
as well as the villages, castles, and
countryside during a brief glimpse
of the Dordogne Valley.
Part 2.90
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Art and Architecture
Wholesalers in this niche market generally offer
escorted tours for small groups accompanied by an
architectural historian or art expert. Programs usually
focus on a specific region of France, visiting towns and
cities associated with specific artists or notable for
their historic architecture.
Military History
Maison de la Fra
nce/Soren Rasm
us
sen
Gothic inte
Most wholesalers specializing in historic tours focus
rior of cath
e
d
ra
l
in Troyes
on military history, most often World War II but
also World War I and the Napoleonic wars. Many
offer in-depth tours of the Normandy landing beaches that are led by
historical experts. Other popular sites are the World War I battlefields
near Verdun. World War II veterans and their families are key markets,
along with those with a general interest in military history.
Religious Travel
With a host of important cathedrals, churches, and other religious
structures, France has a lot to offer the growing religious travel market.
Several wholesalers focus on sites along the many medieval pilgrimage
routes in France such as the Routes of Santiago de Compostela,
classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and such world-famous
sites as Lourdes. France for the Jewish Traveler is available through
the FGTO.
Waterway Cruises
One of the biggest niche markets is cruising French canals, rivers, and
other waterways. Dozens of barge-cruise operators offer programs
throughout the country, often with a wine or gastronomical theme.
Other wholesalers allow clients to charter their own vessels, everything
from houseboats to yachts.
Gay and Lesbian Travel
Gay and lesbian travelers are an important niche market for France.
Excellent tips on appealing to this market are found in the French
Government Tourist Office publication Gay Friendly France.
Bicycling and Walking
Those who want to explore the French countryside by bicycle or on
foot can choose from an array of programs. Most are geared toward
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Selling France: Niche Markets and Sample Itineraries
•
Part 2.91
participants at varying fitness levels and provide rides in a van if the
going gets too tough. Many tours include gourmet meals and
accommodations in luxurious château-hotels. Most are escorted and are
available for small groups of 20 or less, but programs for individual
travelers can also be arranged.
Golf
For golfers, wholesalers offer customized programs for individuals
and groups that include the chance to play on more than 500 French
golf courses. Many feature accommodations at château-hotels or
luxury resorts.
Major Ski Resorts
in the French Alps
Alpe-d’Huez
Les Arcs
Winter Sports
There are more than 100 ski resorts throughout France, but most are
concentrated in the French Alps. A variety of multiple-resort lift passes
are available. Numerous U.S. wholesalers specialize in ski vacations.
Chamonix
Les Deux-Alpes
Les Gets
Sports Events
Many wholesalers provide tours that are centered around major sports
events such as the Roland Garros French Open Tennis Championship,
Tour de France bicycle race, Longchamp horse race, and the French
Grand Prix Formula One automobile race.
Megève
Morzine
La Plagne
Serre-Chevalier
Tignes and Val-d’Isère or
Espace Killy
A Word to the Wise
Les Trois-Vallées including
Courchevel, Les Ménuires,
Méribel, and Val-Thorens
Here are a few tips to help your clients have a safer and more
enjoyable trip:
• Theft, particularly pickpocketing, can be a hazard in large cities,
especially in crowded areas such as subways or train stations. A common ploy is for one person to distract the victim while the other
makes off with the wallet or purse. The safest option is to carry
money, passport, and other valuables in a money belt worn underneath clothing. Tell clients to keep an eye on bags when in airports
or train stations.
• Rental cars are another target for thieves, and valuables should not
be left in them. Visitors arriving in a new town should store their
bags at the hotel before taking off on a sightseeing trip where their
belongings could be left unattended in the car.
• In rural areas, clients should be aware that hunting season is in
progress from late September through February. Signs posted in
trees reading “Chasseurs” (Hunters) or “Chasse Gardée” (Hunting
Part 2.92
•
©
Preserve) are indications that hunters may be nearby and visitors
should be cautious.
• In high mountain areas such as the Alps or Pyrénées, sudden thunderstorms or snowstorms can turn a pleasant day into a hazardous
one. Hikers should check the weather report beforehand and take
along plenty of food, water, and warm clothing.
• If clients have an aversion to cigarette smoke, they should be aware
that it is hard to escape it in many restaurants, particularly small
ones. While nonsmoking sections do exist, they are usually small or
right next to the smoking section. If weather permits, outside dining
may be the best option.
• In some rural areas, public rest rooms are primitive—consisting
of a hole with porcelain footrests for squatting. To avoid them,
visitors should use rest rooms in hotels, restaurants, or museums
whenever possible.
• When traveling in taxis, clients should keep their carry-on bags with
them in the car because there is often a charge for every bag put in
the trunk.
• In general, the French are more formal and polite than Americans.
When entering a shop, it is customary to address the shopkeeper as
monsieur or madame and to say “Bonjour” (Good day) and “Merci”
(Thank you).
• Numbered seats on subways and buses are reserved for pregnant,
elderly, or handicapped riders.
• At many produce markets, it is not acceptable to handle the
merchandise. Visitors should point to what they want and let the
vendor weigh and bag it.
Secrets of France
Paris
• Promenade Plantée—For a break from city crowds, visitors can
climb up above it all. Paris has transformed an old railway line running east from the Bastille into the Promenade Plantée—4.5 miles of
elevated park for strolling along the top of the old train viaduct.
Below, the viaduct itself is now transformed as the Viaduc des Arts, a
collection of studios and workshops of contemporary artisans and
craftsmen. Up above, the view is flowering trees, poppies and roses,
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fountains, and a first- and second-story close-up of Parisian architecture, including the gigantic caryatids decorating the Gare de Lyon.
• Top of La Samaritaine—One of the best views in the city (for free)
is from the top of La Samaritaine department store. There is even an
outdoor café open on nice days, with a seventh-story view of the
Seine River and the rooftops of Paris.
• Street Markets—To see how some Parisians shop for dinner, check
out the local open-air markets. Some markets, like the one on the
rue Mouffetard in the fifth arrondissement, operate daily, and some
are open only a couple of days a week. But they are all different, and
all reflect their neighborhoods, from the tidy rue Cler market in the
seventh arrondissement to the Sunday-morning-at-Montmartre feel
on rue Lepic. Others are at rue de Buci and boulevard Raspail in the
sixth arrondissement, Place d’Aligre in the 12th, and rue Poncelet,
almost within sight of the Arc de Triomphe.
• Palais-Royal Métro Stop—Have clients check out the newest,
trendiest métro entrance at the Palais-Royal, opposite the ComédieFrançaise, a canopy of multicolored beads and baubles. Le kiosque des
noctambules has become an in place to meet.
• Les Soldes—If your clients visit Paris in either January or the beginning of July—when Les Soldes (semiannual sales events) take place—
tell them to bring plenty of money. Every department store, clothing
shop, and boutique clears out its shelves to make way for the new
season—and there are plenty of bargains.
• Ice Cream—Most Parisians agree that the best ice cream in Paris
comes from Berthillon. And though visitors can find it at many cafés,
the original Berthillon shop is located on the Ile St-Louis. Just look
for the green awning and the long, long line.
• Café Life—For those who want to look more like a Parisian sitting
at that café, they should sit beside and not opposite their companion,
with both facing the street and the passing scene. No Paris native sits
with his back to the show.
Ile-de-France
• Versailles Antiques—Beyond the château, the town of Versailles has
a great antiques center grouped around the Passage de la Geôle.
• Local Brie Cheese—Brie cheese comes from Ile-de-France, and
those who visit the little town of Leudon (on the D75) can check
out the
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real thing. Brie artisanale is lovingly produced by local farmers from
a herd of 70 cows. Visitors can buy it on the spot and enjoy a picnic.
Bourgogne
• Wine-tasting—One of the prettiest times to visit Bourgogne
(Burgundy) is in the fall, even through mid-November. Then the
grapevines turn red and gold like the hillsides of Vermont.
“Dégustation” (meaning “tasting”) is the word to look for on signs
in the vineyards.
• Fruit Liqueurs—On the Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuits in Burgundy,
tasters can sample crème de Cassis and eau-de-vie—made from the
petits fruits (the lesser fruits) of Burgundy, such as black currants—in
the villages of Concoeur-et-Corboin and Arcenant.
Champagne-Ardenne
• Stained-glass Window—At the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims,
look for the vintner’s window—le vitrail (stained-glass window) du
Champagne—which details the production of the local specialty,
champagne, in stained glass.
• Champagne Tour—To visit many of the great champagne houses
in Reims and Epernay, it is necessary to make an appointment or go
on a scheduled tour. And it is a good idea to go during the week,
since only a few of the champagne cellars are open on Saturday
and Sunday.
Lorraine
• Mirabelle Plum—Mirabelle is a variety of plum grown in Lorraine,
and it is made into jams, jellies, sauces, kir, and eau-de-vie.
Alsace
• Winstubs—In Strasbourg, look for the signs that say “Winstub.”
These are small local restaurants with a cozy atmosphere, a kind of
Alsatian pub where local beer and wine and hearty regional dishes
are available.
• Tarte Flambée—It is a kind of Alsatian pizza, and the best ones are
baked in a wood-fired oven. The basic tarte flambée has a creamy
cheese-and-onion topping, but others come with mushrooms, ham,
and so on. The concoction is also served on local breads during
Christmas Markets.
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Franche-Comté
• Chocolate Peugeot Cars—Franche-Comté has long had links to
Peugeot, but at J. P. Debrie in Montbéliard, they make the edible
kind—mini Peugeot cars made of delicious chocolate.
Rhône-Alpes
• Hang Gliding—If someone ever wanted to try hang gliding, the
Rhône-Alpes is the place. Discovery flights are available at St-Hilairedu-Touvet and Planfait above the Lac d’Annecy.
• Trompe l’Oeil—In Lyon, keep an eye open for wall art. There are
more than 150 large-scale wall paintings around the city. They look
so real they may fool a visitor.
• One-Day Pass—The tourist office in Lyon offers a one-day
transport and museum pass that cannot be beat for convenience.
Côte d’Azur
• Museum Pass—The best local deal for art lovers is a special museum
pass valid for entry into more than 50 museums up and down the
Côte d’Azur (French Riviera).
• View from Gourdon—One of the best views of the French Riviera
is from the village of Gourdon. Located about 10 miles from Grasse,
the village is perched high on a cliff overlooking the mountains and
the sea.
Provence
• Lavender Fields—To see those breathtaking fields of lavender, go to
Provence in June and early July. Much of the cutting takes place in
mid-July.
• L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Picnic Spot—Suggest that clients gather up
picnic supplies at a market and then follow the signs to the Partage
des Eaux. Here there is a park with picnic benches looking out over
the river, with parking along the road.
• Route des Crêtes—For a spectacular view of the coast, take the
Route des Crêtes from Bandol to La Ciotat. It is not recommended
in high season, although the slow traffic allows plenty of time to
enjoy the views.
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Maison de
la France /B
arry Smith
• Crèches Vivantes—At Christmas, some Provençal villages celebrate
with crèches vivantes—live actors presenting the religious tale
on Christmas Eve. Get there early, though. The churches are
small, and the show is in high demand.
• Views from the Abbey—The 11th-century abbey of StMartin-du-Canigou, about an hour’s hike (uphill) from
the town of Casteil, has spectacular views of the
surrounding area.
Corse
St-Mart
in-du-C
anigou
• High Season—In July and August, Corse (Corsica) is
heavily booked by Europeans on long vacations. It is
difficult to get even a few days at a hotel, and rental cars or ferry
passage for them must be booked far in advance. Once there,
though, a good souvenir is Corsican olive oil. It is flavored, they say,
with the herbs and flowers of the maquis, a thick, scrubby
underbrush.
Limousin
• Richard the Lionhearted—For those who like following the folklore of kings, and especially Richard the Lionhearted, stop off at the
castle of Châlus-Chabrol, where he was shot with a crossbow and
died in 1199. Visit the castle and stop in the town, which is not very
touristy, for a local lunch.
• Lanternes des Morts—In the Creuse region, look for the lanternes
des morts. These narrow towers were built in the cemeteries to ward
off evil spirits and watch over the souls of the dead. Once upon a
time they held lanterns that burned through the night.
Auvergne
• Mont Mézenc—Climb Mont Mézenc for a great view, but hardy
climbers say the best time is to be there for the sunrise, which means
arriving at 3 or 4 A.M. If your clients relish this kind of adventure,
have them go equipped with warm clothes, a flashlight, and blankets.
Aquitaine
• Gabares on the Dordogne River—To really see La Roque-Gageac,
a village built into the face of the cliff overlooking the Dordogne,
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one needs to be on the river. Visitors can take a ride in the gabares
(traditional flat-bottomed boats) while a guide explains the history
and ecology of the Dordogne. Boats leave from La Roque-Gageac
and also from Cazenac, farther west along the river. In the old days,
the boats carried their cargo downstream to Bordeaux, where they
were broken up for firewood.
• Basque Country—Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a little port south of Biarritz
where the flavor of the Basque country remains strong.
• Local Specialties—If clients are in Southwest France in December
and they like chocolate, have them look for Pyrénéens—small chocolate logs wrapped in silver foil and decorated with question marks.
Other local specialties worth a try are the gâteau basque and izarra,
the local liqueur made “from the flowers of the Pyrénées.”
Midi-Pyrénées
• Marketplace Lunch—A great place for an inexpensive lunch in
Toulouse is at the Marché Victor-Hugo. The marketplace has a
variety of lunch-only restaurants on the first floor above the stalls.
Normandie
• Inspiration for Artists—In Normandie (Normandy), the Musée
d’Art Américain, not far from Monet’s famous garden at Giverny, is
the only place in town where a person can set up an easel and feel
like a student of the Impressionists. There are weekend workshops in
summer for artists, and groups can make special arrangements.
• Nature Lovers—Mont-Saint-Michel, whose abbey is called La
Merveille (The Marvel), has guided tours available locally for natureloving visitors to explore the vast bay, with its birds, wildlife, and
legends, at low tide.
Bretagne
• Biniou—At weddings, parties, and local festivals in Bretagne
(Brittany), visitors might be surprised to hear the sound of Scotland.
It is the biniou, the Breton bagpipe.
• Walking Paths—People can easily walk the coast in Brittany on
footpaths called the “customs paths.” These paths were once used by
customs officials to discourage smuggling and wreck looting.
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• Strawberries—The strawberries of Plougastel, seven miles from
Brest, are justly famous—and delicious. Look for them in the local
markets in early spring.
Centre Val de Loire
• Wicker Weaving—The whole town of Villaines-les-Rochers, 4 miles
south of Azay-le-Rideau in the Centre Val de Loire (Loire Valley), is
part of a wicker-weaving co-operative. Visit the Vannerie and take
home samples. Look for the huge basket on the way into the village.
• Medieval Gardens—For garden lovers, the 12th-century Prieuré
Notre-Dame d’Orsan (prieuré meaning priory), 15 miles west of
Saint-Armand-Montrond, has wonderful medieval gardens. And
no crowds.
Pays de la Loire
• Local Cave Restaurants—In the Pays de la Loire (Western Loire),
just outside Saumur driving west, look for the local restaurants inside
the troglodyte caves. They serve meals based on local mushroom
specialties.
• Passage Pommeraye—Nantes has a triple-tiered 19th-century
arcade, the Passage Pommeraye, which is perfect for browsing or
shopping in less-than-perfect weather. The entrance is off rue
Crébillon—to the right of rue du Puits d’Argent.
Poitou-Charentes
Maison de
la France /J
ean-Daniel
Sudres
• Jonzac—Off the path, near Cognac and Bordeaux, is the charming
town of Jonzac, with a perfectly preserved Renaissance
château and a local production of cognac and pineau des
Charentes.
• Cross Harbor Ferry—The passeur, the eco-friendly electric
ferry, zips passengers across the harbor in La Rochelle. It is
part of the town’s green-friendly transport system, which
also includes yellow bicycles to explore the town (free for
the first two hours, then a small charge after that). A bike
stand is located at Place de Verdun.
Cycling
in La
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Nord Pas-de-Calais
• Wrought Iron Elevated Stands—In Dimechaux, Dourlers, StAubin, and other villages, look for peculiar elevated stands of
wrought iron. They were designed to hold several musicians who
would play for village festivals. Some have been reclaimed, and visitors might happen on a local Sunday festival when they are in use.
• New Museum—Check out Lille’s newest museum—the Musée
d’Art et d’Industrie—located in the Art Deco municipal swimming
pool. Converted by one of the same architects who worked on the
Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the 1930s building is now a spectacular
museum. Also in Lille, try moules-frites, mussels with French fries,
washed down with
local beer.
• Horse Lovers—If your client is a horse lover, Chantilly is the place.
Besides holding the country’s most stylish races during the summer
season, the city offers horse shows through the winter on Sundays at
the Horse Museum.
Picardie
• Cathedral in Colors—In summer in Picardie (Picardy), the façade
of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame in Amiens is illuminated in many
colors. The lighting imitates the original polychrome look of the
stone in the Middle Ages.
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Key Points About France
Region
City/Area
Attractions
Paris and
Ile-de-France
Paris
Largest city and transportation hub; political and
cultural capital; museums, restaurants, high fashion,
historical monuments, churches, performing arts venues
Ile-de-France
Royal châteaux of Versailles, Fontainebleau, Vincennes,
Disneyland Paris
Beaune
Wine capital; medieval architecture
Côte-d’Or
Important winegrowing region
Dijon
Regional capital; museums, historic quarter
Epernay
Champagne cellars
Reims
Champagne cellars, cathedral, museums
Troyes
Half-timbered houses, museums
Metz
Historic cathedral and churches
Nancy
Regional capital; Art Nouveau architecture and
decorative objects, art museums
Verdun
World War I battle sites
Colmar
Renaissance houses, historic tanners’ district
Strasbourg
Regional capital; cathedral, Christmas Markets,
European Parliament, canals, medieval quarter
Routes des Vins
d’Alsace
Wine cellars, medieval villages
Besançon
Regional capital; citadel, museums
Parc Naturel
Régional du
Haut-Jura
Lakes, forests, hiking trails
French Alps
High mountain peaks, large alpine lakes, year-round
outdoor sports
Grenoble
Cultural and economic center of the French Alps; art
museums, historic district
Eastern France
Bourgogne
(Burgundy)
ChampagneArdenne
Lorraine
Alsace
Franche-Comté
Rhône-Alpes
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Region
City/Area
Attractions
Rhône-Alpes
(continued)
Lyon
Regional capital, second-largest city in France;
gastronomy, art museums, historic districts,
performing arts
Cannes
Mediterranean resort; international film festival
Monaco
Glamorous principality; royal palace, casino, gardens,
oceanography museum
Nice
Regional capital; flower market, art museums, historic
district
Aix-en-Provence
Fountains, art museums, historic mansions
Avignon
Performing arts festival, medieval ramparts and palaces,
art museums
Marseille
Regional capital; historic harbor, fish markets, island
fortress, historic churches, museums
Carcassonne
Largest medieval walled city in Europe; fortifications,
stone towers
Montpellier
Regional capital; museums, botanical garden
Nîmes
Well-preserved Roman ruins, art and archaeology
museums
Ajaccio
Regional capital; harbor, Napoleonic museums
Bastia
Commercial center; historic district
Southeast France
Côte d’Azur
(French Riviera)
Provence
LanguedocRoussillon
Corse (Corsica)
Parc Naturel
Lakes, mountains, outdoor sports
Régional de la Corse
Central France
Limousin
Limoges
Auvergne
Clermont-Ferrand Regional capital; historic districts, cathedral, museums
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Regional capital; porcelain, enamelware, art museums,
medieval butchers’ district
Parc Naturel
Régional des
Volcans
d’Auvergne
Largest concentration of extinct volcanic craters in
in Europe; hiking trails, stone villages, wildlife
Vichy
Thermal waters, spas
©
Region
City/Area
Attractions
Bayonne
Basque cultural capital; festivals, museums
Bordeaux
Regional capital; museums, nearby celebrated vineyards
and wine cellars
Lascaux Caves
Prehistoric site; cave painting replicas, prehistory
museum
Albi
Art museum devoted to Toulouse-Lautrec, cathedral,
red-clay buildings
Lourdes
Famous religious pilgrimage site; churches, grottoes,
springs
Toulouse
Regional capital; rose-colored-brick buildings, canals,
museums
D-Day Coast
World War II landing sites, museums, memorials
Giverny
Monet’s house and gardens; Museum of American Art
Mont-St-Michel
Historic abbey on dramatic rock island
Rouen
Regional capital; cathedral, museums, Joan of Arc sites
Carnac
Prehistoric stone megaliths
Quimper
Earthenware pottery, museums, cathedral
Rennes
Regional capital; art museums, parks
Blois
Historic château, medieval quarter, magic shows,
base for exploring region’s many châteaux
Chartres
Renowned cathedral, historic quarter
Orléans
Regional capital; museums, Joan of Arc sites
Angers
Medieval quarter, tapestry museum, nearby châteaux
Nantes
Regional capital; cathedral, botanical garden, art
museums
Cognac
Cognac distilleries
Marais Poitevin
Vast network of tree-shaded waterways, boat rentals
Southwest France
Aquitaine
Midi-Pyrénées
Western France
Normandie
(Normandy)
Bretagne (Brittany)
Centre Val de Loire
(Loire Valley)
Pays de la Loire
(Western Loire)
Poitou-Charentes
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Region
City/Area
Attractions
Western France
(continued)
Poitiers
Regional capital; cathedral, historic churches, museums,
nearby cinematic theme park
Calais
Major ferry port; museums on World War II history,
lace making
Lille
Regional capital; historic citadelle, art museums,
birthplace of Charles de Gaulle, famous annual flea
market and antiques fair
Amiens
Regional capital; largest cathedral in France, canals,
gardens, museums, nearby World War I battlefields
Chantilly
Historic château and grounds
Northern France
Nord Pas-de-Calais
Picardie (Picardy)
Overseas Regions
Antilles Françaises
Guadeloupe
(French West Indies)
Martinique
Beach resorts, volcano museum, nature park, main town
of Fort-de-France
St-Barthélemy
(St. Barts)
Small upscale beach resorts, shell museum, main town
of Gustavia
St-Martin
Beach resorts, French and Dutch heritage, casinos, main
town of Marigot
La Guyane
(French Guiana)
Located on northeast coast of South America; main city
of Cayenne, 19th-century Devil’s Island penal colony,
river trips, hiking
Nouvelle-Calédonie
(New Caledonia)
(French Polynesia)
Beach resorts, nature park, hiking trails, offshore
islands, main town of Pointe-à-Pitre
South Pacific island group includes Nouvelle-Calédonie
(New Caledonia), Iles Loyauté (Loyalty Islands), Iles
Bélep (Belep Islands), and Ile des Pins (Isle of Pines);
main city of Nouméa, Melanesian cultural center, marine
preserve
Archipel de la
Société
(Society Islands)
South Pacific island group includes Tahiti and capital
Papeete; Moorea and Bora Bora; beach resorts, lagoons,
museums
Réunion
Volcanic island in Indian Ocean; main city of St-Denis,
beach resorts, mountain hiking
(St.-Pierre and Miquelon)
Group of eight small islands off Newfoundland coast;
Basque and Acadian heritage, main island and town of
St-Pierre, historic maritime sites
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For More Information
Travel guidebooks about France are numerous. Among the many series
that include books on France are AAA Travel Publications, Berlitz
International, Birnbaum Travel Guides, Cadagon Guides, Eyewitness
Travel Guides, Fielding’s, Fodor’s, Frommer’s, Insight Guides,
Interlink Publishing Group, Let’s Go Guides, Lonely Planet, Michelin
Guides, Passport Books, and Rough Guides.
In recent years, a number of books have been published about the
delights and challenges of daily living in France from a British or
American perspective. Peter Mayle, a British ex-advertising executive
who lived out his fantasy to restore a 200-year-old farmhouse in
Provence, recounted the experience in A Year in Provence. He then followed it up with Encore Provence, Toujours Provence (Vintage
Departures), and Hotel Pastis: A Novel of Provence. Diane Johnson’s
novels Le Mariage and Le Divorce are amusing accounts of the romantic
complications and cultural clashes encountered by Americans in Paris.
Adam Gopnik’s Paris to the Moon is an insightful chronicle of his five
years spent in Paris as a correspondent for the New Yorker magazine.
Theodore Zeldin’s The French is very insightful. Other good books on
cultural differences are Raymonde Carroll’s Cultural Misunderstandings:
The French-American Experience and Polly Platt’s French or Foe?:
Getting the Most Out of Visiting, Living and Working in France.
The gastronomical side of France is deliciously presented in several
books by Patricia Wells, including The Food Lover’s Guide to France,
Patricia Wells at Home in Provence, and The Paris Cookbook. Tasty reading is also provided by Peter Mayle’s French Lessons: Adventures with
Knife, Fork, and Corkscrew; A. J. Liebling’s Between Meals: An Appetite
for Paris; and M. F. K. Fisher’s Two Towns in Provence.
Books that explore historical aspects of France include Barbara
Tuchman’s Distant Mirror: The Calamitous Fourteenth Century, a fascinating historical narrative on the Hundred Years’ War, Crusades, and
other important events affecting medieval France. Daily life in 17thand 18th-century France is chronicled in A History of Everyday Things:
The Birth of Consumption in France, 1600–1800 by Daniel Roche.
Good biographies include Antonia Fraser’s Marie Antoinette: The
Journey and Robert Asprey’s The Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte and The
Reign of Napoleon Bonaparte. The intellectual ferment of Paris between
the wars is the subject of Noel Riley Fitch’s Sylvia Beach and the Lost
Generation: A History of Literary Paris in the Twenties and Thirties,
while Ernest Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast is a classic personal memoir of the period. The Allied invasion of Normandy is the subject of
Cornelius Ryan’s gripping The Longest Day: June 6, 1944.
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Part 2.105
Classic French films available on video are also a good way to get a feel
for France. Based on Marcel Pagnol’s novels of rural Provence are Jean
de Florette and its sequel Manon des Sources. The works of French filmmaker Louis Malle include Au Revoir les Enfants and Milou en Mai,
while those of François Truffaut include Le Dernier Métro, Jules et Jim,
and La Nuit Américaine.
Tourist Offices: General Information
French Government Tourist Office Web site:
www.franceguide.com
E-mail: [email protected]
French Embassy in the United States: www.info-france-usa.org
Customs: www.info-france-usa.org/customs
French Government Tourist Office
444 Madison Ave.
New York, NY 10022-6903
Tel: 410-286-8310
Fax: 212-838-7855
205 N. Michigan Ave.
Suite 3770
Chicago, IL 60601
Tel: 312-327-5226
Fax: 312-327-5207
9454 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90212-2967
Tel: 310-271-6665
Fax: 310-276-2835
Internet Directory: Regions and Cities
Paris
Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau: www.paris-touristoffice.com
Pariscope: www.pariscope.fr
Paris Net: www.parisnet.com
Paris Pages: www.paris.org
Time Out: www.timeout.com/paris
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Ile-de-France
Ile-de-France: www.paris-ile-de-france.com
Auvers-sur-Oise: www.auvers-sur-oise.com
Barbizon: www.barbizon-france.com
Disneyland Resort Paris: www.disneylandparis.com
Rambouillet: www.ot-rambouillet.fr
St-Denis: www.ville-saint-denis.fr
St-Germain-en-Laye: www.ville-st-germain-en-laye.fr
Eastern France
Eastern France: www.easternfrance.com
Alsace, Bourgogne (Burgundy), and Champagne-Ardenne:
www.abcoffrance.com
Bourgogne (Burgundy): www.burgundy-tourism.com
Auxerre: www.auxerre.com
Beaune: www.ot-beaune.fr
Dijon: www.ville-dijon.fr
Morvan: www.morvan.com
Sens: www.mairie-sens.fr
Champagne-Ardenne: www.tourisme-champagne-ardenne.com
Epernay: www.epernay.net
Reims: www.ville-reims.fr
Troyes: www.ville-troyes.fr
Lorraine: www.cr-lorraine.fr
Metz: www.mairie-metz.fr
Nancy: www.ot-nancy.fr
Verdun: www.verdunfrance.com
Alsace: www.tourism-alsace.com
Colmar: www.ville-colmar.fr
Kaysersberg: www.ville-kaysersberg.fr
Mulhouse: www.ville-mulhouse.fr
Ribeauville and Riquewihr: www.ribeauville-riquewihr.com
Saverne: www.mairie-saverne.fr
Strasbourg: www.strasbourg.com
Franche-Comté: www.franche-comte.org
Arbois: www.arbois.com
Belfort: www.mairie-belfort.fr
Besançon: www.besancon.com
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Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes: www.rhonealpes-tourisme.com
Annecy: www.annecy.org
Chambéry: www.chambery-tourisme.com
Chamonix: www.chamonix.com
Evian: www.eviantourism.com
Grenoble: www.ville-grenoble.fr
Lyon: www.lyon-France.com
Pérouges: www.perouges.org
Southeast France
Côte d’Azur (French Riviera): www.crt-riviera.fr
Cannes: www.cannes-on-line.com
Grasse: www.ville-grasse.fr
Menton: www.menton.com
Monaco: www.monaco.mc
Nice: www.nice-coteazur.org
St-Paul-de-Vence: www.stpaulweb.com
Provence: www.crt-paca.fr
Aix-en-Provence: www.aixenprovencetourism.com
Arles: www.ville-arles.fr
Avignon: www.avignon-et-provence.com
Marseille: www.mairie-marseille.fr
St-Tropez: www.saint-tropez.fr
Languedoc-Roussillon: www.sunfrance.com
Carcassonne: www.carcassonneinfo.com
Montpellier: www.ville-montpellier.fr
Narbonne: www.narbonne.com
Nîmes: www.ot-nimes.fr
Perpignan: www.perpignantourisme.com
Corse (Corsica): www.visit-corsica.com
Central France
Limousin: www.cr-limousin.fr
Aubusson: www.ville-aubusson.com
Limoges: www.ville-limoges.fr
Tulle: www.ville-tulle.fr
Auvergne: www.cr-auvergne.fr
Aurillac: www.ville-aurillac.fr
Clermont-Ferrand: www.ville-clermont-ferrand.fr
Le Puy-en-Velay: www.mairie-le-puy-en-velay.fr
Vichy: www.ville-vichy.fr
Part 2.108
•
©
Southwest France
Aquitaine: www.cr-aquitaine.fr
Bayonne: www.ville-bayonne.fr
Biarritz: www.ville-biarritz.fr
Bordeaux: www.bordeaux-tourisme.com
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil: www.leseyzies.com
Périgueux: www.ville-perigueux.fr
St-Jean-de-Luz: www.saint-jean-de-luz.com
Midi-Pyrénées: www.tourism.midi-pyrenees.org
Albi: www.mairie-albi.fr
Lourdes: www.lourdes-france.com
Toulouse: www.mairie-toulouse.fr
Western France
Western France: www.westernfrancetouristboard.com
Normandie (Normandy): www.normandy-tourism.org
Bayeux: www.mairie-bayeux.fr
Caen: www.ville-caen.fr
Cherbourg: www.ville-cherbourg.fr
Deauville: www.deauville.org
Giverny: www.giverny.org
Le Havre: www.ville-lehavre.fr
Honfleur: www.ville-honfleur.fr
Mont-St-Michel: www.mont-saint-michel.net
Rouen: www.mairie-rouen.fr
Bretagne (Brittany): www.brittanytourism.com
Brest: www.mairie-brest.fr
Carnac: www.ot-carnac.fr
Dinan: www.dinan-tourisme.com
Quimper: www.mairie-quimper.fr
Rennes: www.ville-rennes.fr
St-Malo: www.ville-saint-malo.fr
Vannes: www.mairie-vannes.fr
Centre Val de Loire (Loire Valley): www.loirevalleytourism.com
Blois: www.ville-blois.fr
Chartres: www.ville-chartres.fr
Orléans: www.orleans.fr
Tours: www.ville-tours.fr
Pays de la Loire (Western Loire): www.cr-pays-de-la-loire.fr
Le Mans: www.lemans.fr
Nantes: www.mairie-nantes.fr
Saumur: www.ville-saumur.fr
©
•
Part 2.109
Poitou-Charentes: www.poitou-charentes-vacances.com
Cognac: www.cognac-france.com
Poitiers: www.mairie-poitiers.fr
La Rochelle: www.ville-larochelle.fr
Northern France
Nord Pas-de-Calais: www.crt-nordpasdecalais.fr
Arras: www.ville-arras.fr
Calais: www.mairie-calais.fr
Dunkerque: www.ville-dunkerque.fr
Lille: www.mairie-lille.fr
Picardie (Picardy): www.picardietourisme.com
Amiens: www.amiens.com
Beauvais: www.mairie-beauvais.fr
Chantilly: www.chantilly-tourisme.com
Compiègne: www.compiegne.com
Senlis: www.ville-senlis.fr
Soissons: www.ville-soissons.fr
Driving Itineraries
Autoroutes of France: www.autoroutes.fr
Michelin: www.michelin-travel.com; www.viamichelin.com
Route maps: www.mappy.com
Transportation
Airports of Paris: www.adp.fr
Rail Europe: www.raileurope.com
RATP (Paris Transit): www.ratp.fr
SNCF (French National Railroad): www.sncf.fr
Accommodations
Abotel-Small Hotels of Paris: www.abotelparis.com, 800-41-PARIS
Accor: www.accorhotels.com, 800-221-4542
Best Western: www.bestwestern.fr
Bienvenue au Château: www.bienvenue-au-chateau.com
Châteaux et Hôtels de France: www.chateauxhotels.com,
800-4-CHOICE
Choice Hotels France: www.choicehotels.fr
Citadines: www.citadines.com
Concorde Hotels: www.concorde-hotels.com, 800-888-4747
Exclusive Hotels: www.hotels-unis.com
Gîtes de France: www.gites-de-france.fr
Part 2.110
•
©
Groupe Envergure: www.envergure.fr
Les Hotels de Paris: www.leshotelsdeparis.com
Hyatt of France: www.paris.hyatt.com
Inter-Continental: www.intercontinental.com, 800-837-0200
Logis de France: www.logis-de-france.fr
Lucien Barrière: www.lucienbarriere.com, 866-495-5474
Le Meridien: www.lemeridien-hotels.com, 800-543-4300
Moulin Etape: www.moulinetape.com
Pierre & Vacances: www.pierreetvacances.com
Relais et Châteaux: www.relaischateaux.com, 800-735-2478
Relais de Paris: www.lesrelaisdeparis.fr
Relais du Silence: www.silencehotel.com, 800-OK-FRANCE
Société des Bains de Mer: www.montecarlomeeting.com
Museums and Monuments
Centre des Monuments Nationaux (National Monuments Center):
www.monuments.fr
Château de Versailles: www.chateauversailles.com
Musée du Louvre: www.louvre.fr
Musée d’Orsay: www.musee-orsay.fr
Sports
Roland Garros French Tennis Open: www.frenchopen.org
Ski France: www.skifrance.fr; www.france-4-ski.com
Tour de France: www.letour.com
My Contact Information
©
Selling France: My Contact Information
•
Part 2.111
Part 3
• Study Guide
• Testing Forms
Contents
How to Study Destination Specialist France
3.1
Preparing for the Destination Specialist Test
3.3
Study Questions for the Destination Specialist
France Course
Map Skills
France Overview
Eastern France
Rhône-Alpes
Southeast France
Central France
Southwest France
Western France
Northern France
Overseas Regions
Selling France
Foods of France
Alcoholic Beverages of France
3.5
3.6
3.10
3.13
3.15
3.17
3.18
3.21
3.23
3.25
3.30
3.32
3.33
3.35
3.37
Answers to Study Questions for the Destination
Specialist France Course
3.39
How to Earn Destination Specialist Designations
3.43
Destination Specialist Test Request Form
3.45
Destination Visit Report for Certified Destination Specialist
3.47
Certified Destination Specialist Certification Form
3.49
Course Evaluation Form
3.51
How to Study
DESTINATION SPECIALIST FRANCE
T
he key to completing any course of study is to, first, get started
and, second, keep moving forward, even if it means reading just a
little bit each day. Waiting for a large block of time to read large sections of the text works for a few people, but not for most.
An average amount of time for a course is about three months. You can
complete it in less time if you wish, but most people need to spread the
study time over that period. You can take longer, but many find that
postponing their study for a month or two leads to more procrastination. This puts the course psychologically on “indefinite hold,” and it is
not completed.
The following is a suggested course schedule:
Week 1
France Overview: Geography, Climate and Seasons,
Arrival Briefing, Transportation within France, and
Accommodations
Week 2
France Overview: Historical Background, Culture,
Celebrations and Special Events, Dining and
Entertainment, and Shopping
Week 3
Week 4
Eastern France
Week 5
Rhône-Alpes and Southeast France
Week 6
Central France and Southwest France
Week 7
Western France
Week 8
Northern France and Overseas Regions
Week 9
Selling France
Week 10
Selling France
Week 11
Review
Week 12
Test
©
How to Study Destination Specialist France
•
Part 3.1
Studying with a group is a good way to keep on schedule. If you have
no group handy, see if you can get another colleague to take the course
and meet with on a weekly basis to keep moving along.
If you are working on your own, consider giving your schedule to a
colleague or friend and ask them to quiz you each week. In no time
you will quickly have gone through the book.
Read each chapter thoroughly. Take notes or use a highlighter pen to
emphasize what seem to be key points. The following guidelines will
help you determine what points to take notes on and highlight:
• Note any points (attractions, activities, sights, etc.) that strike you in
particular. You will remember these more readily. Have you been to
the destination? Have you known others who have traveled there?
What were your or their reactions and impressions?
• Note any points that you could already use in specific sales situations.
What experiences have you already had selling the destination? What
areas within the destination are you asked about most often? You
may already have clients with particular interests in these areas.
If you are not in a sales situation, you may have friends or relatives
with interests that match what you are learning. Think about how
you might use this information to explain these places or things.
• Take the hints given by the text to figure out the key attractions for
this destination. Notice the areas and points of interest that are
featured in each region of the country; you should know something
about them.
You are always encouraged to learn as much as possible about the
destination. That is why the material is presented in some depth. But
do not feel you have to memorize it all. The point at which the
material ceases to be meaningful and becomes just a memory game is
the point at which you should probably stop.
• To delve deeper into a subject, check with video stores, tourist
offices, bookstores, and libraries for DVDs, videotapes, maps, books,
and materials on the destinations you are going to study. See what is
on the Internet. Go through the index of National Geographic,
Condé Nast Traveller, Travel + Leisure, or other magazines to see if
they have articles on these destinations. No doubt you will think of
other sources.
Part 3.2
•
Destination Specialist France: Study Guide
©
Preparing
FOR THE DESTINATION SPECIALIST TEST
W
hen you and/or your group are ready to test, follow the
procedures as outlined in the Destination Specialist Test Request
Form found near the end of this study guide.
Test Content
The Destination Specialist France test is 50 multiple-choice questions.
It is not an open-book test. You will be tested on your knowledge of
important facts and your ability to apply this knowledge in real-life, onthe-job situations.
The test is not based on memorization per se, but on your ability to
use the key concepts of the course material in a practical way.
The test takes two hours and consists of 50 two-point, multiple-choice
questions. These test your ability to locate major sightseeing attractions
and/or to identify popular areas and activities.
Overcoming Test Anxiety for Groups
Adult learners who have been away from school testing probably have a
certain amount of “test anxiety.” Some people in your group might
even be consumed with worry about how to pass the test. It is important, then, to help them overcome what could be a major psychological
obstacle (i.e., their concerns about the test) by showing them how the
study group work includes activities designed to help them pass the
test, as well as to grasp the material.
Consult The Travel
Institute’s Destination
Specialist Web page,
www.thetravelinstitute.com
for “Tips for Facilitating a
Destination Specialist Group.”
1. First of all, reassure them that The Travel Institute wants all people
who have studied hard and learned the course materials to pass the
test. The testing process is not based on a curve, in which some will
pass and some will fail.
2. Second, the emphasis is not on rote memorization of obscure facts
but on prime attractions and prime information, which you will be
emphasizing during the meetings. This includes those things that do
not change (e.g., physical landmarks or historical attractions), as
opposed to the things that do (for example, the dates of an event or
specific prices).
©
Preparing for the Destination Specialist Test
•
3
3. Third, you have the option of giving the class periodic quick quizzes.
To make your administrative burden as light as possible, you can let
them grade themselves. You may even have them write some of the
questions: Ask each person in the class to write one or two good
multiple-choice questions and hand them in to you. Take the best
ones and type them on a sheet of paper as a test to hand out to the
group, or use them as oral review questions.
All these mechanisms serve to give feedback to the participants on how
they are doing, and help to bolster their confidence in being able to do
well on the test.
Sample Test Questions
1. Which of the following destinations is not in France?
A. Geneva (correct answer)
B. Lyon
C. Nice
D. Marseille
2. Which of the following is not an appropriate way to travel between
most towns in Provence?
A. plane (correct answer)
B. train
C. car
D. bicycle
Part 3.4
•
©
Study Questions
FOR THE DESTINATION SPECIALIST FRANCE COURSE
Y
ou do not need to answer these questions and send them to The
Travel Institute in order to take the Destination Specialist test. The
questions are for you alone, intended to help you check your
absorption of the material. Answers are given at the end of the Study
Guide so that you can check your knowledge. The sample questions
reinforce the key features of each area. They also serve as a review for
the final test.
In the multiple-choice questions, the answers are given, and all you
have to do is recognize them. Keep in mind the purpose of the
exercises: They will show you whether you have found the key points
and serve to reinforce these points, and they will act as a practice test.
Use these exercises when reviewing. Your objective should be to
“recall” as much material as you can, not merely “recognize” it. Try to
answer multiple-choice questions before looking at the choices. See if
you can remember facts about cities or places before looking at their
matching descriptions. This will help you in the sales situation, because
clients do not come in asking you to match sights to cities but rather to
have you match them to destinations.
©
Study Questions
•
Part 3.5
Map Skills
Regions of France
Directions: Name the region designated by the numbers on the map.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
Part 3.6
•
©
UNITED KINGDOM
BELGIUM
1
GERMANY
English Channel
LUX.
16
Channel
Islands (U.K.)
2
3
15
17
4
14
13
SWITZ.
21
18
5
12
20
ATLANTIC OCEAN
19
6
ITALY
11
Bay of Biscay
10
7
9
8
MONACO
Gulf of Lion
ANDORRA
SPAIN
©
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
22
Study Questions: Map Skills
•
Part 3.7
Cities of France
Directions: Match the numbers from the map at right with the name of the city listed below.
Amiens
_________________
Besançon
_________________
Bordeaux
_________________
Clermont-Ferrand
_________________
Dijon
_________________
Lille
_________________
Limoges
_________________
Lyon
_________________
Marseille
_________________
Montpellier
_________________
Nancy
_________________
Nantes
_________________
Nice
_________________
Orléans
_________________
Paris
_________________
Poitiers
_________________
Reims
_________________
Rennes
_________________
Rouen
_________________
Strasbourg
_________________
Toulouse
_________________
Part 3.8
•
©
UNITED KINGDOM
BELGIUM
GERMANY
14
English Channel
LUX.
9
5
21
Channel
Islands (U.K.)
10
7
2
17
11
6
18
SWITZ.
15
16
13
19
ATLANTIC OCEAN
1
ITALY
4
Bay of Biscay
8
12
20
3
Gulf of Lion
ANDORRA
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
SPAIN
©
Study Questions: Map Skills
•
Part 3.9
France Overview
Directions: Circle the correct answer or fill in the blank.
1. What is the approximate population of France?
A. 40 million
B. 60 million
C. 80 million
D. 100 million
2. When it is 6 P.M. in Paris, what time is it in New York?
A. 11 A.M.
B. 12 noon
C. 1 P.M.
D. 2 P.M.
3. How many visitors traveled to France in 2000, according to the World Tourism Organization?
A. 30 million
B. 45.5 million
C. 60 million
D. 75.5 million
4. Which U.S. state is about the same size as France?
A. Illinois
B. California
C. Connecticut
D. Texas
5. Which of the following statements about France is true?
A. It
B. It
C. It
D. It
is
is
is
is
the
the
the
the
smallest country in Western Europe.
largest country in Western Europe.
second-largest country in Western Europe.
same size as Britain.
6. Which general shape is France most like?
A. a
B. a
C. a
D. a
Part 3.10
•
square
hexagon
circle
rectangle
©
7. Except in the mountains, for the most part, the climate of France is
A. exceptionally humid with plenty of rainfall.
B. very hot in summer and very cold in winter with snow and rain.
C. temperate with mild winters.
D. tropical.
8. Which Paris airport could travelers fly into from the United States?
A. Roissy-Charles de Gaulle
B. Orly
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
9. A leisurely and enjoyable way to tour the inland waterways of France is by
______________________________________________________.
10. One reason that France fought in World War I was to regain the regions of
______________________________ and ______________________________ from Germany.
11. During the 1950s, France played an important role in establishing the
____________________________________________________________.
12. Southern France is known for a cold, dry wind called the ________________________________.
13. Which country does not border France?
A. Belgium
B. Switzerland
C. Italy
D. the Netherlands
14. Almost all restaurants in France have service compris, a service charge included in their prices.
What percent of the bill is the service compris?
A. 2 to 3
B. 5
C. 10
D. 15
15. What days are museums in France most likely to be closed?
A. Sunday or Monday
B. Monday or Tuesday
C. Tuesday or Wednesday
D. Wednesday or Thursday
©
Study Questions: France Overview
•
Part 3.11
16. Where are visitors likely to find the best exchange rates?
A. automated teller machines (ATMs)
B. banks
C. hotels
D. exchange bureaus
17. What is the maximum speed reached by the trains à grande vitesse (TGV) in France?
A. 100
B. 150
C. 200
D. 250
18. How can clients save money on rental cars in France?
A. Pay with cash.
B. Pay with credit card.
C. Rent at the airport.
D. Reserve in the United States and pay in advance.
19. What is the most efficient way to travel around France?
A. by
B. by
C. by
D. by
airplane
bus
rental car
train
20. The French term gîte refers to what type of accommodations?
A. a
B. a
C. a
D. a
small hotel
bed-and-breakfast establishment
self-catering accommodation
campground
21. Which of the following is not a feature of the great Gothic cathedrals in France?
A. stained-glass windows
B. flying buttresses
C. little ornamentation
D. ornamentation such as gargoyles
22. The most important French architect of the 20th century was _____________________________.
23. Which artist is not associated with the South of France?
A. Claude Monet
B. Vincent van Gogh
C. Paul Gauguin
D. Paul Cézanne
Part 3.12
•
©
24. Which artist was not an Impressionist?
A. Edgar Degas
B. Claude Monet
C. Camille Pissarro
D. Henri Matisse
25. During which month is the Tour de France cycling race held?
A. June
B. July
C. August
D. September
26. Which city is known for having the most spectacular Carnival celebration?
A. Paris
B. Lyon
C. Marseille
D. Nice
The Regions of France
Directions: Match the following public squares in Paris with the best description.
Place des Vosges
Place Vendôme
Place de la Madeleine
Place de la Concorde
______________________________
1. An Egyptian obelisk for a centerpiece, execution site during
French Revolution
______________________________
2. Known for its neoclassical church and gourmet shops
______________________________
3. Known for elegant boutiques and its octagonal shape
______________________________
4. Lined with stately 17th-century townhouses, site of former
home of Victor Hugo
5. Which attraction is not located in the Marais quarter of Paris?
A. Musée Picasso
B. Place des Vosges
C. Panthéon
D. Musée Carnavalet
©
Study Questions: Paris and Ile-de-France
•
Part 3.13
6. What is not true about the Montmartre area of Paris?
A. The artist Toulouse-Lautrec did much of his work here.
B. The last remaining vineyard in Paris is there.
C. It was once a small village outside of Paris.
D. A very large, famous flea market is there.
7. Which attraction is not situated on the Left Bank of Paris?
A. Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Gardens)
B. Hôtel des Invalides
C. St-Germain-des-Prés
D. Cathédrale de Notre-Dame
8. What area of Paris contains Ste-Chapelle?
A. the Marais
B. the Latin Quarter
C. Ile de la Cité
D. Ile St-Louis
9. Which major attraction was intended to be a temporary structure?
A. Arc de Triomphe (Arch of Triumph)
B. Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower)
C. Conciergerie
D. Orangerie
10. Which Paris art museum is located in a former railway station?
A. Musée
B. Musée
C. Musée
D. Musée
Rodin
d’Orsay
du Louvre
Picasso
11. Which museum has the most extensive collection of mid-to late-20th-century art in Paris?
A. Musée du Louvre
B. Musée d’Orsay
C. Centre Georges-Pompidou
D. Musée Marmottan Monet
12. What city/town outside Paris is not known for its château?
A. Fontainebleau
B. Versailles
C. Vaux-le-Vicomte
D. Barbizon
Part 3.14
•
©
13. In what town outside Paris can clients see Claude Monet’s home and the Musée d’Art Américain?
A. Auvers-sur-Oise
B. Giverny
C. Provins
D. Chantilly
Eastern France: Bourgogne (Burgundy), Champagne-Ardenne,
Lorraine, Alsace, and Franche-Comté
1. The Côte d’Or wine route in Bourgogne, known for its aged red wines, starts just south of
this city.
A. Vézelay
B. Dijon
C. Sens
D. Nevers
2. Which town in Bourgogne is the site of the oldest abbey church in France?
A. Dijon
B. Beaune
C. Auxerre
D. Cluny
3. In which month does the wine harvest in Bourgogne usually occur?
A. August
B. September
C. October
D. November
4. Charleville-Mézières is known as the __________________________________capital of the world.
5. Where in the Champagne-Ardenne region can clients visit champagne cellars to taste samples?
A. Reims
B. Epernay
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
6. What city in the Champagne-Ardenne region has one of the world’s most famous cathedrals?
A. Langres
B. Reims
C. Charleville-Mézières
D. Hautvillers
©
Study Questions: Eastern France
•
Part 3.15
7. Which country does not share a border with the Lorraine region of France?
A. Switzerland
B. Belgium
C. Germany
D. Luxembourg
8. The style of design most closely associated with the city of Nancy is
__________________________________.
9. Which city outside of Nancy in the Lorraine region is best known as a major World War I battleground?
A. Metz
B. Epinal
C. Baccarat
D. Verdun
10. Which town in Lorraine is the site of St-Pierre-aux-Nonnains, believed to be the oldest church in
France?
A. Epinal
B. Nancy
C. Metz
D. Verdun
11. What does La Petite France in Strasbourg refer to?
A. a
B. a
C. a
D. a
famous restaurant
museum devoted to miniatures
neighborhood of canals and medieval houses
town square
12. The Route du Vin d’Alsace (Alsace Wine Road) passes through this charming medieval village.
A. Kayersberg
B. Ribeauvillé
C. Riquewihr
D. all of the above
13. Which of the following is not true about Strasbourg?
A. The
B. The
C. The
D. The
European Parliament is located there.
French national anthem was written there.
city has popular Christmas Markets.
city’s main public square is Place Stanislas.
14. The main nature park in Franche-Comté is called ________________________________________.
Part 3.16
•
©
15. In which town/village outside Besançon is the Saline Royale (Royal Saltworks), a UNESCO
World Heritage Site?
A. Arbois
B. Dole
C. Arc-et-Senans
D. Belfort
16. Which town in Franch-Comté is famous for its lion statue?
A. Belfort
B. Besançon
C. Arbois
D. Arc-et-Senans
Directions: Match the name with the best description.
Beaune
Colmar
Metz
Troyes
______________________________ 17. Situated midway between Paris and Dijon; city center laid
out in shape of a champagne cork
______________________________ 18. Wine capital of Bourgogne; famous 15th-century
Hôtel-Dieu des Hospices
______________________________ 19. Known for canals and half-timbered houses
______________________________ 20. Surrounded by a moat formed by two rivers
Rhône-Alpes
1. Which national park is in the Rhône-Alpes?
A. Parc National des Ecrins
B. Parc National de la Vanoise
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
2. Which feature is not associated with Lyon?
A. gastronomy
B. Roman sites
C. historic silk weavers’ district
D. wine museum
©
Study Questions: Rhône-Alpes
•
Part 3.17
3. The Pays Beaujolais (Beaujolais Country) starts about 25 miles north of this city.
A. Vienne
B. Grenoble
C. Lyon
D. Chambéry
4. Which city/town is near Mont Blanc in the French Alps, the highest mountain peak in Europe?
A. Albertville
B. Grenoble
C. Tignes and Val d’Isère
D. Chamonix
5. Which city/town is sometimes called the “Venice of the Alps”?
A. Annecy
B. Chambéry
C. Grenoble
D. Vienne
Chambéry
Chamonix
Grenoble
Lyon
______________________________
6. A university city, considered the intellectual and economic
center of the French Alps
______________________________
7. Main square known as Place Bellecour, where cinematic
technology was invented
______________________________
8. Chic mountain resort
______________________________
9. Historic stronghold of the Dukes of Savoy
Southeast France: Côte d’Azur (French Riviera), Provence,
Languedoc-Roussillon, and Corse (Corsica)
1. Which feature is not in Nice?
A. flower market in the old city
B. seaside promenade
C. Matisse museum
D. glass museum
Part 3.18
•
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2. Which town is not at the seaside near Nice?
A. Antibes
B. Saint-Paul-de-Vence
C. Cagnes-sur-Mer
D. Villefranche-sur-Mer
3. The town famous for its perfume factories is _____________________________________________.
4. In which month does the Cannes International Film Festival occur?
A. April
B. May
C. June
D. August
5. Which artist, born in Aix-en-Provence, is most closely associated with that city?
A. Vincent van Gogh
B. Camille Pissaro
C. Paul Cézanne
D. Marc Chagall
6. Which of the following statements is not true about Marseille?
A. It
B. It
C. It
D. It
is the largest seaport in France.
was founded by Greek mariners.
is the site of a Byzantine-style basilica.
is the site of a popular jazz festival.
7. Where is the largest international arts festival in Provence held?
A. Aix-en-Provence
B. Avignon
C. Arles
D. Saint-Tropez
8. The largest canyon in Europe, located midway between Avignon and Nice, is called the
____________________________________________________.
9. The marshy delta at the western end of Provence, where the Rhône River meets the
Mediterranean Sea, is known for its gardiens (cowboys) who ride the local horses and bulls. The
delta is called ________________________________________________.
©
Study Questions: Southeast France
•
Part 3.19
10. Which quaint seaside fishing village west of Cannes became famous with celebrities and
jet-setters?
A. Saint-Raphael
B. Menton
C. Fréjus
D. Saint-Tropez
11. What is the Pont-du-Gard, near the city of Nîmes?
A. a bridge built to honor Napoléon Bonaparte
B. an ancient Roman aqueduct
C. an historic fortress built by Vauban
D. a canal
12. Which Languedoc-Roussillon town is home to the Place de la Comédie, site of the oldest
botanical garden in France?
A. Nîmes
B. Montpellier
C. Béziers
D. Narbonne
13. What is the town of Sète, France’s largest Mediterranean fishing port, best known for?
A. Roman ruins
B. art museums
C. water jousting contests
D. a Catalan museum
14. The UNESCO World Heritage Site that runs about 150 miles from Toulouse to the
Mediterranean port of Narbonne is ____________________________________________________.
15. Which city/town in Corsica was the birthplace of Napoléon Bonaparte?
A. Calvi
B. Ajaccio
C. Corte
D. Bastia
16. By what means of transportation do most visitors arrive in Corsica?
A. ferry
B. cruise ship
C. airplane
D. train
Part 3.20
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17. Which city/town in Corsica still has a medieval citadel?
A. Calvi
B. Bonifacio
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
Aix-en-Provence
Arles
Avignon
Collioure
Menton
Saint-Paul-de-Vence
______________________________ 18. City of fountains and a wide tree-lined central boulevard
______________________________ 19. Seaside resort town near the Italian border, home of Musée
Jean Cocteau
______________________________ 20. Former Roman capital of Provence
______________________________ 21. Home to La Colombe d’Or and the Fondation Maeght
______________________________ 22. Site of the Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) and the
Pont St-Bénezet
______________________________ 23. Picturesque fishing village near Perpignan
Central France: Limousin and Auvergne
1. Which of the following is not associated with Limoges?
A. enamelware and fine porcelain
B. beef cattle and sheep
C. medieval half-timbered houses
D. crystal
2. Which town in Limousin is preserved as a memorial to its World War II victims?
A. Collonges-la-Rouge
B. Brive-la-Gaillarde
C. Oradour-sur-Glane
D. Tulle
©
Study Questions: Central France
•
Part 3.21
3.
What town outside Limoges has long been known for its fine carpets and tapestries?
A. Tulle
B. Guéret
C. Segur-le-Château
D. Aubusson
4. Which of the following is not associated with Auvergne?
A. spa towns
B. extinct volcanoes
C. dry white wines
D. tapestry weaving
5. Which of the following is a spa town in Auvergne and overlooks the Dordogne River?
A. Moulins
B. Vichy
C. Le Mont-Dore
D. Thiers
6. The volcanic crater just outside Clermont-Ferrand, the capital of Auvergne, is called
____________________________________________.
Brive-la-Gaillarde
Collonges-la-Rouge
Guéret
Tulle
______________________________
7. Site of yearly accordion festival
______________________________
8. Site of a giant maze for family fun
______________________________
9. Known for its open-air produce and food market
______________________________ 10. A hamlet with buildings of deep red sandstone
Directions: Match the town to its best-known characteristic.
Le Puy-en-Velay
Riom
Thiers
Vichy
______________________________ 11. cutlery production
______________________________ 12. a spa
______________________________ 13. lace-making
______________________________ 14. capital of Auvergne during Middle Ages
Part 3.22
•
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Southwest France: Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrénées
1. In which city/town, with a history connected to England, can Place Gambetta be found?
A. Bayonne
B. Bordeaux
C. Saint-Jean-de-Luz
D. Biarritz
2. In which city/town is the Basque culture most evident?
A. Périgueux
B. Saint-Emilion
C. Bayonne
D. Sarlat-la-Canéda
3. Which medieval village near Bordeaux, known worldwide for its fine wines, is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site?
A. Bergerac
B. Saint-Emilion
D. Périgueux
4. What popular oceanside resort, known for its oysters, is near the enormous Dune du Pilat?
A. Biarritz
B. Arcachon
D. Pau
5. Where in the Aquitaine region can one visit the famous cave paintings dating back about 17,000
years?
A. Sarlat-la-Canéda
B. Bergerac
C. Pau
D. Lascaux
6. What village near Périgueux contains the Musée National de la Préhistoire?
A. Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil
B. Lascaux
C. Sarlat-la-Canéda
D. Bergerac
©
Study Questions: Southwest France
•
Part 3.23
7. Which city/town has a museum devoted to Toulouse-Lautrec?
A. Toulouse
B. Albi
C. Figeac
D. Castres
8. What is the town of Figeac best known for?
A. a museum devoted to Egyptian artifacts
B. Roman sites
C. religious shrines
D. prehistoric cave paintings
9. What village perched on a cliff was an important pilgrimage stop during the Middle Ages and has
the chapel with the Black Madonna statue?
A. Conques
B. Rocamadour
C. Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
D. Foix
10. What is the world-renowned pilgrimage site near the city of Pau?
A. Albi
B. Figeac
C. Lourdes
D. Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
11. The national park that runs for more than 60 miles along the Spanish border is the
___________________________________________________________.
Biarritz
Castres
Moissac
Périgueux
Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Toulouse
______________________________ 12. Known for its rose-colored brick buildings, aerospace
industry hub
______________________________ 13. Site of notable Benedictine abbey
______________________________ 14. Stylish oceanside resort near Bayonne with casino and
surfing beaches
______________________________ 15. Gastronomic center known for foie gras and black truffles
Part 3.24
•
©
______________________________ 16. Charming resort near the Spanish border and a working
fishing port
______________________________ 17. Home of the Musée Goya
Western France: Normandie (Normandy), Bretagne (Brittany),
Centre Val de Loire (Loire Valley), Pays de la Loire (Western Loire),
and Poitou-Charentes
1. Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc) was burned at the stake at the Place du Vieux-Marché (Old Market
Square) in this city in Normandie.
A. Le Havre
B. Rouen
C. Caen
D. Cherbourg
2. Rouen is known as the “City of ___________________________.”
A. fountains
B. music
C. light
D. spires
3. Which city/town makes a good base for touring the D-Day Coast?
A. Bayeux
B. Caen
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
4. Which town in Normandie is famed for its tapestry?
A. Alençon
B. Fécamp
C. Deauville
D. Bayeux
5. What ancient abbey perched on a rock island near Saint-Malo is classified as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site?
A. Dinard
B. Dinan
C. Mont-Saint-Michel
D. Etretat
©
Study Questions: Western France
•
Part 3.25
6.
The Normandie region is one of the top destinations in the world for this sport.
A. golf
B. tennis
C. skiing
D. scuba diving
7. What Normandie seaside resort is particularly known for its boardwalk, casino, and American
Film Festival?
A. Trouville
B. Deauville
C. Etretat
D. Honfleur
8. What is the best way to explore Bretagne?
A. by
B. by
C. by
D. by
train
bus
rental car
barge
9. What town in Bretagne is associated with prehistoric megaliths?
A. Quimper
B. Belle-Ile-en-Mer
C. Saint-Malo
D. Carnac
10. What is Bretagne’s largest island? It is a short ferry ride from the south coast of the mainland.
A. Saint-Malo
B. Quiberon
C. Quimper
D. Belle-Ile-en-Mer
11. Which city/town in Bretagne is famous for its earthenware pottery?
A. Brest
B. Vannes
C. Quimper
D. Quiberon
12. Which cultural traditions are most identified with the region of Bretagne?
A. Basque
B. Celtic
C. Roman
D. Norman
Part 3.26
•
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13. What city is near the Forêt de Pampoint (Pampoint Forest), which appeals to clients interested in
the legends of King Arthur?
A. Rennes
B. Vannes
C. Saint-Malo
D. Brest
14. Approximately how many of the estimated 1,000 châteaux of the Centre Val de Loire are open to
the public?
A. 25
B. 60
C. 100
D. 120
15. In which town in the Centre Val de Loire can visitors enjoy a magic show?
A. Amboise
B. Blois
C. Orléans
D. Tours
16. Which city/town is considered the best base for exploring the châteaux of the Centre Val de
Loire?
A. Orléans
B. Chartres
C. Bourges
D. Tours
17. What château in the Centre Val de Loire is about 10 miles from the town of Blois?
A. Château de Chambord
B. Château de Cheverny
C. Château de Chaumont
D. all of the above
18. Which city/town in the Centre Val de Loire has a museum dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci?
He lived his last years there.
A. Amboise
B. Chartres
C. Orléans
D. Bourges
19. Which town in the Centre Val de Loire has the best-preserved medieval cathedral in France,
Cathédrale Notre-Dame?
A. Blois
B. Bourges
C. Chartres
D. Tours
©
•
Part 3.27
20. Which city/town in the Centre Val de Loire observes the yearly Fêtes Johanniques (Joan of Arc
Festival)?
A. Tours
B. Orléans
C. Blois
D. Bourges
21. Which attraction is not associated with Nantes?
A. a botanical garden
B. a museum devoted to Jules Verne
C. 18th-century shipbuilders’ houses
D. a military history museum
22. Which subject is the focus of a museum found in the town of Saumur in the Pays de la Loire?
A. vintage automobiles
B. archaeology
C. mushrooms
D. ceramics
23. The Pays de la Loire city famous for its 24-hour automobile race is
________________________________________.
24. The chic beach resort on the Atlantic Coast near Nantes is called ___________________________.
25. What is the best means of transportation for visitors to explore the Marais Poitevin?
A. bicycle
B. horse
C. flat-bottomed boat
D. rental car
26. The Baptisère St-Jean (St. John Baptistry), believed to be the oldest Christian building in France,
is located in which city/town in the Poitou-Charentes region?
A. La Rochelle
B. Poitiers
C. Rochefort
D. Saintes
27. The theme park outside of Poitiers devoted to cinematic innovation is called
__________________________________________________.
28. The city of Angoulême has a museum devoted to ________________________________________.
Part 3.28
•
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29. Brandy renowned worldwide comes from the town of _____________________________________
in the Poitou-Charentes region.
Directions: Match the name with the best description. A name may be used more than once.
Angers
Bourges
Dinard
Etretat
Fécamp
Honfleur
La Rochelle
Rennes
Saint-Malo
______________________________ 30. Historic seaport where Cousteau’s ship Calypso is docked
______________________________ 31. Quaint fishing town associated with the Impressionists
painters
______________________________ 32. Capital of Bretagne and university city
______________________________ 33. Site of the famous tapestry l’Apocalypse
______________________________ 34. Village where Benedictine monks have made their famous
liqueur for centuries
______________________________ 35. Resort village known for its beautiful white cliffs
______________________________ 36. Good base for exploring the Côte d’Emeraude
(Emerald Coast) of northern Bretagne
______________________________ 37. Seaport city whose ramparts afford splendid views of the bay
and islets
______________________________ 38. Location of Cathédrale St-Etienne, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site
©
•
Part 3.29
Northern France: Nord Pas-de-Calais and Picardie (Picardy)
1. The official name of the square at the heart of the city of Lille is ___________________________ ,
and the more familiar name is _____________________________________.
2. What is the Grande Braderie de Lille?
A. a public square
B. an historic government building
C. an annual antique fair and flea market
D. a medieval history museum
3.
Dunkerque is most famous as the site of the
A. final battles of World War I.
B. evacuation of Allied soldiers in 1940.
C. invasion by Nazis in 1941.
D. earliest battles of World War I.
4. What is France’s main hub of transport across the English Channel?
A. Boulogne-sur-Mer
B. Dunkerque
C. Calais
D. Lille
5. The _________________________________________________________________ is a nature
reserve in Picardie that is home to dozens of bird species.
6. Which author has a museum dedicated to his life and work in Amiens?
A. Victor Hugo
B. Marcel Proust
C. Jules Verne
D. Emile Zola
7. The Musée National de la Coopération Franco-Américaine in the Château de Blérancourt is
located outside this town in Picardie.
A. Soissons
B. Laon
C. Beauvais
D. Compiègne
Part 3.30
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8. Which town near Amiens is the site of the half-finished Cathédrale St-Pierre?
A. Chantilly
B. Senlis
C. Soissons
D. Beauvais
9. What can clients visit in the town of Compiègne in Picardie?
A. a château
B. an automobile museum
C. a lovely nearby forest
D. all of the above
10. What town in the Picardie region is home to Cathédrale Notre-Dame, one of the finest Gothic
cathedrals in France?
A. Laon
B. Beauvais
C. Soissons
D. Abbeville
11. The World War I Battle of the Somme took place near the town of Albert outside the city of
______________________________________________.
Directions: Match the following places with the description.
Amiens
Arras
Boulogne-sur-Mer
Chantilly
Douai
Lille
Senlis
______________________________ 12. Town with les Boves, a labyrinth of underground passageways
______________________________ 13. Site of a five-pointed, star-shaped citadelle
______________________________ 14. Major fishing port with family attraction Nausicaa, an
aquarium
______________________________ 15. Town reputed to have largest collection of bells in Europe
______________________________ 16. Site of the largest cathedral in France, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site
______________________________ 17. Location of a library museum containing a Gutenberg Bible
______________________________ 18. Charming medieval village encircled by Gallo-Roman walls
©
Study Questions: Northern France
•
Part 3.31
Overseas Regions: Antilles Françaises (French West Indies),
La Guyane (French Guiana), Nouvelle-Calédonie (New Caledonia),
Polynésie Française (French Polynesia), Réunion, Mayotte, and
1. Which Caribbean island is home to La Soufrière volcano?
A. Guadeloupe
B. St-Martin
C. Martinque
D. St-Barthélemy (St. Barts)
2. Which Caribbean island is the site of the Rocher du Diamant (Diamond Rock)?
A. Martinique
B. St-Martin
C. Guadeloupe
D. St-Barthélemy (St. Barts)
3. The Caribbean island of St. Martin is known for all of the following except
A. duty-free shopping.
B. dual French and Dutch heritage.
C. great restaurants.
D. a pirate museum.
4. The small chic expensive island with lovely beaches near St-Martin is ________________________.
5. The major city in La Guyane in South America is
__________________________________________________.
6. The large barrier reef for great scuba diving and snorkeling situated off the coast of Nouvelle
Calédonie is called ________________________________________________.
7. Which island group contains Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora?
A. the Sandwich Islands
B. Archipel de la Société (Society Islands)
C. the Solomon Islands
D. the East Indies
8. The most popular beach resort on Réunion, the island in the Indian Ocean with white and black
sand beaches, is ____________________________________________.
Part 3.32
•
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9.
St-Pierre-et-Miquelon are islands off the coast of which Canadian province?
A. New Brunswick
B. Prince Edward Island
C. Newfoundland
D. Nova Scotia
Selling France
1. What does the French world domaine mean?
A. mansion
B. wine estate
C. boundary
D. feudal castle
2. What does the French word navette mean?
A. houseboat
B. motor scooter
C. shuttle bus
D. napkin
3. Which of the following is not a popular cruise port on the Mediterranean Sea?
A. Cannes
B. Villefranche-sur-Mer
C. Monte-Carlo
D. Toulouse
4. All of the following are good options for first-time visitors to France except
A. an itinerary split between Paris and one other region.
B. an itinerary based in Paris with a few day trips outside the city.
C. a motorcoach tour around the entire country.
D. an itinerary split between Paris and a barge cruise through one region.
5. Military history tours of France usually do not focus on
A. World War I.
B. World War II.
C. the Napoleonic Wars.
D. the Hundred Years War.
©
Study Questions: Selling France
•
Part 3.33
6. A sign reading Chasseurs means visitors should be aware of
A. speeding cars.
B. hunters.
C. dogs.
D. undertow.
7. What is a mistake commonly made by tourists in open-air fresh produce markets?
A. not bargaining
B. bargaining
C. handling the merchandise
D. not having exact change on hand
8. The taxi fare will include an extra charge if
A. the taxi is not hailed from a taxi stand.
B. the journey is less than a mile.
C. carry-on bags are stored in the trunk.
D. the journey is more than a mile.
9. Which of the following is a niche market for France?
A. barge cruises
B. gay and lesbian
C. art and architecture
D. all of the above
10. Which of the following sports is a niche market in France?
A. skiing
B. golf
C. bicycling
D. all of the above
Part 3.34
•
©
Foods of France (an exercise for fun)
Directions: Match the food(s) with the region of France. Not every region will be used.
Alsace
Aquitaine
Auvergne
Bretagne (Brittany)
Champagne-Ardenne
Corse (Corsica)
Franche-Comté
Ile-de-France
Limousin
Lorraine
Midi-Pyrénées
Nord Pas-de-Calais
Picardie (Picardy)
Poitou-Charentes
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Rhône-Alpes
Riviera Côte d’Azur (French Riviera)
______________________________
1. escargots, mustard, and coq au vin (chicken with wine)
______________________________
2. cassoulet (stew with white beans and meat)
______________________________
3. Morteau sausages, pochouse (freshwater fish stew), morbier
cheese
______________________________
4. wild boar stew, chestnut flour pastries, and canistrelli
(anise-flavored cookies)
______________________________
5. confit (preserved duck or goose), foie gras, truffles, and
Roquefort cheese
______________________________
6. shellfish, crêpes and gallettes (buckwheat crêpes) with cider
______________________________
7. St-Nectaire and Fourme d’Ambert cheeses, and saucissons
(sausages)
______________________________
8. local game, salmon and trout, and tarte Tatin (apple upside
down tart)
______________________________
9. duck paté, smoked eel, macaroons, and crème Chantilly
(whipped cream)
______________________________ 10. wild boar and wild mushrooms
______________________________ 11. salade niçoise and pissaladière (pizza with onions, olives,
and anchovies)
©
Study Questions: Foods of France
•
Part 3.35
______________________________ 12. local seafood and chaudrée fourasine (fish stew)
______________________________ 13. Bresse chickens, truffles, quenelles with pike fish, a variety of
cheeses such as St-Marcellin, and fine chocolate
______________________________ 14. bouillabaisse (fish soup), tapénade (olive and anchovy
spread), daube (beef stew), pistou (basil vegetable soup)
______________________________ 15. bacon-and egg-quiche, bacon and sausage stew, and
mirabelle plum tarts
______________________________ 16. flamiche aux poireaux (tart with leeks) and coq à la bière
(chicken cooked in beer)
______________________________ 17. beef, lamb, wild mushrooms, and clafoutis (fruit—often
cherry—and custard dessert pastry)
______________________________ 18. soft cheeses such as Camembert and Neufchâtel and cider
______________________________ 19. choucroute (sauerkraut) and smoked meats, and flammeküche
(thin onion tart)
______________________________ 20. rillettes (pork, goose, or tuna paste)
Part 3.36
•
©
Alcoholic Beverages of France (an exercise for fun)
Directions: Match the kind of alcoholic beverage or winegrowing area to the French region(s). Not
every region will be used, and some regions may be used more than once.
Limousin
Lorraine
Midi-Pyrénées
Nord Pas-de-Calais
Picardie (Picardy)
Poitou-Charentes
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Rhône-Alpes
Riviera Côte d’Azur (French Riviera)
Alsace
Aquitaine
Auvergne
Bretagne (Brittany)
Champagne-Ardenne
Corse (Corsica)
Franche-Comté
Ile-de-France
______________________________
1. champagne
______________________________
2. locally brewed beer
______________________________
3. Calvados (apple brandy)
______________________________
4. Armagnac
______________________________
5. pastis (anise-flavored liqueur)
______________________________
6. Cointreau (orange liqueur)
______________________________
7. cognac (brandy)
______________________________
8. crème de cassis
______________________________
9. Benedictine liqueur
______________________________ 10. Route du Vin de Jura
______________________________ 11. Route des Vins d’Alsace
______________________________ 12. Côte d’Or Wine Route
______________________________ 13. Bordeaux Winegrowing Region
______________________________ 14. Pays Beaujolais and Côtes du Rhône
©
Study Questions: Alcoholic Beverages of France
•
Part 3.37
Answers
TO STUDY QUESTIONS FOR THE DESTINATION SPECIALIST FRANCE
Map Skills
Regions of France
1. Nord Pas-de-Calais
2. Champagne-Ardenne
3. Lorraine
4. Alsace
5. Franche-Comté
6. Rhône-Alpes
7. Riviera Côte d’Azur
(French Riviera)
Cities of France
Amiens
4. D. Texas
9
Besançon
18
Bordeaux
4
Clermont-Ferrand
13
Dijon
6
Lille
14
Limoges
19
5. B. France is the largest
country in Western
Europe.
6. B. a hexagon
7. C. temperate with mild
winters.
8. A. Roissy-Charles de
Gaulle
9. barge
Lyon
1
Marseille
3
10. Alsace and Lorraine
20
11. European Economic
Community
8. Provence-Alpes-Côte
d’Azur
Montpellier
Nancy
2
Nantes
15
12. mistral
13. D. the Netherlands
10. Midi-Pyrénées
Nice
11. Aquitaine
Orléans
12. Poitou-Charentes
Paris
13. Pays de la Loire (Western
Loire)
Poitiers
16
16. A. automated teller
machines (ATMs)
Reims
21
17. C. 200
Rennes
17
Rouen
5
18. D. Reserve in the United
States and pay in advance.
14. Bretagne (Brittany)
15. Normandie (Normandy)
16. Picardie (Picardy)
17. Ile-de-France
8
11
7
20. Limousin
21. Centre Val de Loire (Loire
Valley)
22. Corse (Corsica)
©
15. B. Monday or Tuesday
Strasbourg
10
19. D. by train
Toulouse
12
20. C. a self-catering accommodation
18. Bourgogne (Burgundy)
19. Auvergne
14. D. 15
France Overview
1. B. 60 million
2. B. 12 noon
3. D. 75.5 million
21. C. little ornamentation
22. Le Corbusier
23. A. Claude Monet
24. D. Henri Matisse
25. B. July
Answers: Map Skills
•
Part 3.39
26. D. Nice
The Regions of
France
6. B. Reims
2. B. Saint-Paul-de-Vence
7. A. Switzerland
3. Grasse
8. Art Nouveau
4. B. May
9. D. Verdun
5. C. Paul Cézanne
10. C. Metz
Paris and Ile-deFrance
1. Place de la Concorde
11. C. a neighborhood of
canals and medieval houses
2. Place de la Madeleine
12. D. all of the above
3. Place Vendôme
13. D. Place Stanislas is the
main public square in
Nancy in Lorraine, not
Strasbourg.
4. Place des Vosges
5. C. Panthéon
6. D. The very large, famous
flea market is not at
Montmartre, but at StOuen just over the northern Paris city line near
métro Porte de
Clignancourt.
7. D. Cathédrale de NotreDame
8. C. Ile de la Cité
9. B. Tour Eiffel (Eiffel
Tower)
10. B. Musée d’Orsay
14. Parc Naturel Régional du
Haut-Jura
15. C. Arc-et-Senans
16. A. Belfort
17. Troyes
18. Beaune
19. Colmar
20. Metz
6. D. It is not Marseille, but
Antibes/Juan-les-Pins that
is the site of a popular
jazz festival.
7. B. Avignon
8. Gorges du Verdon
9. the Camargue
10. D. Saint-Tropez
11. B. an ancient Roman
aqueduct
12. B. Montpellier
13. C. water jousting contests
14. the Canal du Midi
15. B. Ajaccio
16. A. ferry
17. C. Both A and B
18. Aix-en-Provence
Rhône-Alpes
19. Menton
1. C. Both A and B
20. Arles
2. D. wine museum
11. C. Centre GeorgesPompidou
21. Saint-Paul-de-Vence
3. C. Lyon
22. Avignon
12. D. Barbizon
4. D. Chamonix
23. Collioure
13. B. Giverny
5. A. Annecy
6. Grenoble
Eastern France
1. B. Dijon
2. D. Cluny
7. Lyon
8. Chamonix
9. Chambéry
5. C. Both A and B
Part 3.40
•
1. D. crystal
2. C. Oradour-sur-Glane
3. D. Aubusson
4. D. tapestry weaving
3. B. September
4. marionette
Central France
Southeast France
1. D. glass museum
5. C. Le Mont-Dore
6. Puy-de-Dôme
©
7. Tulle
3. C. Both A and B
34. Fécamp
8. Guéret
4. D. Bayeux
35. Etretat
9. Brive-la-Gaillarde
5. C. Mont-Saint-Michel
36. Dinard
10. Collonges-la-Rouge
6. A. golf
37. Saint-Malo
11. Thiers
7. B. Deauville
38. Bourges
12. Vichy
8. C. by rental car
13. Le Puy-en-Velay
9. D. Carnac
14. Riom
Southwest France
1. B. Bordeaux
2. C. Bayonne
3. B. Saint-Emilion
4. B. Arcachon
5. D. Lascaux
6. A. Les Eyzies-de-TayacSireuil
10. D. Belle-Ile-en-Mer
11. C. Quimper
12. B. Celtic
13. A. Rennes
14. D. 120
15. B. Blois
16. D. Tours
18. A. Amboise
7. B. Albi
19. C. Chartres
8. A. museum devoted to
Egyptian artifacts
20. B. Orléans
9. B. Rocamadour
21. D. a military history
museum
Northern France
1. Place du Charles de
Gaulle, Grand’ Place
2. C. an annual antique fair
and flea market
3. B. evacuation of Allied
soldiers in 1940.
4. C. Calais
5. Marquenterre Bird Park
6. C. Jules Verne
7. A. Soissons
8. D. Beauvais
10. A. Laon
11. Amiens
10. C. Lourdes
22. C. mushrooms
12. Arras
11. Parc National des
Pyrénées
23. Le Mans
13. Lille
24. La Baule
14. Boulogne-sur-Mer
12. Toulouse
25. C. flat-bottomed boat
15. Douai
13. Moissac
26. B. Poitiers
16. Amiens
14. Biarritz
27. Futuroscope
17. Chantilly
15. Périgueux
28. comic strips
18. Senlis
16. Saint-Jean-de-Luz
29. Cognac
Overseas Regions
17. Castres
30. La Rochelle
Western France
31. Honfleur
1. B. Rouen
2. D. spires
©
32. Rennes
33. Angers
1. A. Guadeloupe
2. A. Martinique
3. D. a pirate museum.
4. St-Barthélemy (St-Barts)
Answers: France Overview
•
Part 3.41
5. Cayenne
Foods of France
6. Grand Récif
7. B. Archipel de la Société
(Society Islands)
8. St-Gilles-les-Bains
9. C. Newfoundland
Selling France
3. Franche-Comté
4. Corse (Corsica)
5. Aquitaine and MidiPyrénées
6. Bretagne (Brittany)
1. B. wine estate
7. Auvergne
2. C. shuttle bus
8. Centre Val de Loire
(Loire Valley)
3. D. Toulouse
Alcoholic
Beverages of
France
9. Picardie (Picardy)
4. Aquitaine and MidiPyrénées
5. Provence-Alpes-Côte
d’Azur
Loire)
4. C. a motorcoach tour
around the entire country.
7. Poitou-Charentes
5. D. the Hundred Years
War.
11. Côte d’Azur (French
Riviera)
6. B. hunters
12. Poitou-Charentes
10. Franche-Comté
7. C. handling the merchandise
13. Rhône-Alpes
11. Alsace
14. Provence
15. Lorraine
13. Aquitaine
14. Rhône-Alpes
8. C. carry-on bags are
stored in the trunk.
17. Limousin
19. Alsace
Loire)
Part 3.42
•
©
DESTINATION VISIT REPORT FOR CERTIFIED DESTINATION SPECIALIST
A Destination Visit Report is required to earn your Certified Destination Specialist designation. The visit (made
either independently or on a familiarization trip) must have been completed within five (5) years of the date
of passing the Destination Specialist test. Information about the report follows; please read the entire sheet before
beginning to familiarize yourself with the steps involved.
Writing the Report
Your report must begin with a cover sheet (see sample
at right) that lists:
Personal Information
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
1. Your name
2. The date
3. A customer/member number (if you know it)
Destination: Italy
Visited: 9/21/2003
Length of visit: 14 days
4. Your e-mail address
5. A daytime telephone number
Destination Information
❏
❏
❏
Jane O’Connor
8/01/2xxx
Member #:12345
[email protected]
781-555-5555
Trip Validation Information:
Betty V. Trent
[email protected]
781-555-1111
1. Destination visited
2. Date of visit
3. Length of stay
Trip Validation Information
❏
The name of a person (such as someone from a tour operator or tourist board) who can verify your trip
attendance and the date of the visit (or provide proof of the trip, such as a copy of an airline ticket)
❏
❏
An e-mail address for the person named above
A daytime telephone number for the person named above
For the body of the report, please discuss the points below based on your experience at, and knowledge of, the
destination.
1. Describe why, or why not, to visit the destination. (What did you like most or least about it?)
2. Describe when to go to the destination. (climate, seasons, special events, best time, time to avoid)
3. Describe how to get to and around the destination (transportation [airport, within the city, and outside the
city] and costs).
4. Describe the ease of travel at the destination (language barrier, cultural issues, and customs).
5. Describe where to stay, shop, and dine at the destination. (Recommend and describe hotels, stores, formal
and informal restaurants, and local food and drink specialties.)
6. Describe what to see and do at the destination. (Suggest and talk about must-see attractions, activities, and
day trips.)
©
Destication Visit Report for Certified Destination Specialist
•
Part 3.47
7. Describe who to send to the destination. (Suggest appropriate client types, such as baby boomers, families,
or seniors; or a special interest group, such as skiers or scuba divers, ecotourists, gastronomists, art and architecture enthusiasts, religious tourists, or fans of military history.)
8. List how to research the destination. (Suggest resources such as Web sites, guidebooks, maps, and helpful
features.)
Submitting the Report
The report
■
must be typewritten,
■
can be submitted as a printed document by mail or by fax,
■
must be sent together with the Certified Destination Specialist Certification Form to:
148 Linden Street, Suite 305
Wellesley, MA 02482
Tel: 800-542-4282
Fax: 781-237-3860
E-mail: [email protected]
Note: Certification maintenance is required every five years by revisiting the destination and resubmitting the
Destination Visit Report.
For more information, or to download Frequently Asked Questions or other forms, visit the Destination
Specialist page of our Web site: www.thetravelinstitute.com/ds.htm.
Part 3.48
•
©
CERTIFIED DESTINATION SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION FORM
When you have successfully completed the Destination Specialist test and completed and submitted the
Destination Visit Report, complete all five sections of this form and mail to The Travel Institute within 30 days of
meeting those requirements. This is the final step in attaining your Certified Destination Specialist designation.
1. Background Information
Name of Destination Course
Your Name
Social Security Number
Date of Birth
Preferred E-mail Address
Company
Title
Business Address
City
State/Country
Business Telephone Number
Business Fax Number
Zip
Home Address
City
State/Country
Home Telephone Number
Home Fax Number
Preferred mailing address:
❏
Home
❏
Zip
Business
If you and/or your agency are affiliated with a franchise, consortium, and/or trade organization please list all
affiliations here:
2. Statement of Travel Industry Experience
To earn the Certified Destination Specialist designation, candidates must possess at least 12 months of cumulative
travel industry work experience, with a minimum standard of 1,000 hours annually. The Travel Institute may
contact the following past or present employers for verification. Should you require additional space, please attach
a separate sheet.
Dates: Month/Year
Firm, City, State
Supervisor Name,
Phone or Email
Title, Description
of Responsibilities
From:
To:
From:
To:
❏
©
Please check here if your 12-month experience requirement can be reduced by 6 months because of:
Successful completion of Travel Agent Proficiency (TAP) test (Copy of TAP certificate required).
Certified Destination Specialist Certification Form
•
Part 3.49
3. Your Certified Destination Specialist Certificate
Please type or print your name as you would like it to appear on your certificate.
First Name
Middle Name
Last Name
4. Notarization
Please read the statement below carefully. Sign, date, and have this form notarized by a Notary Public before
submitting to The Travel Institute.
I recognize that The Travel Institute is a tax-exempt institution organized and operated for educational purposes.
I further recognize that The Travel Institute seal is registered with the Commissioner of Patents of the United States
Patent Office and is a service mark of The Travel Institute. In recognition of the above and in consideration of my
certification, I agree that I will use such service mark only upon the terms and conditions prescribed from time to
time by The Travel Institute’s Board of Trustees and in a manner consistent with The Travel Institute’s educational
goals. I agree that I will use The Travel Institute’s seal only with written permission from The Travel Institute. I
further agree not to use the initials “CDS” as a designation after my name to indicate my certification by The Travel
Institute, nor in conjunction with, or as any part of, a trade or business name. I understand that ongoing
educational requirements are mandatory in retaining use of the Certified Destination Specialist designation.
I hereby certify that all statements made by me in this application are true and correct, to the best of my knowledge.
I authorize the Travel Institute to investigate all statements and references contained herein and I agree that
misrepresentation of facts called for in this application may affect my certification by The Travel Institute.
Candidate Signature
Date
This section to be completed by Notary Public:
SUBSCRIBED and sworn to before me this ____________ day of ______________________________, 20 ______
My commission expires ____________________________ Notary Public __________________________________
(Notary Public Seal Here)
Candidate Signature
Date
5. Certification Fee
Enclosed please find my payment of $25 in the form of
❏
MasterCard
❏
Visa
❏
❏
American Express
Card Number
Discover
Expiration Date
Name As It Appears on Card
Cardholder Signature
❏
Date
Check or money order made out to The Travel Institute
Mail or fax to: The Travel Institute ■ 148 Linden Street, Suite 305 ■ Wellesley, MA 02482
Tel: 781-237-0280, 800-542-4282 ■ Fax: 781-237-3860 ■ www.thetravelinstitute.com
Part 3.50
•
©
Index
In the index, the first number after an
entry refers to the part of the course
and the second one to the page number.
Attractions are alphabetized by article
only when that article is part of the
proper name, as in Le Corbusier. The
articles d’, de, du, or des are not
considered when alphabetizing. For
example, the correct order for the
following museums would be Musée
du Louvre before Musée d’Orsay.
Both French and English names of
attractions are included except for cognates.
A
A Year in Provence, 1.87
Abri Pataud, 2.6
absinthe, 1.50
Accommodations, 1.9
Aiguille du Midi, 1.77
Airports, 1.4-5
Air France, 1.6
Aix-en-Provence, 1.24, 1.87, 1.90
Ajaccio, 1.25, 1.99
Alabaster Coast, 2.21
Albertville, 1.71
Albi, 2.10
Alençon, 2.18
Aléria, 1.100
Alpine sports, 1.2, 1.71, 1.77, 1.109,
2.74, 2.92
Alps, 1.71
Alpes d’Azur, 1.81
Alsace Wine Road, 1.64, 1.66
Alsace, 1.2, 1.27, 1.53, 1.63-66,
2.75, 2.95
Amboise, 2.30
American Military Cemetery, 2.20
Amiens, 2.47-48
Angers, 2.35
Angers, Château d’, 2.35
Angoulême, 1.21. 2.39
©
Annecy, 1.76
Antibes, 1.24, 1.26, 1.82, 83-84
Antilles Françaises, 2.53-61
aqueducts, 1.97, 1.104
Aquitaine, 1.3, 2.2-8, 2.97-98
Arbois, 1.68
Arc de Triomphe, 1.15, 1.31, 1.37
Arcachon, 2.4
Arc-et-Senans, 1.68
Arch of Triumph, 1.15, 1.31, 1.37
Archipel de la Société, 2.65
Architecture, 2.73, 2.91
Ardèche, 1.72
Arles, 1.22, 1.24, 1.87, 1.90-91
Armagnac, 2.2
Arras, 2.45
Arrival Briefing, 1.4-6
arrondissements, 1.31, 1.32
Art, 2.73, 2.91
Art Nouveau, 1.12, 1.15, 1.61
Aubusson, 1.105
Aurillac, 1.109
Autun, 1.24, 1.54, 1.56
Auvergne, 1.2, 1.103, 1.106-110,
2.97
Auvers-sur-Oise, 1.45, 1.50
Auxerre, 1.54, 1.56
Avignon, 1.24, 1.91-92
Azay-le-Rideau, Château d’, 2.33
B
Baccarat, 1.29, 1.62
Baie des Anges, 1.82
Baldaccini, César, 1.18
balloon excursions, 1.54, 2.28
Barbizon, 1.16, 1.45, 1.47
barges and boats, 1.9, 1.54, 1.96,
1.99, 2.1, 2.9, 2.28, 2.37, 2.75,
2.91
Bartholdi, Frédéric-Auguste, 1.68
Basilica of the Sacred Heart, 1.34,
1.37
Basilique de St.Pie X, 2.12
Basilique du Sacré-Coeur, 1.34, 1.37
Basques, 2.2, 2.5, 2.98
Basse-Terre, 2.53, 2.55
Bastia, 1.100
bastides, 2.1
Bastille, 1.23, 1.34-35
Bastille Day, 1.23
bateaux-mouches, 1.36
Bayeux, 2.18
Bayonne, 1.3, 1.25, 2.5
Beaujolais, 1.2, 1.75
Beaune, 1.27, 1.56
Beauvais, 2.49
bed and breakfast, 1.9
Belfort, 1.67, 1.68
Belle-Ile-en-Mer, 2.25
Bénédictine, 2.21
Bergerac, 2.5
Bergerac, Cyrano de, 2.5
Besançon, 1.26, 1.67-68
Beynac, 2.8
Béziers, 1.96
Biarritz, 2.5-6
Bienvenue au Château, 2.29
biniou, 2.98
Biot, 1.84
bistros, 1.27-28
Black Madonna, 2.13
Blois, 2.30-31
Bois de Boulogne, 1.31, 1.37
Bonaparte, Napoléon, 1.2, 1.12,
1.42, 1.47, 1.99-100
Bonifacio, 1.99, 1.100
Bora Bora, 2.65, 2.66
Bordeaux, 1.3, 1.22, 2.2-4
Botanical Garden, 1.42
bouchons, 1.72
bouillabaisse, 1.88
Boulevard St-Germain, 1.35, 1.44
bouquinistes, 1.29, 1.36
Bourges, 2.31
Bourgogne, 1.2, 1.53, 2.75, 2.95
Brasserie Lipp, 1.35
brasseries, 1.27, 1.28
Brest, 2.25
Bretagne, 1.3, 2.23-27, 2.98
Brissac, Château de, 2.35
Brittany, 1.3, 2.23-27, 2.98
Index
•
Part 3.53
Brive-la-Gaillarde, 1.105
Brotherhood of the Knights of
Tastevin, 1.55
bullfighting, 1.92
Burgundy, 1.2, 1.53, 2.75, 2.95
burons, 1.107
Buses, 1.8
Business Hours, 1.6
C
cable cars, 1.77
Caen, 2.19
cafés, 1.27, 2.94
Cagnes-sur-Mer, 1.84
Cahors, 2.11
Calais, 2.43, 2.46
Calvados, 2.16
Calvi, 1.99, 1.100
Camargue, The, 1.92
canal and river cruises, 1.9, 1.54,
1.96, 1.99, 2.1, 2.9, 2.28, 2.37,
2.75, 2.91
Canal des Deux Mers, 2.1
Canal du Midi, 1.94, 1.96, 2.1, 2.9,
2.75
Cannes, 1.22, 1.82, 1.84-85
Cap d’Antibes, 1.84
Carcassonne, 1.24, 1.96
Cardinal de Rohan, Château du, 1.66
Carennac, 1.105
Carnac, 2.25
Carpentras, 1.87
carpets, 1.105, 1.108
Carrousel du Louvre, 1.40
Casino de Monte-Carlo, 1.86
Castres, 2.11
Cathédrale de Notre-Dame-Amiens,
2.48
Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de
Chartres, 2.28, 2.31-32
Cathédrale de Notre-Dame-Laon,
2.50
Cathédrale de Notre-Dame-Paris,
1.35, 1.41
Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Reims,
1.58, 1.59, 2.95
cave dwellings, 2.6, 2.29, 2.33, 2.99
cave paintings, 2.2, 2.6, 2.74
Cayenne, 2.62
Celebrations and Special Events,
1.21-27
Celtic culture, 1.10, 1.25, 1.108,
2.23
Central France, 1.2, 1.102-110
Part 3.54
•
Centre Georges-Pompidou, 1.16, 1.34,
1.37
Centre Val de Loire, 1.3, 2.28-2.33,
2.75, 2.99
ceramics, 1.29, 1.57, 1.93, 1.105,
2.17, 2.26, 2.74
Cézanne, Paul, 1.16, 1.40, 1.45,
1.87, 1.90
Chablis, 1.54
Chagall, Marc, 1.16, 1.40, 1.62,
1.84, 1.86
Chambéry, 1.76
Chambord, Château de, 2.31
chambre d’hôtes, 1.9
Chamonix, 1.71, 1.77
champagne, 1.58, 1.59, 1.60, 2.95
Champagne-Ardenne, 1.2, 1.53,
1.58-60, 2.75
Champ-de-Mars, 1.44
Champs-Elysées, 1.31, 1.37
Changing Money, 1.6
chanson française, 1.19
Chantilly, 1.22, 1.46, 2.49
Chantilly, Château de, 1.46, 2.49
Chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Haut, 1.68
Chapelle du Rosaire, 1.87
Charente River, 2.37, 2.39
Charleville-Mézières, 1.59
Chartres, 1.45, 2.28, 2.31-32
Châteaux Country, 1.3, 2.28-33
Châteaux et Hôtels de France, 1.9
Chaumont, Château de, 2.31
Chenonceau, Château de, 2.32
Cher River, 2.32
Cherbourg, 2.19-20
Chevaliers du Tastevin, 1.55-56
Cheverny, Château de, 2.31
Christkindelsmärk, 1.64
Christmas Markets, 1.27, 1.64, 1.77
Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, 1.38
Cinema, 1.18, 1.84-85, 2.21, 2.26,
2.35
Citadelle Souterraine, 1.62
Clermont-Ferrand, 1.2, 1.23, 1.107108
Climate and Seasons, 1.3-4
Clos-Lucé, Le, 2.30
Cluny, 1.24, 1.54, 1.57
Cocteau, Jean, 1.86, 1.87
Cognac, 2.36-37, 2.39
Cointreau, 2.33
Collioure, 1.96
Collonges-la-Rouge, 1.105
Colmar, 1.25, 1.65
Colombe d’Or, La, 1.86
Colonne Vendôme, 1.41
Compiègne, 1.45, 2.50
Compiègne, Château de, 2.50
Conciergerie, 1.35, 1.41
Conques, 2.11
corniches, 1.81
Corot, Jean-Baptiste-Camille, 1.16,
1.38, 1.43, 1.45, 1.47, 2.45
Corse, 1.2, 1.99-101, 2.97
Corsica, 1.2, 1.99-101, 2.97
Corte, 1.100
Côte d’ Albâtre, 2.21
Côte d’Argent, 2.4
Côte d’Azur, 1.2, 1.29, 1.81-87, 2.96
Côte d’Emeraude, 2.26
Côte d’Opale, 2.43
Côte d’Or, 1.57
Courbet, Gustave, 1.66, 1.95
crème de cassis, 1.55, 2.95
crêperies, 2.24
crystal, 1.29, 1.61, 1.62, 2.74
Customs and Immigration, 1.5
Cycling and Walking, 2.91-92
D
Dali, Salvador, 1.18
D-Day, 1.23, 2.15, 2.18, 2.19, 2.20
Deauville, 1.26, 2.15, 2.20-21
Défense, La, 1.16, 1.38
Degas, Edgar, 1.16, 1.43
department stores, 1.29
Derain, André, 1.16
Deux Magots, Les, 1.35, 1.44
Dijon, 1.54-56
Dinan, 2.26
Dinard, 2.26
Dining and Entertainment, 1.27-28,
2.73, 2.77
Disneyland Paris, 1.47
Distances between Paris and cities,
1.7
Dole, 1.69
Dom Pérignon, 1.60
Domme, 2.1
Dordogne, 2.2
Dordogne River, 1.105, 1.109, 2.2,
2.8, 2.97-98
Douai, 2.46
driving license, 1.8
Drôme, 1.72
Duchamp, Marcel, 1.18
Dufy, Raoul, 1.83, 1.86, 1.93
Dumas, Alexandre, 1.19, 1.49, 1.89
©
Dune du Pilat, 2.4
Dunkerque, 2.46-47
E
Eastern France, 1.2, 1.52-69
Eglise de la Madeleine, 1.41
Eglise St-Eustache, 1.38
Eglise St-Germain-des-Prés, 1.35,
1.44
Egyptian obelisk, 1.41
Eiffel Tower, 1.12, 1.36, 1.44
Emerald Coast, 2.26
Epernay, 1.59
Epinal, 1.62
Ernst, Max, 1.18
Espace Killy, 1.71
Etretat, 2.21
European Parliament, 1.63, 1.65
European Union (EU), 1-12, 1.14
Evian-les-Bains, 1.77
Eze, 1.81
F
fashion, 1.29, 1.89, 1.31, 2.74
Fast Facts, 1.1
Father Lachaise Cemetery, 1.38
Faubourg-St-Germain, 1.36
Fauvists, 1.16, 1.83, 1.97
Fécamp, 2.21
ferries, 1.99, 2.22, 2.43, 2.46
Fête du Citron, 1.21, 1.85
Figeac, 2.11
Filitosa, 1.101
flea markets, 1.29, 1.39, 1.83, 2.44
Foix, 2.11-12
Fondation Maeght, 1.86
Fontainebleau, 1.45, 1.47
Fontenay, 1.57
Fort-de-France, 2.57
Forum des Halles, 1.34, 1.38
Fourcès, 2.1
Fragonard, Jean-Honoré, 1.85, 2.48
France
Administrative Departments of,
1.13
Architecture and Art of, 1.14-18
Culture of, 1.14
Geography of, 1.1-3
Map of, 1.xiv
Overview of, 1.1-30
Franche-Comté, 1.2, 1.53, 1.67-69,
2.75, 2.96
Fréjus, 1.92
French Guiana, 1.3, 2.62-63
©
French Polynesia, 1.3, 2.65-67
French Riviera, 1.2, 1.81-87
French West Indies, 2.53-61
Futuroscope, 2.37, 2.38
G
Galerie des Glaces, 1.48
Garonne River, 2.9
Gauguin, Paul, 1.16, 2.58
Gay and Lesbian Travel, 2.91
géants, 2.45
Gimel-les-Cascades, 1.106
Gîtes de France, 1.9
Giverny, 1.16, 1.50, 2.16, 2.21, 2.98
glaciers, 1.71, 1.77
Glanum, 1.91
Golf, 1.71, 2.16, 2.33, 2.47, 2.92
Gorges de le Loire, 1.71-72
Gorges du Verdon, 1.92
Gothic architecture, 1.10, 1.15, 1.41,
1.42, 2.15, 2.47, 2.48
Gouffre de Padirac, 2.13
Goya, Francisco José de, 2.11
granary of France, 2.28
Grand Récif, 2.64
Grande Case, 2.61
Grande-Terre, 2.53, 2.55
Grasse, 1.29, 1.81, 1.85
Grenoble, 1.71, 1.77
Grotte de Massabielle, 2.12
Grotte des Merveilles, 2.13
Guadeloupe, 1.3, 2.53-56
Guéret, 1.106, 2.53-2.56
Gustavia, 2.59
H
Hall of Mirrors, 1.48
hang gliding, 1.71, 1.108, 2.96
Haussmann, Baron Georges, 1.12, 1.31
Hautvillers, 1.60
Health, 1.5
Historical Background, 1.9-14
Honfleur, 1.16, 2.16, 2.22
Hôtel des Invalides, 1.42
I
Ile de la Cité, 1.35, 1.41-42
Ile-de-France, 1.2, 1.45-50
Ile de Ré, 2.39, 2.40
Ile St-Louis, 1.35, 1.42
Iles de Lérins, 1.85
Iles du Salut, 2.63
Impressionists, 1.16, 1.39, 1.43,
1.50, 2.21, 2.98
Internet Directory, 2.106-110
Invalides, 1.42
Invalides, Les, 1.36
Isle of France, 1.2, 1.45-50
Itinerary Planning, 2.77-88
J
Jardin du Luxembourg, 1.35, 1.42
Jardin des Plantes, 1.42
Jardin des Tuileries, 1.38
Joan of Arc, 1.10-11, 2.17, 2.18,
2.29, 2.30
Juan-les-Pins, 1.82
Jura Mountains, 1.67
Jura Wine Route, 1.67
K
Kaysersberg, 1.66
Key Points, 2.101-104
kir, 1.55
Kourou, 2.62
L
La Baule, 2.35
La Côte-St-André, 1.25
La Guyane, 1.3, 2.62-63
La Rochelle, 1.25, 2.39-40
La Roque-Gageac, 2.8
Lac Léman, 1.71, 1.77
lace, 2.18, 2.46
Lake Geneva, 1.71, 1.77
Langeais, Château de, 2.33
Langres, 1.60
language, 2.77
Languedoc-Roussillon, 1.2, 1.94-98,
2.97
Laon, 2.50
Lascaux, 2.1, 2.2, 2.6
Latin Quarter, 1.35
lavender fields, 2.96
Le Corbusier, 1.15-16, 1.68-69
Le Havre, 2.22
Le Mans, 1.23, 2.35
Le Mont-Dore, 1.2, 1.109
Le Puy-en-Velay, 1.109-110
Leeward Islands, 2.60
Left Bank, 1.29, 1.31, 1.42-44
Léger, Fernand, 1.84
Lemon Festival, 1.21, 1.85
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, 2.6
Les Saintes, 2.56
Lesser Antilles, 2.53-61
Lille, 1.3, 1.26, 2.43-44
Limoges, 1.2, 1.29, 1.104-105
Limousin, 1.2, 1.23, 1.103-106, 2.97
Index
•
Part 3.55
Literature, 1.18-19
locks, 2.75
Logis de France, 1.9
Loire River, 1.57, 1.71, 2.28
Loire Valley, 1.3, 2.28-33, 2.75,
2.99
Lorient, 1.25
Lorraine, 1.2, 1.60-63, 2.75, 2.95
Lot River, 2.1, 2.11, 2.13, 2.75
Louis XIV, 1.11
Lourdes, 2.8-9, 2.12
Lumière, Louis and Auguste, 1.74
Luxembourg Gardens, 1.35, 1.42
Lyon, 1.2, 1.27, 1.72-75
M
Maginot Line, 1.61
Manet, Edouard, 1.43
Marais, 1.34
Marais Poitevin, 2.37
Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen, 1.39
Marciac, 1.25
Marie-Antoinette, 1.11
Marigot, 2.61
marionettes, 1.53, 1.59
Marly-le-Roi, 1.49
Marne River, 1.58
Marne-to-Rhine Canal, 1.66
Marseille, 1.88-89
Marseillaise, La, 1.63
Martinique, 1.3, 1.25, 2.53, 2.56-58
Massif Central, 1.103
Matisse Chapel, 1.87
Matisse, Henri, 1.16, 1.39, 1.40,
1.43, 1.60, 1.84, 1.87, 1.93
Mayle, Peter, 1.8
Mayotte, 2.68
Médoc wineries, 2.4
megaliths, 1.10, 2.25-26
Ménerbes, 1.87
Menton, 1.21, 1.82
Mer de Glace, 1.77
métro, 1.36
Metz, 1.25, 1.62
Meuse River, 1.59, 1.62
Midi-Pyrénées, 1.2, 2.8-13, 2.98
Millet, Jean-François, 1.16, 1.45,
1.47, 2.20
mineral waters, 1.77, 1.107, 1.109,
1.110
Modigliani, Amedeo, 1.18, 1.38,
1.60
Moissac, 2.12
Monaco, 1.22, 1.86
Monet, Claude, 1.39, 1.40, 1.43,
Part 3.56
•
1.50, 2.16, 2.17
Mont Blanc, 1.77
Mont Pelée, 2.58
Mont-Saint-Michel, 2.16, 2.22-23,
2.98
Montmartre, 1.34
Montparnasse, 1.35
Montpellier, 1.94-95
Moorea, 2.65, 2.66
Morisot, Berthe, 1.16
Morvan, The, 1.24, 1.57
Mosquée de Paris, 1.43
Moulin Rouge, 1.28, 1.34
Moulins, 1.109
Mulhouse, 1.24, 1.66
Musée Alpin, 1.77
Musée d’Aquitaine, 2.3
Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du
Judaïsme, 1.34, 1.39
Musée d’Art Moderne, 1.37, 1.39
Musée Carnavalet, 1.34, 1.39
Musée Claude Debussy, 1.49
Musée Guimet, 1.39
Musée Jean Cocteau, 1.86
Musée Jules Verne, 2.35
Musée du Louvre, 1.16, 1.39
Musée Marmottan Monet, 1.40
Musée Matisse, 1.83
Musée Memorial de la Bataille de
Normandie, 2.19
Musée National Fernand Léger, 1.84
Musée National Message Biblique
Marc Chagall, 1.83
Musée National du Moyen-Age, 1.43
Musée National de la Préhistoire, 2.6
Musée Océanographique et Aquarium,
1.86
Musée d’Orsay, 1.36, 1.43
Musée Picasso, 1.34, 1.40, 1.84
Musée Renoir, 1.84
Musée Rodin, 1.18, 1.36, 1.43
Musée des Souvenirs Napoléoniens,
1.86
Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux, 2.18
Music and Dance, 1.19-20
mustard, 1.55
N
Nancy, 1.2, 1.61-62
Nantes, 2.33-34
Napoleon’s tomb, 1.42
Narbonne, 1.97
National Holidays, 1.20
National Museum of the Middle
Ages, 1.43
Neolithic period, 1.10, 2.25
Nevers, 1.57
New Caledonia, 1.3, 2.53, 2.63-65
Nice, 1.24, 1.81, 1.82-83
Niche Markets, 2.88-92
nightclubs, 1.28
Nîmes, 1.94, 1.97
Nord Pas-de-Calais, 1.3, 2.43-2.46,
2.100
Normandie, 1.3, 1.23, 2.15-23, 2.98
Normandy, 1.3, 1.23, 2.15-23, 2.98
Northern France, 1.3, 2.42-51
Notre Dame, Cathedral of, 1.35,
1.41
Nouméa, 2.64
Nouvelle-Calédonie, 1.3, 2.53, 2.6365
O
Omaha Beach, 2.20
Opéra Bastille, 1.44
Opéra Garnier, 1.31, 1.40
Oradour-sur-Glane, 1.106
Orange, 1.24, 1.93
Orangerie, 1.38-39
Orléans, 1.22, 2.29-30
Orly, 1.4-6
Overseas Regions, 1.3, 2.52-69
P
Pagnol, Marcel, 1.19, 1.88
Palace of the Popes, 1.91
Palais des Papes, 1.91
Panthéon, 1.15, 1.44
Papeete, 2.66
Parc National des Cevennes, 1.94
Parc National des Ecrins, 1.71
Parc National de Mercantour, 1.8182
Parc National des Pyrénées, 2.8, 2.1213
Parc National de la Vanoise, 1.71
Parc Naturel Régional de la Corse,
1.99
Parc Naturel Régional du Haut-Jura,
1.67
Parc Naturel Régional de la
Montagne de Reims, 1.60
Parc Naturel Régional PérigordLimousin, 1.103
Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans
d’Auvergne, 1.10
Paris, 1.1-2, 1.30-45
©
Paris Opera House, 1.40
Pasteur, Louis, 1.69
Pays Beaujolais, 1.75
Pays de la Loire, 1.3, 2.33-36, 2.99
Pau, 2.7
Pei, I.M., 1.16, 1.40
perfume, 1.29, 1.81, 1.85, 2.74
Périgueux, 2.2, 2.6
Pérouges, 1.75
Perpignan, 1.98
Picardie, 1.3, 2.47-51, 2.100
Picardy, 1.3, 2.47-51, 2.100
Picasso, Pablo, 1.16, 1.18, 1.39,
1.60, 1.83, 1.84
Pigalle, 1.34
Pissarro, Camille, 1.16, 1.38, 1.43
Petit Trianon, 1.49
Place du Châtelet, 1.34
Place de la Concorde, 1.31, 1.41
Place de la Madeleine, 1.29, 1.31,
1.41
Place de l’Opéra, 1.31
Place St-Germain-des-Prés, 1.35
Place St-Sulpice, 1.35
Place Stanislas, 1.61
Place du Tertre, 1.34
Place Vendôme, 1.31, 1.41
Place des Vosges, 1.34. 1.41
Point du Hoc, 2.20
Point-à-Pitre, 2.55
Pointillism, 1.16, 1.87
Poitiers, 2.37-38
Poitou-Charentes, 1.3, 2.36-40, 2.99
Poligny, 1.68
Polynésie Française, 1.3, 2.65-67
polyphonies, 1.99
Pont Alexandre III, 1.36
Pont des Arts, 1.36
Pont de l’Artuby, 1.92
Pont du Gard, 1.94, 1.97
Pont Neuf, 1.36
Pont St-Bénezet, 1.92
porcelain, 1.104, 1.105, 2.45, 2.74
Porte du Soleil, 1.71
Porto-Vecchio, 1.101
Postimpressionists, 1.16, 1.43
Promenade des Anglais, 1.82
Pronunciation Guide, 1.50-52, 1.69,
1.78, 1.101, 1.111, 2.13, 2.41,
2.51, 2.70
Provence, 1.2, 1.27, 1.29, 1.87-93,
2.96
Provins, 1.48
puppets, 1.74
©
Puy-de-Dôme, 1.107. 1.108
Pyramide, La, 1.16, 1.40
Pyrénées, 1.2, 2.8, 2.12-13
Q
Quiberon, 2.25
Quimper, 1.24, 1.29, 2.23, 2.26
R
Rocamadour, 2.13
Rail, 1.4-5, 1.7, 1.55, 1.73, 1.82,
1.88
Rambouillet, 1.49
Reims, 1.23, 1.58-59
Relais et Châteaux, 1.9
Relais du Silence, 1.9
Renaissance, 1.11, 1.15
Rennes, 2.24
Renoir, Pierre-Auguste, 1.16, 1.39,
1.40, 1.43, 1.45, 1.84
Rental Cars, 1.8
Réseau Express Régional (RER), 1.36
restaurants, 1.27-28
Réunion, 1.3, 2.53, 2.67-68
revolution, 1.11
Rhine River, 1.63
Rhône-Alpes, 1.2, 1.70-78, 2.96
Rhône River, 1.71, 1.75, 1.90, 1.92
Ribeauvillé, 1.66
Right Bank, 1.29, 1.31, 1.37-41
Riom, 1.110
Rive Droite, 1.29, 1.31, 1.37-41
Rive Gauche, 1.29, 1.31, 1.42-44
Riquewihr, 1.66
Robespierre, Maximilien de, 2.45
Rocamadour, 1.23
Rochefort, 2.39
Rodin, Auguste, 1.18, 1.43, 2.46
Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, 1.4-6
Roman remains, 1.10. 1.60, 1.62,
1.72, 1.73-74, 1.75, 1.87, 1.91,
1.92-93, 1.94, 1.97, 1.104, 2.47
Romanesque architecture, 1.15, 1.57,
1.58, 1.108, 2.1, 2.9, 2.15, 2.19,
2.37
Ronchamp, 1.68
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, 1.81
Rouen, 2.16-18
Rousseau, Henri, 1.16, 1.40, 1.45,
1.47
Rousseau, Jean-Jacques, 1.11, 1.19
Roussillon, 1.87, 1.93
Route of the Golden Stones, 1.75
Route des Grands Crus, 1.57
Route des Pierres Dorées, 1.75
Route du Vin de Jura, 1.67
Route des Vins d’Alsace, 1.64
Routes du Champagne, 1.58
Royal Saltworks, 1.68
Royan, 2.40
rudeness, 2.77
Rue de Rivoli, 1.34
S
Saint-Cirq Lapopie, 2.13
Saint-Emilion, 2.7
Saint-Jean-de-Luz, 1.3, 1.25, 1.26,
2.7
Saint-Malo, 2.26, 2.27
Saint-Paul-de-Vence, 1.81, 1.86
Saint Tropez, 1.87, 1.93
St-Barthélemy, 1.3, 2.53, 2.58-60
St. Barts, 1.2, 2.53, 2.58-60
St-Denis, 1.46
St-Germain-en-Laye, 1.49
St-Germain-des-Prés, 1.44
St-Martin, 1.3, 2.53, 2.60-62
St-Nazaire, 2.36
St. Ouen Flea Market, 1.39
St-Pierre-et-Miquelon, 1.3, 2.53,
2.68-69
Ste-Chapelle, 1.28, 1.35, 1.42
Saintes, 2.40
Sales Strategies, 2.75-2.77
Saline Royale, 1.68
salon de thé, 1.27
Saône River, 1.75
Sarlat-la-Canéda, 2.8
Saumur, 2.36
Saverne, 1.66
Schweitzer, Albert, 1.66
Seine River, 1.35, 1.36, 1.58
Segur-le-Château, 1.106
Senlis, 1.45, 2.50
Sens, 1.54, 1.57
Serrant, Château de, 2.35
service compris, 1.6
Sète, 1.25, 1.98
Seurat, Georges, 1.16, 1.38, 1.43
Shopping, 1.28-29, 1.60, 2.94
silk, 1.73, 1.74
Sisley, Alfred, 1.16, 1.43, 2.17
ski areas, 1.2, 1.71, 1.77, 1.109, 2.8,
2.74, 2.92
ski season, 1.76
soccer. 1.20
Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer
Français (SNCF), 1.7-8, 1.45
Index
•
Part 3.57
Society Islands, 2.65
Soissons, 2.50
Soldes, Les, 2.94
Sologne, 2.28
Somme Valley, 2.47
Sorbonne, 1.35
Soubirous, Bernadette, 2.8, 2.12
Southeast France, 1.2, 1.80-101
Southwest France, 1.2, 2.viii-13
Sports, 1.20
stained glass, 1.57, 1.60, 1.61, 1.62,
2.17, 2.28, 2.32, 2.73, 2.95
Strasbourg, 1.2, 1.14, 1.23, 1.63-65
T
Tahiti, 2.65, 2.66-67
tapestries, 1.74, 1.90, 1.105, 2.18,
2.33, 2.35
taxe sur la valeur ajouté, 1.28
Taxis, 1.8
Telephones, 1.6
Temperature Chart, 1.4
tennis, 1.20, 1.22, 2.92
TGV (train à grande vitesse), 1.4-5,
1.8, 1.55, 1.82, 1.88, 1.95, 2.9,
2.17, 2.24, 2.29, 2.34, 2.37, 2.44
Thiers, 1.110
Tignes, 1.71
Tipping, 1.6
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, 1.37
Tombe du Soldat Inconnu, 1.37
Toulouse, 1.2-3, 1.26, 2.9-10
Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri de, 1.16,
1.34, 2.10
Tour de France, 1.20, 1.23, 1.37,
2.92
Part 3.58
•
Tour Eiffel, 1.36, 1.44
Tourist Offices, 2.106
Tours, 2.32
traboules, 1.74
train stations, 1.8, 1.45
Trois Vallées, Les, 1.71
Trouville, 2.15, 2.21
Troyes, 1.27, 1.60
truffles, 2.2, 2.7
Tuileries Gardens, 1.38
Tulle, 1.106
U
Underground City, 1.62
UNESCO World Heritage Sites,
1.17, 1.48, 1.68, 1.72, 1.91, 1.97,
1.108, 2.1, 2.7, 2.22, 2.31, 2.32,
2.48, 2.91
Université de Paris-Sorbonne, 1.35
Utah Beach, 2.20
Uzès, 1.98
V
Vaison-la-Romaine, 1.25, 1.93
Val d’Isère, 1.71
value-added-tax (VAT), 1.28
van Gogh, Vincent, 1.16, 1.43, 1.45,
1.50, 1.87, 1.91
Vannes, 2.27
Vaux-le-Vicomte, 1.48
Vence, 1.87
Verdun, 1.62-63
Verne, Jules, 2.35, 2.48
Versailles, 1.22, 1.45, 1.48-49
Vézelay, 1.54, 1.58
Vézère River Valley, 1.9, 2.1
Vichy, 1.2, 1.110
Vienne, 1.23, 1.75
Village Troglodytique de la Madeleine,
2.6
Villandry, Château de, 2.32-33
Villefranche-sur-Mer, 1.87
Vincennes, 1.46
vineyards, 1.53, 1.94, 2.7
Vlaminck, Maurice de, 1.16
Volcania, 1.109
Voltaire, François-Marie Arouet,
1.11, 1.19
Vosges Mountains, 1.53, 1.63, 1.64
Vynorama, 2.4
W
Western France, 2.14-40
Western Loire, 1.3, 2.33-36
William the Conqueror, 2.15, 2.18
wine, 1.2, 1.53, 1.54, 1.55-57, 1.64,
1.67, 1.68, 1.72, 1.75, 1.94, 2.2,
2.4, 2.7, 2.15, 2.28, 2.33, 2.73,
2.88, 2.95
World War I, 1.60, 1.62, 2.47, 2.4849, 2.50, 2.91
World War II, 1.3, 1.12, 1.59, 1.61,
1.63, 1.73, 1.106, 2.15, 2.18,
2.19, 2.20, 2.46-47, 2.91
Z
Zola, Emile, 1.19, 1.45
©

France P1 recovered copy

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