Why France should Top your 2017 Travel Wish List

France is a compelling destination for many reasons and here are at least five which should  tempt you to visit France in 2017.

Diverse landscape

France, the size of Texas,  has a beautiful and varied landscape.  Its coastline stretches 5,500 km with access to  the channel, the Atlantic Ocean  and the Mediterranean Sea.  This means for those interested in a beach holiday you have numerous choices that range from Le Touquet in Northern France to Deauville in Normandy and from the surfing  paradise in Biarritz on the Atlantic coast to the chic seaside resorts like Cannes on the French  Riviera and many more options in between.



For those who enjoy mountain adventures, France counts seven mountainous regions: the Alps, Massif Central, Jura, Morvan, Pyrenees , Vosges and Corsica.  France's  mountain resorts range from high-altitude with excellent snow quality to mid-moutain traditional villages.  World-class ski resorts such as  Val d'Isere, Meribel, Courchevel and Chamonix are well-known to offer an amazing skiing experience with state of the art equipments.
Popular summer activities in the mountains are no less exciting and include hiking,  mountain-biking, horse-back riding and river rafting.

History
France's rich cultural patrimony is a testament to its long and colorful history.  There are some 32 UNESCO World Heritage cultural sites in France among them are  monuments like Chartres Cathedral, the Pont du Gard, the  Mont Saint Michel Abbey, the prehistoric cave paintings of Lascaux, Versailles Palace and even Paris' river banks.






Art
France is an art lover paradise.  Throughout the country you will find amazing museums celebrating art throughout the ages.  In Paris, visitors can't miss the great museums like the Louvre, the Orsay, the Rodin, the Pompidou Center but throughout France you will find museums with world-class collections  such as the Fabre Museum in Montpellier, Fondation Maeght for contemporary art in St. Paul de Vence, Toulouse Lautrec Museum in Albi or the Musee des Beaux Arts in Dijon and these are just a sample.






Gastronomy /Wine
France's gastronomy is renowned the world over for its quality and inventiveness. There are more Michelin starred restaurants in France than anywhere else in the world.  Each region, town and village hold dear its culinary traditions-Cassoulet from Castelnaudary in the Languedoc, bouillabaisse from Marseille, ratatouille from Provence and the famous crepe from Britany.  Let's not forget the numerous delicious pastries and bread that make the gourmands among us salivate at the thought.  And, did you know France boasts over five hundred types of cheeses?

France's reputation for its wine is nonpareil. There are 17 distinct wine regions each with its own terroirs and wine-making know-how.  Wine growers in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace,  Loire, Champagne , Rhone Valley, Languedoc-Roussillon, Cognac, Armagnac to name a select  few eagerly welcome visitors from around the world to share with them their passion for the fruit of the vine.

Shopping

France has been at the forefront of fashion since the 17th century when the Sun King himself was the leading "fashionista" for his time.  Famous fashion houses like Chanel, Dior, St. Laurent, Givenchy, Balmain, Hermes represent luxury "a la Francaise". You will find their boutiques in Paris but also throughout the major French cities. For bargains, the best time to come shopping in France is during the sales which are officially held twice a year  in January and July.


Click here to view Memories of France.   Enjoy.!!

Enchanted France specializes in tours to France.  We'll be happy to prepare for you itineraries to fit your special interests. Let Enchanted France be your guide in France. Visit www.enchanted-france.com