France is a country in Western Europe. With a size of 674,843 square kilometers (260,558 sq miles), France is the biggest country in Continental Europe. It shares a border with many other European countries including with Belgium and Luxeumbourg to the northeast, Germany and Switzerland to the east, Italy to the southeast, and Spain to the southwest. In addition, the tiny principality of Monaco forms an enclave to the south of France while Andorra is a small independent country between France and Spain. Across the English Channel lies the British Isles to the northwest.
The 2010 estimate places the population of France at around 65.4 million. It is the fifth largest economy in the world by nominal Gross Domestic Product, and the 8th largest by Purchasing Power Parity. The capital of France is Paris. This city of 2.2 million is located in a metropolitan area of 11.7 million people. It is both the largest city within one of the most populated metropolitan areas in Europe.
In addition to mainland France, which is called Metropolitan France, the country also count a number of territories in North America, the Caribbean, South America, southern Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and Antarctica. The forms of government in these territories range from overseas department to overseas collectivity.
France is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. It has much to offer in terms of sights and is particularly famous for its cuisine, history, fashion and culture. In this Travel Guide to France, I want to provide you with a description of every major tourist destination and sight that the country has to offer. You will find these listed on the right column. When I complete describing each destination, I will place a link to this page, so check back often as the information is added regularly.
France Travel Information
Official Name: France
Capital: Paris (2,208,900)
Population of France: 60,656,000
Currency: Euro
Languages spoken: French
Religions: Roman Catholic (85%), Muslim, Protestant, others
In planning your trip to France, it is prudent to check the price of hotel rooms from different hotel booking websites before placing your reservations. You will discover that different booking sites offer vastly different rates for the same rooms. To get the best value for your money, use our free France Hotel Search Engine to view and compare room rates from different hotel booking sites. It helps you in making an informed decision that can save you a lot of money
You can also use the search console below. Just key in the dates of your trip, and the engine will generate a list of hotels with the best prices, as plucked from the different Online Hotel Booking websites.
The best time is spring, around May. If you are going to France for skiing, then it's winter that is best in the French Alps and the Pyrenees.
What to wear in France
Lightweight clothing for summer and waterproof gear for the mountains. Warm clothing required in winter, including along the Mediterranean coasts.
How to get to France
The following are the airports serving Paris:
Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG) is located 23km (14 miles) to the northeast of Paris. It is the biggest airport in France and a major travel hub for Europe. It also consists of many terminals, and can be confusing. Allow ample time to find your way around, especially if you need to transit. CDG is the homebase for national carrier Air France, which uses Terminal 2 along with its SkyTeam Alliance partners Dutch KLM, AeroMexico, Alitalia, US Continental, NorthWest, Delta Airlines and Korean Air. Trains connecting CDG to Paris runs every 15 minutes, costs €8.50 and makes the journey to the Châtelet-Les Halles station in 40 minutes. There is a high-speed TGV train station within the airport that provides connection to Lille and Brussels to the north, and Rennes and Nantes to the south, bypassing Paris.
Orly International Airport (ORY) is the older airport serving Paris. It is used by Air France for domestic flights, as well as other international carriers for European destinations. Orly is forty minutes from Paris on OrlyBus from the Métro Denfert-Rochereau station, and the fare is €6.
Aéroport de Paris Beauvais Tillé (BVA) is another airport serving Paris. This small regional airport is used by low cost carriers including Ryanair.
France Entry Requirements
Nationals of US, Australia, Canada, Britain and other EU countries do not need a visa for entering France.
How to get around around in France
By flight
The following airlines provide domestic flights within France:
How to explore France by Train
Trains are a great way to explore France. The national railway company is called SNCF, which stands for Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français. The Voyages SNCF website shows you the schedules and allows you to book interregional trains. For regional trains, go to Ter-SNCF website.
How to make sense of the currency of France
France uses the Euro, €. Banknotes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 while coins are in denominations of 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, €1 and €2. Banking hours are from 9:00am to 12:00 noon and 2:00pm to 5:00pm.
At time of writing (Oct 2007), USD1.00 = EUR0.71 For the latest exchange go to the Oanda Currency Converter.
Cities and Sights of the Rhône Valley and the French Alps
Aix-les-Bains
Annecy
Bourg-en-Bresse
Briançon
Chambéry
Grenoble
Grignan
Lac Léman
Le Bourg d'Oisans
Lyon
Montélimar
Nyons
Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval
Pérouges
St-Étienne
St-Romain-en-Gal
The Ardèche
The Chartreuse
The Dombes
The Vercors
Tournon-sur-Rhône
Valence
Vals-les-Bains
Vienne
What to see in Southwest France
Cities and Sights in Poitou and Aquitaine
Abbaye de Nouaillé-Maupertuis
Angles-sur-l'Anglin
Angoulême
Aubeterre-sur-Dronne
Aulnay
Bassin d'Arcachon
Brouage
Charroux
Chauvigny
Cognac
Confolens
Dax
Futuroscope
Île d'Oléron
La Côte d'Argent
La Rochelle
Les Landes
Marais Poitevin
Melle
Mont-de-Marsan
Montmorillon
Niort
Parthenay
Pauillac
Poitiers
Rochefort
Royan
Saintes
St-Émilion
St-Savin
Talmont-sur-Gironde
Thouars
Sights in Bordeaux
Basilique St-Michel
CAPC Musée d'Art Contemporain
Cathédrale St-André
Eglise St-Seurin
Grand Théâtre
Musée d'Aquitaine
Musée des Arts Décoratifs
Musée des Beaux-Arts
Cities and Sights of Perigord, Quercy and Gascony
Agen
Albi
Auch
Auvillar
Bergerac
Brantôme
Bourdeilles
Cahors
Castres
Condom
Cordes
Domme
Dordogne Valley
Gorges de l'Aveyron
Gouffre de Padirac
Hautefort
Larressingle
Lascaux II
Les Eyzies
Moissac
Montauban
Périgueux
Rocamadour
Sarlat
St-Amand-de-Coly
St-Jean-de-Côle
Sights in Toulouse
Basilique St-Sernin
Cité de l'Espace
Fondation Bemberg
Les Jacobins
Cities and Sights in the Pyrenees
Aïnhoa
Arreau
Bayonne
Biarritz
Foix
Forêt d'Iraty
Lourdes
Luz-St-Sauveur
Mirepoix
Montségur
Oloron-Ste-Marie
Orthez
Parc National des Pyrénées
Pau
Sauveterre-de-Béarn
St-Bertrand-de-Comminges
St-Jean-de-Luz
St-Jean-Pied-de-Port
St-Lizier
Tarbes
What to see in the South of France
Cities and Sights of Languedoc-Roussillon
Aigues-Mortes
Béziers
Carcassonne
Cerdagne
Céret
Collioure
Corbières
Côte Vermeille
Elne
Golfe du Lion
La Grande-Motte
Minerve
Montpellier
Narbonne
Parc Régional du Haut Languedoc
Perpignan
Pézenas
Pont du Gard
Prieuré de Serrabone
Salses
Sète
St-Guilhem-le-Désert
St-Martin-du-Canigou
St-Michel-de-Cuxa
Villefranche-de-Conflent
Sights in Nîmes
Carré d'Art/Musée d'Art Contemporain
Jardin de la Fontaine
Les Arènes
Musée Archéologique
Cities and Sights of Provence and the Côte d'Azur
Aix-en-Provence
Alpes-Maritimes
Antibes
Arles
Avignon
Biot
Cannes
Cagnes-sur-Mer
Cap d'Antibes
Cap Ferrat
Carpentras
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Digne-les-Bains
Eze
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
Fréjus
Gordes
Gorges du Loup
Grasse
Hyères
Îles d'Hyères
Les Baux-de-Provence
Luberon
Massif des Maures
Menton
Mont Ventoux
Orange
Palais des Papes
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
St-Paul-de-Vence
St-Raphaël
St-Rémy-de-Provence
St-Tropez
Tarascon
The Camargue
Toulon
Vaison-la-Romaine
Vallauris
Vence
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Sights in Marseille
Abbaye de St-Victor
Cathédrale de la Major
Château d'If
Musée des Beaux-Arts
Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde
Vielle Charité
Sights in Monaco
Grand Casino
Jardin Exotique
Musée des Souvenirs Napoléoniens et Archives Historiques du Palais
Musée Océanographique
Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, Collection des Poupées Automates
Palais Princier
Sights in Nice
Cathédrale Orthodoxe Russe St-Nicolas
Cathédrale Ste-Réparate
Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain
Musée des Arts Asiatiques
Musée des Beaux-Arts
Musée Chagall
Musée Matisse
Palais Lascaris
Palais Masséna
Cities and Sights of Corsica
Ajaccio
Bastia
Bonifacio
Calvi
Cap Corse
Cargèse
Corte
Côte Orientale
Filitosa
Golfe de Porto
L'Île Rousse
Sartène
St-Florent
The Castagniccia
The Niolo
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