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This isn't a review of all of France's regions. These locales are the ones with the best and most interesting sites — the blockbusters of France.
Falling in love with Paris
France's capital, as you've probably heard, is one of the world's most beautiful, romantic, and exciting cities. Paris is so full of things to see and do that you can't possibly cover everything in one trip, even one long trip. So don't even try. You may have to limit your sightseeing to the greatest hits — Tour Eiffel, Cathédrale Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle, Musée du Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, and Montmartre and Sacré-Coeur — to leave plenty of time for strolling, shopping, and enjoying cafe life. If you start to become overwhelmed by all the choices, chill out with a boat ride on the Seine or a picnic in the Jardin du Luxembourg. One thing to consider about Paris: Expect rain every day, and you won't be disappointed.
Don't forget the famous sights just outside the city, such as Louis XIV's Château de Versailles, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame in Chartres, the Renaissance castle of Fontainebleau, Monet's house at Giverny (with its famous water lily pond), and even Disneyland Paris.
Exploring the Loire Valley châteaux
The Loire Valley, an hour's train ride from Paris, is where France's royalty lived for hundreds of years, and their castles — many of them Renaissance masterpieces — are a thrill to visit. Because more than a dozen famous châteaux are within about 97km (60 miles), this region is easy to explore. You'll even see plenty of people biking from castle to castle. We give you the lowdown on eight "fairytale" castles, including Chambord, the largest, and Chenonceau, the most beautiful. Two to four castles in one trip are about right before châteaux fatigue kicks in. Tours and Orléans, cities that bookend the region, are also good bases from which to explore the Vallée de la Loire.
Traveling through Normandy and Brittany
Normandy and Brittany, two regions on the west coast, offer a wealth of historic sites and captivating coastal views. Rouen, a little less than an hour from Paris by the fast train, is a good place to see the Norman architecture that many people think of as quintessentially ye olde world: half-timbered houses on cobblestone pedestrian-only streets. In Rouen, you also find several interesting museums and historic sites, many relating to Joan of Arc, who was burned alive at the stake in the central square. And fans of Impressionism will enjoy seeing the elaborate Cathédrale Notre-Dame in Rouen, which Monet, fascinated by its intricate facade, painted countless times.
Normandy also is the place to view two of France's most famous historic sights: the Bayeux Tapestry, in the charming village of Bayeux, and Mont-St-Michel, the most famous of all abbeys set high on a rock just off the coast. Many sightseers go to Normandy just to see the D-day beaches, where thousands of American, British, and Canadian troops bravely made their way on shore, paving the way for the Allied defeat of the Nazis in World War II. The soldiers' graveyards, white crosses stretching as far as the eye can see, may be the most moving site in the area. The best season to see Normandy is in spring, when apple orchards are in bloom, weather is fairly mild, and fewer visitors are around.
Brittany's rocky coast juts out along France's western edge, and the region is proud of its unique culture and language, which actually is closer to Welsh than French. The coast is dotted with fishing villages and pricey resorts. In Brittany, take in Quimper, home of the famous pottery; Carnac, which has thousands of aligned stones dating to Neolithic times; and Nantes, a lively city between Brittany and the Loire Valley. Brittany is a more remote region and a little harder to get to, which for some people makes it all the more attractive. Coastal towns in Brittany are popular summer resorts, and if you want to swim in the ocean, you'll need to go during the height of summer when the waters are warm enough. The fall and spring can be desolate but appealing times to see this area — the crowds are few and villages more peaceful.
Seeing the best of Provence and the Riviera
Provence and the Riviera are France's most popular regions. That's because these areas are lovely places to visit, full of interesting sites, grand cuisine, and people who have a bit of Italian joie de vivre mixed in with the classic French hauteur. And of course there's the weather: marvelous sunny days with sea breezes year-round. In Provence, you can visit the great French towns of Avignon, home of the Palais des Papes; Arles, with Roman ruins and memories of the artist Van Gogh; and Aix-en-Provence, a beautiful city full of sparkling fountains. You can also explore the quaint village of St-Rémy, with more Roman ruins and more memories of Van Gogh. Also make a quick tour of Marseille, a bustling metropolis and a major transportation hub in the south.
The Riviera has so many intriguing and chic resorts that it's hard to choose which one to visit. Along the coast from west to east are St-Tropez, Cannes, Antibes, Nice, St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Beaulieu, and Monaco. In the hills are Biot, Vence, and St-Paul-de-Vence. You can hang out at the most fashionable beaches, stroll through cobblestone villages, see some of France's best modern art museums, and participate in the glamorous nightlife. From the Monte Carlo Casino to the beaches of St-Tropez, this slice of France is a slice of heaven.
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