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The Loire Valley, Provence, Côte d'Azur and Languedoc-Roussillon
are wonderful vacation spots that are distant from Paris, both
culturally and geographically. Life in these areas of France
seem somehow richer, slower and more in tune with the beauty of the
countryside. During your explorations, you will discover
unique villages that are attractive and charming populated
with characters seemingly plucked from French novels. These
are areas to be savored and we suggest that you do not rush through
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By the way, Languedoc is gained popularity as a summer vacation area with
many Europeans. It offers pleasant landscapes, a high quality of life and lower prices than many
other areas of France.
You are currently
reading the section our France Guide that covers the Loire Valley, Provence,
Languedoc-Roussillon and the Côte d'Azur regions of the country. Our
France Guide also includes two sections describing our other choices
for the Best Places to Visit in France, which can be explored by clicking
the blue links immediately below.
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Paris, Ile de
France and Normandy
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The Loire Valley,
Provence, Languedoc-Roussillon and Côte d'Azur
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Burgundy, Alsace and
the Rhône-Alpes
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France Climate
Generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild
winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong,
cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral.
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Names in Teal are regions
of the country.
Places in
Bold are unusually attractive destinations.
Underlined places can be clicked to access
additional information.
Places in plain text are of significant interest to many travelers.
If you are interested in finding out more about
France, its people, history, economy and geography, visit our section France
Country Facts
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Information
you need to know about driving, health care facts and other Tourist Tips
for traveling in France can be found in our article
France
Travel Information |
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Best
Places to visit in the Loire Valley, France
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The Château Chambord is another
of France's truly magnificent royal hunting lodges. Best known for its
whimsical roofline, numerous turrets, and beautiful setting, Chambord is
one of the most well-known of the Loire Valley Chateaus and one that should
be on your list of places to see. Click on our Photo Guide for more information about this
delightful château.
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Amboise
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Amboise is a charming small town
snuggled along the south bank of the Loire River, mid-way between the larger
towns of Tours and Blois.
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The Château Royal D'Amboise,
a royal castle built during the 15th and 16th centuries, has a design
deeply influenced by architectural styles in Italy at this period in
history. Be sure to tour the Château's beautiful gardens, which also offer a fine view of the Loire Valley.
For more information, see this
link.
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Francis I, King of France in the
early 15th century, became Leonardo da Vinci's patron and convinced him to
move to Amboise where Leonardo spent the remainder of his life.
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The Château's St. Hulbert
Chapel contains the "official" grave of Leonardo da Vinci, but there is some
mystery about the real location of his remains.
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Be sure to see the Clos-Lucé where Leonardo da Vinci lived out his last days. The Lower
Floor of Clos-Lucé has recreations of many of Leonardo's inventions,
but it is the simple warmth of his rooms and the grounds that seem to impart
something of this nature of this beloved genius. It is said that he
carried the painting of the Mona Lisa in his belongings when he rode to Amboise from Italy, on his donkey.
See the
website of the chateau
for details on visiting.
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Best Places to Visit in Provence,
France
The French administrative region Provence-Alpes-Côte
D'Azur blends the beauty of Provence, with the southern French Alps and the
glorious coastal areas of the Côte D'Azur. Surrounded by the Alps on the
north, Italy on the east, the Rhone river on the west and the Mediterranean Sea
on the south, this region has something to offer every traveler.
 Provence is an area that invites you to rent a house and spend some quality time experiencing the
lifestyle and tempo of living in Provence. Provence
offers many superlatives but the real reasons to vacation here are the atmosphere, environment, and
food. Among the best tourist towns are:
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Aix-en-Provence
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Known for its numerous fountains,
you will find that history, art, thermal baths and
interesting museums blend in Aix to produce a welcome respite. Be sure
to see Cezanne's Studio (Lauves Studio). For may travelers, the focus of Aix
is the Cours Mirabeau, the city's central tree-lined boulevard, that is
filled with cafes and interesting shops. Be sure to budget some time
to wander through the Quartier Mazarin to see some delightful architecture
in the historic heart of Aix.
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Click here for the official
tourism website of
Aix en Provence.
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Arles
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Arles
is rife with Roman monuments and is a noted UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be
sure to visit the Arena (amphitheater) and the Baths of Constantine. For art
lovers, follow the Van Gogh walk to relive the time that the great artist
spent here creating some of his most impressive works. In addition,
Arles is the Gateway to the Camargue (a large and beautiful salt marsh
between the distributaries of the Rhone River) that is a noted area for
wildlife.
- Click here for the official tourism website for
Arles.
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Avignon
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This is a city filled with narrow
lanes, soaring spires and beautiful buildings. Avignon is famous for the Palais
des Papes (Palace of the Popes), Petit Palais and Cathedral of
Notre-Dame-des-Dom. The buildings are stunning and reveal an
interesting period in the history when the Catholic Church ruled from
Avignon, instead of Rome, marking it as a time of great expectations for France.
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The official tourism website for
the town of Avignon can be found
here.
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Nîmes
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Nimes has been a cultural
crossroads for over 2000 years and is an intriguing town. Its Pont du
Gard, an impressive three-tiered Roman Aqueduct located to the northeast of the
city, is a World Heritage site. The city is a living
museum with art and history on display at almost every corner.
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Nimes importance to the Roman
Empire is shown by several spectacular monuments.
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The Place des Arenes, a
large,Roman amphitheater, is one of the best preserved in the world and in
remains in use today for theatrical events.
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See also the Temple of Diana, the
city's extensive Roman Walls (with many surviving gates (porte)) and the
Maison Carée, a Roman temple that has had many subsequent uses.
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If you have some spare time, take
a walk in the beautiful and historic Jardins de la Fontaine (near the Temple
of Diana and slightly to the northwest of the historic core)) for its
gardens, fountains and links to the past.
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Click
here for the
official tourism website for Nimes.
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Best
Places to Visit
in Côte d'Azur, France
The Côte D'Azur is comprised of
the southern section of the Provence-Alpes-Côte D'Azur region of France.
Running between Marseille and Menton (on the border with Italy), this is the
section of France for fun in the sun. Also, known as the French Riviera, this strip of coast encapsulates
Monaco, which is an independent state.
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Cannes
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Touristy and expensive, Cannes is,
nevertheless, a place most tourists want to say they have visited on
the French Riviera.
Fantastic weather beckons in most seasons and a walk along the Croisette, while
taking in the scenery and the ambiance of the luxury hotels,
is a delight. Cannes has an atmosphere about it, but one the is
richly deserved.
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For more information on visiting, see the city's
official website.
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St-Tropez
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The seaside village and its bay present
a delightful setting. The area is filled with many shops and its
beaches, nightlife and restaurants are excellent. Staying
here can be expensive and difficult to book during the high season.
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Art lovers will be attracted
to the Musée de l'Annonciade with its modern collection of
regional art by well known masters, many of whom painted in St. Tropez.
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The English language version
of city's official website
is sparse, but can be found
here.
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Best
Places to Visit
in Languedoc- Roussillon, France
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The walled City of Carcassonne is
one of the world's premier examples of a medieval walled and fortified city.
Although many are tempted to see the Walls and fast forward through
the town, we think you would enjoy spending a night inside the
"Walled City", as it takes on a special ambiance after the
tour buses have left and life returns to normal.
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Click for the official
tourism website for
Carcassonne.
Continue to
Burgundy, Alsace and the Rhône-Alpes ,or
Return to
Paris, Ile de France and
Normandy, or
If you need information about another travel destination, try Googling our site or the Web
Overview
Map of the Best Places to Visit
in France
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Palace of the Popes in Avignon at night.
The port of Cannes at night
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