A
guide
to
France
About-France.com - More than just a travel site - a thematic guide to France, its people, and the French way of life.
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As well as a
guide, About-France.com
is website filled with hundreds of pages of relevant and useful
information about France. The practical travel information pages on
Paris and the regions of France are
just part of a much wider exploration of modern France.
Other pages of this website cover a wide range of topics of interest to students and anyone wanting to understand French life, culture and traditions, but also the nation's institutions and the French language.
Other pages of this website cover a wide range of topics of interest to students and anyone wanting to understand French life, culture and traditions, but also the nation's institutions and the French language.
| ►► Site guide |
| Full site index |
| Pages optimised for mobile devices |
| Search About-France.com Find information by keyword |
| France in
Brief |
| ►► France - a thematic guide: |
| Guide
to the regions of France Beyond
Paris, a guide to the French regions and their tourist attractions.
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| Guide
to Paris Make
the most of your trip to Paris; Information on attractions, Paris
hotels, transport, and lots more.
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| Driving in
France
Tips
and useful information on driving in and through France - motorways,
tolls, where to stay....
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| Tourism in
France
The
main tourist
attractions
and places to visit in France - historic
monuments, art
galleries,
seasides, and more
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| Planning
a trip to
France
Information
on things to do before starting your trip to France.
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| Travel
round France without a
car
Other
means of transport and travel in France - train, plane, canal
and even on foot.
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| Accommodation in France |
| Maps of France
Cities,
towns, departments, regions, climate, wine areas and other themes.
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| The
French way of life
A mine of information
about
life and living in France, including
working in France, living in France, food and eating, education,
shopping.
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| A-Z
dictionary of France Encyclopedic
dictionary of modern France - key figures, institutions, acronyms,
culture, icons, etc.
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| ►► Other key pages : |
| Five
day weather forecast for France
What
weather to expect in different regions of France
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| Regional map of France |
| Doctors
and emergencies |
| Winter sports in France |
| School holiday calendars 2012-13 |
| Essential French for visitors |
| 2012 Holiday planner |
| French wine guide |
| ►► Other main travel pages |
| Routes
south from Calais
Routes
and maps for driving south avoiding the heavy traffic round Paris.
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| French rail travel |
| Ferries & Channel tunnel to France |
| Flights to France |
| Keeping safe in France |
| ►►Other popular pages |
| Moving to France |
| French perfume |
| The markets of France |
| The towns & cities of France |
| ►►More pages for students.... |
| French
institutions A guide to the main institutions of France - politics, administration, justice, education, health system, etc. |
| The French language |
| Studying & learning French in France |
| Travel websites directory |
| Online French grammar |
| More.... |
An
introduction to France - 2012
France - more than just the world's leading tourist destination► France - the countryAs a starting point for essential facts on France as a country, jump to France in brief. Or for key data on France, visit Facts & Figures. ► France as a tourist destinationFor independent travellers, France is the world's number one tourist destination, and it's not hard to understand why. France has it all - or more or less. It has tourist sights for all tastes; it has some of the greatest beaches in Europe, as well as the highest mountains and the finest historic monuments, the most beautiful cities, the most idyllic countryside, the most magnificent castles, the finest rivers, and plenty more, not to mention some of the best restaurants and the finest wines and more hotels than any other country in Europe.France has something for everyone, which is one of the reasons why it remains the world's number one tourist destination. It has magnificent holiday opportunities for everything from a short weekend city break, in places such as Paris, Nice or Bordeaux, to a relaxed family holiday in a gite in the countryside, a week or two's relaxation by the seaside, or an energetic break hiking, climbing, kayaking or cycling in France's great outdoors. Cultural tourism in FranceFrench museums and art galleries - which contrary to popular belief are not all located in Paris - offer a magnificent collection of works of art and artefacts; and for those for whom a holiday is an opportunity to discover Europe's historic heritage, France's great cathedrals, medieval castles, and thousands of other ancient monuments are a treasure trove waiting to be discovered. For themed breaks, the châteaux of the Loire (in the Centre region of France) are an obvious choice; among the many other historic sites, consider discovering the Roman remains of Provence , the medieval bastide towns of the southwest, or the castles and caves of the Dordogne. There are even some scenic steam railways for people who enjoy a trip down memory lane. Check out the regional guides for information on sights, monuments and tourist attractions in each area.The French seaside:in July and August, France's Mediterranean beaches tend to be pretty packed; this is particularly the case in the famous resorts of Provence and the French Riviera. By contrast, the long sandy beaches of the Languedoc offer much more legroom. Away from the resorts, Brittany offers plenty of good beaches, with the added fun of tides and good waves; and France's Atlantic coast, south of the Loire, has plenty of long sandy beaches, in the regions of Poitou-Charentes and Aquitaine. South of Bordeaux, there are mile upon mile of fine beaches. For more information see guide to the French coast.France off the beaten track:If you want the life, culture and bustle of the big city, go to Paris. But France is a lot more than Paris. There are plenty of places in deepest rural France that are still very much off the beaten track; and for camping holidays, gite holidays, or for those who are content to put up in small rural inns, several regions in France offer wonderful holiday opportunities away from it all. Five French departments (counties) that are particularly worth checking out are the Aveyron (Midi Pyrenees region), the Haute Loire (Auvergne), the Corrèze (Limousin), the Jura (Franche Comté) and the Vosges (Lorraine): all these departments include sparsely populated areas, attractive scenery, and plenty of leisure opportunities - or just some great places to sit back with a glass of wine, relax, and enjoy the peace and quiet.Driving in FranceFrance has an extensive network of motorways, and many of them offer relatively relaxed driving conditions, except at peak periods. Off the motorways, driving on France's backroads can be a way to discover motoring as it used to be, a pleasurable experience and a way to discover the country. For more information click for our guide - driving tips and advice. and our checklist of things not to forget before you leave.French culture and institutionsFinally, for those who are looking for a deeper understanding of France, this website contains pages explaining the main French institutions and the functioning of French life, including the education system and French universities , plus pages on the French way of politics, the French economy and the press. There is also a clearly written guide to the main points of French grammar. |
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News from France... France turns left For the first time in a quarter of a century, France has elected a Socialist president. From 2012 until 2017, and possibly beyond, the president of France will be François Hollande, of the Socialist Party. Hollande coasted to victory on 6th May with a comfortable majority - though one considerably smaller than many would have expected six months ago. His new government will not however get fully down to work until after legislative (general) elections on 10th and 17th June, which will determine the shape of the new French parliament. A socialist but also a graduate of France's top business school HEC, Hollande is seen by many as a pragmatist who will do what is required over the next five years to put French finances back on the rails, and clear the budget deficit. But it will not be easy; France has a serious budget deficit, and to bring it down to the 3% level promised by 2017 will require savings of 18 billion Euros. During his campaign, Hollande promised to create 60,000 new teaching jobs and reduce the retirement age to 60 for people who have worked the 41 years required for a full pension; he also pledged not to increase VAT – measures that certainly earned him votes, but will have led to high expectations and do nothing to address the budget problem. Symbolic measures like raising the top rate of income tax to 75% will be popular with millions of ordinary Frenchmen outraged by the massive salaries and bonuses of some top executives; but the top rate will concern very few people indeed, and not bring in much extra revenue. Hollande wants to stimulate the economy through investment, rather than through austerity measures, and intends to push Europe in this direction too. Whether he can turn the lady - Angela Merckel, the most important player on the European stage - is seriously open to doubt. One way or another the next year or two will be crucial for the future of France, and of Europe. . |
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About-France.comUse the site search function to look for information by keyword, or follow the hyperlinks from page to related page, to discover a wealth of information about France, French life and customs, tourism in France and the ways and life of the most visited country in Europe. With input from specialists in French and UK universities, About-France.com is a website that applies academic standards in terms of content, accuracy and style. Left: Baguettes - France's emblematic bread. The delicious baguette is an icon of this country famed for its gourmet cuisine and good food...... |
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and all pages © Copyright About-France.com 2003 - 2012
Mission statement:
About-France.com is a fully independent website committed to providing accurate, objective and clear information about France as a holiday destination, and France in general – the country, its institutions, its systems, and French life.
About-France.com is a fully independent website committed to providing accurate, objective and clear information about France as a holiday destination, and France in general – the country, its institutions, its systems, and French life.