About-France.com

A guide to France

About-France.com - online travel guide and thematic guide to France, its people, and the French way of life.

More than just an online travel guide, About-France.com is a website filled with hundreds of pages of relevant and useful information about France. The practical travel and tourist information pages on Paris, French regions, driving in France, and a whole lot more, 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.

► General information about France

Thematic index : 
●  France in brief
●  French institutions  
●  Life in France
●  News from France
●  French grammar 
●  French language
●  A-Z Dictionary of France

► Travel & tourist information
     about France

Thematic index :  
●  Paris  ● French cities ●  Regions  
●  Tourism in France  ●  Planning a trip
●  Accommodation 
●  Driving  ● Train travel  ● Ferries  ● Fly to France

France - more than just
the world's leading tourist destination

Map of FranceAbout France
- the country

As a starting point for essential facts about France as a country, jump to
France in brief
.
Or for key data on France, visit Facts & Figures.

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An introduction to France - 2018

La Baguette
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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.
Guide to Paris
Make the most of your trip to Paris; Information on attractions, Paris hotels, transport,  and lots more. 
Driving in France 
Tips and useful information on driving in and through France - motorways, tolls, where to stay....
Tourism in France
The main tourist attractions and places to visit in France - historic monuments, art galleries, seasides, and more
Planning a trip to France 
Information on things to do before starting your trip to France.
Travel round France without a car 
Other means of transport and travel in France - train, plane, canal and even on foot.
Accommodation in France 
Maps of France
Cities, towns, departments, regions, climate, wine areas and other themes.
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.
A-Z dictionary of France
Encyclopedic dictionary of modern France - key figures, institutions, acronyms, culture, icons, etc.
►► Other key pages :
Five day weather forecast for France 
What weather to expect in different regions of France
Regional map of France
Doctors and emergencies
Skiing in France
School holiday calendars  2017 - 2019
Essential French for visitors
Annual 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.
French rail travel
Ferries & Channel tunnel to France
Flights to France
Keeping safe in France

France as a tourist destination

Mont Saint Michel
Mont Saint Michel, Normandy
France remains 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.  

Paris

Paris is the icing on the cake - the French capital city and surely the most interesting city in the world. With its museums and monuments, its fine boulevards and its river Seine, its culture, its restaurants and its unique atmosphere, Paris is a city that you can visit for a week or a month or a year, and never tire of. In the memorable words of Thomas Jefferson, "A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of life."  And much more too. But Paris is just a starting point. France is much much more than just Paris.

Cultural tourism in France

French 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 ch�teaux 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 Corr�ze (Limousin), the Jura (Franche Comt�) 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 France

France 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 institutions

Finally, for those who are looking for deeper information about 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.
Topical....
The Tour de France 



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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.

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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.