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France... So much has been written about its food, wine, culture and countryside — sometimes the most difficult part of planning a trip is not knowing where to begin!

The choices for where to go, what to do and see seem endless ... from major metropolitan centers — where shopping and fashion compete with culture and cuisine, to sunny Mediteranean beaches, Atlantic coastal areas to the west and the mountainous slopes of the Rhône-Alpes region in the east.

France is divided into 83 departements and each of them are divided into cantons and communes. You'll also see maps marked out in regions. The regional differences are very strong. The accents that you'll hear, the foods you'll discover and the scenery that will steal your heart change as you travel from one area to another.

Paris, obviously, and its numberless attractions, should be at the top of everyone's list with top "must-sees" including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, (and a handful of others including the Musée d'Orsay and Picasso Museum).

Medieval Notre Dame cathedral, leisurely walks around the Paris Latin Quarter and Marais district are topped off with a trip down the Seine by Batobus at dusk and fashion that is admired around the globe with plenty of opportunities for shopping on the glamourous Champs-Elysees.

Farther afield from the capital, other major attractions include a tour of the scenery and chateaux of the Loire Valley, washed down by a vineyard and winery tours in Bordeaux or Burgundy. (Note: also see discover

For art history buffs, the village of Arles is a major stop of pilgrimage for its association with painter Vincent Van Gogh, with the rest of Provence luring gourmets from around the world for its soul-satisfying cuisine and breathtaking scenery.

Movie fans may want to brave the circus atmosphere at Cannes at its annual film festival, or take in the rest of the French Riviera in Nice and Marseille followed by a quick trip to the glitz and glamor of Monte Carlo in the independent nation of Monaco.

FEATURE STORIES:		see ALL Feature Stories
Getting Around the Paris Metro
It has been the model for urban subway and underground transportation for over a century, and remains the cheapest, quickest way around Paris. Take a virtual crash course in navigating around Paris with maps, directions and ticket-buying guides for visitors ...
Chateaux of the Loire Valley
Return to the golden days of French royalty and opulence with a tour of the country's top chateaux in the beautiful Loire Valley. Two hours from Paris, this world renowned storybook architecture is situated in the region most aptly named "the Garden of France" ....
French Wine & Wine Routes
Take a virtual tour of France's world-class vineyards and wine regions, with guides to traveling the famous routes of Burgundy, Champagne and other top wine growing areas where grapes are king ....

also see -> Paris to Epernay | Enjoy Your Travels Around Paris

Paris Catacombs | Paris Fashion Week | Christmas in France

Wine Tasting in France

Top France Travel Guides Around the Web:

Discover France - Our personal favorite for pages chock full of information, pictures and illustrations, with generous helpings of travel tips, hotel and restaurant information, lots of background info on French culture, food, wine, language and trivia.

France.com - Pictures, info and a clickable map in which visitors can dig deeper into the country's attractions by region, with recommended restaurants & hotels, plus check out the online forum to lurk for more info from fellow-travelers or pose a question.

The Paris Pages - Overwhelming hodgepodge of great info, but if you can find your way around discover extensive travel resources including street and Metro maps as well as guides to the major train stations, hotels by arrondissement, related links, and check out Paris Kiosk for the latest newsletter.

Loire Valley Tourism - The area's historic chateau covered in detail along with history, culture and virtual tours to the Loire Valley's other major tourist attractions, seasonal travel articles and tips, hotel and restarurant guide,

Burgundy Tourism - A wine lover's paradise with breathtaking scenery, historic tourist attractions and enough kid-friendly diversions that make the region a perfect area to explore a train ride from Paris. Start right here with guides to castles, wineries, chateau, nature trails, restaurants, hotels and accommodation.

Welcome to Bordeaux - With the focus properly on wine & gastronomy, but surf around for more on the region's history and culture, hotels & restaurants, other major tourists attractions along with practical travel info, maps and pictures, related links.

Provence Web - A virtual tour of the region including the Côte d'Azur, Luberon, the Verdon and Camargue with hotels and restaurants, vineyard tour, town & village guides, maps and pictures.

France Summer Travel Calendar:

also see in Sports -> Monaco Grand Prix