France

France is an exceptionally varied country and one of those places where travelling a few hundred kilometres can leave you feeling as though you have entered somewhere completely different. Paris may dominate the international image of the country, but France stretches from the English Channel and Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean, with the Alps to the east and the Pyrenees separating the south-west from Spain.

There are major cities, small market towns, seaside resorts, mountain villages, vineyards, forests and large expanses of countryside. Regional identity remains strong too, and places such as Brittany, Alsace, Provence and the French Basque Country can feel culturally distinct.

Scenic Beauty

France has an enormous variety of scenery. The Alps offer some of Europe's most spectacular mountain landscapes, while the Pyrenees stretch along the Spanish border and provide another world of hiking, skiing and mountain towns. Lourdes sits within this Pyrenean landscape and even a short visit gives you an idea of just how scenic this part of France is.

On the other side of the country, the Atlantic coastline runs from Brittany down through the beaches of the south-west and into the French Basque Country. Further south and east, the Mediterranean brings a completely different landscape and climate.

Inland France has plenty to offer too, from vineyards and river valleys to forests and rolling farmland.

Culture, History and Heritage

France has been shaped by Celts, Romans, Franks and many other peoples, before developing into one of the major kingdoms and later republics of Europe. Roman remains can still be found throughout the country, even in smaller places such as Dax, where the ancient settlement and thermal waters form a major part of the town's identity.

Medieval towns, castles, cathedrals and later grand urban architecture are scattered across the country. Bordeaux is a good example of how several historical periods can exist side by side, with medieval streets mixed with the grander architecture which came from later periods of prosperity.

France also retains very strong regional identities. In the French Basque Country, for example, French and Basque influences sit alongside one another, particularly around places such as Bayonne, Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Hendaye.

Local Life

One of the best things about travelling around France is simply spending time in its towns and neighbourhoods. There is a strong café and terrace culture, and French towns tend to have central plazas, markets, independent shops and streets where wandering around without much of a plan is an activity in itself.

We enjoyed this particularly in Dax, where the compact centre, markets, restaurants and outdoor terraces make it an easy place to simply stroll around and watch the world go by.

Food and Drink

French cuisine doesn't really need much introduction, although there is no single French cuisine. Food changes considerably depending on the region.

You will find seafood along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, cheeses almost everywhere, rich meat dishes inland, Provençal flavours in the south-east and a mixture of French and Basque cooking close to the Spanish border.

Then there is the wine. Bordeaux is perhaps the most famous name internationally, with vineyards having shaped the economy and culture of the surrounding region for centuries. Champagne, Burgundy, the Rhône Valley, Alsace and the Loire are just some of the country's other major wine-producing areas.

Going to the local market, picking up some bread, cheese and cold meats and making your own lunch can be every bit as enjoyable as eating in a restaurant.

Outdoor Activities

France is a great country if you like getting outdoors. The Alps and Pyrenees offer hiking, skiing and mountain sports, while the Atlantic coast is excellent for surfing and beach activities.

The south-west combines several of these possibilities particularly well. You can move from the forests of the Landes to the Atlantic coast and then south towards the foothills of the Pyrenees and the French Basque Country without travelling enormous distances. Your choice might simply be between walking boots, swimming gear or a surfboard.

Cycling is another obvious French pastime, and the country's enormous network of rural roads and trails gives cyclists plenty to work with.

Festivals and Events

France has festivals throughout the year, from village celebrations and food festivals to internationally recognised events such as the Cannes Film Festival.

The 14th of July, or Fête nationale, brings celebrations throughout the country, usually involving fireworks, public events and music.

Regional festivals can be particularly interesting as they show the differences within France itself. In the south-west, for example, local festivals can involve rugby, markets, music and bull-related traditions that would feel very different from celebrations elsewhere in the country.

Historical and Religious Sites

France has no shortage of castles, churches, cathedrals, Roman ruins and historic town centres. Paris alone could occupy someone for days, but some of the most interesting history can be found well away from the capital.

Religious heritage is also a major part of the country's history. Lourdes is one of the world's best-known Catholic pilgrimage destinations following the reported Marian apparitions experienced by Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. Whether you are religious or not, places like Lourdes provide an interesting insight into how faith, history and local life interact.

Regional Identity

Perhaps one of the most interesting things about France is that being French does not necessarily mean being culturally identical.

Brittany has its Breton heritage, Alsace shows the historical interaction of French and German cultures, Corsica has its own island identity and the French Basque Country forms part of a wider Basque cultural region stretching across the international border.

This makes travelling around France far more interesting than simply visiting a list of famous French landmarks.

Rest and Relaxation

France is very good at slowing you down. You can sit outside a café, wander around a market, spend an afternoon on a beach or disappear into the countryside.

There is even an established spa tradition. Dax, which developed around its naturally heated waters, is a particularly good example, with thermal spas continuing a relationship between the town and its waters that stretches back to Roman times.

Concluding?

France is far too large and varied to experience in one trip. The famous destinations deserve their reputation, but some of the most enjoyable travel can involve smaller cities, market towns and regions that you might originally have thought of simply as places on the way somewhere else.

From Bordeaux's historic streets and wine culture to the thermal waters of Dax, the mountains around Lourdes and the beaches and towns of the French Basque Country, even one small corner of France can keep you occupied for quite some time.

And there is still an enormous country beyond them to explore.