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Beyond Paris - France has so much to offer

France is the world's most popular tourist destination, and in the coming weeks and months, millions of people will be arriving for a few days' or a few weeks' holiday in this most diverse and varied of European countries.

France is the world's most popular tourist destination, and in the coming weeks and months, millions of people will be arriving for a few days' or a few weeks' holiday in this most diverse and varied of European countries. Of course, while it is quite possible to limit one's stay to the magnificent sights of Paris which has more than enough to keep the most inquisitive of tourists occupied for several weeks, a trip outside the capital is an opportunity to discover some of the myriad other facets of this fascinating country, which has so much to offer.
While Disneyland Paris is the most popular attraction in France, it cannot be said to be the best place to go for travelers looking to discover France. There is a wealth of interesting tourist attractions in France , with historic monuments ranging from prehistoric caves in the Dordogne , to the Roman remains of Provence or Languedoc and many other regions, the mediaeval churches that are to be found all over France, the châteaux of the Loire, and much, much more.
In terms of countryside, France offers everything from the eternal snows of the high Alps, through the upland spruce forest regions of Lorraine, the Ardennes and Alsace or Franche-Comté, to the gentle rolling countryside of western France, Normandy, the Loire valley and the southwest. And that's just a start...
Lovers of wide open spaces may like to head for the upland regions of the Massif Central, with their wide vistas, prairies and pine forests, fantastic country for hiking and biking; those who prefer a warm dry environment should visit the beautiful regions of the Mediterranean hinterland, where the air in summer echoes to the sound of the crickets, and is heavy with the perfume of the wild thyme and rosemary and the stunted pine trees that cling to the rocky ground. The regions of France also offer fantastic opportunities for travelers who want to enjoy good food and regional specialities; in France, even the smallest of towns usually have good quality restaurants, offering home cooking and local fare at remarkably reasonable rates; and as befits a country with such a wide variety of regions, the food and the wines reflect the land on which they are produced, what the French call the "terroirs", so that the eating experience can vary enormously from one region to another, from north to south, or from east to west.
In short, though Paris is a treat in itself, in travel terms it is really just the appetizer for what lies beyond in the rest of the country. Those whose trip takes them no further than 20 miles from Charles de Gaulle airport are really missing out on a fantastic opportunity. The big problem is that if you really wanted to see it all, it would take years, not days. That's why it's so important to make an informed choice before coming to visit this beautiful country. Bon voyage !"