France - attractions - Countries Guide

Eiffel Tower
Gustave Eiffel, the architect of the Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) could never have guessed that it would become Paris's signature sightseeing attraction and bring more than six million visitors a year. It was built as a temporary structure to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution and was opened by the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII of England. The Eiffel Tower was considered an eyesore by many and there were petitions to have it pulled down. It was saved only because it had become an important antenna for telegraphy. It towers 984ft (300m) above the Champ de Mars and until 1930 was the world's tallest building. The highest of its three levels offers a wonderful panoramic view over Paris.
Telephone: (01) 4411 2323 (recorded information)
Website: www.tour-eiffel.fr
Transport: RER Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel station; Métro Bir-Hakeim, Trocadéro, Ecole Militaire; bus 42, 69, 72, 82, 87
Opening times: Daily; 9.30am to 11.45pm (September to mid-June), 9am to 12.45am (mid-June to August)

Notre-Dame
Notre-Dame looms large over the Place de Parvis, on the Isle de la Cité, and as the most enduring symbol of Paris is an alluring tourist attraction. Built between 1163 and 1345 the Cathedral is considered one of the of the world's Gothic masterpieces. The massive interior can seat 6,000 and it is dominated by three spectacular and enormous rose windows and a vast 7,800-pipe organ. The 387-step climb to the top of the towers is worth the effort for the panoramic view of the city and the close-up views of the famous gargoyles. The tower also holds the great bell that was rung by Quasimodo, the fictional hunchback. Opposite the north door is a museum that displays the Cathedral's history, while under the square in front of the Cathedral is the crypt that houses Notre-Dame's archaeological museum.
Telephone: (01) 4234 5610
Website: www.cathedraledeparis.com
Transport: Cité métro; RER Châtelet-Les Halles or Saint-Mic stations; or bus 21, 24, 27, 38, 47, 85 or 96
Opening times: Daily, 8am to 6.45pm (7.15pmp on Saturday and Sunday)

Louvre
One of the world's great art museums, this vast edifice houses an extraordinary collection of paintings, sculptures and antiquities from all over the world. The Louvre was opened to the public in 1793, soon after the Revolution, to display the spectacular treasures looted from the royal palaces. The best-known attraction is Leonardo da Vinci's enigmatic Mona Lisa, which is protected by bullet-proof glass within its own room. The permanent collections are divided into Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Asian antiquities, painting, drawings, sculpture and objects d'art. Don't even attempt to see it all in one day.
Telephone: (01) 4020 5760
Website: www.louvre.fr
Transport: Métro Palais Royal or Musée du Louvre; bus 21, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81 or 95
Opening times: 9am to 6pm (10pm Wednesday and Friday, except public holidays); closed Tuesdays. Opening hours for temporary exhibitions vary

. Pompidou Centre
Built in the 1970s and named after former French president Georges Pompidou, the futuristic Pompidou Centre is now considered part of the Parisian landscape. The outrageous design, complete with its glass elevators, was the inspiration for the Lloyds Building in London and attracts visitors by the million; it is the city's most popular attraction by far. The building houses the Musée National d'Art Modern (MNAM), which displays a vast collection of 20th-century art from Fauvism and Cubism to Abstract and Absurd and its numerous cinemas and theatres have regular musical and dance performances. The square to the West of the building attracts a varied assortment of street performers.
Telephone: (01) 4478 1233
Website: www.centrepompidou.fr
Transport: Métro Rambuteau, Châtelet, Hôtel de Ville; RER (train) Châtelet or Les Halles; bus 21, 29, 38, 47, 58, 69, 70, 72, 74, 75, 76, 81, 85, 96
Opening times: Daily (except Tuesdays), 11am to 10pm. MNAM: Wednesday to Monday, 11am to 9pm

Musée d'Orsay
This great museum is fairly new by Paris standards. It is situated in a railway station by the Seine and houses a vast collection of works from the significant 1848 to 1914 period. There are important works from the Art-Nouveau movement but the Orsay is best known for its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. The collection is arranged chronologically and contains highly regarded works by Monet, Manet and Courbet. Also on permanent display is the famous painting by Gustave Doré entitled L'énigme and Henri Chapu's marble statue of Joan of Arc in Domrémy.
Telephone: (01) 4049 4814, or 4549 1111 (recorded information)
Website: www.musee-orsay.fr
Transport: RER Musée d'Orsay; Métro Solférino; bus 24, 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84 or 94
Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am to 6pm (closing 9.45 on Thursday); closed Mondays

Musée Rodin
The Rodin Museum is situated near the Musée d'Orsay and is housed in what was formerly the Hôtel Biron, the beautiful hotel where Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) once lived and worked. Inside are many of Rodin's great marble sculptures including The Kiss while outside, in the garden, are famous bronzes including The Thinker.

The museum also includes many works by Camille Claudel, Rodin's pupil and mistress, and paintings by Van Gogh, Renoir, Manet and Rodin himself.
Telephone: (01) 4418 6110
Website: www.musee-rodin.fr
Transport: Métro Varenne, Invalides or Saint-François-Xavier; RER to Invalides station; bus 69, 82, 87 or 92
Opening times: 9.30am to 5.45pm (April to September), 10am to 5.45pm (October to March); closed Mondays

. Musée National Picasso
The Picasso Museum is situated in a 17th century mansion in the heart of Paris. The collection was started in 1973, after the French government accepted Picasso's own collection in lieu of death duties, and was added to after his widow's death in 1990. All the phases of work from the Paris-based artist are represented including his paintings, drawings, ceramics, sculptures and even poetry. Memorable works include the self-portrait Paolo as Harlequin and Nude in an Armchair. Most of Picasso's great paintings however are owned by and housed in foreign museums or are in the hands of private collectors.
Telephone: (01) 4271 2521
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Transport: Métro Chemin Vert, St-Paul or Saint-Sébastien Froissart; bus 29, 96, 69, 75
Opening times: 9.30am to 6pm (April to September); 9.30am to 5.30pm (October to March). Closed Tuesdays

Vieux Bordeaux
Vieux Bordeaux (old town) centres on the Quartier St-Pierre, which is surrounded by narrow streets, and lined with old churches and grand mansions adorned by wrought-iron balconies and arcading. There has been a lot of restoration over the last few years, but many streets remain fairly seedy. One of the most opulent displays of Bordeaux's former glory is the Grand Theatre. It was built between 1773 and 1780 on the site of a Roman temple and is faced with an enormous colonnaded portico topped by 12 Muses and Graces. Visitors can view the impressive interior by attending one of the operas or ballets. Nearby is the Esplanade des Quinconces, which was laid out between 1818 and 1828 and covers nearly 12 hectares (30 acres) - making it the largest square of its kind in Europe. A smaller but more beautiful square is the earlier Place de la Bourse. Its centrepiece is a fountain of the Three Graces and is bordered by quays opening onto the river and flanked by the Custom House and the Stock Exchange. Crossing the river is the impressive Pont de Pierre, which was built during Napoleon's Spanish campaigns, and has 17 arches in honour of his victories. The views of the river and quays from here are memorable, particularly when floodlit at night. Important churches include the delightful Basilique St-Michel, across from which is the Fleche St-Michel, which has the tallest stone tower in France; it was built in 1472 and is 374ft (114m) high. During July and August (afternoons only) visitors can climb the 228 steps for wonderful views over the river.

To the west is the 13th century Cathédrale St-André, the most impressive and ostentatious church in Bordeaux (look out for the wonderful sculptures in the doors). The city's museums are gathered around the cathedral, the best being the Musée des Beaux-Arts, which has a fine collection of European art including works by Reynolds, Titian, Rubens, Matisse and Marquet, a resident of the city. The old town is fairly compact and is best seen on foot; two-hour walking tours can be arranged through the local tourist office. Boat tours can also be arranged.
Telephone: Grand Theatre (05) 56 00 85 95
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Opening times: Musée des Beaux-Arts is open daily except Tuesday, 11am to 6pm

. Mont Saint-Michel Abbey
One of France's best-known attractions, the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey is situated on a rocky island just off the coast of Normandy and Brittany. It was founded in 708 by the Bishop of Avranches, who built a chapel here. Construction of the current abbey began in 1023 but was not finished for 400 years. Built with granite, it encompasses a range of architectural styles, from Norman to Gothic. The abbey was a place for pilgrimages for centuries and also served as a monastery, a prison and a fortress against the English. There is still a Benedictine monastery within the abbey, which can be visited on a guided tour. Among the maze of cobbled streets within the walls of the abbey are a number of other attractions including a maritime museum and a multimedia museum that tells the story of the island. The abbey is connected to the shore by a causeway, but there are plans to construct a bridge to it so that the sea will again flow freely around the island.
Telephone: (02) 3389 8000
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Opening times: Daily 9am to 7pm (May to August), 9.30am to 6pm (October to April)

La Croisette
The long, shop-studded promenade of La Croisette, and its seven miles (11km) of beach, is Cannes' major attraction. Palatial hotels line this strip each with their own private beach and this is where you are most likely to spot a familiar face, or topless hopeful, especially during the film festival, though you'll be lucky to see further than the sweating backs of the paparazzi. La Croisette is best viewed from the highest point of Cannes' Old Town, Le Suquet, where the remains of the fortified tower still stand, along with the 12th-century Chapel of St Anne. Le Suquet is a lovely place to stroll, with its winding streets, small boutiques and restaurants. At the end of La Croisette is the Palais des Festivals, whose endless Allées des Stars is imprinted with handprints and signatures of the famous. Just beyond is the atmospheric Vieux Port, with its odd medley of luxury yachts and tiny fishing vessels, and the rows of palm trees and fragrant flower market of the Allées de la Liberté.

Further west along the seafront are the free beaches (where the locals go), along the Plages du Midi.
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. Côte d'Azur Beaches
People don't just come to St Tropez for the nightlife, it also has some of the best beaches in France. Most are away from the centre; although the family beaches, Plage des Graniers and Plage des Cannebiers, are within walking distance. The most serious collection of beaches are along the Baie de Pampelonne, south of St Tropez, the best known is the Plage de Tahiti which has long been favoured by exhibitionists wearing next to nothing. All beaches are lined with restaurants and shops selling endless gifts or items to prove you've been there.
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St Tropez Town Centre
Behind the cafés, the small streets and old buildings of St Tropez form a picturesque scene, but they are popular venues for their multitude of shops and restaurants rather than their historical significance. Place aux Herbes is a lively square that has been a centre of activity for centuries; today it is a busy enclave of vegetable, fruit and flower stalls. Every May the town centre bubbles to life with the St Tropez bravade, a colourful festival dating back to the 15th century. It originated as a procession in honour of the town's patron saint - whose bust is carried through the town, accompanied by a guard of honour with gun salvos, and Provençal singing and dancing.
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Musée Matisse
Matisse spent the last few years of his life in Nice and he is honoured by this museum. The Musée Matisse has several permanent collections, mostly painted in Nice and many donated by the artist and his heir. The better known paintings include Nude in an Armchair with a Green Plant (1937), Nymph in the Forest (1935/1942) and Portrait of Madame Matisse (1905). There is also an ensemble of drawings including The Créole Dancer (1951) and Blue Nude IV (1952). Seeing his nude sketches today, you'll wonder why early critics denounced them as 'the female animal in all her shame and horror.'
Telephone: (0)4 9381 0808
Website: www.musee-matisse-nice.org
Transport: Bus 15, 17, 20, 22 or 25
Opening times: Daily except Tuesdays 10am to 6pm

The Château
With wonderful views over the rooftops and gleaming mosaic tiles of Old Nice, along the sweep of the promenade des Anglais and out to the Mediterranean, the Château park is a lovely attraction in itself and good place for visitors to orientate themselves with the city. The Château has long gone but with cool walks in the shade of the trees, a large grassy park, Roman ruins and a waterfall, it is a great place to spend an afternoon.

To reach the park, visitors can either climb the steps at the front, from the Quai des Etats Unis, or for those who aren't up to it an elevator is available.
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. Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret
Housed in the former residence of the Ukrainian Princess Kotchubey is a fine collection of 19th and 20th century art, including works by Boudin, Ziem, Raffaelli, Renoir and Monet. The Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret gallery includes great sculptures including works by J. B. Carpeaux, Rude and Rodin. There is also an important collection devoted to the masters of the Second Empire and Belle Epoque, a great attraction for visitors to Nice.
Telephone: (0)4 9215 2828
Website: www.musee-beaux-arts-nice.org
Transport: Bus 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 22 or 23 to Grosso stop, or bus 38 to Chéret stop
Opening times: Daily except Mondays 10am to 6pm

Cimiez
In a residential area in the hills above the hustle and bustle of the city, the grounds of Cimiez include a large park set amidst olive groves, the Archaeology Museum, Matisse Museum and the Franciscan Museum and Monastery. Also within the gardens, the Musée National Message Biblique Marc-Chagall displays some 450 of the artist's oils, drawings, pastels, lithographs, sculptures, and ceramics. During a couple of weeks in August, Cimiez is the site of the Nice Jazz Festival, with music being played every day until midnight and performed on three stages, in the olive groves and the Roman Amphitheatre. It is an hour's walk, or a short bus ride from the town centre.
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Château de Chenonceau
Only a few miles outside Tours, on the River Cher, the Château de Chenonceau is probably the most celebrated of the many châteaux in the Loire valley. It was used as a mill in the Middle Ages and bridges the whole width of the river. It was owned by a succession of powerful noblewomen including Henri II's mistress Diane de Poiters, the Queen Regent Catherine de Medici and Louise de Loraine and is often referred to at the 'Château des Femmes'. Inside visitors can see a wonderful 200ft (61m) gallery, Louis XIV's sitting room and Francois I's bedroom.
Telephone: (02) 4723 9007
Website: www.chenonceau.com
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Opening times: Open daily but hours vary month to month, see website for details.

Villandry
Five miles (8km) outside Tours is the tiny village of Villandry and its wonderful château. The château is best known for its gardens that are open between February and November.

It is not your standard ornamental garden; between the vine-shaded paths and ornamental box hedges are carrots, cabbages and aubergines carefully arranged in patterns; roses climb gracefully above small herb gardens. Villandry is an easy cycle from Tours and, for those that have worked up an appetite, there are some excellent local restaurants.
Telephone: (0)2 4750 0209
Website: www.chateauvillandry.com
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Opening times: Château and gardens open daily but the hours vary monthly, see website for details.

. Château d'Angers
A kilometre-long wall, studded with 17 circular towers, surrounds this vast medieval fortress. Visitors can tour Château d'Angers, including the courtyard, prison, ramparts, windmill tower, 15th century chapel, and royal apartments. The overriding reason however for coming here is to see the 328ft (100m) Tapestry of the Apocalypse. Woven between 1375 and 1378 for Duke Réné of Anjou, it takes as its text St John's vision of the Apocalypse, as described in the Book of Revelation. Guided tours provide insight into its architecture and fascinating history.
Telephone: (02) 4186 4877
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Opening times: Daily 10am to 5.30pm (September to April); 9.30am to 6.30pm (May to August). Last admittance is 45 minutes before closing

Palais Longchamp
One of Marseille's most scenic buildings is the Palais Longchamp. Built during the Second Empire, it is the grandiose conclusion of an aqueduct that once brought water from the Durance to the city. Although the aqueduct is no longer in use, water is still pumped into the centre of the colonnade connecting the two palatial wings. Below, a spectacular fountain features an enormous statue of three muscular women above four bulls wallowing in a pool from which a cascade drops four or five storeys to ground level. In the palace's north wing is the Musée des Beaux-Arts, which displays a vast array of paintings from the 16th to the 19th centuries. They include works by Corot, Millet, Ingres, David, and Rubens as well as some 80 sculptures and objets d'art; particularly interesting is a gallery of Pierre Puget sculpture.
Telephone: (0)4 9114 5930
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Opening times: Daily 10am to 5pm, and 12pm to 7pm on June to August weekends.

Marseille Beaches
The most popular beach near the city centre is the Plage des Catalans. This marks the beginning of Marseille's corniche that ends at the Plage du Prado, the city's main sand beach, where the water is remarkably clean. There is a nice walk along the corniche which takes you past the Anse des Auffes, a picturesque inlet with small fishing boats beached on the rocks and behind the Plage de Prado to the Parc Borély, which has a boating lake, rose gardens, palm trees and a botanical garden (daily 8am to 9pm; free).

Along the Malmousque peninsula are a number of tiny bays and beaches that are perfect for swimming when the mistral wind is not inciting the waves.
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. Château d'If
On the sparsely vegetated island of If is the infamous prison, Château d'If, which is best known as the penal setting for Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo. François I built the fortress here to defend Marseille and its port in the 16th century, and the site later housed a state prison. The cells are horribly well preserved; carvings by Huguenot prisoners can still be seen inside some of the cells. The views back towards Marseille and the mountains beyond are wonderful.
Telephone: (0)4 9159 0230
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Transport: Boats for If leave hourly from the Quai des Belges, on the Vieux Port, between 9am and 6pm
Opening times: Daily; 9.30am to 5.30pm (October to March), 9.30am to 6.30pm (April to September)

Palais des Papes
Towering over Avignon the imposing Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) is the symbol of the city's medieval power. The palace consists of the ascetic Old Palace, commissioned by Benedict XII, and the extravagant Gothic New Palace of Clement VI. It was built primarily as a fortress with massive outer walls, battlements and sluices for pouring hot oil onto attackers. Inside the palace, so little remains of the original interior that visitors could be mislead into believing that all the popes and their entourage were as virtuous as the last official occupant, Benedict XIII. In reality the interior was once elaborately decorated, displayed the decadence of the feuding cardinals and their mistresses. The fire of 1413 destroyed most of the decoration and furnishings, but evidence of the once magnificent interior remains including some frescoes, including one painted by Italian artist Matteo Giovannetti in the Great Audience Room. Visitors can take a fascinating tour of the palace taking in the Pope's Bedchamber, the Chapelle St-Martial and the Stag Room. Nearby, dwarfed by the palace, is the 12th-century Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms.
Telephone: (04) 9027 5000
Website: www.palais-des-papes.com
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Opening times: Open daily but hours vary month to month, see website for details

Petit Palais
Just below the Palais des Papes, the Petit Palais contains a wonderful collection of 13th- to 15th-century paintings and sculpture. Most are the work of Italian masters from that era and, as you progress through the 19 rooms, you can observe how they wrestled with and finally conquered the representation of perspective - a revolution from medieval art, where the size of figures depended on their importance rather than position.

The highlights of the collection are Botticelli's sublime Virgin and Child and The Angel of the Annunciation by Sano Di Pietro.
Telephone: (0)1 5343 4000
Website: www.petitpalais.paris.fr
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Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm

. Pont d'Avignon
Behind the Petit Palais is the much photographed Pont d'Avignon, known best from the famous children's song of the same name. The bridge was originally built in the 12th century to shorten the journey for the busy traders ferrying their goods between the Mediterranean and Lyon. The torrents of the Rhône regularly damaged and brought down sections of the bridge and builders finally gave up repairing it in 1660, four centuries after it was built. Today only four of the original 22 arches remain. On the first of the bridge's bulwarks is the tiny Chapelle St-Nicholas, and this delicate Romanesque chapel, dedicated to St Nicholas, patron saint of bargemen, is well worth a visit.
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Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a medieval village on the side of a hill, dominated by the ruins of an ancient château towering above. The château was the pope's summer retreat from the Palais and although all that remains are the foundations and two outer walls, it is still an imposing sight and a wonderful viewpoint. The village below is a maze of well-restored medieval buildings and narrow streets that weave around the hillside. Today life in the village often involves working in the surrounding vineyards or selling the famous wine to the many tourists who visit.
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Palais des Beaux-Arts
A striking and ornate 19th century building which houses Lille's renowned museum of fine arts, Palais des Beaux-Arts is a masterpiece in itself. Inside the building is a treasure-trove for art lovers, an attraction second only to the Louvre in Paris. The gallery features works by Goya, Donatello, Raphael and Rubens, to name just a few of the masters represented. There are also a number of works by French artists, including three major items: Belisarius Asking for Alms by David; After Dinner at Ornans by Courbet; and Sleep by Puvis de Chavannes. Although the museum contains mainly paintings, there are also some collections of ceramics, relief maps and a large section of Italian and French drawings.
Telephone: (0)3 2006 7800
Website: www.pba-lille.fr
Transport: Metro to République station
Opening times: Monday 2pm to 6pm; Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 6pm; Friday 10am to 7pm. Closed Tuesdays

Cours Saleya Food and Flower Market
Nice's most famous market area, the Cours Saleya bustles with activity every day and is a riot of colour and fresh smells. A wonderful attraction for visitors, the market is packed with flowers, fresh produce, souvenir shops and sidewalk cafés. On Mondays the area hosts a large flea market and an antiques market.
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Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday from 6am

Epernay
Epernay, along with Reims, is one of the great centres of champagne production; dug into the chalk beneath the town are more than 200 miles (322km) of cellars and tunnels containing champagne from the surrounding area including such great brands as Moët et Chandon, Pol Roger, Mercier, and de Castellane. Having been ravaged by war over the centuries, few old buildings remain in the town, but visitors come here to visit the great champagne houses rather than the architecture. Both Moët et Chandon, the world's largest producer of bubbly, and Mercier give guided tours of their cellars in English throughout the day. They are both situated near each other on Avenue de Champagne. Castellane also has daily tours from March to December.
Telephone: Moët et Chandon (03) 26 51 2020; Mercier (03) 26 51 2222; Castellane (03) 326 51 1911
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Reims
A visitor's first impression of Reims (pronounced Rhance) is of a sprawling industrial town peppered with concrete apartment blocks, the result of World War I bombs and later disastrous town planning. However Reims is an ancient Roman city and the birthplace of the French nation - it contains one of the most impressive Gothic cathedrals in France, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, where dynasties of French monarchs were crowned starting with Clovis, first king of the Franks. The neighbouring Basilique St-Rémi is even older and, half Gothic, half Romanesque in style, includes the old royal abbey which is now a museum documenting the history of the town. Most visitors come to Reims not so much for history but for the hedonistic pleasure of visiting the cellars of its great champagne producers. This is the home of the world's best bubbly. The best of the best is to be sampled at the Maison de Pommery, which has more than 10 miles (16km) of tunnels extending 100ft (30m) down into the chalk below its Gothic superstructure. Move on to Mumm, which contains 25 million bottles of slowly fermenting champagne in their vaults, and then Taittinger and Veuve Clicquot. All give a guided tour of the cellars and champagne making process, followed by a tasting.
Telephone: Maison de Pommery (03) 26 61 6256; Mumm (03) 26 49 5970; Taittinger (03) 26 85 4535; Veuve Clicquot (03) 26 89 5390
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Château-Thierry
Château-Thierry is an industrial town 55 miles (89km) east of Paris on the River Marne. The surrounding countryside was the site of many great battles during both World Wars and a number of monuments and cemeteries mark the bravery of thousands of Allied soldiers who fought to liberate France and who now lie interred under her soil. The town is also known as the home of the famous poet and fable writer Jean de la Fontaine (1621-95); the Musée Jean-de-la-Fontaine is one of the most popular literary museums in the world and contains a collection of his personal effects, memorabilia and a number of editions of his works.
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. Amiens
Amiens is the ancient capital of Picardy and lies on the River Somme, 75 miles (121km) north of Paris and 65 miles (105km) south of Calais. Walking around the maze of narrow streets, divided by canals, visitors will feel that this is a city past its prime, nevertheless there are a couple of sites worth exploring. The city's centrepiece is the Gothic cathedral, built between 1220 and 1270, and is one of France's finest. The interior contains wonderful examples of medieval masonry and woodwork; 126 slender pillars hold up the vast structure and the stalls are decorated with thousands of carved figures. Like most great churches it has been added to and restored over the centuries. The nearby Musée de Picardie displays the history and art of the region from prehistoric times through to the present day, along with exhibits from the Roman, Greek and Egyptian empires. The art collection includes European paintings and sculptures from the 16th century including works by El Greco, Fragonard, Guardi, and Tiepolo.
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Troyes
Those who are tired of fighting off the summer crowds in Champagne country find a refreshing alternative in the quaint old town of Troyes, a little off the tourist track and therefore exuding plenty of genuine French appeal. In the beautifully restored city centre, sporting quaint narrow streets, Renaissance mansions and pretty old houses, stands one of France's most magnificent Gothic cathedrals. The city also boasts a private collection of art housed in the old Bishops palace, the Musée d'Art Moderne that displays works by Bonnard, Degas and Gauguin.
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Cahors
Situated 55 miles (89km) north of Toulouse in a loop of the Lot River, the ancient city of Cahors was inhabited long before the Romans arrived, and in medieval times was a thriving university town. Across the river is the town's signature piece, the Pont Valentré. This magnificent fortified bridge was built between 1308 and 1500 and features a trio of towers, battlements and seven pointed arches.

The Cathédrale St-Etienne dominates the old town and features a sculptured Romanesque north portal, which was carved around 1135. Today the town is best known for its excellent cuisine and the fine deep red wine that is made in the surrounding vineyards. Sunday is market day and a good opportunity to buy some of the local produce. A good excursion from Cahors is the stunning cliff-edge village of St-Cirq-Lapopie, 19 miles (31km) to the east. Perched high above the south bank of the Lot, the village, with its cobbled lanes, half-timbered houses and gardens, is best visited in the evenings when the tour buses have left and the excellent restaurants have more tables available.
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. Montauban
Montauban lies on the banks of the River Tarn, 50 miles (80km) north of Toulouse and is one of the most ancient cities in southwest France. Its origins date from 1144 when the count of Toulouse decided to create a bastide here as a bulwark against English and French royal power. The genius of the original medieval town plan is still obvious in the lovely town centre, and though the suburbs now sprawl way beyond the old core, the city is still dominated by the fortified Eglise St-Jacques fort and the 14th-century brick bridge, Pont Vieux. The artist Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780-1867) was born in Montauban and many of his works now hang in Musée Ingres, situated in the old 17th-century Bishops Palace, including The Dream of Ossian, originally intended for Napoleon's bedroom in Rome.
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Conques
Conques occupies a spectacular position on the flanks of the steep, densely wooded gorge of the little River Dourdou, a tributary of the Lot, and is one of the great villages of southwest France. The site was chosen as a retreat by a hermit called Dadon in the 7th century, and was named from the Latin concha, meaning shell. Dadon founded a community of Benedictine monks here, one of whom pilfered the relics of the martyred girl, Ste Foy, from the monastery at Agen. Known for her ability to cure blindness and liberate captives, Ste Foy's presence brought pilgrims flocking to Conques and the magnificent Romanesque abbey-church became a prime place on the pilgrimage route to Compostela in Spain. Pilgrims still come today, along with tourists who come to admire the beautiful town.
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Rocamadour
Tiered precariously halfway up a cliffside above a small river, Rocamadour has one of the unique settings of any town in Europe. The town is famed for being the site where the body of St Amadour (who is believed to be Zacchaeus of the Biblical gospel) was discovered, an event that led to a succession of miracles in the town.

Since the 8th century it has been an important pilgrimage site; everyone from prince to pauper has ventured here in the hope of curing their ailments at the shrine, which has been plundered several times so the reliquary today bears little relation to the original. Today the town is overrun by tourists and its atmosphere has suffered accordingly, but, despite this, it is a must-see for the stunning views of the Dordogne and its marvellous situation.
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. Les Eyzies
In 1868 prehistoric skeletons were discovered in the Vézère valley and the area was found to be one of the richest in the world in ancient sites and deposits. The small market town of Les Eyzies suddenly became the base for exploring this treasure-trove of antiquity, including the many prehistoric painted caves, the most famous and beautiful being at Lascaux, which were discovered in 1940 by boys looking for their dog. The paintings were executed about 30,000 years ago and depict wild boar, deer and majestic bulls. Unfortunately visitors cannot view the actual paintings because the caves have been closed to the general public to prevent deterioration, but a replica gives you a clear picture of the remarkable works. The town has some excellent museums in which prehistoric art and artefacts are on display.
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Lyon National Opera House
This 300-year old structure's glass dome has become a landmark attraction in Lyon, situated between the City Hall and the Rhone River. The first five levels of the opera house are underground while the six higher levels are encased in vaulted glass. The hall seats 1,200 people and boasts six vertically stacked balconies overlooking the orchestra level. This Italian-style hall is lined with black wood and gold detail, and is home to the Lyon Opera Ballet company and the world-renown Opera House Orchestra. The acoustics are so good that it currently makes more recordings than any other French opera house and has released award-winning opera CDs including 12 world premieres, ballets and symphony performances.
Telephone: 0826 305 325
Website: www.opera-lyon.com
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Historical Museum of Lyon & International Puppet Museum
To the right of the river Saône lies the Hôtel Gadagne, one of the most prestigious Renaissance mansions in Lyon. It was built between 1511 and 1527 for the two sons of a spice merchant but fell into the hands of the prominent Gadagne family in 1545. Being rich Florentine bankers, they threw many extravagant parties, infamously linking their name to the mansion. In 1902 the city of Lyon bought the mansion and in 1921 the Historical Museum was installed on the premises.

It wasn't until 1950 that the International Puppet Museum became an additional attraction to the mansion's contents. The Gadagne Museum houses paintings, sculptures and furniture, as well as archaeological relics dating back from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, illustrating Lyon's vast history. The International Puppet Museum displays hand puppets, stick puppets, marionette puppets and sliding bar puppets originating from countries such as Japan, Cambodia, England, Italy, Belgium, Czechoslovakia and Russia.
Telephone: (0)4 7842 0361
Website: www.museegadagne.com
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Opening times: Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 6.30pm

. Musée des Moulins
Something different that appeals particularly to the mechanically minded is Lille's museum devoted to windmills. Situated on the highway to Roubaix the site boasts two preserved, working pivoting windmills which visitors can watch in operation grinding corn, as well as a museum detailing the history of windmill technology.
Telephone: (0)3 2005 4934
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Transport: Metro to Pont de Bois station, then bus 41 to the Parc Urbain
Opening times: Monday to Friday 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm. Closed Saturdays, bank holidays, during August and from 15 December to 15 January

Natural History Museum
An attraction in Lille particularly enjoyed by children, the Natural History Museum has been drawing the crowds since it opened in 1822. Featuring interesting displays of extinct species, two huge whale skeletons, insectariums and geology collections, the museum is both educational and fun.
Telephone: (0)3 2855 9829
Website: www.musenor.com
Transport: Bus 13 or 14, or metro to République or Mairie de Lille stations
Opening times: 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm, closed Tuesday and Saturday.

Open Air Museum
Travel back in time with a visit to Lille's living museum, which is a recreation of a local village in days of yore. The Lille Open Air Museum site covers 10 hectares, an attraction where visitors can explore thatched cottages, traditional farmhouses, seed barns and rural craft workshops where artisans demonstrate old skills.
Telephone: (0)3 2005 5941
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Opening times: Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 7pm (May to October) and 10am to 6pm (November to April)

Notre-Dame de la Treille Cathedral
A modern architectural attraction, Lille's cathedral (dedicated to the Virgin Mary) is an imposing homogenous structure, begun as a basilica in 1854 in 13th century Gothic style. Building continued slowly, interrupted by wars and financial constraints, but finally in 1999 the lofty building was declared complete after the perfection of the unique main façade, designed by local architect Pierre-Louis Carlier in collaboration with Peter Rice, who engineered the Sydney Opera House.

The central marble section supported by steel wires is an impressive sight, particularly viewed from inside or at night, when it is revealed as resembling a pink translucent veil.
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Website: www.cathedralelille.com
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Opening times: Monday to Saturday, 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 6.30pm (open all day on Thursday and until 7pm in summer), Sunday, 10am to 1pm and 3pm to 6pm (until 7pm in summer).

. Hospice Comtesse
In the heart of Lille's old town stands one of the few remaining Flanders buildings founded as a hospital in 1237 by the Countess of Flanders, Jeanne de Constantinople. It remained in service as a hospital until 1939, and today has been turned into an art museum. Works are displayed in the old hospital ward, with its barrel-vaulted ceiling, and other halls where the community of Augustine nuns once lived and worked, providing a haven for the sick. Outside there is a delightful medicinal garden. The collections on display include paintings, tapestries, sculpture and porcelain from the region.
Telephone: (0)3 2836 8400
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Transport: Bus 3, 6 or 9, or Metro to Lion d'Or
Opening times: Monday 2pm to 6pm, Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 6pm. Closed Tuesdays

Arc de Triomphe
The world's largest triumphal arch, the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile is set at the centre of a star-shaped configuration of 12 radiating avenues. It stands 165ft (51 metres) tall and the names of major victories won during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods are engraved around the top of the Arch. The names of less important victories, as well as those of 558 generals, can be found on the inside walls. Since 1920, the tomb of France's Unknown Soldier has been sheltered underneath the arch. Its eternal flame commemorates the dead of the two world wars, and is rekindled every evening at 18 0. On July 14, the French National Day, also known as Bastille Day, a military parade starts at the arch and proceeds down the Champs Elysées.
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Les Invalides
Les Invalides were built by Louis XIV in 1670 as a military hospital to take care of wounded soldiers. This attraction comprises the largest single collection of monuments and museums in Paris all relating to the military history of France. It is a burial site for some of France's war heroes, including the ashes of the greatest French military genius, Napolean Bonaparte, rest under the dome of Les Invalides and attract many visitors to Paris. Its 13 hectares of building and large church with a golden dome make Les Invalides a classical French architecture masterpiece.
Telephone: (0)1 4442 3877
Website: www.invalides.org
Transport: Acessible by Line 8 Latour-Maubourg, or Bus 32, 63, 93.
Opening times: 10am to 5pm (October to March), 10am to 6pm (April to September). Closed first Monday of every month and public holidays.

. Jardin des Plantes
The Jardin des Plantes is France's main botanical garden. Covering 28 hectares (280,000 m²) the garden was originally planted by Louis XIII's doctor in 1626 as a medicinal herb garden. In 1640, it became Paris's first public garden. In 1739, after a long period of decline, the gardens wee expanded greatly and a maze called the Labyrinth was added. It still exists today. The Jardin des Plantes maintains a botanical school which constructs demonstration gardens and trains botanists.
Telephone: (0)1 4079 5601
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Opening times: Daily, 7.30am to 7.30pm

Disneyland Paris
Comprising two theme parks, Disneyland Paris is a must for all children visiting the city. With all their favourite characters, exciting rides and much more, children of all ages will love Disneyland Paris. There are also seven Disney-owned hotels for visitors and holidaymakers to choose from to help make their Disneyland Paris experience one to remember.
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Website: www.disneylandparis.com
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Opening times: Open daily from 10am – 11pm

Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle
Located in the Jardin des Plantes, the Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle (Natural History Museum) greets visitors with two gigantic whale skeletons at the entrance. With wonderful exhibitions and fascinating displays on botany, archaeology and palaeontology to name a few, the museum will captivate kids' imaginations and educate them as well. The dinosaur exhibits is hugely popular with the younger visitors, but this museum is a must for children of all ages.
Telephone: 01 40 79 54 79
Website: www.mnhn.fr
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Opening times: Wednesday to Monday from 10am - 6pm

Le Jardin d' Acclimatation
This children's amusement park sees thousands of tourists every year. Featuring a menagerie and the Exploradome Museum, with fantastic optical illusions and amazing structures, the Jardin d'Acclimatation is a great place for kids to run around and let off some steam.
Telephone: 01 40 67 90 82
Website: www.jardindacclimatation.fr
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Parc Asterix
Based on the comics by Uderzo and Goscinny, the Parc Asterix, is a theme park located just outside of Paris. It's well known for its large variety of roller-coasters and has begun incorporating rides and themes from historic cultures such as the Romans and the ancient Greeks. The Menhir express is a log flume ride, while other rides include the Goudurix, the Grand Splatch and the Oxygénarium.
Telephone: 0826 30 10 40
Website: www.parcasterix.fr
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Opening times: Open daily from 9.30am - 7pm during peak season; 10am - 6pm during off-peak season

France Miniature
Located in Flancourt, France Miniature features over 130 models of famous French attractions, such as the Eiffel Tower, Lourdes and Versailles, for visitors to enjoy. Everything has been created a 1/30 scale and some for the models are even animated. Children will love spending a day out at this miniature country.
Telephone: 01 30 16 16 30
Website: www.franceminiature.fr
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