Paris is known as the City of Lights and absolutely deserves this name. Its famous landmarks are illuminated at night, serving up views worthy for any camera. In addition to the mandatory sights of the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral, you should also climb the steps to Sacré Coeur on Montmartre, stroll around the Place du Tertre behind it, visit the saucy Pigalle district, stroll through the Latin quarter – the rue St. Germain and boulevard St. Michel, ride the Paris Metro and be entertained by the street performers outside the Centre Pompidou. In the environs of Paris you can also visit Fontainebleau and Versailles with its magnificent palace of Louis XIV. Click here to see a sample of one of our previous tours to Paris. The North of France consists of the flatlands around the town of Lille and the Channel. The area reminds visitors in many ways of Belgium and the Netherlands. The Center is in many ways the quietest part of France. But the great treasure of this region is the Loire valley with its picturesque castles and beautiful towns. Among France’s most beautiful towns is Chartes with its famous cathedral. The West of France is turned towards the rugged Atlantic Coast. In the north, Normandy and Brittany have rolling hills, sandy beaches and quiet little harbor towns. The atmosphere is distinct from the rest of the country; you can still sense the Celtic origin of the region and its inhabitants. Bordeaux, capitol of the southwest, is a stylish city famous for its wines and 18th century architecture. The Pays Basque is the southernmost part of the Atlantic Coast of France. The resort of Biarritz is posh, but pretty. The Eastern part of France consists of the Alsace, Lorraine, Franche Comté and Burgundy regions. The landscape has rolling hills and many beautiful cities, such as Metz, Strasbourg, Nancy and Dijon. This region produces many famous wines, including magnificent pinot noirs and chardonnays valued the world over, as well as the famous "yellow wine" from the Jura mountain vineyard. The Alps are great for skiing in winter and hiking in summer. Albertville, Grenoble and Chamonix have all hosted the Olympic games. But the Alps also have scenic villages that are nice in any season, such as Chambéry, Annecy or Grenoble. The South has good food, wines, roman ruins and of course, the Riviera. Towns like Orange and Arles, but also big cities like Marseille and Toulon are must-sees. Provence is dotted with pleasant small villages and is home to vast fields of lavender and the perfume industry. In the southwest the Dordogne is one of the most quintessential French regions. Languedoc has its own language and culture. Languedoc borders the Pyrenees, a great mountain range separating France from Spain, where you can hike and ski. Nearby, the medieval town of Carcassone is a top destination. TOP Contents © Kola Nut Travel, Inc. * All Rights Reserved