Holiday resorts in France
Marseille may well be the dominant metropolis of Provence but
Aix-en-Provence, just 15 miles (24km) inland, is arguably the
cultural and tourism capital of the province, attracting numerous
holiday...
moreAix-les-Bains is a popular and fashionable family holiday resort
and spa town located on the eastern side of Lac du Bourget, the
largest natural freshwater lake in France. Although the lake is icy
...
moreThe capital of Corsica, the holiday destination of Ajaccio lies
in a calm bay on the west coast of Corsica, set against a backdrop
of wooded hills. It is a relaxed rather than lively town and
visit...
moreOn the banks of the Loire, 20 miles (32km) east of Tours, is the
Renaissance town of Amboise, a popular holiday destination. Both
historic and beautiful, Amboise attracts tourists by the busload,
b...
moreThe holiday destination of Angers straddles the Maine River,
towards the west of the Loire Valley, and is a popular base from
which to explore the local sites and the surrounding châteaux
cou...
moreSituated 80 miles (129km) east of Lyon, the holiday destination
of Annecy has a magical setting on the shore of Lake Annecy at the
foot of the Alps. It has been called the Venice of the Alps because...
moreA popular holiday destination, Arles sits on a low hill where
the Rhône River branches in two parts to the sea. The town
dates back to the 7th century BC and is best known for its
amazingly w...
moreSituated on the River Rhone, the historic holiday destination of
Avignon is famed for being the Vatican of the 14th century; six
successive Popes resided here from 1309, making it one of Europe's
l...
moreThe inland area along the northwest coast of Corsica has been
renowned since Roman times as an orchard of olive, fig and orange
trees and the breadbasket of the island, crisscrossed by a network
of...
moreSituated at the northeast of Corsica, Bastia is the island's
major commercial centre. Despite this the old town has retained its
charmas a holiday destination; opulent Baroque churches and
crumblin...
moreThe capital of Basque country, the holiday destination of
Bayonne is a beautifully preserved cathedral city, offering narrow
streets lined with half-timbered houses, small enough to explore on
foot...
moreSituated in the very southwest of France, the holiday
destination of Biarritz became famous in the 19th century when
Empress Eugenie (the wife of Napoleon III) fell in love with this
part of the Ba...
moreMuch of the historic ambience of medieval Blois remains
preserved in its white-washed houses and narrow cobbled alleys, but
modernity has impacted quite severely on this, the noble former
seat of t...
moreThe ancient town of Bonifacio, at the very southern tip of
Corsica, dates from 833AD but there is nothing old-fashioned about
the tourist trappings and commercialisation of this buzzing haven
that ...
moreToday it is hard to imagine that the quintessential, glamorous
French Riviera holiday resort of Cannes was for centuries a simple,
sleepy fishing village whose only visitors were monks and wealthy
...
moreNorth of Bastia is the holiday destination of Cap Corse, a
25-mile (40km) peninsula edged with quiet and quaint fishing
villages. The peninsula is divided by a narrow spine of mountains,
which rise...
moreCarnac, on the south coast of Brittany in the Bay of Biscay, is
one of Brittany's most trendy holiday resorts. The family-friendly
holiday resort of Carnac Plage is bright and breezy, sporting a
sa...
moreFor a change of pace on your island holiday, pack some hiking
boots along with your swimsuit and head for the dramatic Corsican
hinterland. Corte lies marooned in the centre of Corsica,
surrounded ...
moreDeauville is the only Norman holiday resort to have any
delusions of grandeur. It is at the heart of the Norman Riviera
which, in the late 19th century, was particularly popular with
elite Parisian...
moreOpposite St Malo, sitting atop a rocky headland above the Rance,
Dinard was a popular holiday spot with the British in Edwardian
times; they still visit today for the bracing sea air and a stroll
a...
moreThe blueprints for the holiday destination of Disneyland may
have been developed in the United States, but the world's favourite
theme park concept has transported exceedingly successfully to
Europ...
moreEvian-les-Bains, on the southern end of Lake Geneva, is famous
for its famous mineral waters, which have been bottled since the
early 18th century. Many of the French have second homes in
Év...
moreJust west of Nantes, La Baule is Brittany's most fashionable and
expensive holiday resort. Like most Breton seaside towns, it was
the Victorians that first flocked here to play and promenade in the
...
moreNot strictly Basque country, but part of the nearby Bigorre
region, the town of Lourdes is situated in the
Hautes-Pyrénées and has been one of the great Roman
Catholic pilgrimages sin...
moreAs a holiday destination, Megève exudes old-world charm;
the small village is huddled around the old church, a medieval
tower and the town hall. Among the narrow Megève streets and
sm...
moreAttractively situated on islands in the estuary of France's
mighty Loire River, the solid city of Nantes exudes an air of
importance and historical significance, an interesting holiday
destination....
moreOrléans was badly damaged during World War II and is now
a shadow of its former glorious self. Its long history stretches to
a time before the Romans but its most famous event was Joan of
Ar...
moreThe popular holiday destination of Pau is situated 50 miles
(80km) inland, high above the Gave de Pau River, and is a good base
from which to explore the Pyrénées and the
picturesque ...
moreThe small seaside holiday resort of Porto is watched over by the
16th-century Genoese Tower standing guard over the fishing harbour,
and although crowded in summer, retains a certain charm. While on...
moreQuimper, Brittany's oldest city, beckons those who need nothing
more from a holiday than cobbled streets to wander through, a lazy
river to cruise gently down or a wide selection of cafés and...
moreThe capital of Normandy and a popular holiday destination, Rouen
is also a centre of industry and commerce; it is the fifth largest
port in France and the closest one to Paris, split into a right an...
moreA popular seaside holiday resort and active fishing port, just
above the Spanish border, Saint Jean de Luz is a lively and
cosmopolitan town to visit. The lovely medieval town centre has
been influ...
moreThe lively holiday resort town of St Malo boasts a colourful
history as a fortified island citadel that was once run by corsairs
who declared it a republic. Today this port on the English Channel
s...
moreSt Tropez has long held the reputation of being the 'black
sheep' of the renowned French Riviera holiday resort towns, where
anything goes and the more sinful the better!
Sexy starlets were flaunti...
moreLocated at the junction of the Loire and the Cher Rivers, the
holiday destination of Tours is a great base for exploring the
valley. The town was badly bombed during the last war and many
buildings...
more