FRANCE

Beautiful by name, beautiful by nature, la belle France is still turning heads. 

Whether it's gastronomic greatness, artistic endeavour or cultural cachet you're looking for, there's no doubt that France still sits right at the top of the European heap. France is the country for which the word chic was invented - seductive and aloof, old-fashioned and forward-looking, but always characterised by a certain je ne sais quoi.

Getting to France

Air France and scores of other airlines link Paris with every section of the globe. 

Other French cities with international air links (mainly to places within Europe) include Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Strasbourg and Toulouse. 

In France, inexpensive flights offered by discount airlines and charter clearing houses can be booked through many regular travel agents. If you are doing a lot of travel around Europe, look for discount bus and train passes, which can be combined with discount airfares.

When to go to France

Spring offers the best weather to visitors, with beach tourism picking up in May. 

Temperatures aren't too bad in autumn, although the short days mean limited sunlight and the cold starts to make itself felt towards the end of the season, even along the Côte d'Azur. 

Winter means playing in the snow in France's Alps and Pyrenees, though the Christmas school holidays send hordes of tadpoles in uniform scurrying for the slopes. 

Mid-July through to the end of August is when most city dwellers take their annual five weeks' vacation to the coasts and mountains, and the half-desolate cities tend to shut down a bit accordingly. The same happens during February and March.

Major Attractions of France:

1)The Eiffel Tower Visit:

The Eiffel Tower's specially designed Altitude 95 Restaurant on the tower's first floor takes visitors back to the days of airship travel. You'll watch Paris light up from the restaurant's large picture windows, with views over the Seine to the Trocadero, plus you'll see glimpses of the famous Eiffel Tower's inner structure.

After dinner, you'll cruise along the Seine River and see the illuminated buildings and bridges of Paris. The perfect way to end your Paris evening.

With 2 million visitors the first year and almost 6 million people a year today, the Eiffel Tower is a real crowd pleaser. At the crossroads of the entire world, 180 million visitors have come since its construction. It's not surprising when you consider the Eiffel Tower is the monument that best symbolizes Europe. It's also the one tourists prefer. 

2)Cours Saleya Flower Market
Nice's famous Flower Market is one of the best attractions in the whole city. The edges are lined with cafés and souvenir shops, and the stands themselves are packed with amazing produce and myriad flowers. It operates six days a week, replaced on Mondays by a flea and antiques market.

3. Matisse Museum

The lovely and innovative art of Henri Matisse was inspired by the fresh colors and lines of Nice. There are also some of his personal effects here. The museum gift shop features prints of the artist's works.

Adress : 164, av. des Arènes de Cimiez 06000 Nice.
Tel : (+33) (0)4 93 81 08 08 (informations)

Two Matisse paintings, created in Vence in 1947, Nature morte aux grenades (Matisse museum collection, Nice) and Intérieur rouge, nature morte sur table bleue (Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen collection, Düsseldorf) are the centre pieces for pictorial and graphic ranges around the themes of « the interior » and « the pomegranate ».

4. Le Chateau
The best reason to visit the chateau is for the spectacular panoramic view of the city and sea. You won't actually see much of a castle (only a few sections of it remain). You can take the elevator up for a nominal price or hike up the stairs for free to the park atop the hill. Be sure to bring your camera.The hill is covered by a shady park full of Mediterranean essences, with an ornamental waterfall, and offers an exceptional panorama over Nice and its surroundings. Little remains of the old fortress except the relics of the Cathédrale Santa Maria de l'Assompta.

5)Russian Cathedral:(Avenue Nicolas 2)
The Emperor Nicolas 2 was partly responsible for financing its construction.
Inaugurated in 1912, the cathédrale Saint Nicolas presents a superb harmony of pink bricks, light grey marble and brightly coloured ceramic. Crowned by six "onion-shaped" domes, it contains superb treasures : icons, woodwork and frescoes.. 
in the cathedral gardens, admire the commemorative chapel of tzarevitch Nicolas Alexandrovitch

6)Fine art Meuseum:
33 avenue des Baumettes
The museum is housed in the residence of the Ukrainian princess Kotschoubey, built in 1878 in the italian style of the early 17th century. The art collections include the Paris school, the 17th century Italian school, Dutch landscapes, 18th century French and Italian, impressionists and postimpressionists. Modern art is also represented with Raoul Dufy and Van Dongen.