Elegant beauty France is a vacation with charm: a rich "excursion", a vacation on the refined Cote d'Azur, famous museums, gastronomic provinces and Loire castles. Cuisine, wine and ski resorts - everything about France: tours, prices, hotels and attractions.
- Last Minute Tours To France
“Nothing has been invented better than France yet” - this impudent, if not to say more bluntly, phrase of de Gaulle begs for a stern refutation, at least on a European scale. Surely the neighboring countries have something to eat the arrogant frogs! Take, for example, Germany's famous half-timbered houses. What? Are they the same in Alsace? Um, really. Okay, let's look at neighboring Belgium with its special charm of a well-groomed village, authentic French fries and "wine" beer ... What? Can all this be found in Nord-Pas-de-Calais? Damn it really is. Well, well, but purely British chips - fogs from the Gulf Stream, red telephone booths, climbing roses on large-stone walls of village houses and heather wastelands with gigantic pebbles of boulders rolled in by glaciers - they definitely have nowhere to come from in France? And again by: in Brittany, not so famous as Paris or Nice, but dear to the hearts of many travelers, there is almost more of all this than in England. If we talk about southern neighbors, then fans of Italy will feel at home in sunny Provence, and Spain - in the mountains of the Pyrenees and on the dry plains of Languedoc.
And you will never be able to remain silent about a thousand other things that make France - France. About the rumble of the tide at the foot of the "eighth wonder of the world" of Mount Saint-Michel, about the castles of the Loire - graceful, like carved caskets from the Renaissance. About the ingenious bad taste of the Eiffel Tower and the colored highlights of the medieval stained glass windows of Sainte-Chapelle. About the gargoyles of Notre Dame, stabbing a stone gaze into the glass facets of La Defense, about the humped alleys of Montmartre, the vast halls of the Louvre, the crunchy air of Mont Blanc and the warm aromas of pastries and coffee from Parisian boulevards ... Charles, you are, of course, a cheeky type, but to cover - nothing!
Regions and resorts of France
Fitting a description of France in a couple of paragraphs is not only a difficult task, but also quite offensive for the country itself. What is this "France in general", one asks? Cuts from the excursion and gastronomic Ile-de-France with Paris in the center, the skiing French Alps and the beachfront Côte d'Azur? To say this is bad manners and an unforgivable simplification! If only because, if you leave the beaches and snowy slopes outside the brackets, then every French town or town will definitely have something to see and what to try. So we will do the following: on the page "Cities and Resorts of France" we will publish a short, just a couple of screens, a story about the regions of the country, giving some idea of their main tourist "interests". If you are just starting to get acquainted with the country, be sure to read it.
And then reluctantly write only that oh-oh-very conditionally France can be divided into an "excursion" - Ile-de-France almost entirely, the famous Loire Valley and many historical cities in various parts of the country (Orleans, Chartres, Strasbourg, Rouen , Le Havre ... dozens of them!), "Resort" - although the Cote d'Azur, Corsica and the French Atlantic are not just three big, but huge differences, and, finally, "ski" - first of all, "Three Valleys" and Port du Soleil.
Time difference to Moscow
- 1 hour in winter −2 hours
- with Kaliningrad
- with Samara
- with Yekaterinburg
- with Omsk
- with Krasnoyarsk
- with Irkutsk
- with Yakutsk
- with Vladivostok
- with Severo-Kurilsk
- with Kamchatka
Climate
French customs is considered one of the most hassle-free in the European Union, but this does not mean that you are completely guaranteed against trouble. A few simple tips will help you save your nerves and money.
Import
- Monetary amounts over EUR 10,000 are subject to mandatory declaration (this includes cash, travelers checks, bills of exchange and even nominated securities).
- You can import duty-free up to 1 liter of strong alcohol (stronger than 22%), or up to 2 liters of wine or beer.
- Smokers are allowed a maximum of 200 cigarettes per adult traveler.
- No animal can be imported without a veterinary certificate (the import of fighting dogs is prohibited).
- Since 2009, the EU has banned the import of any products containing meat and / or milk - from stew to chocolates. You can take with you a bar or two of your favorite chocolate - but only black! The composition of the product on the package must be indicated in English, customs will not deal with the Cyrillic alphabet.
- If you are traveling with a child, you have the right to import milk baby food (no more than 2 kg and only in sealed packaging)
- The import of drugs into France is allowed, including drugs containing narcotic, psychotropic substances or anabolic steroids (but in this case, a prescription and a doctor's certificate are required). There are quantity restrictions - based on daily consumption for a maximum of 3 months.
- The import of caviar is allowed up to 250 g, but does not apply to duty-free - the customs officer has the right to make you pay even for one can.
- It is prohibited to import into the country items made from endangered species of plants and animals.
This is a very important point, do not neglect it. Carefully check your luggage and wardrobe, because a purse or wallet that is completely harmless in our opinion (for example, made of crocodile skin) can cause a large fine, and in the worst case, the cancellation of a visa, and not necessarily a French one - border guards at any point of entry into the EU have the right to cancel any Schengen visa.
Export
There are practically no problems with the export of goods from France. In Russia, the picture is slightly different: without declaration, no more than 3 liters of any alcohol (it does not matter, brandy or beer) are allowed to be imported, and more than 5 liters are prohibited at all. If more than three identical goods are found in your suitcases, they may be considered a commercial batch. In this case, a serious fine is the least that you face.
Tax free in France
The VAT refund procedure for a tourist seems to be relatively simple. Unfortunately, it is not without its pitfalls:
- You cannot count on Tax free if you made a purchase in a store that does not participate in the system (look for a special logo at the entrance).
- Tax free is not possible if the amount of your purchase is less than 175.01 EUR.
- The money will not be refunded if, upon purchase, you were not issued an invoice on a special form, for registration you will need a passport (a driver's license or other documents will not work).
- Tax free processing may be refused if customs officers have doubts about your purchases, so do not rip off price tags and labels from the goods, leave the store packaging.
- Tax free may also be refused if you are flying in transit through another EU country (in this case, the stamp must be put at the customs of the country through which you are leaving the EU).
How to get to France
The simplest and most obvious way is by air.
Car enthusiasts can also get to France by car, their own or rented. Flights to Barcelona, Milan or Brussels are inexpensive compared to Paris, and the airplane plus rental car option is often beneficial and offers multiple countries. It is quite feasible to travel by road from Russia in your own car: the distance between Moscow and Paris is about 2850 km, a hardy driver can easily overcome it in two days. If there is nowhere to rush, a trip to France can be turned into a full-fledged Eurotrip with all its pros and cons: the ability not to depend on flight schedules, overweight luggage and inconveniences associated with getting used to an unfamiliar car, as well as squandering valuable vacation days, queuing in Belarusian the Polish border, the wear and tear of your favorite car, the cost of "extra" overnight stays and expensive European gasoline.
Search for flights to France
France transport
The most popular and convenient type of intercity transport is trains. The French rail system is complex, but controlled by just one company, the National Society of Railways (SNCF). For a tourist, it is convenient because any tickets can be booked on one site.
It makes sense to cover long distances on TGV trains - an average speed of 250 km / h allows them to compete on equal terms with airplanes. Thalys, Eurostar and Lyria share the same rolling stock and connect France to surrounding countries from Belgium to Italy. For all TGV trains, it is worth buying tickets in advance: for example, a trip from Paris to Lyon, paid for three months in advance, will cost about 29 EUR, and at the train station it is already three times more expensive.
If you are lazy to search for information bit by bit, then this site is dedicated exclusively to the French transport system, contains a huge database and is able to do the lion's share of the work for you.
Taxi
If the thought of jostling in the subway or bus disgusts you, then there is a way out - and more than one.
First, you can take a taxi. This option is often indispensable if you need to get to a hotel or airport with your belongings. This is the most convenient, but also the most expensive way: in addition to the inhumane price per kilometer (from 1.04 to 1.60 EUR, depending on the fare period), you will have to pay the boarding fee (from 3.80 EUR), each additional piece of baggage (both as a rule, it is equal to the cost of a kilometer) and the travel of an additional passenger if there are four of you (and in this case, the taxi driver has the right to refuse the trip). If the car gets stuck in a traffic jam, the time rate is applied (from 0.50 EUR per minute). A couple more troubles: ordering a taxi by phone is paid (therefore, you should ask the hotel receptionist about this service), and the taxi driver will turn on the meter not upon arrival at the place, but at the time of receiving the order.
According to the rules of the Russian language, we "get on" the transport. The French, on the other hand, “take” a bus, train, metro and taxi. Now you know from which language the expression "take a taxi" came.
Rent a car, bicycles and electric vehicles
If you have an international driving license, you can rent a car. It is devoted to the intricacies of this process, so there are only a couple of nuances here: in modern France, cars with a diesel engine fell into disgrace, there are fewer of them in the car rental fleets, so it is better to book such cars in advance. The same applies to cars with an automatic transmission: they are not very popular with the French, they require an additional tax, therefore they are rare and expensive to rent.
Supporters of a healthy lifestyle should take advantage of the bike rental - for only 1.70 EUR, you can access the service for a day (you will need your credit card details and a security deposit of 150 EUR). Similar services are available in all major cities of the country.
The sandy shores of the Bay of Biscay stretch 600 km south of Brittany. Unlike the Norman and Breton beaches, the beaches of La Rochelle, Biarritz and Arcachon "look" to the west - even winds from the open ocean bring down the scorching heat and create ideal conditions for windsurfing.
The French themselves consider the Atlantic resorts to be the best, and the subtropical climate of the Cote d'Azur is “too rough”.
If it’s the Mediterranean that is cute to you, and you don’t want to fight for sun loungers on the Cote d'Azur, your choice is Languedoc - Roussillon. French families with young children have long appreciated the beaches there for their warm calm waters and shallow waters off the coast.
Skiing
Skiers are spoiled people. Resorts from a dozen countries from Russia to Canada are fighting for their favor (and wallets, of course). But even in the face of fierce competition, French stations de ski attract most of all fans of mountain slopes. There are several reasons for this:
- Highest quality tracks. France is lucky: the highest European mountains are located on its territory, and the French are making full use of this competitive advantage. Thanks to the large differences in altitude, it was possible to organize hundreds of tracks - from "green" slopes for beginners to "black" puzzling tracks, on which Olympic champions train.
- Reference level of service. The history of resorts such as Chamonix dates back to before the Napoleonic wars, and the French make full use of the experience gained over centuries of serving tourists. French apres-ski is the best in Europe and there will always be something to do after climbing the steep slopes.
- Truly Gaulish rationalism in everything. The French believe that the basis of a ski resort should be a track, and all related services must adapt to it - not the other way around! Therefore, the terms ski-in and ski-out, dear to the heart of any skier, in most French resorts are not empty sounds, but the norm of life: as a rule, there are tens, at least hundreds of meters from a hotel or a rented chalet to the nearest ski slope.
- Democracy. Yes, she is. The high cost of French ski resorts is a myth! Of course, if you are ready to spend an amount with 5-6 zeros, the French in Courchevel will gladly meet you halfway, but in general, the mountain stations follow the general French principle “everything for everyone” - even in the most fashionable places you can find budget options.
- A staggering wealth of options. In France, not one, not two, but as many as four mountain ranges with resorts and ski stations - there is plenty to choose from! And if the Alps (with the exception of some resorts) are more suitable for experienced skiers, then the Pyrenees are always at the service of beginners, and the Central Massif with gentle slopes of extinct volcanoes is more suitable for quiet family skiing. If you are tired of crowds of noisy foreigners, then pay attention to the Vosges and especially to the resort of La Bresse - it is not for nothing that the French themselves give it a place in the top ten.
The high altitude of resorts such as Les Deux Alpes or Val Thorens is another bonus for skiers. It allows you to indulge in your favorite hobby almost all year round. The only advice: watch your well-being, not everyone will endure a two-three-kilometer height without harm to health.
Finally, ski France is appreciated for being France! Whichever resort you choose, you will definitely have the opportunity to join not only the sports of this wonderful country, but also its culture: not far from you there will be Roman amphitheaters and medieval cities, Romanesque monasteries and Gothic cathedrals, quiet nature reserves and noisy parks entertainment.
An invaluable advantage of French ski resorts is the opportunity to save money on hotels. Travelers are offered a huge selection of residences, apartments and chalets - if you are relaxing with a large company or family, alternative ways of staying overnight can reduce the cost of living at times, and having a kitchen will help you avoid ruinous trips to restaurants.
Education in France
If you have more money than time, luxury designer boutiques on the Champs Elysees, the famous department stores Printemps and Galeries Lafayette will gladly help you out. The clothes of youth brands will cost a little cheaper - you should look for them in the Marais quarter and on Rue de Rivoli.
If you are not ready to overpay for being close to the Eiffel Tower, it makes sense to carve out a separate day for visiting outlets. They are located outside Paris, but they compare favorably with the capital's boutiques both in price and in assortment: for example, the most famous French outlet La Vallee Village is a decorative village located near Disneyland of 120 elegant pavilion houses, each of which has its own brand. Another famous outlet is Usines Center Paris Nord. The word "usines" will tell those who know French that the goods here are sold at factory prices, and the word "Paris" will deceive, since the outlet is located outside the city, next to Charles de Gaulle airport.
Cuisine and restaurants
French cuisine, with its ability to exquisitely combine incongruous and discern gastronomic "material" in the most inappropriate products for this, definitely deserves close attention. Each region of the country has made a contribution to the common culinary treasury: the Rhône-Alpes region, for example, is famous for the casserole made from thin slices of potatoes "dauphinua gratan", and fondue is prepared like nowhere else in the central Alps. After a busy day of skiing, you can recuperate with a plate of bouillabaisse, a Marseille multi-fish soup that has taken root in the snowy north.
As a rule, lunch time in restaurants is from 12:00 to 15:00, dinner is from 19:00 to 23:00. The rest of the time they usually offer cold snacks.
France is not only a country of haute cuisine with corresponding numbers on the menu. Numerous brasseries and bistros (approximate analogues of our cafes), creperi (a kind of pancake) and small small Lebanese, Algerian, Chinese restaurants will make sure that you do not go hungry. In such establishments, the price tag for a full meal starts from 12-15 EUR per person, the further from the center, the lower.
In cafes and bars, two prices are usually indicated on special boards at the entrance: au comptoir (at the counter) and a salle (at the table). The first, of course, is always lower. The cheapest place to eat is around noon, where restaurants and cafes are open at this time. You can also save a lot by choosing Menu du jour when ordering - an analogue of our complex lunch (with the difference that French establishments offer two or three options of dishes to choose from.
They are numbered not in hundreds or even thousands - rather tens and hundreds of thousands (there are 40 thousand castles in the country, and France is famous not only and not so much for castles). How not to get lost in this diversity?
Although everyone in France can easily find places that will fall on his heart, it is worth highlighting those objects that have no analogues in the world, or at least in Europe. There are much more of them than it might seem: in addition to the well-known Louvre, Versailles, the Loire castles, the Eiffel Tower and Mount Saint-Michel, there will be dozens of unique, albeit less well-known sights. Here are just a few of them:
Bridge "Normandy" stretches at the mouth of the Seine near Le Havre. It is the largest and longest cable-stayed bridge in Europe. Do not regret 5.40 EUR to travel across the bridge - you can appreciate the view of the seaside Seine from a height of 215 m (and if you have free time, visit the "Engineers' Garden" - a museum right next to the bridge). In western Europe, the bridge is so famous that its image even adorned the 500 EUR banknote - the highest denomination today.
The French are not Americans and are not specifically chasing records: the enormous size and height of the Normandy bridge are explained quite utilitarian - according to the technical specifications, the bridge was supposed to allow any ship in the world to enter the mouth of the Seine if necessary.
The Pink Granite Coast is located in the northwest of Brittany. This whimsical jumble of boulders of the most bizarre sizes and shapes is a real workshop of nature! You can spend more than one hour looking at the miraculous sculptures and guessing in them the outlines of outlandish animals and mythical creatures. It is better to do this on a sunny day - thanks to the stones, the seaside landscape will be painted in all shades of pink.
In the historical area of Perigord there are unique monuments of the Paleolithic era - the Cro-Magnon caves (it was she who "christened" the race of modern people Cro-Magnon), Lascaux and Ruffignac. And if you can't see the famous Lascaux rock paintings live, then the Ruffignac Cave (also known as the "Cave of a Thousand Mammoths") is open to the public.
In the Languedoc-Roussillon region, there is the city of Carcassonne - it is famous for the largest fortress in Europe (the modern Moscow Kremlin is larger, but has never performed military functions). In addition to the size of the structure, it impresses with its venerable age: the fortress stood in Roman times, and you can still see the ancient masonry near the foundation. The history of Carcassonne also adds authenticity, because it is inextricably linked with purely French events - the Albigensian wars.
In Clermont-Ferrand, the capital of the Auvergne region, there is an amazing cathedral. It is famous not for architecture (this is a fairly typical example of French Gothic), but for the material from which it is made: the black volcanic tuff, which is widespread in those places, was used for construction. The combination of sharp Gothic lines and dark stones creates an unforgettable impression - especially at dusk, when the lights come on in the lancet windows. Against the background of a crimson sunset, the cathedral is more reminiscent of the tower of Sauron from "The Lord of the Rings" than a Christian temple.
Russian tourists rarely get to Burgundy - but in vain! In addition to outstanding Romanesque monuments (for example, there are the Benedictine abbeys of Cluny and Vezelay - perhaps the most famous architectural complexes of the Romanesque in the world), the region is famous for a special, "Burgundian" style of architecture - even an amateur can easily distinguish it by the "gingerbread" roofs made of elegant multicolored tiles forming regular geometric patterns.
Holidays and events
Few would argue that the most famous holiday in France is Bastille Day. Every year hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to Paris to see with their own eyes the dapper French military, to appreciate the brilliant training of pilots performing aerobatics over the Champ de Mars, to feel the feeling of unity with Parisians during the fireworks at the Eiffel Tower.
It makes sense to come not for the holiday itself, but a couple of days before it: July 13 is traditionally considered by Parisians as the Day of Freedom of Expression, and on the streets you can see crowds of demonstrators gathered on various occasions - from serious to curious. The evening ends with a celebration that is called the "firemen's ball" - the only people in uniform who are universally respected in France.
But France would not be France if it did not always offer the tourist a choice. Even inside the country, not everyone is happy about Bastille Day: for example, if on this day you prefer Brittany to Paris, you can attend medieval festivals dedicated to the times when Brittany was independent - on this day you will not see a single French tricolor, unless specifically do not turn to the city hall.
Even if July 14 is celebrated in France in different ways, what can we say about the rest of the dates? It is best to spend Christmas and the September harvest festival in Alsace, with Mardi Gras in the north. New Year in France is a time of guests and social parties, it is worth celebrating in Paris, and Easter - in the same Brittany, which is still famous for its zealous adherence to Catholicism ... But no matter what region you choose, no matter what date you stop at - you will not be bored.
In Vladivostok, we met French tourists who, in 50 days, traveled by bus from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean with the main goal of seeing as many Russian cities as possible, getting acquainted with the culture and traditions of their inhabitants.
Vladivostok met tourists with foggy and cool weather. However, for many of them this is a familiar climate. They came from Brest - a small French town, which is also on the ocean, only the Atlantic, reports.
"I live on the seashore. But your sea smells more like iodine. We don't smell like that in France," said tourist Jacques Poisson.
27 French people left their business in their homeland and went on "Journey of the Century" - a bus tour from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. And most of the route is through Russia.
"Since childhood, my husband dreamed of getting to the Pacific Ocean. We thought for a long time how to do it. He wanted to go by car with friends, but it didn’t work. And now, the dream came true. We are very happy," said tourist Manik Shotae.
16,300 kilometers of road - for Jean-Pierre Laban, this is the longest journey in his entire 35-year career as a driver. This is the second time he has decided on such a tour. In 2014, he also took a group from Brest, France to Russia. He says that in two years the roads have become much better.
"After this trip, I realized that 50 days driving is the maximum for me. Well, in general, I am very glad that everything ended well," said bus driver Jean-Pierre Laban.
This is a unique opportunity for Europeans to see not only Moscow and St. Petersburg. Tourists visited more than 26 cities in Russia. In Novosibirsk, the French were told how they brew tea in a samovar, had a picnic on the shores of Lake Baikal and treated them to local hot-smoked omul. In Vladivostok, tourists were greeted with a dance of sailors and a loaf.
“I tried many dishes of Russian cuisine and even got fat. I liked your soups and how meat is prepared,” noted tourist Zhonik Shoseru.
Michelle Salen has been to Russia 98 times. But, I only reached Ulan-Ude, and then by train. Connecting two oceans and seeing the whole of Russia is his idea.
"You could make such a trip by plane, but you can't see anything from the plane, by train, but you won't see much either way, the best option is by bus to see your wonderful country," said Michel Salen.
The Ministry of Culture announced this year as the year of cross-tourism between Russia and France. The Travel of the Century route is scheduled for 2017 as well. The French are already booking seats. It is planned that the bus will not leave Russia empty, but with a group of our tourists.
Vladivostok is the final point in the Journey of the Century route. Here tourists will be introduced to the eastern culture of Russia. They will not go home by bus, but will fly by plane.
Olga Skripnikova, Sergey Drobyshev. Far East Bureau "TV Center". Vladivostok.
In France, communication is fine. Public telephones can be found even in a distant village. If you intend to use just this type of communication, then stock up on a card in advance, for example, with a face value of 10 euros at any kiosk or store.
If you will be using mobile communications, then it is worth choosing the SFR mobile operator, since it is considered the best in terms of coverage. You will be provided with communication even in the mountains, which is very important for skiers. A SIM card will cost about 30 euros. The average cost of a call to Russia is 1.5 euros per minute.
Most likely you will decide to use the mobile Internet, including for making calls. Therefore, it will be more profitable to immediately purchase a SIM card for 10 euros, pay 30 euros for unlimited Internet and use all the possibilities - communications, the Internet, and applications on the phone, for example, Google cards.
Free Wi-Fi in France is fine too. It is provided in many public places: in hotels, bars, restaurants, museums, parks, and of course, in McDonald's.
Language and communication
All French people are united by an incredible love not only for their country, but also for their language. Therefore, even a Frenchman who knows English may refuse to speak it. Since knowledge of English here does not always help communication, knowledge of at least the basic phrases necessary for communication in French is simply a must!
Features of the French mentality
The French are insane patriots in everything! They prefer French food and drinks, want to communicate only in French, drive the cars of the French car industry, listen to songs performed by French singers, and in spite of everything, idolize Napoleon Bonaparte!
Most of the French are very smiling, polite and sociable, which is a little unusual for us. The rules of behavior and morality are the words "please" and "I beg your pardon." If you are being looked at, it is not customary to look away. You need to smile back, otherwise you will be considered rude. French kisses are sacred: even if you don't know someone well, be prepared to be kissed on both cheeks twice: at the meeting and goodbye.
Shopping in France
It is advantageous to go to France for shopping during the sales season. But even at this time, lovers of low prices will be disappointed. After all, you need to come here not for discounts, but for originality, quality and genuine brands. Basically, tourists buy French cosmetics and perfumes, branded clothing and accessories, world famous delicacies, primarily cheese and wine.
You can easily find the luxury boutiques of Paris as they are concentrated in the city center. If you are interested in more democratic clothing brands, you should visit Osman Boulevard and Rivoli Street, where Naf-Naf, Zara, Marks & Spencer's and others are represented. They certainly have retail chains in Russia, but they differ radically in assortment.
In France, there is a huge number of outlets where you can shop all year round with discounts of up to 70%; their addresses can be easily found on the Internet.
The flea market is worth visiting at least once. Here you will find original items made of antique silver, paintings, decor items, dishes or even furniture.
Important! In Paris, some goods are much more expensive than in the provinces. You usually cannot exchange or return a sale item. For purchases (at least 175 euros in one check), you can return VAT (TVA) equal to 12% of the cost, for which you must issue a tax-free check before paying.
Kitchen. Where and what to eat in France?
Food in France is a real cult. The French are very fond of, and most importantly, they know how to cook. They know how to combine products and tastes that are completely incompatible for us, for example, meat with berries, cheese with chocolate, spicy and sweet. In the preparation of many dishes, regardless of whether it is the first, second or dessert, chefs use alcohol, which, in their opinion, gives the dishes a special taste.
Baguette & croissant. Traditional French food. You will be seduced by French baguettes and croissants, even if you thought you were completely indifferent to baking.
Wine & cheese. The choice is incredible! More than 400 types of cheese for every taste are officially registered in France alone. It is believed that the stronger the cheese smells, the better it is! Each good restaurant offers a wine list as well as a cheese one. In France, you will definitely not be served bad wine, in addition, in different regions of the country you will have the opportunity to taste wines characteristic of this particular area and find your taste and aroma.
Frog legs, oysters, foie gras, snails. These delicacies are comparatively expensive. But this is haute French cuisine and worth a try. By the way, the opinion that frog legs can be ordered in any restaurant is wrong! They are not prepared everywhere, and, by the way, not every Frenchman can boast that he knows what their taste is.
Desserts. In France, there are simply luxurious desserts. Fruit cakes, pies, crème brulee, soufflés, waffles, gingerbread cookies, cakes, cookies and, of course, macarons and profiteroles! Forget your diet for the duration of the trip and enjoy!
Each of the 20 regions has its own gastronomic characteristics. So, in Champagne- we taste real champagne, in Burgundy- Burgundy wines, Dijon mustard, snails and cassis - blackcurrant liqueur. Alsatian cuisine in many ways has absorbed German culinary traditions. The main dishes here are warm sauerkraut with pork knuckle, a variety of sausages, Munster cheese, Kugelhopf cake, and white wines. The culinary mecca of France - region of Aquitaine... There are famous Bordeaux wines, Perigord truffles, Arcachon oysters and foie gras. To Normandy we go for Calvados and cheeses, the most famous of which are Camembert, Livaro, Pont-l'Eveque, Neuchâtel. Well and to Brittany- for the freshest seafood, buckwheat pancakes and cider.
And most importantly: try to eat where the locals eat!
Holidays and events
Cannes International Film Festival
The festival is a prestigious and highly publicized event in the artistic world. Stars, film professionals and amateurs of the big screen from all over the world gather for 10 days in Cannes: 10,000 accredited professionals, about 4,000 journalists. It was the Cannes Festival that made Cannes what it is - not just a fashionable resort, but also the center of social life for the whole world. The city attracts megastars for only two weeks in mid-May, but a shiny trail follows the famous festival throughout the year.
Bastille day
The French call this day a National Day. Celebrations on a grand scale are held throughout the country, but it is especially enchantingly celebrated in Carcassonne.
Every year on July 14 at 22:30 an unforgettable show is held here - a grandiose firework, which annually attracts up to 1 million spectators. 25 minutes of a wonderful pyrotechnic show over the castle, a real storm of blossoming multi-colored fire flowers!
Carnival in Nice
Carnival in Nice is the most beautiful and noisy holiday on the French Riviera and one of the three largest in the world. These are two weeks of concerts, night and day processions of giant dolls, flower battles, when millions of roses, cyclomenes, mimosas, violets and carnations, as well as confetti are poured from huge baskets on the spectators' heads.
The procession of dolls is always led by the King of the Carnival, the height of a six-story building. He is carried on a large platform, on which smaller dolls dance and make faces. And after the platform all the king's men float smoothly - “four-story” mermaids and “three-story” knights, “five-story” Harry Potter and “two-story” Snow White. Dragons the size of a steam locomotive, swans, fish, bats are crawling.
Third Thursday November. Bozho and all of France
"Bozhole new", festival of young wine
Wine lovers from all over the world are waiting for this holiday and even call it the Wine New Year. At the end, hundreds of thousands of bottles should be immediately dispatched to different parts of the world, because Beaujolais has a shelf life of 4 to 5 months! This wine is produced exclusively in Burgundy, and it is distinguished by tart cherry and currant notes in taste.
The first weekend in September. Lille
Annual flea market
Every year, for two days, Lille turns into a huge colorful bazaar - the streets are literally teeming with merchants of all stripes, selling both really cute little things and completely implausible trash. The Lille flea market is the largest in Europe. It has over 100 km of stands! Annually about 10,000 sellers take part in it, among whom there are professionals and more than 2 million buyers both from France itself and from other countries.
Safety
In France, as in other European countries, pickpockets are wielding: at airports, train stations, in the metro, on the streets, especially in popular tourist areas.
You need to be wary of motorcyclists who can snatch your bag and instantly disappear in an unknown direction.
It is worth exercising caution when visiting some districts of Paris and the so-called ethnic quarters (areas located near the West and Gare du Nord). There can happen not only robbery, but also fraud, as a result of which you can get into the police. Of course, it's better not to appear here. Especially in the evening and at night, and even more so alone.
5 tips that will definitely come in handy when traveling around the country
1. Perhaps the main advice is to be friendly, polite and smiling. Learn from the French to enjoy life and not rush anywhere!
2. In France, be sure to greet the staff at the hotel, shop, restaurant - everywhere! Etiquette for the native French is a sacred thing, and those who do not observe it will not wait for decent service.
3. Keep your metro entrance tickets throughout your trip, as there are controllers on the French metro. The fine for travel without a ticket is 50 euros.
4. The fine for smoking in the wrong place in France is 450 euros! Police usually limit themselves to warning and clarification, but is it worth the risk ?!
5. Do not take large bills of 200, let alone 500 euros with you. It is extremely difficult to change them due to the lack of change.
Summer is not only a time of lush greenery and flowers, but, of course, a time for resorts and vacations. Choosing a country where a vacation will bring an unforgettable experience, more than half of the girls surveyed will no doubt choose France.
Oh, Paris, the city of live music, fountains, lights and elegant young ladies ... Having made a choice in favor of this amazing country, the girl will definitely not fail. The days spent in this magical place, with all its attractions, are filled with a revived tale of eternally sleeping Parisian streets. The banks of the Seine, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower - all these unearthly places flicker before your eyes when it comes time to say goodbye to the beloved country of romance and feelings. Gradually, you have to descend from heaven to earth and solve the already pressing questions: what to bring home from such a breathtaking trip, to relatives? other tourists to preserve at least a piece of the "Parisian" mood?
This article will present the best, and most importantly, proven options for gifts and souvenirs from wonderful France.
Famous French pastry shops
When it comes to France, most of the associations are associated with traditional French croissants, which are still warm and served in cozy restaurants early in the morning. Of course, it would be possible to bring this creation of confectionery art, but during the many hours of travel, the tender dough can become stale ... But one cannot leave the country without its traditional sweets?
One of the best gift options for family and friends is a quality French chocolate bar. How is it different from any other chocolate product? It's simple: the composition includes the most delicate milk and a large amount of spices, which the French are so good at using. Indeed, ordinary chocolate is lost against the background of one that literally melts in your mouth, leaving behind a delicate aftertaste of cinnamon ...
Another win-win sweetness that is usually brought from France is the well-known Macaron - here, in its historical homeland, this sweetness is both cheaper and made of higher quality than in other places.
Alcoholic products
Since we are talking about edibles, how can you miss such an important topic as the famous French medium-alcoholic drinks, which will drive you crazy with their taste even without an extra few degrees.
Of course, we mean luxury French wines and assortment. An elegant and simple gift in the form of a bottle of good wine, which will delight both friends and family, will be a perfect example of what is brought from France. The most amazing thing is that in this country, especially in its heart, in Paris, good alcohol can be bought almost everywhere. And the point here is not at all in the statistics of alcoholic intoxication among the inhabitants of France: it's just that Paris is always overflowing with tourists from other countries who can't wait to take with them a couple of bottles of the popular Bordeaux, and it just so happens that the French are a people who love to live beautifully and elegantly , and therefore there are simply no cheap fakes of alcohol here.
Thus, French wines or champagne will be an excellent souvenir option for loved ones. Moreover, the list of high-quality alcoholic beverages does not stop at wine - cognac is also one of the prides of French producers, but its high quality corresponds to an equally high price, because cognac is not often chosen as a gift.
French cheeses
Continuing the theme of alcoholic beverages, one cannot but mention the ideal ensemble, which has long become a kind of classic. We are talking about wine and cheese - a pair that cannot be separated.
Thinking about what to bring from France as a gift, you can stop at a head of good-quality cheese. This delicacy will be appreciated anywhere, because French cheese is imbued with the atmosphere of this country, like any other national delicacy.
And do not forget that it was France that became the birthplace of world famous blue cheeses. Naturally, not everyone will like such a product, but if a gourmet friend is waiting at home, why not please him with the original blue cheese, which is significantly different from what you can buy in any supermarket?
Spices and spices
Another hallmark of France can be considered a giant market called Richard Lenoir. Why has this particular market become a kind of tourist attraction? Quite simply - this place is wholly and completely specialized in the trade of a wide variety of spices. Just think: there are thousands of types of spices - from the traditional coriander and saffron to the collection of Provencal herbs.
A box filled with a whole bunch of various spices is what you can bring from France as a gift to people who often prepare delicious dishes. Such a souvenir will be appreciated, and therefore spices will be an ideal option straight from the French market.
Designer clothing
This gift option is more suitable for girls, because who, if not a woman, knows a lot about stylish clothes? So, in France there will be no problems with this souvenir, since Paris, along with Milan, is one of the current fashion capitals in the world. Here you can find a huge number of designer boutiques, where you can buy exclusive items.
Of course, the prices for the finished luxury will correspond to its quality, but if you want to make a worthwhile gift from the heart, then you cannot save on this! High-quality gloves, sunglasses, elegant wide-brimmed hats or berets in the rhythm of French fashion can become options for souvenirs from Parisian designers, and in no case should you ignore the personification of the French style - chiffon air scarves.
Receiving such a gift, any girl will be able to feel in the place of the very French woman who every morning comes to the bakery for a cup of strong coffee with spices and a fragrant croissant for him. So designer clothes are one of the best answers to the question of what to bring from France as a souvenir.
Cosmetics
There is no doubt the world authority that many French cosmetic companies have, so why not grab a couple of products for someone as souvenirs? But first, it's worth figuring out: what kind of cosmetics to bring from France? To answer this question, you need to know the preferences of the person to whom you plan to present the gift: perhaps it will be a long-lasting classic lipstick, branded mascara or a set of face care creams. A set of aromatic oils for body skin care can be a wonderful option.
Perfume
Not far from cosmetics, you should pay close attention to the dizzying French perfume. One thing is for sure - the best perfume in the world cannot be found! This is probably why French perfume is what is brought from France most often.
The atmosphere in which French perfumers come up with and combine their unique fragrances leads to the fact that any bottle that comes out of expensive and branded stores or simple and medium-sized ones breathes its own life. France is also a land of fragrances, each of which tells its own story. So French perfume has become a household name for a reason, denoting the degree of luxury of a perfume.
Coffee
Another amazing gift you can think of is real French coffee. You won't be able to taste such a drink anywhere else! Astringent taste and aroma, the feeling of vivacity that it gives - all this together makes your head dizzy at the first sip. Ricore is considered one of the best brands - this is a drink in which coffee and chicory are mixed in special proportions - perhaps that is why it has such a unique taste. If it is preferable to buy the best French sweets as a gift for girls and women, then coffee is the best gift for serious men who will be able to appreciate it at their true worth.
France - the land of the forgotten vintage
After staying in this amazing country, many ask the question: what is primarily brought from France as souvenirs? The answer to this question can be found in the windows of many small shops that sell the most outlandish rarity things. Having entered such a shop at least once, it will be impossible to leave it empty-handed.
These tiny shops with antique trinkets embody the spirit of France, and therefore will be a great gift when traveling home. Souvenirs can be beautiful vintage postcards with dried lavender flowers and exuding an incredible aroma, it can be vinyl records from the 30s or 40s, but what about shabby photographs depicting the most beautiful views of old Paris? An equally original gift can be an aged carved music box, from which the motives of national French music flow.
Classic souvenirs
If none of the options listed above suits the heart, then no one has canceled the classic small souvenirs that can be obtained in any country.
Then you shouldn't even think about what souvenirs to bring from France: key rings with the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe, magnets with views of the Champs Elysees or Louvre, gift lighters, again in the shape of the Eiffel Tower, small gift figurines, kitchen sets, jars for storing spices with views of Paris at night ... How many of them! But the main thing is that anyone, regardless of the person's taste, will be happy with such gifts, and on top of that, these souvenirs will never lose their popularity!
If you still have questions on the topic "Souvenirs from France: what to bring and how to please everyone," then you can always ask the person himself who will tell you exactly about his tastes and preferences. And yet, no matter how wonderful a souvenir is in itself, nothing beats a living stay in this country of fulfillment of desires and nighttime romance. So the best option for getting vivid impressions will not be a welcome gift at all, but your own presence in this amazing country.
The most attractive country for tourists from all over the world is France. In 2012, it received 83 million guests, and if you consider that in 2011 the number of tourists was 81.4 million, then there is clearly an upward trend in this figure.
This attractiveness can be explained by a large number of historical and architectural monuments, a variety of museums and exhibitions, a mild climate, beautiful natural landscapes, an excellent tourist infrastructure designed for clients of different financial capabilities. The capital of France, Paris is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and most visited cities in the world. Therefore, it is not surprising that tours to France organized all year round.
Nature
The country is located in a temperate climatic zone, however, due to the fact that the coast is washed by the warm current of the Gulf Stream, the climate is very mild, with a small difference between winter and summer temperatures. For example, in Nice, the average winter temperature is 8 degrees, and the summer temperature is 23 degrees. The eastern part of the country is characterized by mountainous terrain, while the western part is flat.
There are many lakes and rivers in the country, in the clear water of which beautiful forests are reflected. And, however, there are not many of them, since almost all the land suitable for cultivation is used in agriculture. The vegetation along the Mediterranean coast is very diverse.
sights
Almost every ancient city in this country can be called a museum, as there are many architectural monuments in France, probably more than in any other country. As for the museums themselves, history lovers in France simply have a lot of space, since they can see here the sites of ancient people, Roman and Gallic settlements, arenas of ancient amphitheaters, castles, whose history goes back to the times of the Roman Empire, and the palaces of the French kings.
Ski resorts
Due to the presence of mountains on its territory, France is a popular holiday destination for fans of alpine skiing. There are about 400 ski resorts in the French Alps, which are aimed at athletes of different skill levels and, importantly, people with different income levels. Hotels in the resorts are designed for both family holidays and company holidays.
Entertainment
If the tourist is not a skier and is not particularly interested in ancient artifacts and ruins of fortresses, then he can visit the Futuroscope cinema park near the city of Poitiers, which houses the world's largest collection telling about the history of cinema, as well as a magnificent amusement park. Entertainment is categorized by age, which makes this place especially attractive for both adults and children.
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At 32 kilometers from Paris, there is the town of Marc-la Vallee, where Eurodisneyland is located, which also offers entertainment for tourists of all ages and financial conditions. Just wandering along the beautiful streets of Paris, visiting the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Elysees is also a great pleasure.
Traveling around the country
Those who travel around Europe in a private car need to know that you have to pay for travel on French roads. At the entrance to the next section of the motorway there will be a board indicating the amount of the toll. Experienced travelers know that it will help a lot for an independent trip around the country. map of France in Russian language.
In general, the transport system of this country is considered one of the best in the world. France is the world leader in the introduction of high-speed rail transport. More than 50 cities of the state are connected by high-speed railways.
Buses are an auxiliary form of transport. There are no distant routes. For those wishing to travel around the country by car, there are car rental companies in the country. Highway service stations are located every 25 miles. However, it is difficult to find a parking place in the capital, and most of the parking lots are paid.
