France Attractions

Fishing has grown into an extremely popular sport around the world. It has to be one of the most relaxing and satisfying sporting holidays to go on. There can be very few things more satisfying than taking a relaxing fishing holiday break in a peaceful location staying in a holiday home and participating in the sport that you love.

Scotland has some of the best salmon fishing in the world and a top fishing holiday destination. Many Americans come on vacation to Scotland to catch a Scottish salmon. During the day they fish in beautiful surroundings and at night many stay in a holiday cottage of farmhouse. That way the fishermen can get a taste of the local culture and cuisine, with many taking their caught fish back to their holiday cottage and cooking it themselves.

Trout fishing is popular in England with fishermen trying their hand at fishing a local river and staying in a rental cottage. Sea fishing has also become extremely popular in the U.K and many people now take their holidays down in Devon to go sea fishing. While fishing in Devon many fishermen bring their families with them and rent a holiday home to stay in during their vacation.

France has always been a popular tourist destination for its beautiful beaches, countryside and food. It is now also a favourite destination for fishermen going on weekend break fishing trips. Carp fishing is a popular French fishing holiday and some fishermen now go fishing to France on long weekend breaks. They find it a whole different world from the hustle and bustle of their normal everyday lives and find that it makes a relaxing holiday.

Many fishermen stay in local holiday homes and gites that are available to rent direct from their owners. When staying in these gites, they use them as a base to explore the rest of the countryside in the location that they are staying. There is nothing better than catching a fish in France and eating it with local crispy baguettes and locally produced French wine.

Europe provides many different types of fishing holiday and whether it be fly fishing, sea fishing or course fishing you are able to find a fishing holiday to suite your requirements and budgets. The beauty about staying in a holiday cottage or holiday home when on a fishing holiday is that you can pay as much or little money as you wish to secure your accommodation.

The more experienced fisherman looks for a different kind of fishing holiday. A popular location for catching catfish, char and trout is the French Rhone-Alps region and it is considered the kingdom of lake fishing, with slow, quiet water as well as rushing torrents.

The Ebro is the longest river in Spain and runs from the Atlantic coast in the north, to Spain's Mediterranean coast, 130 km south of Barcelona. Many fishermen come here for the legendary fishing. They stay in holiday cottages and farmhouses and many combine the fishing with trips to the beach or cultural touring.

Iceland is also an extremely popular destination for fishing holidays. For those fishermen with a bigger budget for their fishing holidays, they may go on a fishing and safari holiday in South Africa staying in one of the holiday lodges. Others prefer to go to Yellowstone National Park in the USA gives and combine fishing with white water rafting. The truly adventurous fisherman may go fishing in the remote wilderness of Australia's Northern Territory might appeal.

The French island of Corsica, 110 miles south of the Riviera and just north of Sardinia is an exceptional choice for a luxury yacht charter vacation. With a mountainous, dramatic landscape featuring rivers, gorges, waterfalls, lush valleys, rocky cliffs, vineyards, picturesque towns, 16 ports, and 620 miles of coastline surrounded by clear water in all shades of blue, the surprisingly uncrowded Corsica has it all. The rugged coastline, with more than 200 beaches, is especially alluring to those of us traveling by boat - there are many areas you can't get to any other way and you may find a beach you can have all to yourself.

Because of its geography, rising from sea level to almost 9,000 feet, Corsica's climate is quite varied. The island is divided into three major ecological zones: the coastline and valleys enjoy a maritime Mediterranean climate (hot summers and mild winters); in the lower mountains, at 2,000 - 6,000 feet, you will find the cooler and wetter mountain Mediterranean climate; and at 6,000 feet and above, the climate is alpine, with snowcapped mountains and even small glaciers at the highest altitudes.

Corsica's average of 250-300 days of sunshine per year (April - October being the sunniest) is the highest in France, and as a general rule, the northern part of the island is warmer than the south. You can find all types of yachts to charter on Corsica - bareboat, skippered, crewed, catamaran, sailboat, motoryacht and luxury yachts. The island is easy to get to. There are 4 airports - the Campo dell Oro Airport in Ajaccio, Poretta Airport in Bastia, Calvi (in Calvi), and Figari (in Figari) - as well as ferry service from France (Marseille, Toulon and Nice) and Italy (Genoa and Livomo). Of course, if you charter a yacht in France or Italy, you'll be arriving on your own boat. Corsica is about a day's sail, or 3-4 hours by motor yacht, from the French Riviera.

Port towns on the island include Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte and the capital of Corsica. It is located on the west coast and home to the both the largest airport and harbor on the island. Bastia, on the northeastern coast, is Corsica's largest. The old town was built around the harbor and it is the most picturesque port on the island. Bastia is also known for its wines. Porto Vecchio on the south coast is the most sophisticated resort on Corsica and sees many Italian tourists in the summer months. It is known for its quaint, Genoese walled old town and its many, beautiful beaches.

Calvi (rumored to be the birthplace of Christopher Columbus) on the east coast is simply stunning with its beautiful port (lined with bars and restaurants), towering citadel and 4-mile sandy beach where jet skiing, windsurfing, waterskiing and paragliding are popular pastimes. There are also plenty of private little coves if you are looking for something a bit more intimate.

Bonifacio, just 7.4 miles north of Sardinia, sits high on a limestone peninsula at the southernmost tip of Corsica, and absolutely has to be approached from the sea in order to fully appreciate its jaw dropping setting. There are plenty of sandy beaches, grottoes and caves in this area, and don't miss the opportunity to explore the Lavezzi islands, which are part of the nature reserve "Bouches de Bonifacio". There are of course many, many more ports, towns and villages to explore all over the island, but these will give you a starting point, and hopefully inspiration to start planning your next chartered yacht trip to Corsica.

The importance of interior lighting is an undisputed fact with the table lamp making a major contribution. The illumination of a room, hall or living space, is only half the story, for a lamp, when viewed as more than "just lighting" can serve, along with pictures and antiques, not only as a work of art, but a functional work of art, offering visual pleasure while fulfilling a most practical role.

We have before us today, a very wide range of shapes and styles from which to choose, from the antique and traditional to space age minimalism. When speaking specifically of antique lamps, replacement value is an interesting point and one very often overlooked. The following pair of lamps with their formal description is a fine example:-

A finely carved pair of French, 19th century, lime washed, portrait, fruit wood busts as lamps. The subjects are, Louis-Auguste Dauphin of France and Marie Antoinette, Archduchess of Austria.

Louis is shown as a handsome young man of 15. He wears a short, side curled, powdered wig, tied at the back of the neck with a large silk bow. At his throat is a tied linen cravat, or, stock, a stiffened linen neck cloth. Across his right shoulder he wears the Sash of the Order of the Holy Spirit. The Order was worn suspended from a sky blue, silk moiré ribbon, Le Cordon Bleu.

On his left breast he wears The Order, a gold Maltese cross with white borders, each of the eight points ending in a gold ball with a gold fleur-de-lys between each of its arms. At the centre of the cross, is set a white dove descending. Marie Antoinette is shown as a pretty, young bride of 14, her hair dressed with roses. Marie Antoinette was an Austrian Hapsburg Archduchess and roses were the symbol of her Austrian heritage. Recall her famous 1783 portrait, Marie Antoinette with the Rose, painted by Vigee Lebrun who painted 30 portraits of the Queen, most including her signature flower, the rose.

These elegant busts on a short socle and standing on custom made, faux marble, circular bases.

The busts depict the couple at the time of their marriage on the 16th of May, 1770, Louis aged 15 and Marie Antoinette 14. On the day of her marriage to Louis-Auguste, Marie Antoinette became Dauphine de France. At the death of Louis XV, in May 1774, his son, Louis-Auguste, ascended the French throne as Louis XVI. He was 19. Marie Antoinette assumed the title of Queen of France and Navarre.

Circa 1880 Overall height (including shades) 30" / 76cm

Some antique lamps have a story to tell and the couples portrayed here, of course, are the ill-fated Louis XVI of France and his Queen, Marie Antoinette. Many and varied are the "causes" of the French revolution, but one thing is no longer in dispute and that is that the monarch was seen to stand for every thing that was wrong with France toward the close of the 18th century. At the time, the Royal Family was seen as the great symbol for the problems facing French society.

Today, modern French history has revaluated the role of the Bourbon monarchy and the attitude is one of recognizing that the monarch was the scapegoat for the pent up frustration and anger of France. During the Reign of Terror, at the height of the French Revolution, Louis XVI was deposed and the royal family imprisoned. Marie Antoinette was tried, convicted of treason and executed by guillotine on the 16th October, 1793, nine months after the King.

Not only do we need to be aware of the story portrayed by these lamps, but we also need to consider the possibility of repeating this artistic achievement today. These busts were carved over one hundred years ago and would have cost what would now be seen as a trifling amount of money. If we were magically able to ask the artist to repeat this work, I believe we would be quite shocked at the cost! This of course, is assuming that a woodcarver with a level of skill required could be found - another saga all of its own. This is usually when the "how could I replace these?" penny drops!

In summary, quality antiques such as these will never be as reasonably priced as they are today! It has been said that when you consider purchasing a mass produced, newly made item, comparing its quality, price & likely depreciation value, "antiques are cheap".

Planning a trip to Poitou Charentes can prove to be a really superb idea. France rentals are very popular in the Poitou Charentes region. The region that various attractions and sights to keep its travelers busy and relaxed at the very same time. It is a well known historical area that is located in the France's west central part. The chief city of this region is the Poitiers. Farming is a practice that is extremely crucial to the region's economy as cattle are fed and raised through it.

The industries in Poitou Charentes are popular for producing clothes, dairy products and machinery. A large number of tourists from all across the globe visit this region to have a superb vacation time in total bliss and comfort, renting a holiday home.

So, if you are looking forward to spend these summer vacations at a place that best suits your interests, Poitou Charentes is the most effective place to be. The primary things to do in Poitou Charentes are boating, walking, cycling, visiting its museums and enjoying the seaside.

The first thing to do in Poitou Charentes is taking pleasure in its brilliant seaside. With the amazing seaside option, the locals as well as tourists can actually imagine the beach, the sun, the waves whoosh and the sand, all at one place. With more than 450 kilometers of coastline, the department of Charente Maritime is a gateway to great region of Poitou Charentes.

Also, with their low as well as high tides, the extended pine-bordered and sandy beaches interchange with wilderness zones and limestone cliffs to offer the visitors with an outstanding experience. The 4 amazing islands that are not to be missed visiting include Re, Madame, Oleron and Aix. Oleron and Re being the largest islands of this region are brilliantly linked to this continent through a bridge.

The second thing to do is to visit the museums of Poitou Charentes. The Futuroscope is a great museum that provides exceptional thrills, breathtaking shows and interactive adventure to delight the senses of the audiences. It is a science museum cum theme park cum movie theatre that offers amazing experience to the locals and travelers alike. Other must visit museums in Poitou Charentes are New World Museum, Musee Grevin, Musee de Cognac, Musee des Arts du Cognac and Musee Grevin.

The third thing that can be done in Poitou Charentes is boating. The green Venice i.e. Marais Poitevin is well known for its manmade waterways. Spread beautifully with irises and water lilies, the Camargue is possessed with wetlands. Apart from boating in this brilliant region of Marais Poitevin, the travelers can also enjoy the activities of cycling, bird-watching, fishing and horse riding.

One can easily hire a canoe or boat from any pretty towns and villages situated along the coastlines or banks in order to enjoy the region that is bordered excellently with ash and poplar.

This Poitou Charentes area also offers a great variety of walking paths as well. With rivers like Charente along with rolling, beautiful and panoramic views, the region provides excellent choices for walking. There are various sign-posted cycle and foot paths along the rivers, the Atlantic Ocean and marshes like Marais Poitevin so that the people can have best of their times.

The fifth thing to do is cycling in Poitou Charentes. The area is not only popular for offering relaxation and tranquility, it also gives an option to discover its superb countryside. The cyclists can paddle through the roads, villages, towns and forests in order to make their activity all the more adventurous. Self catering holiday homes give the visitors a base to explore the beautiful Poitou Charentes region of France.

The Royal gave permission to starts the National manufactory of porcelain in France in 1745 and make porcelain in the Saxon style. This is a painted and gilded with human figures, etc.

The National Manufactory of porcelain in France was started in a disused chateau in the suburbs of Paris in 1738. In that year some workmen who had left the Chantilly factory and claimed to know the secrets of making porcelain, were engaged to conduct experiments to that end. They failed to make good their boasts and are said to have spent most of their time drinking, with the result that they were sent away in disgrace and another arcanist employed in their place. Finally, in 1745, success was achieved, and royal permission given to form a company to make 'porcelain in the style of the Saxon, that is to say, painted and gilded with human figures'.

Undoubtedly the factory aimed at challenging the hold that Germany had on the French market, and replacing the imported wares by home-produced ones. From the start the best chemists, goldsmiths and other experts were employed, and decrees were passed forbidding any other factory in France from making porcelain or the workmen at the new factory to leave and reveal the secrets.

By 1750 more than a hundred workers were employed, and three years later a further order again prohibited manufacture by any rival concern; an order that does not seem to have been taken very seriously. In 1753, also, it was proposed to build new premises at Sevres, again close to Paris and on the way to Versailles, and when the erection was completed in 1756 the move was made. After a number of financial difficulties, growing pains common to the porcelain factories of all nations, the establishment was taken over by Louis XV in 1760.
The justly-famous Sevres soft-paste porcelain quickly rose to a high position as a leader of fashion, and when the Seven Years'

War started in 1756, the French factory was able to leap ahead as its rival fell into the hands of Frederick the Great and the Prussian soldiers. A large part of the early output was devoted to the making of artificial flowers of all kinds that were colored naturally. On one occasion Madame de Pompadour received the King in a conservatory filled with quantities of these porcelain blooms, which were perfumed to make them more convincing.
Figures began to be made at an early date, and the majorities were glazed and uncolored. In 1751 came the introduction of figures made and sold in the biscuit; an entirely new idea that was very successful and that employed many first-class modelers.

The magnificent vases made at Sevres were finely painted in panels on grounds of colors that were envied and copied throughout Europe: dark blue, turquoise, yellow, green, and rose-pink (known as Rose du Barry or Rose Pompadour). Many of the vases were made especially for presentation by the King to foreign Royalties and acted as excellent ambassadors of trade; orders flowed to the factory in their wake.

In spite of the success and popularity of the Sevres soft-paste the directors of the manufactory were not satisfied and continued to attempt to make hard-paste: 'in the style of the Saxon.' Eventually, they succeeded, and by 1772, the new material was being manufactured in quantity.

There was a challenge for the French porcelain from the poaching German manufacturer who also produces almost the same kind. The then Royal ruler Louis XV took over the firm at the Sevres and other kings also encouraged the production of porcelain.

The Loire Valley offers goat's cheese lovers a paradise. It is a perfect location for a holiday meandering beside the Loire River, visiting famous historic chateaux, cheese producers and caves for wine tasting and even staying in a boutique chateau hotel if you chose. This region is justly called the Garden of France, and is sprinkled with amazing Renaissance castles open to the public and an abundance of fine wines and cheeses. Chateau du Guerinet near Blois is a perfect base for a cheese lover's Loire Valley holiday.

The Loire Valley is the starting point in the history of goat's-milk cheese in France. In the 8th Century, the Saracens of Arab descent were repelled at Poitiers. When they were expelled from France they left behind their goats and the recipes for making incredible cheese from goats milk.

The quaint villages on either side of the Loire River produce goat's cheeses of different sizes and shapes. There are six AOC (Appellation d'Origine Controlee) cheeses: Sainte-Maure de Touraine, Selles-sur-Cher, Valencay, Pouligny-Saint-Pierre, Chabichou du Poitou and Crottin de Chavignol. There are currently 42 French cheeses with AOC status. An AOC label indicates quality and guarantees that a product has been made within a specified region of France following established methods of production.

Valencay cheese looks like a small black pyramid. It is purported that the shape of the cheese was originally a perfect pyramid. But when Napoleon returned from a disastrous campaign in Egypt he stopped at Valencay Castle, the cheese reminded him of the Egyptian pyramids and in a furry he chopped of the top of the cheese with his sword. The Valencay goat's cheese has a rind of natural mould, covered with salted powdered charcoal and goes nicely with a glass of Quincy, Reuilly or Sancerre.

Sainte-Maure de Touraine is a blue-grey mould covered long truncated log of goat's cheese. The cheese is mature, balanced, round with salt, sourness and an aroma of walnut. This cheese is produced all year long and is nicely complimented by a glass of Chinon or Vouvray. Selles-sur-Cher also has a rind of natural mould covered with powdered and salted charcoal. The pate is hard at first, then moist, heavy and clay-like as it blends and melts in the mouth. The taste is slightly sour and salty with a touch of sweetness. A glass of Sancerre or Pouilly Fume accompanies this cheese beautifully.

Pouligny-Saint-Pierre nicknamed the Eiffel Tower or Pyramid because if its shape. The rind is of natural mould. The pate is a soft moist white and crumbly. The taste is at first sour and salty followed by sweetness. This cheese goes wonderfully with a glass of Reuilly or Sancerre. Chabichou du Poitou has a thin rind of white, yellow or blue mould and a delicate slightly sweet flavour. Pouilly Fume and Sancerre wines go nicely with this cheese.

Crottin de Chavignol known as Chavignol is hard black and knobbly on the surface, and the taste is a balance of sourness, sweetness and a little salt to be enjoyed with a glass of Sancerre de Chavignol. What better way to enjoy these cheeses than driving through the Loire Valley visiting historic chateaux, maybe a hot-air balloon ride in the morning, gourmet lunch in village bistros, meeting cheese and wine producers sampling their products and returning at night to a friendly inviting boutique chateau hotel. Don't just visit a french chateau - stay in one. You will be amazed. Guests get to truly experience the grandeur of living in a french chateau. Make your next holiday a gourmet chateau holiday in the beautiful Loire Valley. If you love goat's cheese you will not regret it.

Midi Pyrenees nestled in France is a little province. It is a small world of rural outputs and fertile farmland, sprinkled generously with the happening and chic cities. Midi Pyrenees is a land of valleys and mountains, including few of the Europe's premier peaks. It is the largest region in France, which extends right from Dordogne's Northern hills upto big river valleys. France rentals are very popular in the Midi Pyrenees region.

In Midi Pyrenees, one can explore the landscape of the Bastide towns, historical castles and Romanesque churches. Head towards Toulouse for the multi-ethnic ambience or get inspired from the amazing works of the Toulouse Lautrec. Apart for a slow speed of life, discern the unspoiled timeless countryside of the Gascony and visit Lourdes, recognized for its healing waters.

While in Midi Pyrenees, one of the best things to do is to visit various famous attractions of the place, such as Auch, Toulouse, Millau Viaduct, Grotte de Niaux, Musee de la Prehistoire, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and Pech-Merle,. Also, do not fail to see the last magnificent Sainte Marie's Gothic Cathedral with its gracefully carved oak choir stalls, great organ and gold and red stained glass panes that shimmers during the sunlight.

In addition, explore the half-timbered homes, castle ruins, fortified church as well as art galleries and few good-looking villages of the city, which is made so easy when renting holiday accommodation in this region.

Discovering the Midi Pyrenees natural beauty and geography will simply amaze you. The freedom of a self catering holiday gives the tourist time to explore at their leisure. The Pyrenees national park constitutes a few of the highest peaks like the Midi d'Ossau. Ride on the donkey or walk to the awe-inspiring amphitheatre engraved out from the rock at the Cirque de Gavarnie bordered by sky-scrapping cascading water falls such as the greatest Grande Cascade de Gavarnie.

The park further boasts more than 200 lakes, a few valleys and sign posted sauntering trails. Besides, a district of plateau and mountains made by the volcanic upheaval separating it through the River Rhone from the mountain Alps will certainly thrill you.

The rivers at the Massif Central allow you to participate in a variety of water sports, such as canoeing and river rafting. The best thing to do is exercising mountain biking that is liked almost every tourist.

The rich delicacies of Pyrenees are worth trying, as they are delicately flavored by various spices for reminding you about the region's nearness to Spain. Few of the best foie gras of the entire world is provided here with truffles, pate and the Toulouse Cassoulet (stew of duck or goose), sausages plus pork in addition to white beans along with spices or garlic.

The foods of the region make preparing meals easy when renting a holiday home, visiting the markets and then taking the foods back to the holiday home and enjoying the freedom and privacy of your own home.

There are wide opportunities for the family skiing in Midi Pyrenees, one of the most thrilling things to do where the spectacular Gavarnie Gedre also provide cross-country skiing. The highest skiing resort in Midi Pyrenees is Piau Englay, fully covered with snow and presents excellent facilities. The Cauterets is the village resort offers areas for snow boarding for children and beginners.

Discovering the sanctuaries or sampling the water apparently owning extraordinary healing properties is the best thing to do while in Midi Pyrenees. Also, stopover to the world famous pilgrimage centre boasting magnificent abbeys and churches.

Take a trip to the beautiful churches or try the exclusive Midi Pyrenees cuisines, your trip to this French city will certainly surprise you. Tourists come to the Midi Pyrenees region of France and rent a holiday home and use it as a base to explore everything this beautiful region has to offer.

If you have never stayed in a French chateau before, here are some reasons why you should book one today.

Location

French chateaux were usually constructed in enviable locations, with stunning vistas over rural France. You can take in the countryside from your room in a castle on top of a hill. Historically castles were usually built atop hills for obvious strategic defence. They provide a retreat where you can wind down, rest your weary feet and take advantage of the host's outstanding local knowledge. The chateau styles vary depending upon the location in France, and the era in which they were built.

Design

French chateaux have design running through their core and it is a pleasure to stay somewhere that's been designed and decorated with an eye for detail and finish. From the fine architectural details, like stunning plaster work, sweeping stone staircases, parquet floors, gorgeous tiling, wrought iron balustrades, beautiful marble and stone fireplaces, trumeau mirrors, trompe l'oeil paintings, magnificent french chandeliers and sconces. Everything in a French chateau is typically design-led.

French chateaux were built with a fastidious eye for fine detail. Remember that the French under Louis XIV set the standards of sophistication, style, and glamour that still rule our lives today. Remember that before his reign began, his nation had no particular association with elegance, yet by its end the French had become accepted all over the world as the arbiters in matters of taste and style and that France had established a dominance in the luxury trade that still continues today.

Size

By their nature, chateaux are large pieces of architect. However the reception rooms on the ground floor are typically huge and wonderful rooms to relax in and soak up the ambience. French chateaux lend themselves perfectly for wedding venues. Sometimes a reception room may house a Michelin-starred restaurant. If it does not then usually there is one not too far away.

The premium bedrooms or suites are normally on the first floor and are usually palatial built for the original creators of these architectural treasures. Do not be surprised if the ensuite is bigger than a whole floor of your own residence. The upper floors which usually have a lower ceiling height were reserved for the incredible number of full-time staff required to keep a chateau running like clockwork even at the beginning of the last century.

Chateaux normally lord over a domaine which historically necessitated wood-cutters, and ground staff on top of house staff. Remember these gems were built before the invention of lawn mowers and chain-saws. Ten gardeners used to do the work of a gardener today with all of his modern equipment. This ratio is pretty typical of the historical staff numbers required in the kitchen and the laundry too.

Big is not necessarily better. Huge chateau hotels often house their guests in converted outbuildings, with the coach-house being a favourite. Some chateaux owners reduce the number of rooms available so that they can increase the size of the rooms and the public spaces and provide a better service. How many rooms the chateau offers affects the ambience and the service. Do your homework or you could be sharing your lovely intimate chateau experience with 60 other couples all of them eager to experience the grandeur of life living like royalty in a French chateau.

Service

Service is all-important in French chateaux. Hosts ensure that guests want for nothing, and yet the service is discreet, so guests don't feel hassled or intimidated. The lower number of guests at a French chateau means that the service can be impeccable, and it usually is.

Price

The term "chateau" may give the impression that they are incredibly expensive, but that's not the case. In fact, you may be surprised by how affordable many of them are. For the same price or maybe just a little more than you might pay for a very ordinary chain hotel, you could be staying somewhere with real atmosphere and real service.

The beaches & coastline of Basse Normandie offer good water sports opportunities to the tourists, such as surfing, windsurfing and sailing. Families often rent holiday homes in this region of France. There is a great selection of holiday villas and self catering gites in Basse Normandie. They come to this region to have an adventurous experience by getting engaged in all such activities.

Beach Activities include Char a voile which is a Car with sail, something like windsurf that is mounted on wheels. The 3 wheel chariot is favored by the tourists as one can lie on it easily. These engines can attain good speeds if driven on the sand hardened after the retreated water.

Different resorts offer some courses to teach the amateurs about sailing the sands and provide the engine on rent also. This way one can relax comfortably while enjoying the water around.

The tourist can opt for Skim boarding which is very popular sport there that includes a board which is flat and often a wooden one. The flat beach in the region are perfect for the sport as every coming wave will leave a thin film of water on which the board is thrown and the surfer jump on every wave. The drive on the waves will add thrill and adventure in the heart of the player.

The Sea kayaking can be a wonderful experience due to the incoming tides, riding through the high tides make it a great show. One can even play or surf the waves as a beginner. This adventurous sport is liked by the visitors to watch, so very popular in the region.

One can experience paragliding without mountains in the region. Yet paragliding is often associated with mountains or nice cliffs but constant winds that are lifted by the dunes on beach side offer ideal spot for tranquil paragliding. One can experience the drift along the dune line for one hour before descending.

One can also recover his childhood memories by kite riding and surfing as it gives a wonderful lifelong experience to the surfer. The sport is favored by wind and vast beach stretches of the region and low tide make it a favorite sport. One should wear proper suit so as to avoid you from becoming wet.

One can do cycling and biking on Small roads with limited traffic and its network of greenways are reconverted into ancient railroads which remains undisturbed. This makes cycling a pleasurable experience on new pathways. One can rent out the equipment and with the help of local map one can explore the region.

The horse riding on the beach in Normandy can be enjoyed along the waves with the sun setting behind. There are many riding centers on the beach that offer riding in small group and when the tide goes up it feels like driving. One can experience the sea and its waves behind while riding the horse, with many riding schools also inland.

One can also pay a visit to local market so as to know about the art and craft of the region and can also buy a unique piece for remembrance. The museums also are the mirror to the history and heritage of the region which can be relished by spending some good time during the holidays.

The local markets are also a good place to sample all the local produce from the land and sea, you could take it back to your self catering gite and enjoy a relaxed family meal. Families enjoy the relaxed and varied restaurants as a treat when staying in a self catering accommodation in Basse Normandie. Holiday homes give you the freedom to explore this exciting part of France.

Peugeot is now considered the biggest French car manufacturer ahead of Citroen who are now owned partly by Peugeot to form the company: PSA Peugeot Citroen. Because of this success, Peugeot now has many dealerships across the UK and their cars are famed for good styling and reliability. Peugeot first started to make cars in 1889 with a steam powered three-wheeled car, this however was not very practical and the following year Peugeot switched to an internal combustion engine run on petrol. At the turn of the 20th century, Peugeot had to compete with Ford and Mercedes Benz to be the top car maker and they released numerous cars such as the type 105, 127 and the Peugeot Phaeton. This rivalry sparked the car market into what it is today and many people now buy Peugeot's for their good styling and build quality.

France has not been noted over the years to produce great cars unlike their close rivals from Germany and Japan, and it was this reputation that affected sales of their cars. But In France, Peugeot and Citroen cars were going down a hit and French farmers especially liked them. This is because many of the cars featured independent suspension that allowed farmers to travel across their fields in relative comfort compared to other cars from foreign rivals. This is because to start with Peugeot and Citroen were only selling their cars in France and it wasn't until later that they sold worldwide.

There are many models on sale now in the Peugeot range that will suit everybody. Some of the current cars in the range include the small 107, 1007, 206 and 207 that make Peugeot one of the leaders in the small car market with a lot of choice for people to choose from. The small coupe range is also catered for with two models the 307, and the 308. The large coupe and performance saloon part of the market is very limited with only one car in the range; the 407.

Peugeot also have a business class car that can compete with the BMW 6 and 7 series and the Mercedes E class the Peugeot 607. This offers not as many gadgets and gizmos as the German rivals but it is a lot cheaper and of the same built quality to a standard. Recently Peugeot have also released the 407 which is a SUV/off roader that offers the same type of space and performance of the Nissan X trail and BMW X3.

The largest cars in the range that Peugeot can offer are the people carriers the 807 and Tepee variants that offer a variety of size and equipment. This means that Peugeot have got a very wide range of cars available that are sold all around the UK from Peugeot dealerships. This means that there is a Peugeot out there for all types of people and jobs whether it is transporting businessmen to meetings or families across the country to holiday destinations.

With Peugeot selling more cars every year and their reputation increasing especially with sponsorship from major events such as the Rugby world cup in 2007 and their snappy slogan "the drive of your life". This can only be a good thing. More and more dealerships across the UK will open and offer more opportunities to the public to own a Peugeot.

Being a student of history I have always wished to visit France on a historical trip. Unlike Britain, continental Europe is seemingly more in touch with its history and France in particular carries an air of splendor not present in many other European countries. If you are planning to undertake a similar trip my advice is to fly and drive. Car hire in France is readily available, and flying always starts the holiday with a bit of flare.

I would be taking the girlfriend and with my deal breaking skills I had managed to secure a week of touring for two days in Paris. Flying into Charles de Gaulle we would stay in Paris and do the romance thing before we acquired a hire car. This was my penance for dragging her round the battlefields and cemeteries of the First World War and the glorious buildings and sites of the medieval period.

After a few days of romance in the capital we contacted the car hire firm, they would deliver the car to our hotel and we could deposit it at a different destination later in the holiday. On leaving the bustling metropolis of Paris on a scorching summer's day I was glad this hire car had air conditioning, it truly made all the difference.

First on my list of places to go was Rouen, this city had always captured my imagination as the place where Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake. As we followed the Seine from Paris the car swallowed the road in front of us, luckily the car hire company had given us something a little racy. Rouen had been one of the finest and most prosperous cities in medieval Europe, with some fabulous examples of Gothic architecture it as at the top of the list for places to see.

The outstanding Notre Dame Cathedral dominates the city despite its almost complete destruction during the D-day offensive. As we arrived I insisted that we should park the hire car and walk into this fantastic city, with its half timbered buildings and gothic architecture at every turn it takes you back to a different age, an age where Britain still had continental possessions. The feeling of the city has remained, despite modernity creeping in; it retains its medieval essence.

After spending a night soaking in the culture of this magnificent city we headed to the next stage of the journey, I would advise any fan of history to visit the sites of the Great War, as a constant reminder of the brutality of war they offer a poignant reminder of nastier side of humanity. Next on the itinerary would be Arras, as a town near the Western Front it contained many cemeteries and would give a representation of the horror of the war to end all wars.

This is where the hire car came in very useful, as up country from the town laid the striking Vimy Memorial, representing the Battle of Vimy Ridge, an offensive launched as part of the wider Battle of Arras, its eerie serenity belied the slaughter that had occurred here ninety years earlier. Added to this the town itself had some beautiful Gothic architecture most notably the guildhall, not to mention a huge array of fine restaurants and cafes.

Close by to this town is the field of Agincourt, literally a field now, without a hire car it would be impossible to view this site. The scene of Henry V's most recognized battle it offered those with a semblance of nationalism the delight of seeing one of the greatest English victories in history.

As our trip came to a close we headed to Calais, here we would deposit the hire car and board the Eurostar for the trip under the channel back to England. Despite the girlfriend's protestations of having to endure a week of historical touring, she had ultimately enjoyed it. I would advise this kind of trip to anyone, whether a history lover or not, using a car hire service and touring the French countryside gaining knowledge about our nation's past conflicts is too worthwhile an opportunity to pass up.