France Attractions

Red wines have been very popular lately, thanks to medical reports about their antioxidant and heart-protecting properties. It's true that red wines are amazing, but that doesn't mean the other less noticed kinds of wine are bad. White wines are in fact divine, when it comes to their subtle aroma and taste it's more than the senses with a right amount of sweetness and delicately combined with mild sources. Wine service at a nice restaurant can be an unneccessarily difficult ordeal. The following tips will allow you to follow the customs of wine service with ease and confidence.

Many people are confused about wine, especially whites. This makes many estranged from the joys of the cellar. For the uninitiated, here are some of the most common kinds of white wine: 

1. Chardonnay - The most renowned type of white wine is very much befitting of the superstardom. This type of wine originated in France from grapes of the same name. Its flavor reminds one of the fruity tastes of pineapple, peach, citrus, apple combined with luscious tang of vanilla, oatmeal, and nuts. Chardonnay looks very elegant in a glass with its deep yellow to light greenish transparence.

2. Sauvignon Blanc - Another wine that hails from France, particularly around the Loire valley, the Sauvignon Blanc can also be found in New Zealand. Its flavor evokes freshness of the pastures around its area, reminding one of the aroma of freshly cut grass, giving the wine an herbaceous flavor with hints of fruits. It is best to enjoy this wine immediately as its fresh flavor doesn't last long.

3. Chenin Blanc - another product of the Loire valley, this exceptional wine usually goes unnoticed as the underdog of the wine kingdom. However its flavors are truly magnificent with hints of tangy pineapple and lime combined with the sweetness of honey and licorice. This one lasts longer and can keep up to 10 years. Art of Wine Tasting.

4. Gewurztraminer - This one comes from Alsace, France. A wine with a louder character, with hints of spice and floral taste.

5. Pinot Gris - this crisp and smoky wine with hints of apricot comes from Alsace, North Eastern Italy, and New Zealand.

6. Riesling - a noble tea-like, honey flavored wine comes from Alsace or Clare Valley in France, or from Germany.

There are so many other kinds of white wines, all evoking elegant and luscious flavors that make them perfect companions for soft cheeses, white sauced pasta, fish and poultry. Of course one can have a glass with any meal or by itself depending on one's preference. When it comes to the joys and pleasures brought about by wine, whites can compete with reds. To know more about white wines, it is best to befriend a wine dealer. Cheers!

When choosing a wine from a restaurant's wine list, the main goal is to accomplish a suitable pairing with the entrees of your party. If the food orders are too different to generalize with one wine, consider purchasing splits or ordering by the glass. Waiters and sommeliers are there to answer your questions, but availing yourself to their services and advice will be much more beneficial if your questions are relatively specific.

Infamous for its wide boulevards and iconic attractions, one can have a glimpse of the past by visiting the historical landmarks. As the heartbeat of culture, beauty and romance, often referred to as the love capital of the world Paris offers some of the most beautiful and majestic sights on the planet.

Paris is known as the City of Light and there is no better way to experience the city at night than to sail down the River Seine. The Seine has provided water and transportation for over 2,000 years. Pont des Arts is a pedestrian bridge that crosses the Seine River. The Pont des Arts is always filled with people, music, painters, and of course, couples kissing.

The Louvre is closed Tuesdays and it takes at least a week to see the entire museum exhibit. But if your pitched for time, the Venus de Milo, the famed Winged Victory and of course, the Mona Lisa are must sees. The Louvre museum, is one of the most important museums reportedly hosts up to 6 million visitors a year who are eager to see the most famous paintings and works of art.

The Musee d'Orsay holds a great number of impressionist artwork or the Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris for great modern art. The Musee Rodin is one of the most charming and overlooked museums The tranquil gardens behind the museum with plenty of benches are ideal for a mid afternoon stroll. For historians, Musee Carnavalet explores the history of Paris.

In the United States, we have the 4th of July and in France, the most important holiday is July 14th. Bastille Day is not about the storming of the Bastille in 1789 an event that has long been held up as a symbol of the birth of the modern French nation but rather is a commemoration of the Fete de la Federation which took place a year later. This was a large feast that was held to celebrate the uprising of the constitutional monarchy in France, which many people consider to be the mark of the end of the French Revolution.

On the 21 May 1880, Benjamin Raspail proposed a law to have the Republic choose the 14 July as a yearly national holiday. The assembly voted the text on 21 May and 8 June. The Senate approved on 27 and 29 June, favoring 14 July against 4 August honoring the end of the feudal system on 4 August 1789. The law was made official on 6 July 1880, and the Ministry of the Interior recommended to prefects that the day should be celebrated with all the brilliance that the local resources allow. Indeed, the celebrations of the new holiday in 1880 were particularly magnificent.

The 21st century, festivities are held the morning of 14 July. The parade opens with many cadets and it is customary to invite units from France's allies to the parade. In 2004 during the centenary of the Entente Cordiale, British troops.

The president used to give an interview to members of the press, discussing the situation of the country, recent events and projects for the future. Nicolas Sarkozy, elected president in 2007, has chosen not to give it. Bastille Day falls during the Tour de France and is traditionally a day on which French riders try to take a stage victory for France, working harder than they might otherwise.

The night before Bastille Day sees a range of parties. Bastille Square is a popular venue for dancing on the eve of the Fete Nationale and crowds gather at the Champ de Mars to watch the fireworks display.

If you have not experienced Bastille Day in Paris, you have not seen France or better yet Paris in all her glory.

The Herault is a spectacular Department in the Languedoc Region of France. It gets it's name from the beautiful River Herault, which meanders through it. The French, when it comes to where they would most like to live, permanent or retirement, opt for the Herault, it's their favorite location in all of France! Many buy homes in the area and house prices are rising steadly. Lots of foreigners have also discovered this and bought vacation or permanent homes in this tranquil area, where the main concern of the day can often be "what will I do today?" The pace is slower, the food healthier, life expectancy is longer, the worries are less...yes it's tough.

Real estate prices are still pretty reasonable, in the Languedoc region, making it a good time to buy. You can choose from a chalet, apartment, village/town house, or luxury villa with swimming pool. Prices vary, depending on how close to the sea or a particular town or village. Each village or town has Estate Agent's Offices (Immobiliers) with plenty of photos in their windows, call in and have a chat, more than likely they'll show you properties that same day. When buying real estate in France you can save paying the agents fee's. Just travel around and find properties being sold privately by their owners. In most cases you will see a hand written sign saying "A Vendre". If you have the time, travel from town to village looking for your potential dream home, if possible staying overnight, meeting the locals and experiencing the place.

It's easy to understand why the Herault is so popular. Montpellier is the major city in this department, with it's international airport and first class train service, this beautiful historical and modern city, offers an abundance of places to see and things to do, it's a great base and starting point to commence your exploration of the area, be it by car or rail. The major towns and villages of Beziers, Marseillan, Sete, Agde, Meze, Pezenas and lots more, each with their own unique style and character are all within an hours journey by rail or car.

You can experience the breath taking landscape of small villages nestled and embraced by dramatic mountains and vineyards. Take a stroll along the many rivers and canals, relax on the banks of the Canal du Midi watching the colorful barges quietly float by. Let the day drift along, picnicking on the shores of serene lakes. The Herault Department is well known for its miles and miles of clean, sandy, sun drenched Mediterranean beaches. With over 300 days of sunshine per year it's a magnet for holiday makers, especially the French themselves, (need I say more?)

Every village and town in the Herault has at least one market a week, selling breads, cheeses, meats, fish and vegetables along with clothes, bric a brac and the kitchen sink. They are lively and colorful events with plenty of bargains. No matter how small the village or town you're in, you'll find copious amounts of shopping malls, nearby or a short distance away. For the young and not so young, there's plenty of things to keep you occupied. 

Theme and safari parks, water sports, cycling/walking trails, museums, galleries, golf, tours, bullfighting and the best cuisine and wines in the world. Visit some super ancient castles, forts and chateaux, marvel at the original roman viaducts bridges and towers, still in a state of great preservation. Walking around the villages your sense of smell will be charged by the local cuisine...bon appetite. The Herault in the South of France is certainly well worth a visit and is definitely a great place to buy a home!

So, your kids are compelling you to take them on an exciting vacation to some beautiful and adventurous place? Instead of wasting any time deciding on the travel destination, it is best to book the tickets and land into the truly amazing island of Corse or Corsica, its popular name. It is considered one among the 26 France regions even though Corsica or Corse is designated as territorial collectivity. Also, Corse is taken to be a really beautiful island in the whole world, featuring 600 miles uncrowded and unspoilt coastline along with wild scenery.

All these attractions of Corse, when combine together, seduce almost each and every traveler. Since ages, foreign tourists have returned to their places with deep impression and love for this beautiful and exclusive island and drives people again and again. France rentals are very popular on Corse Island. The first and foremost thing do in Corse is to taste its unique wine. The entire island produces wine, the famous ones being from Cap Corse, Sartenais and Patrimonio. In general terms, rose and red wines are more famous than white wine.

The red wines tend to be a bit heavy but the fact is that they are often good. The Cap Corse offers an unusually sweet wine known as Rapu that is drunk before and after the meals. The rose wine is best complimented when chilled on the summer evenings, when relaxing outside one of many self catering villas on the island. Wherever a traveler is in Corse, there are plenty of footpaths that will take one to the mountains, sea, villages and river and most of the paths are there since centuries. In recent times, a large amount of work and improvement has been made in order to renovate these paths in order to make the walking experience of the travelers all the more comfortable and enjoyable. There are various highly popular trails that will take the travelers as well as locals through the most spectacular landmarks and scenery of Corsica.

The widely known is that of the GR200, this path is among the favorites for the mountain hikers and trekkers. There are some refugees on the route as well so that the trekkers can spend a night. Walking in Corsica involves going through the gorges, massive peaks, coast walks and valleys. The third thing to do in Corse or Corsica is to enjoy its sports and activities. It is not surprising to believe that almost 9 out of 10 travelers of this amazing island never leave the crystal clear sea and fantastic golden sand. Corsica has a lot to provide from riding, abseiling, fishing and paragliding. Whatever your favorite activity is, you will definitely find it at this island.

Fourthly, the beaches of Corsica are beyond any comparison. Some of the most visited and admired beaches of this island include Bodri, Algajola, Lumio, Calvi, Lozari and Ile Rousse. These beaches are also well known for offering the facility of water sports to the visitors. Needless to say, the fifth thing to do in Corse is to visit the historical places of the island. The very popular Haute Ville, Bonifacio is surely a must visit tourist spot. This place is a great collection of lanes, medieval battlements, churches and ancient houses. It is also a wise option to visit Algajola's medieval centre with a beautiful citadel. Families, couples and individuals come to the island of Corse to rent a holiday home and use it as a base to explore this beautiful island at their own pace.

The beautiful and diverse country of France is said to be the most popular tourist destination in all the world. One of the reasons for this popularity is because France is home to some of the best and most famous tourist attractions that can be found anywhere. Every year, millions and millions of people travel to the various French cities and towns to enjoy their holidays in the renowned "French style."

For many, the wonders of France make it a dream destination for a wide variety of people with different tastes and interests. There are grand castles to explore, magnificent cathedrals to take in and be inspired and awed by, beautiful examples of ingenious structures and remarkable architecture, fascinating art museums and history museums, enchanting shopping venues, and spectacular hotels. Add to these marvels the ready availability of world-class French cuisine, and it is no wonder why people love to take in the French experience.

In addition, France also boasts some of the most stunning and amazing mountains, rivers and landscapes, not to mention the spectacular beaches, especially in the sun-drenched south of France. There are so many famous tourist attractions and interesting sites to see and experience in France that the list is almost endless. One of the best known and most easily recognized attraction in all the world is the incredible Eiffel Tower. Located in the heart of Paris, it is acknowledged as one of the greatest masterpieces of human ingenuity, skill and accomplishment on the planet.

The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 for the International Exhibition of Paris and is now considered the historic landmark of the country. The 300 meter tall tower has become the major tourist attraction of France. The Louvre Museum, also in Paris, is one of the most visited museums in the entire world and another of the grand attractions in France. The museum is home to some of the most spectacular art exhibitions and collections of art from many periods that span various eras.

It is also perceived to be world's greatest art museum and has many gallery exhibitions that showcase some of the best paintings and drawings from the world's masters of art. The Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci, is one of the prized works of art featured in the Louvre and this beloved work of art is one of the attractions that draw people to the museum. One of the premier holiday destinations in France is the city of Cannes, which offers a wide array of attractions for visitors. The town is located in a picturesque region of France called the Cote d'Azur, or the Azure Coast. Cannes is probably best known for the annual, international event that it hosts every year, which is the Cannes International Film Festival.

It is also celebrated for its gorgeous beaches, the chic and trendy culture, and its exciting and hip nightlife. Cannes is also home to some amazing art museums, historic churches and landmark sites which are also impressive to tourists. Other must-see tourist attractions that can be found in and around the town of Cannes are St. Marguerite Island and St. Honorat Island. These beautiful little islands are known for their striking scenic charm and the historic monasteries that are located there. Le Suquet is actually Old Cannes and it offers tourists breathtaking views of the beaches of La Croisette and is a marvelous place for an evening stroll.