An overview of France
Let's check where France is
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located in Western Europe whose population reaches approximately 65,000,000 inhabitants. It is also composed of various overseas islands and territories located in other continents. We often call it "L'Hexagone" (The Hexagon) because of the geometric shape of its territory.
Our country, bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra, and Spain is the most visited country in the world, receiving over 79 million foreign tourists annually.
It is one of the founding members of the European Union and has the largest land area of all members. Moreover it is a founding member of the United Nations, a member of the Francophonie, and the G8. It is also one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
France was the world's foremost power in the 17th century. Nowadays it is a unitary semi-presidential republic. Its main ideals are expressed in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
Source: www.wikipedia.org
Best places to visit in Paris
If you have time to visit only one city in Europe, make it Paris! We will try to give you the best advices to plan your trip. First of all it must include 3 of the major monuments: the treasures of the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame's cathedral. Of course, these are just a few of the spectacular attractions in Paris. You'll find beautiful and meaningful historical sites, exposure to some of the greatest art in the world, high-fashion of course, excellent shopping (although it is slightly expensive than in the US) and a sampling of the best cuisine around as well. That is Paris!!
We describe the best places to visit in Paris by geographical groupings, so that you can explore Paris with a minimum of effort. The "City of Light" is divided into "arrondissements" (like districts). The attractions of interest to most tourists are clustered in a narrow band along both sides of the Seine River in central Paris.
You might start with the Eiffel Tower, or you can just go see the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysees (the world's most famous avenue), the Palais de L'Elysees, the Grand Palais, and the Petit Palais: they are all close to each other. This area of Paris is a magnet for romantics and one of the first places most travelers visit.
Then come the Louvre, the Orangerie, the Opera, the Place Vendome, the Jardin des Tuileries. The Louvre is one the famous museum of the world where the movie "Da Vinci Code" has been filmed.
After that, in the Eiffel tower area you'll find: the Eiffel Tower, the Parc du Champ de Mars, the Palais de Chaillot, the Jardins du Trocadero, the Musee Marmottan Monet and the new Musee du quai Branly.
Follows the historic core of the city: Notre Dame, the Latin Quarter and St. Germain des Pres. The Latin Quarter covers the Ile de la Cite (Notre Dame, the Palais De Justice), the Ile St. Louis, the Jardin du Luxembourg, and St. Germain des Pres. This area bears the imprint of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Marie Antoinette, countless scholars from the Sorbonne and many famous writers and intellectuals. It offers also fabulous cafes and numerous spots for some interesting people watching, while you rest up for the next spectacular attraction.
Next step is the Invalides, the Musee D'Orsay, the Musee Rodin, the Hotel des Invalides (Napoleon's tomb).
You'll learn that visiting Paris is a constant encounter with names and places taken from the pages of history. The coverage of the Marais shows it with all the following places:
- the Marais
- the Halles
- the Pompidou Center
- the Hotel de Ville
- the Place des Vosges
- the Musee Picasso
- the Musee Carnavalet
- the Bastille place
Of course there is also Montmartre, Sacre Coeur and the Moulin Rouge: Montmartre is yet another section of Paris that has set the scene in countless novels, numerous movies and thousands of paintings.
You may also take a look to the Pere Lachaise Cemetery. Although not an attraction that appeals to everyone, the Pere Lachaise Cemetery is the final resting place for many famous persons, ranging from Oscar Wilde to Jim Morrison.
Last but not least, the Chateau de Versailles: The splendor, architecture, and grounds of Versailles are unequalled in the modern world. The opulence of Versailles can be appreciated only by visiting this historic and unique home of the French monarchy.
Source: http://www.thereareplaces.com/Guidebook/pdest/frpts.htm
Other Best Places to Visit in France
France is one of the most visited country in the world, receiving almost 70 millions of visitors every year.
One of these places is the Mont Saint Michel. This mount is a rocky tidal island in Normandy, region of the North-West of France.
It was previously connected to the land but now it is only revealed at low tide.
Another famous place is the Pont du Gard (or bridge of the Gard which is a river). It is an aqueduct in the south of France.
This bridge is build in three levels by the Romain Empire and it is 49 meters high.
For people who prefer spend a good time under sunny, hot and dry summers with mild winters, the Cote d'Azur (also called the French Riviera) is a good place for them. It has a Mediterranean weather and it is one of the most famous resort areas. It extends along the editerranean Sea and includes the cities of Monaco, Nice or Cannes.
And for those who prefer to go to the mountain instead of to the beach, the Alps is one of the great mountain range of Europe. Its highest mountain is the Mont Blanc at more than 4800 meters high.