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Top Things To Do
Absorb some café culture
France still has a proud café culture, and people-watching over a coffee and croissant is a quintessential way to pass the time. If you’re looking to imbibe something with a bit more pep, move on to a pastis. Cannes Film Festival The Côte d’Azur resort of Cannes bursts to life each spring when its world-famous Cannes Film Festival comes to town (www.festival-cannes.com), its seafront promenade becoming an A-list parade of directors, producers and Hollywood actors. Cycle the Loire Valley What better way to take in the medieval chateaux and sparkling wine caves of the Loire region than on two wheels? The gentle pace of life here has drawn countless artists and writers over the years – and plenty of cyclists too. Hike in Corsica The offshore island of Corsica is somewhere once visited, never forgotten. Ruffled with mountain ranges and edged by vertiginous cliffs, it’s a place of rugged beauty and age-old heritage. Its hiking trails are among the most celebrated in Europe. Ski the Alps The French Alps play host to some of the most famed ski resorts in Europe, among them Courchevel, Val-d’Isère, Méribel and L’Alpe d’Huez. The region as whole covers a colossal area and offers superb choice for skiers of all levels. Take in the view from Montmartre Traditionally one of Paris’ most bohemian quarters, Montmarte is dominated by the shapely white dome of Sacré-Coeur. Just as impressively, however, it gives some of the most panoramic views over the capital from anywhere in the city. Tour de France The annual cycling showcase that is the Tour de France tends to travel through some of the most picturesque parts of the country. Being part of the crowds that throng the roadsides makes for a fantastic experience. Tour the Museums Paris has 80 museums and 200 art galleries. Visit the Musée d'Orsay (www.musee-orsay.fr), located in a beautifully restored railway station, the phenomenal Palais du Louvre (www.louvre.fr), the Georges Pompidou Centre of Modern Art (www.centrepompidou.fr) or the new Quai Branly Museum (www.quaibranly.fr). Visit a wine region France and wine make a natural pairing, and any serious oenophiles (or even those who just enjoy a tipple) should take time to visit one of its varied wine regions. Bordeaux, Bourgogne (Burgundy) and the Côtes du Rhône are three of many rewarding options. Watch a game of boules Few things are as redolent of the France of tradition as a game of boules (also called pétanque), in which players attempt to throw metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden ‘jack’. Expect old men, cloth caps and a respectful hush. |
