Introducing France
Good, bad or ugly, everyone has something to say about France and the French: chic, smart, sexy, rude, racist, bureaucratic, bitchy as hell, pavements studded with dog poo, baguettes that dry out by lunchtime and a penchant for torching cars is some of the chitchat on the street. Spice up the cauldron with the odd urban riot, political scandal and a 35-hour working week - not to mention a massive box-office hit like The Da Vinci Code taking over Paris or superstar Angelina Jolie allegedly plumping for a chateau in Normandy to raise her kids - and the international media is all ears too.
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This is, after all, that fabled land of good food and wine, of royal chateaux and perfectly restored farmhouses, of landmarks known the world over and hidden landscapes few really know. Savour art and romance in the shining capital on the River Seine. See glorious pasts blaze forth at Versailles. Travel south for Roman civilisation and the sparkling blue Med; indulge your jet-set fantasies in balmy Nice and St-Tropez. Ski the Alps. Sense the subtle infusion of language, music and mythology in Brittany brought by 5th-century Celtic invaders. Smell ignominy on the beaches of Normandy and battlefields of Verdun and the Somme. And know that this is but the tip of that gargantuan iceberg the French call culture.
Yes, this is that timeless land whose people have a natural joie de vivre and savoir- faire - and have for centuries. But change is afoot. France and the French are fed up - and inspired. It's on the tip of everyone's tongues.
Ready to go?
- Download our new French Offline Translator app. Simply talk or type, and it translates. Available for iPhone, iPad and Android.
- Check out the Lonely Planet Paris City Guide app and our new Paris Walking Tours with Audio available via iTunes.
Last updated: Sep 27, 2011
Tips & articles
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Saddle up for the world’s best cycling routes
1 February 2012
There’s no better way to explore a place than by bike. In honour of our favorite two-wheeled travel companion, here...
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Whose round is it anyway? The world’s best booze
19 January 2012
Drinking the local beverage is a sure way to warm the hearts of the locals. Here is a selection of...
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Globetrotting for chocoholics
19 January 2012
Love chocolate? Discover how to feel full of beans on this non-stop choc-focused tour of the planet.Flanders, BelgiumBelgians love chocolate...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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Togo Visa on Arrival?
by LS13 14 September 2011
I'll be travelling to Kpalime area from Ghana in November. Is it possible to get a Togo Visa on entry at the border near Kpalime? If not…
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RE: Camping in France: November
by bpollet 14 September 2011
Hi la_tullida You should be able to fin any campsite on this website: http://www.lafrancedunordausud.fr/campings.php If you're looking…
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Camping in France: November
by la_tullida 14 September 2011
We expect to be in France in November, driving from La Manche (Dunkerque) via Paris, southwards to Spain, in our vehicle in which we sleep.…
Hotels & Hostels
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France
Things to do
- All things to do (4,410)
- Activities (641)
- Entertainment (716)
- Restaurants (1,262)
- Shopping (617)
- Sights (1,079)
- Tours (95)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For France
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1 Bond with the Vallée Blanche descent
Make like 007 on the legendary adrenalin-assaulting ski-run from the Aiguille du Midi to Chamonix
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2 Have an art attack in the museums of Paris
Amble through the extraordinary artwork in the Musée d'Orsay, Musée Rodin, Centre Pompidou, Musée du Louvre, Musée Picasso...stopping at cafés and markets along the way, of course
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3 Ride to magical Mont St-Michel
Cycle at low-tide across to this magical sea-splashed abbey atop a tiny island; illuminated night-time visits are especially enchanting
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4 Savour bubbles in Épernay
See what goes into making real Champagne on a tour of Moët & Chandon, and savour the results
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5 Slurp oysters in Gujan Mestras
Devour oysters by the dozen in France's oyster-farming capital, just 60km south of Bordeaux
Fast Facts about France
- Currency: what's the Euro worth today?
- Population:
64 million
- Head of state: President Nicolas Sarkozy
- Varieties of cheese: more than 500
- Border countries: Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain, Switzerland
- Annual alcohol consumption (per person over 15 years):
wine 78.9L, beer 41L, cider 6.9L, spirits 9.1L
- Inventions: braille, bikini, digital calculator, hot air balloon, scuba equipment, stethoscope, parachute, sewing machine, guillotine
- Guinness World Record: Charles de Gaulle survived more assassination attempts (32) than anyone else in the world
- Sarkosis: unhealthy obsession condition with President Sarkozy
- French balls: traditional ball games include pétanque and the more formal boules (which has a 70-page rule book); both are forms of bowls
Our favourite France Blogs (beta)
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A Perfect Castle to Visit with Kids in France
Blog: Ciao Bambino! - 3 February 2012
Elizabeth Thorpe of Poshbrood shared her exciting plans to go to Dordogne over spring break with me last night; our conversation reminded me how much I adore this region of France. It's not widely known as a tourist destination — surprising, as the Dordogne chalk full of wonderful attractions and scenic villages to explore. Our last visit was with three boys under 11. In addition to our fantastic farmhouse dinners and zip-line adventure, we all adored ...
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Celebrating World Nutella Day with a Song and Video
Blog: Landlopers - 3 February 2012
It’s that time of year again when we as a global community are bonded through our mutual appreciation of the choco-hazelnut spread Nutella. World Nutella Day is a time to recognize the greatness of the snack and the role it plays in the travel stories...Copyright LandLopers All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
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Eye Prefer Paris Tours: Brent, Christi, and the Twins Jonathan & Harrison
Blog: I Prefer Paris - 2 February 2012
I do many tours with families coming to Paris for the first time and always get so much joy seeing their faces light up in wonderment at the beauty of the city. The M. family, Brent, Christi, and the twins...
