Brittany
According to topschoolsintheusa, Brittany is the largest peninsula in France. Brittany’s special appeal lies in its wild beauty and the charm of Breton culture. Economically, agriculture, tourism and fishing play a major role. On the Finistère (Finis Terra or land end), the spray sometimes spurts 30 m into the air when the sea is rough. The coastal landscape is particularly impressive at the Pointe du Raz and at Perros-Guirec. The Gauls arrived around 600 BC. on the peninsula. Little is known about their way of life and the countless cromlechs, altars, standing stones and dolmens they erected throughout Brittany are still shrouded in mystery. Carnac is the most impressive of these sites. The Celts, who came after the Gauls, were excellent sculptors;
Paris, the magnet for shopaholics
The Champs-Elysées are the city’s finest shopping and promenade streets. To the east is Les Halles, a shopping and business center built on the site of the old wholesale market. Knickknacks can be bought at some flea markets (Marché aux puces) on the outskirts. There are several antique centers (Louvre des Antiquaires, Village Suisse) that offer antique furniture and other items for sale. The big department stores are the Printemps and Galeries Lafayette near the Opera, Forum des Halles, the Bazaar Hôtel de Ville and Bon Marché on the Left Bank.
Disneyland Paris
The Disneyland Paris leisure park is located in Marne-la-Vallée, 32 km east of Paris. The total area of the amusement park is 1943 ha, one fifth of the area of Paris. In addition to the main attraction, the Disneyland Paris theme park, there are also hotels, restaurants, a campsite, numerous shops and a golf course. The site is easily accessible by car, train or plane (Disneyland Paris is located between the two main Paris airports, Roissy-Charles de Gaulle and Orly).
Discover Paris culinary
More than 70 restaurants in Paris have been awarded at least one star. A visit to a typical Parisian brasserie should not be missed. In the narrow streets around Les Halles there are many restaurants offering every imaginable culinary delight.
Brest
The port city of Brest has a 13th-century castle that is well worth seeing. Other attractions include the Océanopolis, an ocean-themed adventure park, and the remains of Vauban’s fortifications, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A boat trip on the canal that leads from Brest to Nantes is worthwhile. However, the canal is not navigable along its entire route. The hinterland consists of forested hills and farms (buttes), small rivers and narrow valleys. Many of these so-called mountains are merely gentle low hills. They are the remains of the oldest mountain range in the world.
Saint Malo
Saint-Malo on the north coast of Brittany is an impressive medieval city. Although the warm Gulf Stream favors the climate all year round, the holiday season only lasts from June to September. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in France. Sights include the city center within the city walls and the castle of Saint-Malo, which houses the city museum. Also worth seeing are the Saint-Malo Cathedral, the large Saint-Malo aquarium, the Corsaire labyrinth, the Pointe de la Varde natural park and the islands of Grand Bé and Petit Bé.
Corsica
Corsica has been described as a “mountain in the sea” and seen from the ship this impression is confirmed. The mountains rise abruptly on the west bank. The 992km coastline is made up of sheer cliffs where high waves break and secluded sandy coves. Corsica – that’s also forests, heathland, granite rock, snow and orange trees. The hiking trails in Corsica are among the most beautiful in Europe. Climbing is also a popular leisure activity in Corsica. To the south is the gleaming white city of Ajaccio, where Napoleonic memorabilia can be found at every turn. The town forms a semicircle around the tranquil bay and is surrounded by forested hills. At the foot of the cape on the northern tip of Corsica lies the picturesque trading town of Bastia,
Nantes
Nantes, located on the Loire-Atlantique coast, is a lively center of industry and commerce. The Castle of Nantes, also known as the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany (Château des ducs de Bretagne), houses the Historical Museum. There is also a 15th-century cathedral and the Jules Verne Museum to visit. The Nantes Fine Arts Museum is expected to reopen in stages between 2016 and 2018.
Castles and palaces in France
There are over 10,000 palaces and castles in France. Some of these are UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Palace of Versailles, the Loire Valley châteaux, Mont Saint-Michel, the château and domain of Fontainebleau, and among others the fortifications of Vauban’s fortifications such as the Besançon citadel and the Fort Saint- Martin-de-Ré. But the other castles that are not part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site are also absolutely worth seeing, such as Chambord Castle, Angers Castle, Pierrefonds Castle, which is often used as a film set, or Clos Vougeot Castle, which is located in the middle of a wine-growing region. A visit to the Palace of Versailles is extremely interesting. It was the residence of the “Sun King” Louis XIV at the end of the 17th century. The imposing gardens are a prime example of baroque garden art. The king’s bedroom is the focal point of the building, and the gardens are also aligned with this room. The famous Hall of Mirrors is particularly worth seeing.
Provence
The wonderful weather is one of the main assets of Provence, which is made up of the departments of Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Var, Vaucluse and Bouches-du-Rhône. The only inhospitable element is the mistral, a cold, blustery wind that sometimes sweeps through the Rhône Valley and lasts for several days, but makes for bright blue skies. The diverse flora gives the land its pewter, bronze, dark and light green hues. The roof tiles are made from the deep red earth and even under the scorching rays of the Midi sun this red splendor does not fade. Architecture, stones, roof tiles and the majestic plane trees of the streets and squares of the cities come together to form a harmonious overall composition that is pleasing to the eye. Greeks and Romans left behind a number of important historical structures – walled cities built on hills, triumphal arches, coliseums, amphitheatres, arenas, bridges and aqueducts. Provence owes the papal palace in Avignon to Christianity, countless churches and hundreds of small chapels, wayside crosses and oratories stand along the way.
