It’s hard to generalise about France – as Charles de Gaulle once remarked, ‘how could one describe a country which has 265 kinds of cheese?’
Yet there is something about this magnificent land which draws millions of francophiles back year after year for a taste of la vie française.
Could it be the chic boulevards of Paris, the sparkling ski slopes of the Alps, sunlit vineyards and sun-baked beaches, a dusty game of boules, or coffee and croissants in an undiscovered village?
Or perhaps it’s a tour of the majestic châteaux of the Loire that appeals, the glamorous jet-set lifestyle of the Mediterranean, or a relaxing picnic in Provence, where the air is fragrant with wild herbs and lavender?
Consider also the delights of other lesser-known regions such as Franche-Comté, Gascony, or Berry, deep in the green heart of France – regions firmly rooted to the land, whose snoozing villages offer visitors a chance to sample the true douceur de Vivre of provincial France.
There is no denying that France is a land of great contrasts, offering an endless choice of enticing destinations, a rich diversity of landscapes, cuisines, climates, and peoples, with an exceptional cultural heritage.
