5 places in France that will make you smile
Looking for a historic vacation this summer but also exotic? Then I recommend you explore one of Europe’s best tourist locations, France. I love it so much there, my parents and I have a cute little house in the South of France which I visit every year, in the bliss of the dandelion fields.
From the famous Eiffel Tower and notable ancient buildings to the best luxurious beaches or vineyards… there is something to startle everybody, so I have come up with five popular tourist attractions to add to your wish list this summer!
- Eiffel Tower, Paris
This Landmark iron tower also referred to as ‘Tour Eiffel’ is the most famous monument of France and the tallest structure in France which is situated in the heart of Paris on Champ-de-Mars…so make sure you grab your camera and capture every moment here.
The 300 metres high tower originated in 1889 and has since been visited by more than 250 million people, making it one of the most visited attractions in the world. You can tour the spectacle tower from 9.30am –11.00pm or visit in the summer for extended opening and closing hours from 9.00am – midnight. I would advise getting there early to beat the ques or book your tickets online beforehand because an estimate of 25,000 people visit every day!
To keep up your appetite with all that ascending up and down you can treat yourself at the monuments own special restaurants, Le 58 Tour Eiffel and a delicious gourmet restaurant – Le Jules Verne which is run by the talented ‘Multi-Michelin star chef Alain Ducasse’.
- Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy
For those who would love to carry on the ancient adventure then I advise that you drop in on this 1300 years old roman historic village in Normandy. This features a breath-taking skyline, miniature rocky island, Benedictine Abbey and Paris Church - where monk builders helped to maintain these holy places…what more could you ask for?
To understand more about this little village gem then you can pop in to the museums also on the site called, Mont Saint-Michel Museum of History and the Maritime Museum where you can learn all about the history of Mont Saint-Michel with collections of previous war ornaments used years ago on show and you can learn all about the history of the prisons and dark dungeons there with the likes of wax statue monks too.
Audio devices will be available at the museums so you can translate your guided tour to your desired language, otherwise a tourist office will be available for any further questions.
- The Louvre Museum, Paris
Another favoured tourist beauty is the Louvre Museum also referred to as ‘Musee Du Louvre’. This monument is desired by artists with a whopping range of paintings planted inside as it boasts art, design, textile and sculpture…making it the world’s largest museum and one of the world’s most historic building, so a definite must to your bucket list for those craving a sense of creativity!
The museum featuring ‘The Louvre Palace and the Pyramid’ originated back in 1793 but closed three years later due to maintenance issues. However, it has been reopened since 1801 and has attracted an audience of more than 9 million people. The initiative came from the French Revolution to turn this work of art into a public museum so people from all over the world can share their passion of art.
The Louvre has become a worldwide fascination and inspiration, for example, the famous ‘Mona Lisa’ painting can be spotted here and the award winning book and film, ‘The Da Vinci Code’, filmed at this very attraction!
- Conche des Baleines, Île de Ré
A holiday isn’t a holiday without a deluxe beach now, is it? This beach called ‘Conche des Baleines, Île de Ré’, or simply ‘Ile de Re’ is France’s top location for those in need of sandy beaches! One particular sandy beach is ‘Le Bois Plage’ – here you show off your surfing skills or get involved with sailing and tennis.
This small island has various activities overall to keep you occupied from water sports action to cycling along the shore or you can tease your taste buds at a mixture of divine restaurants. There are also small cafes which can be found near to ‘The Phare des Baleines lighthouse’…which you can climb and catch sight of outstanding views of the coast.
Nearby to Ile de Re includes, ‘St Clement des Baleines’ and ‘Les Portes en Re’, which are ideal hot spots for shopaholics…with the likes of gorgeous boutique shops and art galleries.
- Place de Bourse, Bordeaux
Last but not least, make sure you bring your wine glass to one of the finest vineyards at ‘Place de Bourse’ also called Place Royale, in the pretty city of Bordeaux. Place Royale is ‘the home of the famous wine classification’ and ‘the heart of the largest fine wine producing region in the world’ dating back to the middle ages from 1855. This mouth-watering vineyard has become the symbol of the Bordeaux city, as Bordeaux has been known for its vines for 2,000 years!
This is the perfect relaxing day out; you can even sail along in a boat to different vineyards and gather together on guided tours through the various magical gardens. Furthermore, make sure you take it upon yourself to buy your bottle of Bordeaux here, as it is much cheaper than buying it from the supermarkets in England!
