Sightseeing

France is not just Paris! Foreigners often opt systematically for Paris, either to visit, study or work. But if Paris can be very attractive for many reasons, the rest of the country turns out to be a sensitive choice. The following regions are the most famous for their breathtaking landscapes, but think about visiting the other regions as well: less touristy, they may surprise you by their natural heritage and their personality, the richness of their traditions and the calm of the countryside.

• Normandy

Fiefdom of the famous Camembert, apples and cider, Normandy inspires calm and a change of scenery. Made world-famous by the Mont Saint-Michel, which was built in defiance of climatic conditions by monks in the Middle Ages, Normandy provides marine, urban and country pleasures all at once. The green, flowered Normandy countryside stretches between the sea and hedged farmland. A succession of abbeys, small harbours and half-timbered houses line the cliffs between Etretat and Deauville.

Information about Normandy: http://www.normandy-tourism.org

• Brittany

Land of seafarers and legends, Brittany will enthral you from the moment you set foot in it. The coastline between Cancale and the Gulf of Morbihan stretches for miles in a succession of coves, long beaches and pretty harbours lined with granite houses, where you can enjoy a pancake and a bowl of cider. Young sailors learn their navigational skills at Concarneau before sailing to the Glénans archipelago. Right at the tip of Brittany, the Pointe de Raz is held spellbound when the islands of Bréhat and Ouessant have calmed down. Saint Malo is a pirates' lair and the "tips" of the Arrée hills look out over the moors. The dolmens keep their secrets in Carnac and Lancelot can almost be seen riding through the forest at Brocéliande. With its distinctive culture, Brittany has a character all of its own, gentle and wild.

Information about Brittany: http://www.tourismebretagne.com

• Western Loire  

The Western Loire stretches along the Atlantic Ocean, just below Brittany. It is a particularly scenic region, with some 30 miles of the Jade Coast, plenty of green countryside, and 250 miles of waterways. Ocean, rivers, canals - water is the soul of the region. The Loire, classified here as a World Heritage Site and lined by Renaissance chateaux, passes close to Angers, the capital of Anjou. Although Saint Nazaire is a major commercial port, Nantes and Tours offer visitors a cultural heritage dominated by Gothic art and the Renaissance. History comes alive in the Vieux Mans or during the extravaganza of the Puy du Fou in the Vendée. The Guérande marshes, Ile de Noirmoutier and La Brière are all protected nature areas, ideal for walking. Sea food platters are ideal for tasting the wines of Saumur or the famous Muscadet. Information about the Loire: http://www.westernloire.com

• Burgundy

A region of art and the pleasure of living, Burgundy unites the beauty of its nature and heritage with the excellent of its wines and gastronomy. You can discover Burgundy through its vineyards: Chablis, Mâconnais and Côtes de Nuits fashion the region's history and reputation. At the same time, whether hiking in the Morvan or cruising down the Yonne, the countryside exudes a feeling of calm. Norman abbeys, châteaux with their glazed rooves, ducal towns and charming villages make Burgundy a historic region with a glorious heritage. Cluny, Paray-le-Monial, Vézelay, La Charité-sur-Loire, Auxerre and Fontenay - a wealth of Romanesque masterpieces which  testifies of the tremendous spiritual influence in the region. Art is clearly apparent in Nevers, city of earthenware, Beaune and its Hospices (almshouses) and Dijon, an outstanding artistic capital.

Information about Burgundy: http://www.burgundy-tourism.com

• The Alps

A region flagged by its mountain peaks where hiking and winter sports are king, with an immense range of natural and cutural heritage - lakes, rivers and lavender fields to medieval towns, lively cities and top notch food and wine. Chamonix, Megève, Avoriaz, La Clusaz, Courchevel... the Rhône-Alpes region has both the largest skiing area in the world and the most famous resorts, set above quite little villages nestling in the valleys. In summer, the white slopes metamorphose into vast green spaces - ideal for hikers and cyclists - and the gorges roar with torrents which lend themselves so well to white water sports. The region is also renowned for its nature reserves and parks such as the Vanoise or Vercors which host a rich flora and fauna. Lake Leman, Lake Bourget and Lake Annecy are three more good reasons to visit the Alps.

Information about the Alps region: http://www.rhonealpes-tourisme.com

• The french Riviera

At the beginning of the 20th Century, in the European high society, people often talked about a magical land where winter never came. The Côte d'Azur's star hasn't dimmed a jot since then. The blue of the south defines this land. Luminous to the point of confusing sky and sea. Under the eye of the Alpine summits, rising up between the V allée des Merveilles and Mercantour Natural Park, Biot and Vallauris are still home to traditional crafts. The Chagall and Picasso museums exhibit works by these masters. Information about the Riviera: http://www.guideriviera.com

• Provence

With its feet in the Mediterranean sea and its head in the Alps, the Provence has an extensive palette of colourful landscapes. Everything sings in this region, even the wind - Mistral or Tramontane. The road from the High Alps descends from Briançon towards the Lake of Serre-Ponçon or the Gorges du Verdon for a sporting stop. Once past Mont Ventoux, the Lubéron and its lavender fields, you reach the sea, its calanques (coves), Saint Tropez and the Iles du Levant. Stroll through landscapes reminiscent of Cézanne and Picasso or let yourself be swallowed up by the beauty of the Camargue on horseback. Land of light, vines and olive groves, this region inspires love at first sight - for life! Information about Provence: www.decouverte-paca.fr/us

• Corsica

Corsica is a jewel bathed in sunlight. The island of beauty is seductive - turquoise coves, white sandy beaches, roads lined with olive and orange trees. With the Corsica Regional Natural Park covering the major part of its territory, the highest point in this mountainous mini-paradise is Monte Cinto at 2,710 m. Churches and Genoese towers make up a historical heritage marked by the island's best-known son, Napoleon. Hikers walk to Corte on the GR20 trail via the majestic gorges of La Restonica. The A Bandera museum in Ajaccio traces the island's history and culture. Information about Corsica: www.visit-corsica.com/grand_public

• Languedoc-Roussillon

Profoundly influenced by the Mediterranean, Languedoc-Roussillon shares a border with Spain as far as the Rhône delta. Its long beaches alternate with wild lagoons - a paradise for flamingos. Its annual 300 days of sunshine draw large numbers of holidaymakers, who take away unforgettable memories of the beautiful natural surroundings, monuments, characterful villages and towns such as Montpellier, Nîmes, Carcassonne, Uzès and the Pont du Gard (four sites included on the Unesco World Heritage list) - to say nothing of the cultural circuits with prehistoric, Roman or Cathar themes. In the hinterland, charm and authenticity have been extensively preserved. The Haut Languedoc and Cévennes nature reserves and the wooded slopes of Cerdagne are always popular with hikers. This colourful country also produces fine wines which earn the respect of greater numbers of wine lovers every year .

Information about Languedoc: http://www.sunfrance.com/index.php3?langue=en

• Aquitaine

An immense line of golden sandy beaches, bastides and châteaux, an abundance of vineyards, mountains and countryside - that's Aquitaine: what landscapes, culture and heritage! A generosity that is also hinted at in the diversity of its countryside: the sloping Bordeaux vineyards, the sandy heathland along the coasts of the Basque country, the plateaux of the Périgord. Roads crisscross villages with a wealth of architectural styles, where gastronomy, flavoured with truffles, takes on a whole new meaning. The Lascaux caves conjure up a time when art found its form in rock paintings. Lovers of surf and long walks adore the endless beaches of the Atlantic.

Information about Aquitaine: http://www.tourisme-aquitaine.fr/en

• Other regions to visit in France

         - Midi-Pyrénées: The region has an incredibly wide range of natural sites: from the Pyrenees to the valley of the Dordogne and from Gascony to the Gorges of the Tarn; the diversity of its landscapes is equalled only by the wealth of its heritage and the friendliness of its people. ( More at: http://www.tourism.midi-pyrenees.org )          - Limousin:Nature lovers who like to have their walks lined with craft traditions will form an immediate attachment for this region. This green land of woods and forests is also crisscrossed by rivers - the Creuse, the Vienne, the Dordogne (More at: http://www.tourismelimousin.com  )

         - Auvergne: Shaped by the volcanic activity that took place 30 million years ago, the Auvergne landscape is all green mountains and wild gorges. Nature in the raw. The feeling of being at the beginning of the world is the gift of volcanoes. The impressive chain of 80 volcanoes, known here as puys, dominates this landscape with its majestic relief (More at:

http://www.auvergne-tourisme.info   )          - Poitou-Charentes: The Poitou-Charentes region has a magnificent coastline - and is one of the finest destinations for countryside holidays. From abbeys to chateaux, some 600 monuments testify to a rich past where Romanesque art left its mark on the region. Water sports reign at La Rochelle and Ile de Ré. You can also enjoy the soothing nature of the Marais Poitevin ( More at: http://www.poitou-charentes-vacances.com )           - Franche-Comté: Between the Vosges and the Jura, Franche-Comté is one of those regions where the living - and the natural surroundings - are second-to-none. From the Jura mountains to the banks of the Doubs, nature in Franche-Comté invites you to ski and mountain bike in its vast forests crossed by rivers and springs ( More at: http://www.franche-comte.org   )            - Alsace: Long, thin Alsace stretches down along the Rhine and has seen its borders move throughout the Century. It has developed a very strong regional tradition given these historical ups and downs. The Alsatian houses dominate the length of the wine route lined with colourful villages (More at: http://www.tourisme-alsace.com   )          - Lorraine: Source of art and land of creation, Lorraine is proud of its unique know-how: Baccarat cut glass, ceramics, violin making and more. Art Nouveau was born in Nancy. And from the round-topped Vosges mountains to the undulating Bitche countryside, nature has more than her due. (More at: http://www.crt-lorraine.fr  )          - Champagne-Ardenne: this region sparkles! Start your journey with a visit to the champagne cellars. Marvel also at the delicately finished detail of Reims cathedral, where the kings of France were crowned. Monthermé, Revin, Fumay, Mouzon - cultural stops on the meandering Meuse, with a wealth of museums, religious art and chateaux (More at: http://www.tourisme-champagne-ardenne.com   )            - Picardie: France itself was born in this northern province. Starting off wildly in the Baie de Somme and Parc du Marquenterre, Picardy shows off some gothic wonders along the cathedral route (Amiens, Laon, Beauvais). A royal atmosphere is evoked by the chateaux of Pierrefonds, Compiègne and Chantilly. These architectural jewels are surrounded by gentle valleys, thick forests and beautiful gardens (More at: http://www.picardietourisme.com )            - Northern France: Heir to a great industrial tradition, this region has now turned towards tourism. The capital of French Flanders, Lille, has a prestigious museum housing an outstanding collection of works by Flemish, French and Dutch masters (More at: http://www.northernfrance-tourism.com )   Source: France Guide.