If you are planning to travel France, the most recommendable thing to do is to go for a holiday home. Holiday homes France are great places to spend your summer holidays and especially if you are looking forward to a relaxed and stress free life.

France is a perfect setting for a relaxed; stay back and lazy holiday, which most of us look forward to after are hectic busy schedule. This is the reason why Holiday homes France are very popular with the travellers who want to explore France in peace.

The services you get in Holiday homes France are out of the world. You may select the kind of Holiday homes France you are looking forward to and go for it without any hassle. You may have a villa, an apartment or a pent house with all facilities including a swimming pool for your stay in Holiday homes France. Even towards the country side you may get a farm house for your Holiday homes France making your stay in France memorable.

Holiday homes France includes Holiday villas, apartments, skiing cottages and holiday farm houses in places like:

·         Burgundy

·         Champagne-Ardenne

·         Corsica

·         Cote d’Azur – Riviera

·         Cote d’Azur – Provence

·         Franche-Comte

·         Ile-de-France

·         Languedoc-Roussillon

·         Loire Valley

·         Midi-Pyrenees

·         Normandy

·         Northern France

·         Poitou-Charente

·         Rhone-Alpes

·         Western Loire

If you are one of those who want to get immersed in the natural beauty, even the better. Most of the Holiday homes France are located around beautiful locations like mountains, lakes and huge untamed landscapes. Depending upon your choice, you may go for one.

These Holiday homes France are located even at the outskirts of the city and in and around the city as well. Their locations are such that at the same time you may enjoy a peaceful stay and still you may be around the market that will offer you everything. This forms a major advantage of the locations of Holiday homes France.

France is not a very highly priced country. Hence your Holiday homes France would not cost you a fortune. As it is there is a variety of Holiday homes France available from which you may select the one that suits your pocket. In any case, the Holiday homes France are affordable for every budget.

You may look for good Holiday homes France through the travel guide and even you may locate them online as well. There are various websites available that provide complete information on the same and make your staying in Holiday homes France a great experience.

With the vast amount of different rivers and canals in France, and having such a varied landscape, you can be sure that you will be able to find just the right type of holiday for you and your family.

So, as you cruise along one of the rivers or canals at a leisurely pace you will get to see things that most people will never experience and each region also offers you the chance to experience their fantastic and sometimes unusual cuisine along with the incredible French wine that is as varied as the different regions.

Only a boating holiday in France will enable you to fully appreciate the idyllic countryside and architecture from Roman to Renaissance periods along with the beautiful chateaux that are dotted along the banks, with the added plus of the glorious weather to match, it is not like travelling along the Norfolk Broads in the United Kingdom most of the year, when you are guaranteed to get some rain or gloomy days!

There is such a wide choice available for your boating holiday and you can pick the area with the climate for you; the further down South you go, the warmer it gets, but don’t forget that whilst cruising along, you need to be on the right hand side of the river or canal, just as the roads are in France!

One point, a licence is required to be able to travel by boat on the French waterways, unless of course you only have something like a canoe! Basically, any boat that has a motor means that you have to have a licence, although temporary permits called La Carte Plaisance are available and are issued by the boat rental company or charter firm that you book with.

A la Carte Plaisance is valid only for a set period of time for any habitable boat, which is under 15 metres in length, but there is also permit available for your children to drive the boat if they are between the ages of 14 and 16, if you feel they have a good sense of direction! but this is a great way to get all the family involved in the fun, but you must ask for a La Carte Junior in order to be allowed to do this.

With many of the river guides today available in English, you can be sure that you will not miss any of the local attractions or delights on offer. You can find these guides along with extra information from the regional tourist offices, but these are also normally issued to you by the charter boat company before you set off on your holiday.

Choosing the part of France you wish to visit is so important to get the best out of your holiday and in the North West of France there is Brittany, which is an area known for cider and crepes, to the East of France were there are rivers and canals throughout the regions of Alsace and Lorraine and you will find this area great for experiencing a diverse landscape from rolling hills to forests, whilst trying some of the local French beer and crisp white wines that this region produces.

How about Burgundy within the centre of France which is a great place to experience local cuisine and fine wines and the quaint historical towns provide lovely afternoon walks taking a step back in time with the history.

Also, lets not forget the South of France, obviously with the more beautiful weather, you can experience travelling along the Canal du Midi, which is the oldest canal in Europe and runs from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, and at the same time you will be able to take in the amazing variety of wildlife such as flamingos whilst on your canal boating holiday.

Yet as with any country, there are always rules and regulations on how you travel the waterways, whether it be the rivers or canals and before you embark on your boat trip you will be given some basic tuition, so that you can be issued with your licence.

And did you realise that there are over 2000 locks in France, which are known as écluse? but don’t worry to much as Some locks are automatic and some are still operated by a lockkeeper, however others will need to be operated by yourselves, so the general ‘training’ is very important, otherwise you could find yourselves in a bit of pickle initially, although most people on the canals are so very helpful and will come to your aid if you get stuck.

Although the rivers and canals are used extensively by pleasure boats these days, they are also still used by commercial vessels as well and it is these merchant vessels that have the priority on the waterways, plus also the traffic going up stream has priority over those travelling down stream.

As with road systems, the waterways have speed limits and although you are not likely to wish to speed along, these do have to be obeyed, but, it is the left-hand side that is used for overtaking just as it is on the French roads, and the slower boat must also slow down more to let the faster vessel pass.

The condition of the French rivers and canals is excellent and you will find that they even have designated areas for swimming and water sports, because, for obvious reasons, swimming is not permitted wherever you feel like going for a quick dip, yet if you are into fishing, then you can even do a spot of this while you are meandering down the river – just don’t forget to get a licence for that as well!

Along your chosen route you will find lots of fantastic areas where you can stop for lunch and stock up on supplies for that ever so important alfresco dining whilst you are cruising leisurely along. You will find additional facilities alone the way which are necessary, things like emptying your waste, which has to be done at specific points, but these are also fantastic and are very easily accessible, as it is illegal to dump waste into the river or canal system.

So even if you have never done this sort of thing before, you will without a doubt have an incredible fun time and when your boating holiday in France is nearing its end, you know that no one will want to leave.

Once you’ve gotten your cheap airfare to Paris, France or gotten that fantastic Paris, France travel or vacation or hotel deal, you can take a deep sigh of relief. Now’s the time to have fun, focus and explore. You’ll soon see why France is the world’s top tourist destination. Dijon, a short trip from Paris, is one such gem in France’s tourism crown.

Most people are familiar with the funny Grey Poupon mustard commercials. When it comes to Dijon mustard, Grey Poupon is probably the most recognizable brand out there. However, there’s a lot about where this mustard comes from that people just don’t know . Beyond the influences of catchy condiment advertising is a region of refined culture and history.

Situated between France’s border with Switzerland and Paris , is the charming town of Dijon. It was here that combinations of white wine and grape juice produced the uniquely flavored mustard now know around the world as Dijon mustard. Of course, you can’t leave without getting an original jar of Dijon mustard to take home with you. But what else can be seen in Dijon?

Architecture of Dijon

Just like many neighboring regions of France, Dijon claims some inspiring architecture as expressed through its churches. Often referred to as the “town of a hundred spires,” this quaint locale is home to an amazing collection of churches and other religious buildings. Among these beautiful buildings is the La Chapelle de Elus, or Chapel of the Elected Representatives. Construction on the Chapelle began in 1738. A walking tour of the inside present a visual feast of compelling designs. The intricately sculptured walls provide an air of refinement as you make your way through the lightly colored halls.

Shopping in Dijon

Dijon offers exciting shopping choices, a wonderful place to find gifts to give to your friends and family after returning from your France vacation. In Dijon , visitors can find one of the famous Galeries Lafayette department stores. Located at 41, rue Liberté, this massive retailer offers a variety of items. A second option for shoppers is La Toison d’Or. There are also cafes , fashionable boutiques and tempting chocolate shops. Dijon, like so many other charming French towns and villages, only adds to the incentive to find cheap flights to Paris so you can spend more of your holiday money on great food and shopping treats!

Tour Philippe le Bon

The Tour Philippe le Bon, or “Good Philip’s Tower” stands at 46 meters and encircles the Dukes of Burgundy. The most ancient sections of this tower date back to the fourteenth century. A trip to the top of the tower provides visitors with a breathtaking photo opportunity. All around, the town of Dijon lay before you. Buildings range from the charmingly ordinary to the sharply pointed spires and finely rounded domes of churches. Taken together it creates a lovely skyline. The ancient palace was demolished then later rebuilt in the 17th century, and currently is Dijon’s town hall. Many of the palace’s significant rooms, such as the vast reception halls and grand kitchens, were transformed into fine art museums.

A Bit of Wine with your Dijon?

Dijon, the capital of Burgundy is close to the famous vineyards of Burgundy. Wine lovers must visit the Cote de Nuits and the Chateau du Clos de Vougeot. The wine cellars here date back to the 12th century, and when it is warm outside, these wine cellars provide a lovely, cool tour after roaming outside, taking in the beautifully vibrant vineyards. It goes without saying, no tour to Dijon would be complete without the obligatory wine tasting as you explore the cellars.

The Route des Grand Curs, or “Road of the Great Wines” is aptly named. It runs through this area. Most famous of the wine produced are high quality red wines. Of course, getting your Paris hotel and your cheap flight to France is just the start, Dijon and all of France await you!

A Gourmet s Guide to Camping in France

By: Lorraine Waddell

With its combination of haute cuisine, great campsites and spectacular countryside, camping in France is the ideal choice for a food lover who enjoys the great outdoors as much as a three Michelin starred meal.

Few countries can boast a culinary tradition to compete with France, which is regarded as having the best chefs and finest cooking in the world. Numerous cities and towns in the country are famed for their local cuisine or the quality of their restaurants, so if you are a gourmet who is intent on camping in France, make sure you camp near to one of these gastronomic centres…

Paris

Paris, of course, is a great destination for lovers of good food and fine wine. Although the very best French restaurants are to be found in Lyon, years of immigration and multiculturalism have given Paris an unparalleled level of culinary diversity, and there are restaurants for all tastes in this city. Visit Paris for a flavour of everything French cuisine has to offer, then head out into countryside to sample the produce at its source.

Vannes

Brittany is well known for its unique culture, and this extends to its food as well. There are certain dishes that are unique to the region, and it is best to sample them locally. The charming market town of Vannes is the perfect place to try out traditional Breton cuisine, which includes the best crepes in France, a wide variety of seafood dishes and sweet pastries, and the famous Breton cider. The coastal landscape of Brittany also makes it an excellent place to go camping in France, and for a holiday that combines great food with a scenic location, it is hard to beat a visit to Brittany!

Roquefort

This village is located in the beautiful Ardeche region. Famous as the home of the blue cheese of the same name, Roquefort is naturally a great place for cheese lovers, especially because of the unique and traditional way in which the cheese is produced. If you come to Roquefort, don t miss out on a visit to the local caves where the cheeses are aged!

Dijon

It is most famous as the producer of the fiery and delicious Dijon mustard, and a visit to the city will be a chance to sample some unusual condiments (such as fruit flavoured mustard) at the traditional shops that are scattered throughout the city.

Camping in France near Dijon will also place you amidst the wine lands of the Burgundy region, allowing you to combine beautiful scenery, top quality cuisine and, of course, some of the very best wines in the country.

Lyon

If you go to just one place in France to sample the cuisine, make sure you go to Lyon. Renowned as the gastronomic capital of the country, it is home to the very best chefs and restaurants that France has to offer. The best way to experience the food here is a visit to one of the many bouchons; traditional restaurants which will serve you local wine and local cuisine.

Author Resource:-> Lorraine Waddell is the brand and advertising manager of Canvas Holidays, a leading European camping operator that provides the best selection of sites for camping in France (http://www.canvasholidays.co.uk/destinations/france-604-0.aspx).

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