France Travel Guide

Posts Tagged ‘idea’

Honfleur in Northern France is an attractive town full of historic and artistic heritage.

It is situated on the estuary of the River Seine and has long been a popular spot with visitors, including artists, writers, sailors and, of course, many holidaymakers.

This picturesque French town, which was founded in the 11th century, boasts a fishing port and yacht harbour and has preserved its heritage and character, making it an ideal destination for a holiday property rental.

Honfleur, on the Normandy coast, is ideal to spend a pleasant short break or a longer vacation, as there are also some lovely places to visit surrounding the town as well as places which are further away.

It’s not surprising why Honfleur is an artist’s paradise. The light and atmosphere here has attracted many famous artists, such as Monet, Renoir, Cézanne and Boudin. In fact, Boudin was born in Honfleur.

There are plenty of things to see and do in Honfleur. You can take a stroll around the town and look at the old buildings – you can see so much more when you go sightseeing by foot. Look out for St Catherine’s Church and St Leonard’s Church. Also, make sure you see Le Vieux Bassin (the Old Harbour) and the boats and waterside houses. There are also some lovely artists studios and galleries here.

If you’ve got time, be sure to visit the Eugène Boudin Museum, which houses some collections of paintings including work by Boudin, the Marine Museum, which has some interesting exhibits, Normandy Culture & Ethnography Museum and the Satie Museum (which looks at the work of composer Erik Satie, who was also born in Honfleur). Another visitor attraction in Honfleur is Naturospace, which is a large tropical butterfly house in which you can walk around while the butterflies fly around you.

After all the sightseeing, you will no doubt want to sit down and have a bite to eat – and a drink, of course! Honfleur has a great selection of restaurants. If you are a fan of seafood, then be sure to check out one of the seafood restaurants in the town during your stay.

The Saturday market is well worth a visit as it sells fresh local produce. It starts early morning and finishes at 1pm. Here, you will be able to stock up on all your items needed for your self-catering holiday.

If you’re staying in Honfleur for a while then you will want to explore the surrounding area. There’s the Pays d’Auge, the Seine Valley, the D-Day Beaches, the coast and other tourist attractions. Paris is only a two-hour drive away, so might even get the chance to see the country’s capital during your holiday!

If you’re in search of a good beach, then be sure to check out the beautiful and popular beach resorts of Trouville and Deauville. Honfleur isn’t far from either and both towns are well worth a visit.

Honfleur is an ideal French holiday destination for everyone. The town and its surrounding area has plenty to offer its visitors, including a great selection of self-catering accommodation.

If you appreciate the great outdoors, then be sure to head to Chamonix, which is in the Haute-Savoie region of France.

This lovely alpine town and ski resort boasts a wealth of beautiful mountain scenery, fantastic skiing opportunities, sporting and leisure activities, as well as some great shops, restaurants and bars, nightlife and other tourist attractions.

Chamonix, which is situated at the base of Europe’s highest mountain Mount-Blanc in the French Alps, has long been a skiing destination. In fact, the first Winter Olympics in 1924 were held in Chamonix.

Chamonix is a superb destination, whether it’s for an annual family vacation or just a weekend break. What’s more, it’s an ideal location to take a holiday all year round. It doesn’t matter whether it is winter or summer in Chamonix, there is always plenty of things to see and do.

This area is also ideal for a holiday property rental, as there is a great selection of self-catering accommodation here.

Not surprisingly, in the winter Chamonix is a skier’s paradise. While in the summer there are numerous activities on offer here, such as hiking, climbing and mountain biking.

While you are in Chamonix (and you don’t fancy doing any climbing yourself!) you should take a trip on the Aiguille du Midi cable car, which you get from the centre of Chamonix. From the top station (3842 metres), the views of the Swiss, French and Italian Alps are simply stunning.

If you’ve got the time, be sure to check out the Montenvers Train, which climbs to the famous Mer de Glace, France’s largest glacier.

The skiing here in Chamonix is first class. There is a fantastic mix of slopes for everyone, including beginner’s slopes, gentle runs, down-hill pistes and cross-country ski pistes.

There are five main ski area in the Chamonix valley. They are Les Houches (which has trails through the forest), Le Brévent (which is the closest ski area to the centre of Chamonix), Domaine de Balme (which is at the end of the valley), La Flégère (which is popular with snowboarders) and the well-known Agrentiere/Grands Montets (which is good for experienced skiers).

Even if you’re not a skier, but a keen on other sports, there are some great activities to be enjoyed in the summer months. There are hiking trails, mountain biking tracks, areas for mountaineering and climbing and you can try your hand at paragliding, too. Chamonix even has a golf course.

But if you don’t want a sporting holiday, there are numerous things to do in Chamonix – and that’s not just admiring the gorgeous scenery around this area.

It offers much more than just skiing here. The town offers a warm welcome to its visitors, whatever your age and interests. There’s a good selection of shops, restaurants, bars and cafes, as well as a good outdoor market on Saturdays. You will find this very useful to stock up on your food etc during your self-catering holiday.

Everything here is well thought out. The town also boasts a cinema, a bowling alley, a sports centre, an ice rink and other attractions. For example, visit the Alpine Museum, which will give you an insight into the history of Chamonix.

All in all, Chamonix is a charming place to spend a great holiday, whatever the time of year. Whether you’re interested in just spending some quality time relaxing and enjoying the amazing views or if you’re planning an adventurous holiday, you will have fun in Chamonix!