Travel Routes in France

Let's start in Paris, the capital of Ile-de-France. Who hasn't pictured themselves on a romantic vacation in Paris. The city has so much to offer the visitor and could be considered a vacation all on it's own. It has history and culture and of course some fabulous cuisine. Paris is usually the starting point on any trip to France and it's pretty easy to get to any of the regions from Paris.

If you move to the north you'll find the region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, which borders the narrow point of the English Channel. The capital is the city of Lille and most of the people of this region live in urban areas. The area has a rich history due to it's strategic importance. The War buff will find all sorts of sights to see in this region, such as Vimy ridge from World War I. It was also used extensively by the Germans during World War II. Other important cities are Calais and Dunkirk.

South of Nord-Pas-de-Calais is the Region of Picardie. Once again this area could attract the historian. It was in this region that the battle of the Somme was fought. This battle was one of the bloodiest in the history of war. Visitors can see where the battle was fought along with the varoius memorials in the region.

To the east of Picardie is the region of Champagne-Ardenne. It goes without saying what this region is famous for. If you're looking for great travel routes in France then this is the place. There are some fantastic wine tours of this region which specializes in sparkling wine or "Champagne", as it is known in this region. Only sparkling wine from this region of France is allowed to be called "Champagne".

Even further to the east are the regions of Alsace and Lorraine which are famous for being the starting point for many European wars. Alsace borders the west bank of the Rhine river and is a popular destination for travelers looking for river cruises down the Rhine. The largest city in Alsace is Strasbourg. There are many things to see in this region from castles to the Alsace wine route.

Let's move back to the west coast and visit the regions of Normandie. Normandie is divided into two sections, Haute and Basse. The region has a rich history and was the staging ground for the largest invasion force in history on D-Day. Throughout the region you can see how it's proximity to England has influenced it's culture. The larger cities in this region include Rouen, Le Havre and Caen. Mont Saint-Michel is one of it's most famous landmarks.

Now let's move to the south for some information on Provence and the Cote D'Azur. These regions are perhaps the most popular of all French tourists destinations. The French Riviera and its' capital Nice provide a terrific strating point for one of the most beautiful travel routes in France. The trip from Nice to Monaco along the coast provides the visitor with fantastic scenery and beautiful beaches . This region has a touch of class and elegance like no other region in Europe. One of my favorite stops is the little town of Beaulieu-sur-Mer on the Mediterranean. There are plenty of small villages along the coast each with their own beach and their own character.

Finally, try and make it to the Rhone-Alps region of France for a taste of the outdoors in this stunningly beautiful setting. Towns such as Grenoble and Annecy cater to the tourist crowd. This area is also a popular destination for the rich and famous. If you're a skier it doesn't get much better than this. Mont Blanc is located in this region where the Alps are at their highest. Here you'll find one of the highest travel routes in France which will take you to either Italy or Switzerland.

I hope the imformation I have provided on this page or in the links will help you organize your travel routes in France. If you are well organzed it will make planning your European vacation that much easier.