Category — France

Paris is an extraordinary city, full of hidden surprises. As you wander through it’s streets you are likely to find something fascinating around every corner. There is so much to see and do in Paris, that some of the city’s treasures are often overlooked. But once you have visited the Paris’ iconic gems; the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Musee du Louvre and strolled the Champs-Elysees there is so much more to discover.

Here are a few of the treasures abound in the City of Lights

Jardin des Plantes, which dates back to 1626, is France’s most popular botanical garden. It was originally a medicinal herb garden, designed by King Louie XIII’s physician. Today the site features a collection of spectacular themed gardens, the Museum of Natural History, a small zoo that originally housed the royal menagerie and a labyrinth that has been delighting visitors since the mid 1700’s.

If you love Monet, you don’t want to miss the Musée Marmottan Monet which boasts the world’s largest collection of Monet’s work, donated by his son. Housed in what was once the hunting lodge for the Duke of Valmy, on the edge of the forested parklands of Bois de Boulogne, the museum’s collection also includes works by Degas, Renoir, Gauguin, Manet and other notable artists.

For more than two centuries, the flower market located on the Ile de la Cité, behind Notre Dame, has been supplying the city with beautiful blooms and plants, but on Sundays it is transformed into a bird market. Enthusiastic pet lovers can find all types of exotic birds, along with fish, ferrets and even pot bellied pigs.

Beneath the City of Lights lies the Parisian Catacombs, a maze of eerie tunnels and crypts containing the bones of six million Parisian residents. When the Parisian cemeteries became overcrowded in the late 1700’s, the remains were moved to underground crypts in an ancient stone quarry which lies beneath the streets of Paris. Over the years, the walls of bones where carefully arranged in somewhat macabre, but artistic patterns. Two kilometers of these ancient passageways are open to the public.

Located at UNESCO’s world headquarters in Paris, is the beautiful Japanese Garden of Peace, home to the “Nagasaki Angel”. The stone angel once adorned a church in Nagasaki, Japan. After the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki during the Second World War, the angel was miraculously spared and when it was found among the bombed ruins of the city became a symbol of hope. Thirty years later, it was presented to UNESCO to grace the Garden of Peace.

The Parc de la Villette is the site of Europe’s largest science museum, the Cité des Sciences et de L’Industrie which features a planetarium, a submarine, interactive exhibits and much more. Outside the main building sits a huge mirrored silver ball which houses an IMAX theatre. The futuristic Park also has concert halls and ten themed gardens.

Paris has so many more hidden treasures from small eclectic museums and art galleries to wonderful cafes and patisseries, fantastic boutiques and architectural masterpieces. It is a city you’ll want to return to again and again as each time you visit, you’ll discover more gems.

About The Author

This article was written by Alex from www.bestholidayparks.co.uk – your all in one guide to the best holiday parks and spots in the UK.

Are you looking for something fun and different to do? If so, you might want to visit the Cap d’Agde beach resort in France. They are hosting a party to mark the 40 years of existence. This event is organized by their tourist program. The activities will take place on Rochelongue beach. This is a fun activity that you can feel free to bring your family to. This year’s theme is Astrology. You will get to see a number of artists build various beautiful sculptures.

You will notice a variety of sculptures, and many of these sculptures will reach over three meters. All of these artists are professionals who take part in many sculpting events, including those that are international and national.

You will be able to take in the beauty of all of the sculptures, which are made from natural materials such as shells and debris that are found in the sand and sea. You will note that the artists work in teams of either two or three so that they can keep the sculptures in place while they work. The sand is not to be dried out. In order to make sure this does not happen, a special spray is used to keep the sculpture damp.

You will see their almost scientific level of artistry. It takes a lot of effort and skill in order to keep the sand held together when creating the sculptures. In order to do so, each grain of sand is between 100 and 1,000 nanometers in thickness! You can see how it would take a lot of skill and practice to succeed in creating these sculptures.

If you’re looking for something different to do with your family and would enjoy an activity in France, consider Le Cap d’Agde. Contact the Cap d’Agde tourist program in order to learn more information about the event or search for a cap d’agde blog to provide you with more information.

France has over 3,500 kilometers of coastline, as well as almost every type of beach imaginable. Whatever a person may be looking for to create an exciting and enjoyable holiday, he or she is sure to find it in France. It can be a challenging task for one to choose his or her favorite French beach. Whether travelers wish to participate in water sports, family activities, or simply soak up the sun, France has a beach to accommodate every lifestyle and budget.

Luxury for Families

Families, or couples with small children, may wish to consider Brittany or Vendee beach. These areas offer some of the finest coastline in France. Scenic fishing villages are located between the sandy beaches and rocky coves, and they provide fun and fascinating areas in which to go exploring.

The Emerald coast, situated around the northeast Brittany area of Dinard, is an attractive family beach that offers many high-end amenities. The Cote Sauvage, in southern Brittany, is another pristine family beach area and features interesting villages and resorts, including, Quiberon, Belle-Ile-en-Mer, as well as various islands situated just off the coast.

The Vendee area boasts lovely, unspoiled beaches, most of which are backed by pine trees. They are also well known for being child-friendly. The beaches in this area are long and wide, and offer silky, luxurious sand, and gentle slopes. In addition, they are noted for being essentially safe for children of all ages.

Luxury Beaches for the Sports Enthusiast

Anyone reading a beach guide will quickly find that the surfing beaches on the Atlantic coast are especially favored by sport enthusiasts. This area of coastline, from the Ile-de-Ré, to Biarritz and St Jean de Luzoffers, offers a wide variety of long, comfortable beaches that boast some of the best surfing in France. The Atlantic waves are ideal for this purpose, and as such, attract surfers from all over the world. Just north of this renowned stretch lies La Rochelle, and this area offers perfect conditions for all types of water sports. South of the Gironde is a virtually continuous string of beaches that eventually reach Spain. However, part of this coastline is somewhat difficult to access, as it is situated behind the Landes region’s pine forests.

The Beaches of Normandy

A classic favorite of families and couples alike, the beaches of Normandy are especially appealing to those who are interested in history. For instance, due to their historical significance, the Normandy Landing Beaches feature separate sections because of their tendency to attract not only sun-worshipers, but history lovers, as well. The panorama of rock formations and white cliffs of the Alabaster section are the most popular characteristics out of all the resort areas, and definitely worth seeing.

Languedoc

The Languedoc area offers a wide selection of beaches famous for their quality French sand. Naturist beaches are favored in this region, as well, and these include the Aphrodite, and the Cap d’Agde. Languedoc’s Mediterranean coast is home to the Cote Vermeille, which is a popular fishing area near the Spanish border, as well as the more traditional fishing villages of Banyuls and Collioure.

The French Riviera

A luxury beach guide would not be complete if the celebrated French Riviera were not mentioned. Here, excellent sea and weather conditions can be counted on more so than in any other beach area of France. The sunny, warm temperatures and beautiful coastlines, draw visitor’s to the Riviera year after year.

From the French-Italian border to the Marseille coast, lie high-end, luxurious French resorts that offer dazzling scenery, and almost every amenity one can desire. Cap Ferrat, Toulon, Cannes, Nice, and Monte-Carlo are just a few of the most popular luxury beaches on the Riviera.

No matter which of the many delightful options a family or couple chooses for their beach experience, they are sure to have an exciting and memorable holiday, and more than likely, will wish to return soon.