Choose between vine-striped valleys and sunshade-dotted beaches, chic ski resorts and culture-packed cities on holidays to France.
From northern abbey ruins and cathedral towns like Rouen, to the snow-capped Alps in the east and Roman relics in the south, wherever you go in France, the landscapes are picture-perfect. Van Gogh's lavender fields of Provence and the sunshine-dappled esplanades on the French Riviera are as vibrant today as they were 100 years ago. Turreted fairytale chateaux create magic in the western Loire Valley, and the French heartland regions have given their names to the world's favourite wines, from Beaujolais to Champagne.
Best of France holidays for...
- Grown-up families: See how the other half once lived at the Palace of Versailles, where gilded frescoes adorn the Sun King's royal bedchamber. Catch your reflection in the Hall of Mirrors and stroll through the formal gardens to elaborate fountains and Marie Antoinette's thatch-roofed hamlet.
- Romance: Take your loved one on a tour of the grands crus estates from Bordeaux, and rate your favourite wine - will it be St Emilion, Medoc or Margaux? Vineyards surround shuttered villages of sun-warmed stone, where you can sample wines in the underground cellars of historic chateaux.
- Relaxing: France means fine food and Lyons is the foodie capital, home to renowned chef Paul Bocuse. Book ahead to eat at one of his famous brasseries or keep things simple behind lace curtains and wood panelling at a modest bouchon, to taste traditional Lyonnais sausages and salade Lyonnaise of croutons and eggs.
- Shopping: Want to spice up your wardrobe French-style? Head to Paris! Browse affordable fashions at grands magasins department stores under Art Nouveau stained-glass domes. If you're feeling flush, head to chi-chi boutiques along Avenue Montaigne, home to prestige fashion houses like Dior and Chanel.
- Nightlife: After dark, the golden stretch of French Riviera known as the Cote d'Azur is lined with a twinkling string of beach bars and dance clubs, from the Italian border to Nice and St-Tropez.
- Active types: Hire a board to go windsurfing or surfing at Plage de la Cote des Basques, near Biarritz on the Atlantic coast. Waves splash against rocky outcrops, while sun worshippers recline beside striped sun tents.
- Kids & teens: Grab some bicycles on holidays to France for a cycling trip through the Dordogne countryside. Follow leafy riverbanks to discover medieval villages of honey-toned stone like Sarlat-la-Caneda and the prehistoric paintings of the Les Eyzies caves.
