France is permeated with style and joie de vivre! The French claim credit for developing the Gothic style of architecture and cathedrals that stand as legacies of soaring stone for future generations. Creators of everything from palaces to subway stations, painting, literature, cuisine, fashion and savoir-faire, France’s contribution to culture is unsurpassed. When other parts of Europe were slumbering through the Dark Ages, the region of Provence was alive with artisan creativity, and the Loire Valley chateaux were embellished with majesty and sculpture. The passionate French tradition of scholarship was the foundation of Europe’s university system, and their sense of style, culture and knowledge is still unmatched.
France is the most visited country in the world and it is easy to understand why with its celebrated food and wine, rich literature, art and cinema, impressive architecture and varied landscapes. Each corner of France has its own distinct style. The northwest is noted for its rugged coastline, with the Landing Beaches of Normandy testifying to the country’s modern history in the most poignant of ways. Inland, Renaissance chateaux line the Loire Valley. To the northeast sits the Champagne region, centred on Reims and Epernay, whilst travelling south one traverses the Rhone valley with its fine wine and rich gastronomy. The southwest reaches from the Atlantic coast along the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean Sea encompassing the wine region of the Bordeaux, the languid Dordogne valley with its pretty villages, and the Languedoc region with its medieval fairy tale city of Carcassonne. The south of France is synonymous with all that is glamour and nowhere in the world compares. The rich and famous mingle on the promenades of Cannes, St Tropez and Nice whilst inland, pretty villages such as Valbonne, St Paul de Vence and Mougins lead one deep into the Provence region..
