The "City of Love" and the Eiffel Tower are probably the first things that come to mind when thinking about France. But besides this, there are many other things worthy of attention. There are too many of them, so it is difficult to briefly list what France is famous for. It is a country with rich literature, ancient heritage and beautiful landscapes. It is considered the country of Voltaire; the language of Moliere is spoken here. Everyone who comes here can visit the famous sights of France that are connected with its history. This is a land of grace and elegance that never ceases to amaze.

What is France famous for? This will be briefly discussed in the article.

Paris

This is perhaps the most famous city in France and one of the most visited by tourists. The population of Paris is about two and a half million people. More than 12 million people live in the city itself and its suburbs. There are a large number of attractions here, as well as various interesting events. The number of tourists in Paris is so large that tourists are advised to book hotels and plan visits to museums and everything that France and its capital are famous for in advance.

Marseilles

Marseille is the second largest and most populous famous city. The population is about 850,000 people (about one and a half million people including the suburbs). It is located in the southeastern part of the country, on the coast Mediterranean Sea. Near it on the seashore there are many beaches and resort villages. The city itself has numerous museums and art galleries. Most of Marseille's attractions (as well as shopping centers) are located in districts 1, 2, 6 and 7. From what France is known for, this is worth a look Old Port or Vieux Port; Hôtel de ville de Marseille (town hall) is a Baroque building built in the 17th century.

Lille

Lille ranks fourth in the country in terms of population. The city is located in northern France, near the border with Belgium. It is the center of the textile industry. The city's population is approximately 227,000 people (with suburbs - more than 1 million people). There is a lot here that France is famous for: Lille Cathedral (Notre Dame de la Treille), a Roman Catholic church and national monument, is definitely worth seeing; Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille is a municipal museum dedicated to fine arts, modern and ancient; Jardin botanique de la Faculté de Pharmacie - Botanical Garden.

Bordeaux

The city is located in the southwest of France, near the Atlantic coast, on the banks of the Garonne River. It is sometimes called the "city of art and history." There are 362 monuments and buildings dating back to Roman times. The historical part of the city is included in the List world heritage UNESCO as an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble XVIII century.

Bordeaux is an important world center for the wine industry. One of the most famous wine exhibitions, Vinexpo, is held here.

Lyon

The city is the third largest and most populous. Its population is about 506,000 people. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city has historical sites (Roman amphitheater and monuments of medieval architecture). Lyon is also famous for the fact that it was here that the Lumière brothers invented cinema.

Museum fine arts - main museum city ​​and one of the largest art galleries in the country.

Strasbourg

This is one of the most famous cities in France and is considered special. It can in a certain sense be considered the center of Europe. For example, the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, and the European Court of Human Rights are located here. It itself is located near the border between France and Germany.

There are many medieval architectural monuments in the city. The central part of Strasbourg is included in the World Heritage List cultural heritage UNESCO. is a masterpiece of Gothic art and one of the architectural landmarks of the city.

Nice

This is one of the most visited cities on the French Riviera. It is the second most popular tourist city in France. Nice was founded in the middle of the 4th century BC.

The Promenade des Anglais (La Prom) is a promenade along the Mediterranean Sea in Nice. It can be considered main street cities (especially for tourists).

The local carnival is one of the largest events of its kind in the world (along with the Brazilian and Venice). It is held annually in February. Its most striking events are the Flower Parades (Battle of the Flowers) and the Parade of Lights (on Saturdays and Tuesdays).

Cannes

Another very popular city on the French Riviera. Its history goes back more than two thousand years. The city became famous at the end of the 19th century, when aristocrats from Great Britain began to build their houses here. Rich and famous people from other European countries began to arrive here later. The population of the city is just over seventy thousand people.

World famous events take place in Cannes:

  • Cannes Film Festival - Held annually, usually in May.
  • Cannes International Festival on Advertising and Related Fields (June).
  • yachts (September).

France and the French

Every country in the world has its own history and heritage, rich and filled with many legends and stories. And each story, in turn, has its own long list of individuals who helped turn an ordinary event into an important historical episode for the country. The list of famous personalities in France is very long, from the monarchs who ruled the French throne to influential philosophers, scientists and literary figures who left their indelible mark on the history of France. The country has been home to some world leaders and pioneers who pioneered their respective fields. Louis Pasteur, Blaise Pascal, René Descartes, Joan of Arc, Louis XIV, Napoleon, Victor Hugo, Gustav Eiffel, Marie Curie, Coco Chanel - they all called France their home. And the list does not end here. There are many more historical personalities originally from France, and their contributions have influenced not only the country, but the world as a whole.

Taste of France

This country is the largest wine producer in the world, its ancient history Winemaking began more than 2500 years ago. Over the years, some estates have become legendary.

70 percent of the most popular and famous French wines are elite Bordeaux varieties, mainly Grand Cru Classes from the Medoc region.

The most popular not only in the country, but also to some extent red varieties include:

  • Château Mouton Rothschild Pauillac.
  • Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac.
  • Chateau Margaux.
  • Château Latour Pauillac.
  • Château Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan.
  • Pétrus Pomerol, Château Cheval Blanc Saint Émilion.
  • Château d'Yquem Sauternes.

France's most famous wine is champagne, which is adored by wine lovers around the world. But few people know that the French drink 53% of all sparkling wine produced here themselves.

In 2014, the French drank more than 162 million bottles of champagne - almost three bottles per person. The remaining seven billion people on Earth had to share the remaining 145 million bottles for export.

Popular white varieties include the famous sweet wine Botrytis Château d'Yquem Sauternes, as well as wine from the Rhone Valley E. Guigal Côtes Du Rhône Blanc.

Wine is also on the list of what France is famous for. Many of its very famous varieties are made in regions such as Loire, Burgundy, Alsace, Languedoc-Roussillon or Beaujolais.

This historical monument is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful buildings Paris. Its construction began in 1163, but took more than two centuries. This Gothic masterpiece is a symbol of Paris, one of the most famous places France. It, like the cathedral in Reims, is one of the most famous churches in this country. These walls have seen French kings and Napoleon I, and ceremonies were held here after the deaths of French presidents Charles de Gaulle, George Pompidou and François Mitterrand. This archiepiscopal cathedral is also famous for its appearance in Victor Hugo's novel Notre-Dame de Paris, published in 1831.

Triumphal Arch

It is one of the city's many attractions.

Its construction under the leadership of Napoleon I in honor of the celebration of his military victories began in 1806 and ended in 1836. It is centrally located in the eighth quarter of Paris, near the Champs Elysees.

Now there is the grave of an unknown soldier who died in the First World War, and an eternal flame burns here. Every year on November 11, a commemorative ceremony takes place here.

Pantheon

This architectural and historical monument is located in the Latin Quarter of Paris and is an integral part of what France is famous for. In the 18th century, the Pantheon was intended to serve as a church, but now this impressive monument is designed to honor those who left their mark on French history. Jean Moulin, Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Emile Zola and Jean Jaurès found their last refuge in the Pantheon.

This symbol of glory, France's most famous castle, with 700 rooms, is the largest in the world. Built in the early 17th century by order of King Louis XIV, better known as the Sun King, the Palace of Versailles was used as the main residence of the kings of France before the Revolution. Built in the Baroque style, it served as inspiration for further castle construction in the 17th and 18th centuries. But since the 19th century it has been used as a museum, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Basilica of Saint Denis

This is a Gothic church located in the center of Saint-Denis, five kilometers from Paris. Since its construction in the 12th century, it has acted as a necropolis for French crowned heads. Now it contains forty-three kings, thirty-two queens and ten servants of monarchs. Here you can learn about all the royal families that have ever ruled France.

Chateau de Malmaison

This country estate in Ruel-Malmaison was main residence Napoleon I, "Emperor of the French", and his wife Josephine. Before the castle became their main residence, it was the residence and literary salon owned by Madame du Moly, where artists such as Friedrich Melchior Grimm and Bernardin de Saint-Pierre came.

Since 1903, this historical monument has been the property of the French state, and in 1905 it was converted into a museum.

Chateau de Chambord

This castle actually tells the story of the Renaissance. It has a special architecture. Chambord Castle was built in 1519 by order of King Francis I. Leonardo da Vinci worked on the design of the castle in 1517. The castle was erected on the site of an old fortification. In plan, the castle has the shape of a cross, which has not been used in architecture since antiquity. In total it had 440 rooms, most of which were equipped with fireplaces. There is an ornamental garden and a hunting park, which is considered a historical monument.

France is, without a doubt, one of the most interesting countries not only in Europe, but throughout the world. Therefore, it is not surprising that about 80 million tourists visit France every year, who are interested in local attractions, beach resorts on the " Cote d'Azur", as well as high-quality ski resorts. For each of these tourists, France is not only an “eternally sweet image,” as the Russian poet Nikolai Gumilyov thought about this country, but also an amazing vacation.

Geography of France

France is located in Western Europe. In the north, the English Channel (“English Channel”) separates France from Great Britain. In the southwest, France borders with Spain and Andorra, in the southeast with Switzerland and Italy, and in the northeast with Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium. In the West, the coast of France is washed by the waters Atlantic Ocean, and in the south - the Mediterranean Sea.

France also includes 5 overseas territories (the islands of Guadeloupe, Mayotte, Martinique, Reunion, and Guiana in South America), as well as overseas communities (Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna, French polynesia), And overseas territories with special status (Clipperton, New Caledonia and the French Southern and Antarctic Territories).

The total area of ​​France in Europe is 547,030 square meters. km., including the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea. If we also take into account the French overseas territories, then the area of ​​France is 674,843 sq. km.

The landscape of France is very diverse, ranging from the coastal plains in the north and west, to the Alps in the southeast, the Massif Central, and the Pyrenees mountains in the southwest. The most high peak in France - Mont Blanc mountain in the Alps (4,810 m).

Several large rivers (Seine, Loire, Garron and Rhone) and hundreds of small rivers flow through France.

Approximately 27% of France is forested.

Capital

The capital of France is Paris, which is now home to more than 2.3 million people. According to archaeological finds, on the site of modern Paris, a settlement of people (Celts) existed already in the 3rd century BC.

Official language

The official language in France is French, which belongs to the Romance group of the Indo-European language family.

Religion

About 65% of the French population are Catholics, adherents of the Roman Catholic Church. However, only about 4.5% of French Catholics go to church every week (or more often).

In addition, about 4% of the French population are Muslims, and 3% are Protestants.

French government

According to the 1958 Constitution, France is a parliamentary republic in which the head of state is the President.

The source of legislative power is the bicameral Parliament, consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate. The Senate's legislative powers are limited, and the National Assembly has the final vote.

Main political parties in France - the Socialist Party and the Union for a Popular Movement.

Climate and weather

In general, the climate of France can be divided into three main climatic zones:

  • Oceanic climate in the west;
  • Mediterranean climate in the south and southeast (Provence, Languedoc-Roussillon and Corsica);
  • Continental climate in central regions countries and in the east.

In the south-east of France in the Alps the climate is alpine. Winter in the French mountains, including the Massif Central and the Pyrenees, is cold, often with heavy snowfall.

Average air temperature in Paris:

  • January - +3C
  • February - +5C
  • March - +9C
  • April - +10C
  • May - +15C
  • June - +18C
  • July - +19C
  • August - +19C
  • September - +17C
  • October - +13C
  • November - +7C
  • December - +5C

Seas and oceans

The coast of France is washed in the south by the Mediterranean Sea, and in the west by the Atlantic Ocean.

Average temperature of the Mediterranean Sea near Nice (Côte d'Azur):

  • January - +13C
  • February - +12C
  • March - +13C
  • April - +14C
  • May - +17C
  • June - +20C
  • July - +22C
  • August - +22C
  • September - +21C
  • October - +18C
  • November - +15C
  • December - +14C

Rivers and lakes

In the European territory of France there are 119 rivers that flow into the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The most big rivers in France - Seine, Loire, Garron and Rhone.

The lakes in France are not very large, but they are very beautiful. The largest of them are Bourget, Aigblett and Annecy.

History of France

People on the territory modern France appeared 10 thousand years ago. Around the 6th century BC. on Mediterranean coast Colonies of Phoenicians and ancient Greeks were formed in France. Later, the territory of modern France was settled by Celtic tribes. In the era of Ancient Rome, France was called Gaul. In the middle of the 1st century BC. Most of Gaul was conquered by Gaius Julius Caesar.

In the 5th century AD France was invaded by Frankish tribes, who formed their own empire in the 8th century (this was done by Charlemagne, who took the title of Holy Roman Emperor).

In the 10th century, Vikings began to raid the coast of France and gradually colonized Normandy. Since 987, the kings of France were people from the Capetian family, and since 1328, the Valois.

During the Middle Ages, France waged constant wars with its neighbors, gradually expanding its territory. So, in 1337 the so-called The “Hundred Years' War” between France and England, as a result of which the British were expelled from French lands (only the port of Calais remained with them). During the Hundred Years' War, Joan of Arc became famous.

In the middle of the 16th century in France, under the influence of the Protestant Reformation, the teachings of John Calvin began to spread, which led to many years of civil war. The Edict of Nantes in 1598 gave French Protestants (Huguenots) equal rights with Catholics.

As a result of the Great French Revolution (1789-94), the monarchy was abolished in France and a republic was proclaimed. However, after some time, the dictatorship of Napoleon Bonaparte was established in France. Under Napoleon Bonaparte, France extended its power over almost all European countries. In 1815, after the defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon Bonaparte's empire was liquidated.

In the 20th century, France took an active part in all two world wars, suffering millions of human losses in them. After the Second World War in 1946-1958, the so-called The "Fourth Republic", and in 1958, after the adoption of the Constitution, the "Fifth Republic" was established.

Now France is a member of the NATO military bloc and is a member of the EU.

Culture

The history of France goes back many hundreds of years, and therefore the French, of course, have a very rich culture, which has had a great influence on the cultures of other peoples.

Thanks to France, the world received a large number of brilliant writers, artists, philosophers and scientists:

  • Literature (Pierre Beaumarchais, Alexandre Dumas the Father, Anatole France, Victor Hugo, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Anne Golon, Jules Verne, and Georges Simenon);
  • Art (Jean-Antoine Watteau, Delacroix, Degas, and Jean Paul Cézanne);
  • Philosophy (René Descartes, Blaise Pascal, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Comte, Henri Bergson, Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre).

Every year in France many different events are celebrated. national holidays and carnivals. The most popular carnival takes place annually in March, welcoming spring.

French cuisine

The French have always been proud of their cooking skills. Now French cuisine is considered the most diverse and refined in the world.

Each region of France has its own special culinary tradition. So, in the north-west of the country in Brittany, pancakes with cider are popular, in Alsace (near the border with Germany) they often make “la choucroute” (stewed cabbage with pieces of sausage), in the Loire Valley they eat a special fish dish called Lotte (monk fish) , which is found only in the Loire River. On the French coast, seafood dishes (mussels, clams, oysters, shrimp, squid) are very popular.

In some regions of France they prepare exotic dishes for you and me - snails in garlic and butter, as well as frog legs in sauce.

France is famous for its wines. Winemaking in France dates back to approximately the 6th century BC. In the Middle Ages, French wines from Burgundy, Champagne and Bordeaux became known throughout Europe. Now wine is produced in almost every region of France.

Sights of France

A person who has visited France can probably talk for hours about its attractions, because this country has very rich history. The top ten best attractions in France, in our opinion, include the following:

Cities and resorts

The biggest French cities– Paris, Marseille, Toulouse, Lyon, Bordeaux, and also Lille.

France is washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. General coastline mainland France is 3,427 kilometers. On the southeastern coast of France (this is the Mediterranean Sea) there is the famous “Côte d'Azur” (French Riviera), where tourists can relax on popular beach resorts. The most famous of them are Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Hyères, Ile du Levant, and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

In winter, hundreds of thousands of tourists come to France to ski at local ski resorts.

Top 10 best French ski resorts:

  1. Brides-les-Bains
  2. Argentière
  3. Les Arcs
  4. Meribel
  5. Tignes
  6. Saint Martin de Belleville
  7. Paradiski
  8. Courchevel
  9. Alpe d'Huez (Alpe d'Huez)
  10. Val d"Isère (Val d"Isere)

Souvenirs/shopping

Tourists from France usually bring various souvenirs with images Eiffel Tower. However, we advise you to buy scarves and ties, chocolate, coffee cups, lavender tea (it is made in Provence), Dijon mustard (there are 50 types of this mustard), French perfume, French wine in France.

Office hours

France is a multifaceted and multifaceted country. It’s not for nothing that the French themselves call it Hexagon. I have visited several regions, and each is different from the other. Each has its own flavor, its own charm, its own culture, its own traditions and customs. Just because you've only visited France doesn't mean you know France. and France - two different worlds, like Russia.

To get to know the real France, travel through its provinces, visit small towns, and try local wine. You need to absorb its taste, smells and aromas, then perhaps it will reveal its true face to you.

Visa and border crossing

If you think that only in Russia there is a terrible bureaucracy, then I can assure you: in France it blooms no less magnificently. Therefore, when applying for a visa, I advise you to carefully and accurately fill out and collect them.

To travel to France you need a Schengen visa. List of documents:

  1. Visa application completed in French or English language;
  2. Two photographs 35 mm x 45 mm, taken no later than 6 months before filing documents, on a light blue or light gray background;
  3. A foreign passport valid for at least 3 months from the date of intended departure from the country and with at least two blank pages;
  4. Confirmation of accommodation (hotel reservation, voucher from a travel agency, etc.);
  5. Route confirmation (air tickets, train tickets, etc.);
  6. Confirmation of availability of financial resources (bank statement, certificate of employment);
  7. Medical insurance(in the amount of at least 30,000 EUR);
  8. Photocopies of all pages of the internal passport (no need to notarize);
  9. If you previously had old passports with Schengen visas, you need to provide them.

Of course, you will also need to pay fees:

  • at the consulate - 35 EUR (if the visa is refused, the visa will not be returned);
  • at the Visa Center - 25 EUR + consular fee 35 EUR (in case of refusal to issue a visa, they will not be returned).

Also, when applying for a Schengen visa for the first time, you need to undergo the procedure of dactyloscopy (fingerprinting) and digital photography. This can be done at one of the visa centers or the French consulate. The data is stored for 5 years, and during this time the procedure does not need to be repeated. After this period, it must be re-taken. Therefore, if you are applying for a visa for the first time, your personal presence when submitting documents is required.

Submission of documents takes place only by appointment. The period for their consideration is from 10 to 30 working days. If you need to urgently apply for a visa, then this can be done in 3 days, but the cost of fees increases and can cost 100 EUR. The visa application must be submitted no earlier than 3 months before the start of the trip.

A short-term visa of category C (the purpose of the visit is tourism) is issued for 3–6 months with a stay in the country itself of 90 days and is valid throughout the Schengen territory. If you have previously received a visa valid for six months, then they can issue you a multiple visa for 1 year. With previously issued visas for a period of 1 year or more, you can request a multiple visa for both 3 years and 5 years, but at the same time having an ideal package of documents.

More details about the documents, the process of obtaining a French visa and other subtleties are written sensibly.

What can be imported and exported

Concerning customs rules when crossing the border, they are as follows.

Allowed to import:

  1. Up to 10,000 EUR without declaration. Larger amounts must be declared;
  2. 200 cigarettes / 100 cigarillos / 250 cigars / 250 grams of smoking tobacco for persons over 17 years of age;
  3. 1 liter of alcoholic drinks with a strength of more than 22% / 2 liters of alcoholic drinks with a strength of less than 22% / 4 liters of still wine / 16 liters of beer - for citizens over 17 years of age;
  4. Medicines necessary for the duration of your stay in the country (no more than 3 months);
  5. Personal items worth up to 430 EUR, for citizens under 15 years old - up to 150 EUR (for air travelers).

All goods and things not intended for personal use and the quantity of which exceeds the above norms must be included in the customs declaration. Items that are prohibited for import without declaration or have import restrictions must also be declared.

Prohibited for import:

  1. Products that violate intellectual property rights;
  2. Meat and dairy products;
  3. Psychotropic and narcotic substances;
  4. Weapons and other items that pose a threat to the lives of citizens.

In my experience, French customs officers are quite loyal, but you still shouldn’t tempt fate and follow all the rules.

How to get there

Below I will list the main ways to get to beautiful France. You can choose any of these methods according to your budget and intentions.

The most convenient and fastest, but quite expensive, is by plane. Flights to France are operated from many Russian cities.

You can go by train or bus, but it takes longer (you will spend about 2 days on the way) and is cheaper.

The option of going by car is also not cheap, given that you have to pay for gasoline, stays in hotels or campsites, food and travel on highways, but here you plan your trip yourself.

You can also get to France by water: along the Mediterranean Sea to the Cote d'Azur, but this pleasure is not cheap.

By plane

The most comfortable and popular way. Of course, direct flights are expensive, so I bought with transfers in Europe. This is both cheaper and, if the time between flights allows, the opportunity to visit another European city. I selected flights using offer aggregator sites. You can see the tickets.

I've flown direct several times Russia Airlines Airlines. A round-trip ticket cost about 12,000 rubles. This happened in 2011 and 2013. Now the prices of this company are higher, of course.

Once I flew only there on a Belavia flight with a transfer in Minsk. A ticket also cost about 12,000–14,000 thousand rubles in 2014. By the way, the service is pretty good.

A couple of times I took round-trip flights with transfers in Munich or Zurich from Lufthansa. This pleasure cost about 16,000–18,000 rubles. in 2013–2014, but the service is much better than that of the above companies.

Now a round trip ticket costs from 14,000 to 40,000 rubles, depending on the airline you choose.

You can also get to France on low-cost airlines from other European cities. For example, by ferry or by bus to Finland or Sweden, and then transfer to a plane.

Depending on the purpose of your trip to France, you can choose the desired airport of arrival.

There are 4 airports in Paris:

  1. Charles de Gaulle is where most flights arrive and is the most convenient of the four as it operates 24 hours a day;
  2. Orly. Serves mainly domestic flights;
  3. Beauvais. For low cost airlines like Ryanair;
  4. Le Bourget. Only for charters and private business class aircraft.

There are also two international airport in two French cities - Nice and Marseille. Travelers who want to relax on the Cote d'Azur arrive there.

By train

If you want to see the rest of old Europe on the way to France, then going by train is the option for you.

There are two trains from Moscow to France: one through to Paris, the second to Nice. You will spend about two days on the road. Ticket prices from 228 EUR and above.

The carriages on the trains are quite comfortable, there is a dining car.

By bus

Top cities

Here, as anyone would guess, the leader is Paris. So much has been written about this city and by such wonderful writers as Nabokov, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas that I have nothing special to add. I will say one thing: paradoxically, I never loved Paris until I lived there for a year. And even now I don’t really miss it, because coming there as a tourist is one thing, but living there is completely different. You encounter many problems there that are typical for megacities, but that’s not what we’re talking about now. Towards the end of my period of life in the beautiful capital of France, I still realized that “Paris loves me, and I love it.” You can read more about Paris

Cozyly located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, with the famous Promenade des Anglais, the Matisse and Marc Chagall museums, Nice, as before, attracts tourists from all over the world. And not only with fashionable beaches and comfortable hotels in the style of the French Riviera, but also with an indescribable atmosphere of grace and elegance.

The neighboring city Cannes known throughout the world for the famous Cannes Film Festival. It is not for nothing that most tourists who come to this city consider it their duty to take photos on the red carpet, along which so many famous actors and actresses walk. This is one of the most popular resorts Cote d'Azur, where you can relax on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and plunge into the world of art.

Another equally popular city in France is. It is better to start visiting Lyon from the Old Town, where traboules are still preserved - narrow medieval streets where one person can hardly pass. In this city you can see both perfectly preserved monuments of the Middle Ages (Saint-Jean Cathedral) and buildings from the Roman Empire (the Ancient Roman Theater on Fourvière Hill).

The world-famous French resort remains where they filmed the famous epic about the adventures of the gendarmes with Louis de Funes in the title role, the film “And God Created Woman” with the beautiful Brigitte Bardot, who, by the way, still lives here, and the film “Swimming Pool” with the participation of Alain Delon. By the way, it was Brigitte Bardot who contributed to considerable popularity, now one of the most prestigious vacation spots.

Islands

Corsica

The closest island to France and the most obstinate is Corsica(Corsica, in fact, never wanted to become part of France, which did not bother the latter at all. That is why the island has a special status: Territorial Community of Corsica). The birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, sunny Corsica will delight you with its welcoming Mediterranean landscapes, a huge abundance of beaches and delicious cuisine.

I only advise you to take care of renting a car in advance, since this is the best way to get around the island. You can get to Corsica by plane or ferry from Italy or France. You can rent a car in Corsica itself (from 70 EUR per day) or take the ferry with it (from 250 EUR for 2 people with a car).

Former colonies

Like other former colonial powers, France has retained some of its “colonies” to this day, but now they have different statuses and a more expanded range of rights and freedoms. Most of these possessions are islands (except Guiana), which are located in three oceans: Atlantic, Pacific and Indian.

IN Pacific Ocean There are two popular islands among tourists - Martinique and Guadeloupe.

Martinique - beautiful island, which France can be proud of. It once inspired the work of Paul Gauguin himself, whose museum is located there. This is also where Napoleon Bonaparte's first wife, Josephine Beauharnais, came from. “Land of Flowers” ​​is how the name of the island is translated, and it fully justifies it. Fans of beach and relaxing holidays will love the postcard beaches of Martinique and the warm Caribbean Sea.

From France you can also get to the island by plane. The flight is in progress airlines Air France, Air Caraibes, Corsair. Return ticket price starts from 400 EUR. Airplanes also fly from Russia, but the travel time will be about 13 hours.

There is an island not far from Martinique Guadeloupe. Divided into two parts, the Greater and the Lower, the island is interesting tropical forests, magnificent beaches, active volcano and waterfalls.

You can get from Martinique to Guadeloupe in 40 minutes by plane, so it's convenient to visit both islands in one go.

IN Indian Ocean there is a whole necklace of 5 island groups that are called French Polynesia.

The most popular island of the group is Tahiti. He is both the largest and the most important among the rest. Like Guadeloupe, it consists of two parts - North and South. Here you can find everything for a perfect holiday: coral reefs, luxurious beaches, magnificent views of the small mountains, completely covered with jungle. It was not for nothing that Paul Gauguin fled to this island.

The flight from France will last approximately 21 hours. Flights are only with transfers. The price of a round-trip ticket is from 1,000 EUR and above. As is quite obvious, you can get to Tahiti from Russia by plane, and also with transfers.

In the Pacific Ocean is located one of the most beautiful island groups on planet Earth - New Caledonia. Its main island is Grande Terre. The large amount of natural resources makes this island chain extremely important for France. Here you can also find magnificent beaches and stunning landscapes.

By the way, the islanders here adopted a lot from the Europeans, and even the capital of New Caledonia, the city of Noumea, is more similar to a typical small European town than an aboriginal settlement.

There are indirect flights from France. The price of a round-trip ticket is from 1,500 EUR and above. From Russia you will have to fly for two or three days with transfers.

Top attractions

When it comes to France, everyone immediately remembers Eiffel Tower. Probably the top question for me about France is: “Have you been to the Eiffel Tower?” Answer: “Yes, it was.”

Get ready for:

  1. The lines are incredibly long. During the time spent in line, I managed to read a book, listen to music and discuss a lot of things with my friend.
  2. At the very top, everything is covered with a dense iron mesh, so it’s not very convenient to take pictures.
  3. It is on the tower that they like to rob naive tourists - do not take particularly valuable things or a lot of money with you there.

Another equally famous landmark of France is Disneyland. What child, adult or teenager has not dreamed of being there? I also managed to visit Disneyland. It is divided into two parks: an amusement park and the Walt Disney studio, where they show how cartoons are created. I advise you to arrive early and, again, prepare for a giant queue, stock up on a player or book. The amusement park itself has a well-developed system: you can go around all the most popular attractions in advance and buy tickets for them indicating the time when you will arrive there, and during breaks you can walk around the park.

France, like any former feudal medieval European country, is rich in castles and palaces. The most popular of them Versailles. I visited there too. You are guaranteed a huge queue with several bends (by the way, you will have to wait for it twice: at the ticket office and at the entrance to the palace). There are few open halls and rooms in the palace itself; you could go through them quickly enough if it weren’t for the crowds of tourists taking pictures with everything. If you don’t have the energy to visit the park (as happened to me), you can take a ticket for the train that runs through it.

Since we are talking about castles, another undoubted attraction of France is Castles of Loire. To have an idea of ​​what it is and what it is eaten with, visit at least 2-3 of them. I went to two of them: Amboise and Chambord. Amboise is a very beautiful and perfectly preserved Renaissance monument. The chapel contains the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci. He lived in this castle last years own life. The interior is also in excellent condition. Chambord is beautiful only on the outside; inside, most of the halls and rooms are empty and unfurnished.

Louvre also comes to mind for everyone who talks about France. Famous museum with a glass pyramid can be seen on many souvenirs that are brought from there. It is located in the center of Paris, near the Tuileries Garden. Central entrance through big pyramid.

The Louvre has 3 wings: Richelieu, Denon and Sully. It’s impossible to get around all 3 in one go. I explored the museum in several visits. If you want, like many, to find Mona Lisa first, then go towards the Denon wing. There you will immediately recognize it by the huge crowd of people taking selfies next to Leonardo’s great work. Read about what else you need to see in the Louvre.

Another emblem of both Paris and France is. In my humble opinion, Victor Hugo wrote about the cathedral best of all travel observers in his book of the same name.

It is located on the islet of Cité. Nearby, by the way, there is a wonderful square where you can relax, stand in line and enjoy the magnificent stained glass windows and gargoyles of Notre Dame de Paris.

The majestic Alps, stretching in the southeast of the country. Highest point in the French Alps - Mont Blanc mountain- the cherished mecca of many European climbers. At the western foot of the mountain there is just a resort, which I wrote about above. For lovers active tourism, especially the mountain ones, you will really like it here. Stunning scenery mountain ranges makes everyone hold their breath.

How can one not mention the famous ones in the list of attractions in France? Champs Elysees, about which Joe Dassin sang so beautifully? To be honest, I didn’t find anything special there except crowds of tourists, very expensive shops and the same cafes and restaurants. In essence, this is an ordinary wide avenue connecting Arc de Triomphe with Place de la Concorde. If you want to feel like the Angry Birds, then this is the place for you. In the huge crowd spreading on both sides of the fields, you will certainly run into someone. Again, advice: keep an eye on your bag or things. Happy in the knowledge that they are in Paris, tourists sometimes do not notice how they are deprived of money or expensive things.

The author sees the Champs Elysees somewhat differently.

I already wrote above about monastery Saint Michel in the province of Normandy. It reminded me of the gloomy castle of some evil witch from children's fairy tales. Getting there is somewhat difficult, since the monastery is located on a rock island in the center of the shallow waters of the bay of the same name. The tides occur at specific times, so to get there you have to wait for the tide to go out. In the evening they turn on the lights, and the abbey takes on a darkly beautiful appearance.

Who hasn't watched the Fort Boyard program before? No less famous than other attractions in France, Fort Boyar is located close to the city, comfortably located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean (I advise you to go there too, a very pleasant city with a well-preserved medieval central part and unusual modern buildings around). Boats go there and go around it. Unfortunately, you can’t get inside, as games are still taking place there.

Weather

The climate of France varies depending on the region. In general, 5 climatic zones can be distinguished:

  • The Côte d'Azur and Corsica have a classic Mediterranean climate: summers are hot and long, and winters are short and warm. There may be thunderstorms in the summer and cool and windy weather in the spring due to the mistral wind that blows across the country. The average temperature in summer is +27 °C, in winter - +13 °C.
  • In mountainous regions (Rhône-Alpes) winters are long and very snowy. Prolonged snowfalls are possible. The average temperature in summer is +15 °C, in winter about –10 °C;
  • In central France the climate is continental: summers are hot and winters are colder. The rainfall here is much less than in coastal areas. The average temperature in summer is from +15 °C to +25 °C, in winter - from –5 °C to +6 °C.
  • In the north of the country, in the coastal regions, summers are warm and winters are mild. But rainy weather is often possible. The average temperature in summer is +20 °C, in winter - +5 °C;
  • In the southwest of the country, summers are reasonably hot, but thunderstorms are possible, and winters are mild. The average temperature in summer is +25 °C, in winter - +10 °C.

The best time to visit France is the beginning of spring (May, April) and the beginning of autumn (September, beginning of October), since it is during these periods that it is not quite hot, but not cold either, and at the same time you can safely go explore the main attractions of the country without wasting time in giant queues.

Moving around the country

By train

There are two types of trains:

By car

You can rent a car. On average it will cost you from 25 to 70 EUR per day. This type of transportation is convenient if you want to visit the Loire Valley or the Cote d'Azur, where the distances between settlements quite significant.

In order to rent a car, you must be over 21 years old and have at least 1 year of driving experience. You can rent a car using various specialized services, for example, in the Travelask section.

Let me remind you that in Europe (including France) gasoline is more expensive, there are toll highways (they cost from 2 to 50 EUR). Payment for travel on a toll road depends on the category of the vehicle and the distance already traveled. You will also need to pay for travel through some tunnels and bridges.

Another popular way to travel today is to hitch a ride in other people's cars. In Paris, advertisements from the BlaBlaСar website are posted everywhere, thanks to which people are looking for travel companions or drivers heading to a particular city. Of course, it will be much cheaper (in agreement with the driver), but no one will give a complete guarantee of your safety.

I would like to add that in France there are a variety of well-maintained campsites and motels. Prices range from 10 to 50 EUR per day depending on the type of camping.

By plane

Comparable to train prices, flying around France is one of the most comfortable travel options.

Low-cost airlines offer more than reasonable prices (100 EUR round trip), and it will take much less time (1-2 hours) than traveling by train or car.

By bus

This option has not been canceled either. Moreover, here they are much more comfortable than in Russia. SNCF has its own bus network. Disadvantages of this method of travel: the journey will take longer, and most flights depart early in the morning, since the bus schedule is adjusted to approximate working hours, start and end times of school classes, etc. Plus - low prices(from 20 to 50 EUR).

I mostly traveled around France by bus, but this was always included organized excursions, they were offered by the private school where I studied in Paris. Such excursions cost from 80 to 300 EUR. The buses were very comfortable, and from the windows you could see the changing landscapes of France. So, when we took a bus on an excursion to the castles of Amboise and Chambord, we saw other Loire castles along the way.

Connection

There are no problems with the Internet in France. It works great and fast here. Almost all hotels, bars, cafes have free wifi. An hour in an Internet cafe costs from 4 to 10 EUR. In hotels - from 10 to 20 EUR.

Cellular service is also excellent. Main operators in France:

  • Bouygues Telecom,
  • Orange France,
  • SFR GSM.

I had Orange because I lived in Paris for a long time and needed a local SIM card. It cost me 20 EUR per month with the number of minutes for calls, SMS and Internet determined according to my tariff.

You can top up your account in two ways:

  • Buy a card for the amount you need with a special code, which is covered with a protective film. You erase the film, there is a code under it. You need to enter it together with the appropriate combination (depending on the operator), and the amount will be credited to your account. Such cards are bought in tobacco shops.
  • Go to a mobile phone store and pay directly there.

If you are going to France for a short time, then you don’t have to buy a local SIM card, but use a Russian one. The operator should automatically switch to French, but you need to find out in advance the rates for international calls and messages from your specific operator.

Language and communication

The French don't like to speak English. This is a generally accepted fact. And if they do, it is with obvious reluctance. In Paris, I met many Russians among store saleswomen or cafe waiters, because there you can speak Russian. In other cities of France you may not be so lucky, although in one souvenir shop in Reims I accidentally met a Russian saleswoman.

Below are some simple phrases for communication:

  • Bonjour, est-ce que vous pouvez m'aider? - Hello, could you help me?? - Bonjour, esko vu puve made?
  • Ou se trouve la station de metro / l’arret de bus / la station de RER / la gare? - Where is the metro station / bus stop / RER station / train station? - U se trouve la station de metro / la re de bus / la station ereer / la gard?
  • Je voudrais acheter cette chose. - I would like to buy this item. - Zhe vudre ashte set shoz la.
  • Combien coute cette chose-la? - How much does this item cost? - Kombyan kut set shoz la?
  • C'est loin/prés d'ici? - Is it far/near from here? - Se luan/pre disi?
  • Déposez–moi à l’aéroport. - Take me to the airport. - Depoze mua a la eropor.
  • Quelle heure est-il? / Il est quelle heure? - What time is it now?- Kal er ethyl? / Ile kel er?
  • Arretez ici, s’il vous plait. - Stop here, please. - Arete isi, sil wu ple.
  • Conduise-moi à cette adresse, s’il vous plait. - Take me to this address, please. - Conduize mua a set address, sil vu ple.
  • Montrez-moi cela, s’il vous plait. - Show me this please. - Montre mua sela sil vu ple.

Features of mentality

Food and drink

French cuisine is refined and amazing. Let's start with foie gras, ratatouille, quiche Laurent, etc., not to mention the huge variety of wines. For the most part, all these dishes can be found in restaurants. As for the famous frog legs, I have never tried them because I couldn’t find them anywhere. The fact is that with the increase in human rights defenders environment and fauna, frog legs have become a rarity in restaurants.

The same goes for foie gras. After all, to prepare this delicacy you need an enlarged duck liver, and in order for it to grow faster and larger, many farmers and factories feed poor birds with large amounts of chemicals.

Conventionally, French cuisine can be divided into regional and aristocratic (what is usually served in restaurants). Each region of France has different dishes, methods of preparation and wines.

For example, on the Cote d'Azur, Mediterranean cuisine is widespread, which uses fish, seafood, etc. A striking example is the famous bouillabaisse soup.

There are 2 discount seasons in Paris:

  • from January to February,
  • from mid-June to mid-July.

During this time, you can buy various items with up to 70% discount.

Another ideal city for shopping is. Among the large shopping centers here you can visit Cap 3000, Nice Etoile and Galerie Lafaytte. In the first one you can buy clothes, shoes, cosmetics, and souvenirs. By the way, Cap 3000 is located on the embankment, so you can stroll along the seashore after a run to the shops. Nice Etoile and Galeries Lafayette are not far from each other, so it's convenient to kill two birds with one stone.

How not to remember when talking about shopping, Cannes. Walking along La Croisette, you can find many boutiques of the most famous brands: Valentino, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Dior. But be careful, the prices here are steep! For those who want to save money, there is the Forville flea market, it takes place on Mondays, and there you can sometimes find interesting things among all the trash.

IN Bordeaux you can find great wines. Be sure to go to the Museum of Bordeaux Wines and Wine Trade - you will not only plunge into the magical history of Bordeaux wines, but you will definitely taste several varieties of this wonderful drink. There is also a shop at the museum.

In a small but very picturesque town Colmar There is a bakers' street where you can go crazy with all kinds of aromas. Even the most staunch opponents of sweets will not be able to resist the temptation here and try Alsatian cakes and other sweets.

IN Dijon You can buy the best mustard, and there are also excellent food markets.

But from Reims They usually bring excellent champagne. This city is located in the Champagne-Ardenne province. I visited two champagne factories there. One of them is Mercier. Each factory has a shop where you can buy a bottle of champagne (prices vary). In the city itself there are also good shops where you can buy this wonderful sparkling drink.

IN La Rochelle you can buy salt at souvenir shops it is at every step and in every form, as well as salty cookies. The fact is that the city leads the country in salt production.

In Genoa you can go to the Doge's Palace, which combines elements of different styles and eras, and to Piazza Ferrari. In Turin - to the Supergo Monastery and the Egyptian Museum of Turin - the only museum in Europe specializing only in history Ancient Egypt. - a paradise for shopaholics and opera lovers, the famous La Scala theater is located in Milan, but tickets there should be booked many months in advance.

I won’t write about Rome here: that’s something that goes without saying. You must visit at least once in your life The eternal City.

By the way, it is located next to France. Go there during the famous Venice Carnival! The riot of colors and costumes here is something incredible.

Andorra

In Andorra you will find an amazing mixture of Catalan, Pyrenean and Spanish cultures, which is reflected in the country itself. If we start the list of attractions of this small country, it would require a separate article.

I will list only the most unusual: Comic Book Museum, Russian Matryoshka Museum, Tobacco Museum, Electricity Museum. There is also a very beautiful reserve “La Cortinada”, where you can see stunning mountain landscapes.

Spain

Hotels- don’t forget to check prices from booking sites! Don't overpay. This !

Rent a Car- also an aggregation of prices from all rental companies, all in one place, let's go!

Anything to add?

I had been dreaming about France for a long time, and now I found myself in Paris with its slender and geometrically correct streets and boulevards, the same well-groomed rounded facades of houses decorated with bas-reliefs on the sides of the windows.

Literally before my eyes, history came to life and pictures from French textbooks became reality.

They drink constantly (on average they drink about a bottle of wine a day). The French drink wine with every meal. Along many houses you can see tables belonging to numerous cafes. The streets are narrow, so chairs are placed close to the wall. Many cheap business negotiations are held in such cafes.

Production in France

France is an industrially developed country. However, the first source of income is still occupied by agricultural products. 30% of the population is employed in production. The automotive industry is famous for the production of the Renault car.

In the city of Toulouse there are large production plants Airbus aircraft(pronounced "Erbus" in English, "Erbus" in French). This is one of the largest aircraft manufacturing companies in the world. Toulouse also produces Ariane space rockets (from the French Ariane, in honor of the mythological creature Ariadne).

It is famous for the production of high-speed trains that can reach speeds of up to 500 km/h - TGV - or “train à grande vitesse” (lit. high-speed train). The Eurotunnel (dug underground under the English Channel separating France from the UK) operates Eurostar trains capable of reaching speeds of up to 360 km/h.

So, for example, a trip from Calais (a city in France) to Dover (a port city in the UK) takes only 20 minutes. The length of the Channel Tunnel is 100 kilometers. The train itself is very long - about 700 meters. Even trucks and buses are transported on such trains.

The Grand Theater of Paris is one of the busiest places in the city...

As for the French themselves, I was struck by the diversity of the population. During the two days that we stayed in Paris, I happened to see people of all colors on the streets. There are many black emigrants in Paris.

I was also unpleasantly struck by the sight of bags of garbage, which every now and then came across in heaps in the most tourist places in the city center - close to the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre. My personal opinion is tourist town, which is worth visiting, but I wouldn’t want to live there.

The pace and rhythm of the city is too high, there is a lot of noise, traffic and people scurrying in all directions. However, it’s still worth going here and seeing everything with your own eyes!

A message about France for grades 3 and 4 will tell you about the amazing homeland of Napoleon, the Little Prince and the Three Musketeers.

Brief message about France

The report about France should begin with the fact that it is located in western Europe. It also includes the island of Corsica, located in the Mediterranean Sea. France is often called the Hexagon due to its hexagonal shape.

France borders Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg in the northeast, Italy and Monaco in the southeast, and Andorra and Spain in the southwest. The country is washed by the Mediterranean and North Seas, Bay of Biscay and the English Channel and Pas de Calais.

France Square- 551 thousand km 2.

Largest rivers France- Seine, Loire, Rhone, Garonne and Rhine.

Capital of France— Paris

Big cities in France— Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Nice

Population of France— 66.7 million people (2016)

Form of government- presidential-parliamentary republic

The territory of France is mainly hilly, with extensive hills, lowlands and mid-altitude mountains. The exceptions are two high mountain ranges in the southeast in the form of the Alps and in the southwest in the form of the Pyrenees. Highest point country - Mont Blanc, its height is 4807 m.

The climate is completely dependent on the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. In the north climatic conditions milder, wetter and maritime, while in the south the climate is warm and Mediterranean. The climate in the mountains is characterized by low temperatures. There is more rainfall here. Snow cover remains at high altitudes.

All over the world they know that French wines are the best in the world. France has also become famous for its fashionable clothing, perfumes and cosmetics. France is rightfully considered the fashion capital of the world.

Today, in all countries, people use planes, carriages and cars (Citroen, Peugeot and Renault) made in France.

Religion of France

Approximately 4/5 of the country's population professes Catholicism. About 12% of the population consider themselves atheists. 3% of the population profess Islam, 2% Protestantism, 1% Judaism.

Sights of France

In France, more than 5 thousand castles have been preserved from ancient times.

Notre Dame, Disneyland, the forest of Fontainebleau, the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, the flea market in Paris Saint-Ouen, the Rouen naval armada, the Eiffel Tower, Versailles Palace, the Louvre, the Pompidou Center, Notre Dame Cathedral are all tourists want to visit.

Famous Frenchmen glorified their country throughout the world - Honore de Balzac, Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Jules Verne, Emile Zola, Albert Camus, Stendhal, Jacques Cousteau, Pablo Picasso and others.

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