Culture and Heritage
Tourisme
The Host Cities for the Rugby World Cup
The Host Cities for the Rugby World Cup"
For the Love of Art...
History has bestowed splendours upon the cities of France. Over time, the cities have adorned themselves with monuments that are impressive, picturesque and often stunning.
Cathedrals, medieval bridges and chateaux stand beside today’s modern structures, sometimes they even intertwine. City art is a superb exhibition that is lasting and timeless!
...and Flavours
France is a bouquet of flavours… In the cities of France, professionals are passionate about sharing an abundant and distinct. In Brittany and Normandy, cream blends with fish and seafood. In the north, find yourself in the friendly surroundings of a roadside café. On the shores of the Mediterranean, every meal is an homage to the sea and the sun. The wines, the colours of our regions… The deep red of the Bordeaux, the fruity aromas of the Beaujolais, the big names of Bourgogne, the sparkle of the champagnes… Don’t miss stopping at a famous vineyard or at a small winemaker’s… The cities of France offer exceptional gastronomy: traditional or innovative, the dining table in France remains a lively and heart warming pleasure.
1001 Ways to Get Out and About...
Throughout the year, the cities of France live by the rhythm of street shows, concerts, theatre festivals… Get carried away by the music at the International Opera Festival in Aix-en-Provence or by magic at the Foire aux Santons (Christmas Figurine Fair) in Marseille in December, move to the beat at the public dances, experience the folly of the carnivals or the cheer of the folk festivals.
...or Do Some Shopping
Roam through the narrow streets, daydream in front of the windows at the luxury shops and relax on a café terrace. Since France is the fashion capital, every city hosts the most prestigious national and international designer brands as well as ultra-trendy young designers. A day of shopping in a French city is above all a day of pleasure. Cities are havens of little shops where you can find crafts and local specialities to give as gifts or immortalise your visit.
Paris – Traditional Paris, Odd Paris
The capital is in its heyday. Reopening inaugurations abound: the nave of the Grand Palais, Quai Branly, new megastores on the Champs-Élysées… Innovation is boiling over and the city is getting a new look. Paris is also the capital where people live well. There are so many places to stay and eat and things to do: wander around on a bicycle or inline skates, recharge your batteries in one of the parks or gardens, unwind on Paris Beach, follow the night owls on their thousand and one outings. Set yourself free in Paris…
Main Attractions : The Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe, the Paris National Opera House, the Louvre, the Musée Orsay, the Pompidou Centre, the streets of Montmartre and Opéra, the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine, the Immigration Museum, the reopening of the Museum of Decorative Arts, the new Musée des Arts Premiers at Quai Branly.
Lyon – Global Heritage
A large 2000-year-old city located where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet, Lyon is nestled against the Fourvière and Croix-Rousse hills. It offers an unprecedented journey through time and cultures, with its centre listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the turns of its narrow streets, its traboule passageways, along its lively riverbanks, on the grand squares of the peninsula…and over 200 sites lit up at night.
Main Attractions: The Roman theatres and the old Renaissance Lyon, the Basilica of Fourvière and Croix-Rousse with its Canut weaving looms, the culture: biennials, national opera, dance, theatres, national orchestra, the museums: of Fine Arts, Cinéma-Lumière, Textiles, Gallo-Roman Civilisation… The Lighting Plan: over 200 sites lighted every night, the shopping: designers, fashion, antique dealers, markets, squares, gardens, the gastronomy of Lyon: its bouchons (traditional bistros of Lyon), huge tables, Lyon along the Rhône and the Saône: cruises, riverbanks, embankments and bridges… the vineyards: Beaujolais, Côte-Rôtie, Côtes du Rhône.
Saint-Étienne – City of Design and History
Saint-Étienne, the city of design and history, shines with its taste for enterprise, passion for nature, love for art that makes it an intriguing metropolis. Parks galore, a myriad of gardens and squares, Saint-Étienne breathes. City in the country, it hosts artistic creativity, rare museums and treasures of heritage
Main Attractions : The Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Art and Industry: weapons, ribbon weaving, cycles; the Saint-Jacques district with its pedestrian streets and its restored collection from the 17th and 18th centuries; the Mining Museum; the planetarium and the Fauriel site: the former factory turned into a business and convention centre; the Pilat Regional Natural Park; the armoury districts and braid-makers on the hills; the century-old tramway; the chocolate (a tradition since the end of the 18th century); the medieval town of Saint-Victor and the Loire River gorges.
Marseille – Gateway to Provence
Marseille, capital of the Mediterranean, offers its visitors the authenticity of 26 centuries of history, friendly inhabitants, rich heritage, 111 neighbourhoods to explore, museums to discover and exceptionally beautiful coves to go through. Marseille has a city charm that is unforgettable.
Main Attractions : Admire the panoramic view from Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde; discover the little fishing docks, coves, If Castle and the Frioul archipelago; roam the Marseille markets; sip a pastis under the setting sun on the Vieux-Port; see an exhibit at the Vieille Charité and walk through the Panier quarter. See a live match at the Stade-Vélodrome; jog along the ledges; sample gourmet specialties: bouillabaisse, pieds et paquets (stuffed mutton tripe), navettes (pastries)…
Montpellier – The City Where the Sun Never Sets!
Halfway between Spain and Italy, barely seven kilometres from the Mediterranean, Montpellier is a regular favourite of the French. From narrow streets and sunny little plazas, international festivals and student celebrations, Montpellier offers a unique quality of life that is the envy of all.
Main Attractions : The Fabre Museum; the historic town centre, its narrow medieval streets and manors; the Place de la Comédie; the medical school (the oldest one still in operation in the western hemisphere) and the botanical garden; the private manors in the heart of the city and the 18th century folly chateaux in the outskirts; the Mikvé (Jewish ritual baths); the Arc de Triomphe; Saint-Pierre Cathedral; Ricardo Bofill’s Antigone district and the banks of the Lez River; the zoo and the new Amazon greenhouse; the Odysseum, the Galileo planetarium and the new Mare Nostrum aquarium.
Toulouse – With Pleasure!
Ninety minutes from the Mediterranean or the Pyrenees, Toulouse is a unique southern city, with Spanish accents and Italian facades. Roam through the medieval street or the banks of the Midi Canal, visit heritage that has been extensively restored. It’s also the home of the Cité de l'Espace (Space Museum) and the Airbus A380!
Main Attractions : Capitole square and city hall; the Basilica of Saint-Sernin; old Toulouse, the private manors of Assézat (Bemberg Foundation) and Bernuy; the Midi Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the banks of the Garonne: Henri-Martin promenade, the Filtres prairie, Raymond-VI garden; museums: the Augustins, Saint-Raymond, the Jacobin conventual collection; the Modern and Contemporary Art Centre; The Abattoirs; the Cité de l'Espace and the Airbus assembly lines; culinary specialties: cassoulet, foie gras, armagnac.
Bordeaux – Look No Further
Bordeaux, wine capital of the world, boasts one of the most complete collections of 18th century architecture in Europe. It retains prestigious monuments, several of which are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A flair for celebrations, quality of life, good wine and food, culture and shopping define its character!
Main Attractions : The Quinconces Esplanade, Europe’s largest town centre square; the facades on the riverbanks, its promenade, river cruises and open-air cafés and dance halls; the Grand Théâtre, the Rohan Palace and the stock market building (Palais de la Bourse), 18th century masterpieces; the cathedral and the two basilicas designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites; the squares of old Bordeaux, its crafts boutiques and café terraces; the Bordeaux Triangle with its 4-season market and luxury shops; the Rue Sainte Catherine and its brand name boutiques; antique dealers in the Chartrons district; the flea market in the Saint Michel district; numerous museums.
Nantes – A Breath of Atlantic Air
Gateway to the Loire Valley and Brittany, Nantes is known as the European capital of the good life. Westerly winds, whiffs of iodine and salt, the lights of Loire, the café culture, 18th century seafaring adventures dating from the era of three-masted vessels and modern culture... Not to mention the Muscadet, Nantes’ most famous wine: the endless array of emotions the Nantes inhabitants have for the Dukes of Brittany city.
Main Attractions : the Ducs de Bretagne castle; the island machines (opening July 2007); the Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul cathedrals; the Musée des Beaux Arts (Fine Arts Museum); the Jardin des Plantes and its exotic greenhouses; the port, Feydeau Island, its wrought iron and decorative grotesque masks; the Pommeraye passageway; the Butte Sainte-Anne and its magnificent panoramic view of the Loire; cruises on the Erdre and its chateaux; the Muscadet vineyards; the most beautiful beach in Europe, La Baule, and the Guérande peninsula; culinary specialities: fish and seafood; new: the Nantes Museum of History.
Take a look around! All the information you need can be found at franceguide.com