France Attractions

Paris: Trips Outside of Paris

2012-04-06T06:53:00.000-07:00

Paris

During longer stays in France (7 days or more), it's a good idea to arrive in Paris, stay for 2 or 3 days, take a day trip or a 3-4 day road trip, and end up departing from Paris. Generally, hotels and B&B’s outside of Paris are inexpensive. A resource for places to stay is Relais & Chateaux guide (website).

Loire Valley – the châteaux here are nothing short of fabulous. Take the TGV (high speed train) to Tours, rent a car and spend a few days visiting the wonderful châteaux and sampling the wines.

Normandy - Drive from Paris to Chartres, Rouen, Mont St. Michel, Dinan, Honfleur and other sites in Normandy. Visit the Normandy Beaches and the American, British and German War Cemeteries. If in Bayeux, visit the cathedral and the famous Tapestry (housed close by the cathedral) which tells the story of the invasion of Britain by William the Conqueror in 1066. Visit Chateau de Sassy and Chateau de Carrouges just north of Alençon in Southern Normandy, close to the border with the Sarthe and the Pays de la Loire.

Le Mans - Home of the famous 24Hr motor race (usually the second weekend of June). Get there by rail (TGV 1hr) or autoroute (2hrs).

Sancerre/Orleans (Loire Valley) – 1 ½ hour drive out of Paris to visit Orleans, home of Joan of Arc, and the Sancerre Vineyards. A very nice 2 day trip.

Champagne Region – a day trip to Reims where you can visit the “caves” of famous champagne makers like Mumm, Piper-Heidseck, Taittinger, etc. Usually open March-Sept.

Picardy – This region is north of Paris and not widely visited. However, it is beautiful country. Beauvais and the city of Amiens which was frequented by Jules Verne has a very impressive cathedral. Quiet and sleepy.

Giverney – The gardens and home of Monet. It can be visited in a day. Advice – get there early before the tourist buses. If you take the train, it arrives in Vernon, then take the short cab ride to Giverney. It's like being in a Monet painting as opposed to looking at one. Bring your camera to take photos of the gardens. Photography not permitted in the house. Closed Monday. Web site: http://giverny.org/gardens/

The Cathedral at Chartres – this is a day trip or can be visited on your way to Normandy or as a day trip via train. A beautiful cathedral. If you go, make sure you take the tour (in English) given by Malcolm Miller.

Ile-de-France: Museums & Attractions

2012-04-04T06:49:00.000-07:00

Ile-de-France is rife with places to visit. You could spend your entire vacation in Paris, for goodness sake, and still not see everything that only that city has to offer. But Ile-de-France is much more than just the City of Lights. As home to many of France's kings and queens, the region is rich with historical sights that you may have read and daydreamed about in history class. A few of the highlights of the Ile-de-France region include:

Paris -- this is a no-brainer, and pages and pages could be written here about what to see and what to do. Whilst the Louvre may be its most famous museum, Paris is also home to a variety of other art museums, with houses of art dedicated to Monet, Rodin, and just about any other French artist you can think of. Other 'of-course!' places to see and things to do include the Tour Eiffel, Arc de Triomphe, Hotel des Invalides, a stroll down the Champs-Elysee, a walking tour of the roof of Notre Dame ... the list goes on and on. For a comprehensive listing of all-things Paris, check out the Inside Paris pages.

Versailles -- located 16 km (10 miles) west of Paris, the sights of Versailles are breathtaking -- both inside and out. Chateau Versailles, home of Louis XIV and Marie-Antoinette, is both ostentatious and awe-inspiring at the same time. Admission to Versailles is dependent on which part of the grounds you wish to visit and the time of year. (Not surprisingly, admission is more expensive during the summer high season). If you've gone into bling overload whilst inside the palace, be sure to spend some time wandering the 250-acre grounds of the Parc de Versailles, which surrounds the palace.

Chartres -- located 19 km (12 miles) west of Maintenou, Chartres is home to Chartres Cathedral. The current cathedral, built during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, is a stunning example of Gothic architecture. The cathedral is open to visitors from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily. Tours of the crypt occur daily during the summer. Check for times at the Cathedral. The price for a crypt tour is 2.30 Euro.

Giverny -- you've seen Monet's paintings, now see where he was inspired, as Giverney is home to le Maison et Jardin Claude-Monet. The best time to visit Giverney is May or June, when the garden blooms are at their peak. Monet's house and gardens are open to the public April through October, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.Admission to the gardens and home is 5.50 Euro, to the gardens only is 4 Euro.

Fontainbleau -- located 61 km (38 miles) southeast of Paris, the Chateau de Fontainbleau was the home to a long line of royalty, beginning with Francois I in the sixteenth century. Over the years each proceeding member of the royalty added his or her own touches to the sprawling palace. Fontainbleau is open daily (except Tuesday) year-round, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. October through May and 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. June through September. Cost of admission is 6.50 Euro for adults and free for those 18 and under. There is an additional 3 Euro fee to visit Napoleon's apartments.

Newt Gingrich

2012-03-31T06:35:00.000-07:00

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich ( /ˈnjuːt ˈɡɪŋɡrɪtʃ/; born Newton Leroy McPherson; June 17, 1943) is an American politician, author, and political consultant. He represented Georgia's 6th congressional district as a Republican from 1979 until his resignation in 1999, and served as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999. Gingrich is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.

In the 1970s, Gingrich taught history and geography at the University of West Georgia. During this period he ran twice (1974 and 1976)^[3] for the United States House of Representatives before winning in November 1978. He served as House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995.

A co-author and architect of the "Contract with America", Gingrich was a major leader in the Republican victory in the 1994 congressional election. In 1995, Time named him "Man of the Year" for "his role in ending the four-decades-long Democratic majority in the House".^[4] While he was House speaker, the House enacted welfare reform, passed a capital gains tax cut in 1997, and in 1998 passed the first balanced budget since 1969. The poor showing by Republicans in the 1998 Congressional election and pressure from Republican colleagues caused Gingrich's resignation from the speakership on November 5, 1998, and then the House on January 3, 1999.

Since leaving the House, Gingrich has remained active in public policy debates and worked as a political consultant. He founded and chaired several policy think tanks, including American Solutions for Winning the Future and the Center for Health Transformation. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.^[5] He has written or co-authored 27 books. In May 2011, he announced his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

Gingrich converted to Roman Catholicism in 2009 with the help of Father C. John McCloskey^[6], after being raised Lutheran and spending most of his adult life as a Southern Baptist. He has been married three times, with the first two marriages ending in divorce. He has two children from his first marriage and has been married to Callista (Bisek) Gingrich since 2000.

Doisneau's Les Halles: The Ever-Transforming Heart of Paris

2012-03-20T09:40:00.002-07:00

by Nicole Smith, About.com Paris Travel Contributor

Flatten, build, deconstruct, bulldoze, build again and expand: there is, perhaps, no other place in Paris that has seen more sudden and drastic renovation than the former market area known as Les Halles. Napoleon III's desire to showcase Paris as the world's most beautiful city led to architect Victor Baltard's constructon of twelve cast iron market pavilions in 1870. In 1933, a 21 year-old French photographer named Robert Doisneau began using his Leica camera to capture the bustling central marketplace for the next 40 years. His 200 black and white photographs of the area are featured in the free exhibition "Doisneau: Paris Les Halles" currently running at the city hall (Hotel de Ville).

The exhibit is located in the hospitality room, a space which provides the intimacy that was felt during the 1950s and 1960s at Les Halles. Doisneau's genuine street scenes capture various guises of the famed marketplace which nearly never slept. At night, activity at Les Halles was at its peak, with merchandise arriving from all regions of France for traders to begin selling when the market bell rang at 1 a.m. Cafes and restaurants were open 24 hours a day, which not only offered a place for social gatherings, but also served as a venue for conducting transactions and lending a short repose for workers. More than 5,000 people worked at Les Halles: butchers, fishmongers, cheese makers, florists, etc. Every square meter of the quarter was used, thus making Les Halles a truly communal setting.

From smiling laborers at their posts on the street to butchers proudly displaying their meat underground, Doisneau excelled in taking portraits of the everyday life and festivities of the marketplace. He was also able to capture the mass numbers of people and products that cluttered the site through expansive field shots. Perhaps the most amusing sequence shows people from all walks of life who frequented the quarter, each hopping over the same garbage-ridden puddle.

The tone of the exhibit quickly changes, however, after 1969, when the government decided to move Les Halles outside of Paris to Rungis due to poor sanitary conditions. From there, the exhibit explores the rapid change of Les Halles from a busy marketplace to a bulldozed construction site. All of the Baltard pavilions were destroyed or moved in order to make way for an RER commuter train station and The Forum des Halles, a massive shopping center which is currently undergoing yet another massive and costly renovation.

Doisneau's pictures from the 1970's depict anxious spectators overlooking the construction until the opening of the Forum in 1979. The exhibit truly reflects just how quickly Les Halles has modernized and remodernized itself, from a marketplace to a mega-mall. Asked why he chose the middle of the 20th century to concentrate his lens on Les Halles, Doisneau replied, "I knew it was going to disappear. I absolutely wanted to keep [a] memory of it."

Exhibition: Doisneau: Paris Les Halles
When: February 8th through April 28th, 2012
Location: Hotel de Ville (Metro Hotel de Ville)

Related: March Events in Paris

Official: G-Power BMW M5 F10M

2012-03-12T01:44:00.000-07:00

G-Power just released their package for the BMW M5 F10M, this G-Power BMW M5 F10M takes the luxury German saloon to the next level.

With an output of 640hp, 80hp more than the stock M5 F10, and 777Nm of Torque at 1,500rpm the G-Power M5 sprints from 0-100km/h in just 3.9 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 315km/h. Sadly G-Power is not present at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, but we will keep you informed about the first opportunity customers and fans can see the new G-Power in real life.

G-Power not only played with the M5′s ECU but also added a stainless steel rear muffler, coil-over suspension type GM5-RS and a ceramic braking system. The new black G-Power M5 sits on 21 inch forged G-Power Silverstone RS wheels. The white version in the photo gallery below comes with the 21 inch G-Power Silverstone Clubsport wheels.from http://www.gtspirit.com

Megaupload Founder Kim Schmitz Car Collection in Antibes

2012-03-08T01:32:00.000-08:00

You can’t fail to have heard of Kim Schmitz over the past week. Whether you know of him by the name Kim Dotcom or by the name Kim Tim Jim Vestor, his internet company, Megaupload has been frontpage news following his arrest last Thursday. One thing that immediately struck us was his vast car collection. We knew the former Gumball 3000 participant loved his Mercedes-Benz and he didn’t disappoint when the police finally released a list of the cars Kim had collected at his New Zealand mansion.

Autoblog.nl recently got hold of a picture gallery of the cars during a trip to Europe last year. The photos were taken in the French port of Antibes, between Cannes and Nice.The pictures show his Mercedes CL65 AMG (KIM.COM), Mercedes CL63 AMG (HACKER), Mercedes S65 AMG (CEO), Mercedes CLK DTM AMG (EVIL) and Rolls-Royce Phantom (GOD). The pictures reveal that the Mercedes CLK-DTM had been fitted with a NOS modification. During this trip Kim rented the whole of the Nurburgring for a day to test these cars to the limit!

As for Kim’s case, he was recently denied bail after the court found him to be a flight risk. The judge did think he had an arguable defense to the copyright claims and admitted that he could not access whether the United States had an arguable case or not. The circumstances of his arrest were made public too. The police flooded his house with 70 New Zealand police officers at the request of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. They had to cut Kim out of his safe room where they found him in a corner with a number of unlicensed firearms.

from http://www.gtspirit.com

Volkswagen Unveils EA288 Diesel Engine Family

2012-03-05T01:28:00.001-08:00

Volkswagen is introducing two highly innovative engine ranges this year, both of them comprised of four-cylinder units and some of which are potentially headed to the U.S.

One of these is a gasoline-powered four-cylinder engine family dubbed the EA211, which we previously reported would be the first four-cylinder engine on the market with cylinder deactivation technology.

The first EA211 engine will debut in the Volkswagen Polo range in Europe this summer before filtering across to other markets.

The other engine family Volkswagen is introducing is the new EA288 diesel range, which has already been previewed in concept form in the Cross Coupe TDI plug-in hybrid on show this week at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Making up the EA288 family is a series of TDI turbodiesel engines ranging from 1.6 to 2.0 liters in displacement.

The latter is the unit that is most likely destined for U.S. sale, where it will appear in vehicles such as the Volkswagen Jetta TDI. It will develop upwards of 190 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, a considerable rise over Volkswagen’s current 2.0-liter TDI mill, which delivers 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. However, it is also expected to be more fuel efficient.

Standout features shared by both the EA211 and EA288 engines includes a non-replacement timing belt, faster heating systems for cold-weather conditions, and a pair of counter-rotating balance shafts to improve refinement.from http://www.motorauthority.com

French car sales plummet 20%

2012-03-04T05:09:00.001-08:00

New car sales in France plunged by an annualised 20.2 per cent in February, industry data showed this week, with the worst falls recorded by PSA Peugeot Citroen whose announced tie up with General Motors pushed PSA shares down.

Ratings agency Moody's downgraded the PSA group one notch to non-investment status, warning that similar alliances in the auto sector often failed to match expectations.

Moody's slapped Peugeot with a Ba3 rating and a negative outlook based on poor earnings while adding that previous mergers and alliances "have often not resulted in the anticipated competitive advantage and improved performance".

Sales in February by Peugeot plummeted by 29.2 percent while fellow French carmaker Renault saw its sale drop 28.5 percent.

The sharp drop is in large part explained by strong sales a year earlier fuelled by a French "cash-for-clunkers" scheme that subsidised new car purchases to boost the auto sector.

Sales in February by foreign automakers were stronger, falling only 7.3 percent overall with some companies, such as Japan's Nissan, German BMW of Germany and South Korea's Hyundai, showing growth.

But sales from General Motors fell by 25.7 percent to 7,819 cars. The drop in new car registrations should continue in March, CCFA warned and the committee has forecast a total market contraction of between 7 and 10 percent for this year.

On Wednesday GM and Peugeot - Europe's number two automaker - said they would form a global partnership with GM taking a seven-percent stake in the French firm through a reported one-billion-euro capital increase.

The two companies agreed to share vehicle platforms and create a joint venture to purchase commodities and other goods and services. They targeted $2 billion (1.5 billion euros) in annual savings within five years from the alliance.

Peugeot's share price sank by more than 5.0 percent on Thursday in a largely flat Paris market with traders focused on the capital increase caused by the venture instead of any potential synergies.

"The share price is suffering because of the capital increase that will dilute the shares and (traders) are ignoring the good news for the moment," Deutsche Bank analyst Gaeten Toulemonde said.

The automakers have struggled with flagging sales in Europe, where the eurozone debt crisis has brought on recession and a the sharp slowdown in demand for autos.

Thousands of workers at a Peugeot factory north of Paris were temporarily laid off this week as the company looks to avoid stockpiling as demand dwindles.

Hundreds of workers at a Renault factory west of Paris meanwhile marched and blocked traffic on Wednesday demanding salary increases, but Renault said its hands were tied by the deteriorating auto market.

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US reporter's body to go home 'as soon as possible: embassy

2012-03-03T01:20:00.000-08:00

The body of US journalist Marie Colvin, killed in Syria along with French photographer Remi Ochlik, is to be repatriated "as soon as possible" after arriving in Paris on Sunday, the US embassy said.

"I can confirm that her remains are here and will be repatriated to the US as soon as possible," US embassy spokeswoman Sophie Roy-Sultan told AFP.

The bodies of Colvin, 56, and Ochlik, 28, arrived in Paris from Damascus early on Sunday after they were killed in a rocket attack in the rebel Baba Amr neighbourhood of the besieged Syrian city Homs on February 22.

The bodies had been formally identified in Damascus on Friday by French and Polish diplomats. Colvin's employer, Britain's Sunday Times, said earlier that her body was expected to be flown to the United States on Monday or Tuesday.

French reporter Edith Bouvier of Le Figaro newspaper and British photographer Paul Conroy were wounded in the same attack that killed their colleagues.

The Syrian regime is facing international condemnation as it continues to block the Red Cross from delivering desperately needed aid to Baba Amr. from http://www.expatica.com

St. Patrick's Day in Paris

2012-03-01T04:53:00.000-08:00

By Aedín Mac Devitt
Paris might lag behind Dublin or New York when it comes to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, but March 17th is still an important date on the Parisian calendar. Expats and locals alike flock to the city's numerous Irish pubs to raise a toast to the man responsible for green Guinness and some of the world's liveliest street parades. Thanks to the city’s ever-increasing Irish community, St. Patrick’s Day in Paris is a fun event, free of the cliches and paddywhackery that characterized it in the past.

Whatever your taste, March 17th should not pass you by without some form of celebration, and Paris has plenty on offer to ensure you have a Lá Fhéile Phádraig (Happy St. Patrick's Day).

Irish Pubs in Paris

For many, March 17th is synonymous with Irish pub culture-- so it's not surprising that most of the St. Patrick's Day action is scheduled in Paris' impressive supply of Irish pubs, frequented by expats and those attracted by the laid-back, homey atmosphere often lacking in chic Parisian counterparts. Regular bars will also be jumping on the Paddy’s Day bandwagon, offering specials to pull the crowds, but are best avoided in favor of an Irish equivalent, where you will be guaranteed craic, sport agus spraoi (fun and games).

Fashion is for fun at Kenzo in Paris

2012-03-01T01:17:00.000-08:00

Hands on hips, the US model Karlie Kloss glided down an elevator, shaking her mini-skirt to a punchy soundtrack, at the start of Kenzo's autumn-winter runway show on Sunday, day five of Paris Fashion Week.

Showcased inside a 1960s Paris university, its walls coloured orange, pink and yellow, the latest look by Kenzo's design duo, the New Yorkers Carol Lim and Humberto Leon brightened up a wet, blustery day in the French capital.

Models slid down the elevators criss-crossing the interior courtyard, four-storeys high, walking round its corridors in patterned trenches, neon stiletto heels, animal-print sweaters or wool coats with colourful knit sleeves.

The design duo explained they used home decoration as the starting point for prints on raincoats and jackets, suggestive of a country interior like a grapevine motif set against black or white.

"We wanted this girl to know who she was," Lim told reporters of the bold palette of blues, reds, bright greens or magenta, after greeting a long line of well-wishers including the hip-hop icon Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs. from http://www.expatica.com

Free Things to Do in Paris

2012-02-24T05:19:00.000-08:00

There’s no denying that a visit to Paris is often going to be an expensive affair – especially when the euro remains such a strong currency. But do you think that keeps budget travelers away from this famously costly city?

Au contraire.

Budget-conscious travelers know that just about any place can be budget-friendly if you’re being clever, and that includes Paris. In addition to saving money by staying in hostels in Paris and eating on the cheap in Paris, there are also ways to save money on many of the city’s attractions. Yes, some of the “must-do” things in Paris will cost you money, but if you play your cards right by taking advantage of the many free attractions in Paris for most of your trip, then fitting a few higher-priced tickets into your itinerary won’t feel like such an economic burden.

In this article, you’ll find information on the Paris sights that are always free, some that are free at certain times or days of the week, and some that we think are pretty darn cheap all the time (and so might fit into even the tightest travel budget).

>> And for a more in-depth look at attractions in Paris, check out this article on things to do in Paris.

Always-Free Paris

These activities are always considered “free things to do in Paris” – there’s never an admission fee, no matter what time of day or day or the year.

Notre Dame Cathedral – That’s right, the famous cathedral (one of Paris’ top sights) is always free to enter. You’ll pay a fee to climb the tower (usually) or visit the treasury, but not to enter the church itself.
Eiffel Tower Views – Sure, taking the elevator (or climbing the stairs) to the top costs a pretty penny, but there’s no charge for enjoying a view of one of the world’s most iconic structures. Bonus points if you’re picnicking in the public green spaces around the tower – cheap eats and a great view? Priceless.
Paris Greeters Tours – The Paris Greeters are residents who you can contact (via the website) for short tours of certain parts of the city, and it’s entirely free.
Seine River – There’s no charge for a stroll along Paris’ famous river, or for perusing the legendary bookseller carts that line up along the riverside on the Left Bank.
Steps of Sacre Coeur – Many would argue that the steps in front of the Sacre Coeur church atop Montmartre offer some of the best views in the city, and it’s a view you’ll enjoy for free.
Paris Flea Markets – Sure, doing any shopping will set you back a few euro, but walking through Paris’ many outdoor markets and enjoying the people-watching they offer won’t cost a thing.
Fragonard Perfume Museum – Not only is this great perfume museum free to visit, the guided tour is free, too.
Versailles Gardens – A visit to the Versailles palace will cost you, but the fabulous and extensive gardens are free of charge (except on Sundays, when the musical fountains are going).
Galeries Lafayette Fashion Shows – Each Friday from March-December the popular Paris department store has a free fashion show on the 7th floor.
Hôtel de Ville – Despite the name, you can’t book a room at the Hôtel de Ville – it’s Paris’ City Hall. It’s beautiful to look at from the outside, and there are public areas inside with art exhibits that change regularly and that you can visit for free.
Maison de Victor Hugo – Fans of the author will enjoy a visit to his apartment, which includes exhibits of first editions.
Musée Curie – This museum is housed in the one-time lab of Marie Curie, and displays include the Nobel prizes she won.
Maison de Balzac – Even if you’ve never read a single thing Balzac wrote, a visit to his former apartment is worth it for the view of the Eiffel Tower from the attached garden.
Musée Carnavalet – This excellent Paris history museum is always free, and a bonus is that it’s housed in old Parisian mansions.
Parks and Gardens in Paris – There are too many to list here, but Paris is full of parks, gardens, squares, and public green spaces that are free to enjoy. Some of them have extras depending on the season, too, including free summer movies at the Parc de la Villette and free puppet shows at the Jardin du Luxembourg.
Cemeteries in Paris – Not only do the old Paris cemeteries like Pere Lachaise and the Montparnasse Cemetery let you get some quasi-celebrity sightings with all the famous people buried in them, they’re just creepy-cool places to wander.
Paris Plage – When the city turns the banks of the Seine into a beach every summer, it’s available to the public free of charge.
Ice Skating Rinks – And when, in the winter, temporary ice skating rinks pop up in a few places around the city, they’re free, too. (Renting the skates will cost a nominal fee.)
Free Concerts in Paris – Many of the churches in Paris regularly host free concerts, whether it’s an organ recital at Notre Dame or Saint-Eustache, classical or blues concerts at the American Church in Paris, or choir rehearsal at Sacre-Coeur. The days of the week vary, but if you’re interested ask at the tourist information office to see what’s going on while you’re in town.
Musee de Prefecture de Police – Yes, it’s a bit out of the ordinary for a trip to Paris, but if you’ve got antsy kids who might want to see something a little different or you just really like police history, then Paris’ police museum might be ideal.
Observation Deck at La Samaritaine – Before this one-time department store closed for renovations in 2005, the grand view from the top-floor observation deck was free. We’ll see if they keep it that way upon re-opening.

( http://www.parislogue.com)

French Riviera - Cote d'Azur: Taxis & Rental Cars

2012-02-21T05:12:00.000-08:00

Taxi Service

Taxis in the French Riviera are abundant and easily accessible; however, because most of the towns are so small there is usually an imposed minimum fee of 8 euros per cab ride. Nice, the biggest city in the riviera, is mostly walkable but if you're trying to get to the Musee Chagall from Old Town or the Promenade des Anglais, a cab is worth it. It is easy to catch cabs on the curb and it might be more convenient and time-saving than taking buses to certain attractions.

At the peak of tourist season (July-August), traffic becomes a problem if you are trying to get from one town to another via taxi during the day but if you miss the last train or bus back to your hotel, keep in mind that most towns on the Riviera aren't very far from each other, especially if your accomodations are in a central location (such as Nice.)

Rental Cars

Renting a car is also an option for exploring the French Riviera and this service is available at airports and large railway stations. Although renting a car can make many areas that are unreacheable by public transportation accessible, it is drastically more expensive than renting a car in the US. Also, mostly all available cars are manual transmission. You have to make advance reservations for automatic cars and these are only available in the large cities. Traffic is a concern in the summer: taking secondary roads or public transportation is a good alternative.

(http://www.tripadvisor.com)

France Awards Legion d'Honneur to The Weinstein Company Co-chairman Harvey Weinstein Weinstein To Receive Country's Oldest And Highest Honor In Ceremony In Paris Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/02/4307256/france-awards-legion-dhonneur.html#storylink=cpy

2012-02-15T05:04:00.000-08:00

By The Weinstein Company

Published: Friday, Mar. 2, 2012 - 4:11 pm

PARIS, March 2, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy has named Harvey Weinstein, Co-Chairman of The Weinstein Company (TWC), a recipient of the 2012 Legion d'Honneur, in recognition of Weinstein's contributions to cinema and his decades of work producing some of the most highly regarded films of our time. Weinstein was nominated personally by President Sarkozy on July 22, 2011 and will receive the award in a ceremony to take place in Paris.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/france-awards-legion-dhonneur-to-the-weinstein-company-co-chairman-harvey-weinstein-141242003.html

President Sarkozy wrote the following upon nominating Weinstein to the Legion d'Honneur: "This prestigious distinction, which I wanted to come from my personal allocation, is a testimony of the admiration of millions of French citizens for the exceptional quality of the films that you have produced. It also expresses our gratitude to someone who has always shown great friendship towards our country and our cinema which you have enabled so many Americans to discover."

Said Weinstein, "I am honored and humbled by this recognition from President Sarkozy and the people of France. All my life, I have loved and been inspired by French cinema. I am still the young boy who walked two miles to The Mayfair movie theater in Flushing, NY to see films by the greats – Lelouch, Godard, Renoir and my personal favorite Francois Truffaut. They inspired me and led me to the place I am in today. I hope to continue my friendship with France and its filmmakers for many years to come."

France's oldest and highest distinction, the Legion d'Honneur was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 and is awarded to outstanding individuals who have contributed to France and to the ideals it upholds. Past recipients include Charlie Chaplin, Marlene Dietrich, Akira Kurosawa, Clint Eastwood, Robert DeNiro, Satyajit Ray, and Steven Spielberg to name just a few. Weinstein requested to keep the honor private until now to avoid any conflict of interest with Academy Award® Best Picture winner THE ARTIST.

Weinstein will enter the Legion d'Honneur with the grade of "Chevalier." Weinstein has been bringing interesting and cutting edge independent films to audiences for three decades, first as founder and Chairman of Miramax from 1979-2005, and subsequently as founder and Co-Chairman of TWC, launched in 2005. In spring 2011, he acquired Michel Hazanavicius's THE ARTIST, a French production that went on to win five 2012 Academy Awards^®, including Best Picture. Over the years, the cultural impact of some of his most well known films – PULP FICTION, GANGS OF NEW YORK, THE AVIATOR, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, THE PIANO, LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, GOOD WILL HUNTING – has been recognized and awarded on many levels.

Weinstein has been responsible for the distribution and promotion of more than 30 French films in the United States, including previously released EDITH AND MARCEL (EDITH ET MARCEL, 1983); DELICATESSEN (1991); THREE COLORS: BLUE (TROIS COULEURS: BLEU, 1993); THREE COLORS: RED (TROIS COULEURS: ROUGE, 1994); THREE COLORS: WHITE (TROIS COULEURS: BIALY, 1994); AMELIE (2001); LE CONCERT (2009); SARAH'S KEY (ELLE S'APPELAIT SARAH, 2010); and upcoming releases including box office sensation THE INTOUCHABLES (UNTOUCHABLES, 2011); A GANG STORY (LES LYONNAIS, 2012); WAR OF THE BUTTONS (LA NOVELLE GUERRE DES BOUTONS, 2012); and PLAYERS (LES INFIDELES, 2012).

LETTER TO HARVEY WEINSTEIN FROM PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/02/4307256/france-awards-legion-dhonneur.html#storylink=cpy

Most exotic Luxury Hotels in Paris

2012-01-28T11:21:00.000-08:00

The capital of France and one of the most romantic, beautiful and historic city of the world, Paris has an extremely special place in the map of the world and in the hearts of the people who have visited the city and hotels de Paris . The historic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Notre Dame are situated in Paris. But more than these historic monuments, the streets and the alleys of Paris provide the real picture of this romantic and enchanting city. If you are planning to Holiday in Paris, you must be aware of the various Paris luxury hotels and Paris packages.

One of the luxury hotels in Paris is the InterContinental. This Paris Luxury hotel has very recently undergone a costly renovation and now has luxurious rooms and suits with lavish interior decoration. The best Paris hotel is just opposite to the Tuileries Gardens. It has two world class restaurants, a bar, a whirlpool, a lobby lounge, a fabulous spa and two Finnish saunas making it one of the best hotel Paris has.

Another best luxury hotel in Paris is the Victoria Palace which is located in the city’s trendy Montparnasse neighborhood. The Paris Luxury hotel provides some very unique facilities like a daily weather report being delivered to your room every night and the provision of slippers and robes in the various rooms. It is one of the best luxury hotels in Paris France with huge luxurious rooms making your stay a royal experience. The bar and the lounge of the hotel are open to everyone till 1:00 a.m. The location of this hotel is not centric but still it’s not far from the city’s attractions like dining places and shopping centers.

If you have to make your holiday in Paris the most memorable one, Ritz is the place for you. Synonymous for luxury and royalty, among the best Paris hotels, Ritz is an ideal place to stay with your family. The special thing about the luxury hotels Paris, France is that it welcomes the children with a gift, usually a cuddly toy and pint sized robes. It has big luxurious rooms, great indoor swimming pool and world class service which make it one of the best Europe luxury hotels. Ritz among Europe luxury hotels also has some exquisite suits like the Elton John, Ernest Hemingway and Coco Chanel.

The Park Hyatt Paris Vendome is one of the best hotels in Paris in the supreme neighborhood and offers Paris hotels deals. The luxury hotels Paris, France has been constructed out of five different buildings; it has a beautiful and luxurious interior, courteous staff and provides delicious food. The best Paris hotel is located right in the heart of the city of lights, Paris. Best hotel in Paris, Park Hyatt has some supreme artwork, interior and décor that are not less than any collections found in the museums. Thus it is one of the supreme luxury hotels in Paris with Paris hotels deals.

Chateau d' Esclimont is the best place if you intend to Holiday in Paris with Paris packages and stay away from the hustle bustle of the city. The hotels de Paris has been made out of an old castle and it gives you nothing more than a royal treatment as if you were a knight staying in your palace.

Pad-a-terre Paris Apartments for Your Paris Vacation

2012-01-23T11:16:00.000-08:00

Once settled into our Paris vacation rentals, prepare to begin your Paris vacation! Everyone in Paris gets picked up in front of Paris vacation apartments, better still request that Paris based 4 Roues Sous 1 Parapluie meet you at the Palais Garnier opera house. They shuttle you round Paris in a chauffeur-driven convertible 2CV. In the event of rain, take metro lines 7 and 9 (near many of our apartments in Paris) to arrive at Mirosmenil for the Musée Jacquemart André.

The museums audio guide tells the story of how Nélie Jacquemart met banker Edouard André when she was painting his portrait. Otherwise refer to our Paris apartments guide for an abridged version. They married not far from a couple of our Paris apartment rentals and travelled the world collecting art, now stored in their very romantic ‘private museum’. After your visit museum, head back to our Paris apartments or treat yourselves to tea and cakes under a Tieopolo ceiling in the café. You could always opt for taking one back to our apartments in Paris.

Time for a drink. Take the bus from St Philippe du Roule station (near our Garnier Paris rentals) to the Arc de Triomphe. In Summer, take the lift to the 7th floor of the Hôtel Raphael to enjoy martinis with a view of the setting. Our Paris vacation apartments are only a short cab ride away. The showstopper is the vertical garden in the inner courtyard overflowing with hundreds of exotic plants and flowers.

Leaving this glamorous worlds behind, direction of your Paris vacation apartments, stroll down to the river and jump on a Bateau Bus (river boat) at Pont d’Alma. The boats run every half an hour – the ride is magnificent, taking in some of Paris major sights – the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay to name just a few. You will also sail past a number of our Paris apartment rentals. Jump off at Hôtel de Ville and stroll into the Marais for dinner. The 'Marais' is today amongst Paris' most characteristic neighbourhoods. Chances are you’re staying here in one of our Paris vacation rentals. It is thriving, trendy and a delight to explore and on the door stop of our favourite Paris apartment rentals. It's medieval lanes are home to impressive mansions, museums, up-and-coming artists' galleries, Paris apartments and designers' showrooms. That said, the area is artistic rather than touristy and has been christened the latest refuge for the Paris artisan fleeing the tourist-trampled St-Germain-des-Pres, location of some of our other apartments in Paris. No surprises then that some of the city’s most authentic bistrots, brasseries, cafés and street markets are to be found here. There are so many restaurants to recommend in the area. These are detailed in your Paris apartment rentals guide. One of our favorites is Georget, adjacent to our Marais Paris vacation rentals. The family is called Georget but the restaurant is also known as Robert et Louise, the anachronism giving you some clue for the charm that awaits. This comes highly recommended during your vacation in Paris. All of our Paris vacation rentals are in or near the Marais, so from here it’s a gentle stroll home.

We look forward to welcoming you on your Paris vacation to one of our Paris vacation apartments.

A Lifetime in Paris-Paris Attractions

2011-12-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

As we all know Paris is the dream of every artist, every women and every man for very different reasons. Women love Paris for its romantic atmosphere inviting landscapes and royal feeling. Men like it for the intoxicating feeling that you will get by just entering the land, and the air of freshness surrounding the city. Paris has always been regarded as the land of art and culture; many artists have come out of the city dazzling the world with their Devin work. Paris is always known for its fashion industry and legendry designers. There are many events which happen in the city through the year.

Paris holds elaborate events which are often free of charge each event is unique on its own, very artistic, original and imaginative. These events are conducted on yearly basis some being just for fun and entertainment others being of higher artistic value. Cheap hotel Paris and Paris cheap hotels are ones who take care of the small events. The main events that take place in the city of Paris are;

Summer festival in Paris

Paris is transformed every summer by the events that take place. There are many rock events that take place during the summer time, all of Paris is in the mood of holiday and the life seems to slow down with the sweet music flowing in the air. Rock en seine is one of the major festival that takes place during summer time, it is a three day rock festival which is organized every summer in the city of Paris along with rock en seine there are festival like Paris street music festival, it is an event which is held every June twenty first in Paris. Hundreds of performers gather on the street to entertain people on the street. Paris summer art festival, Paris summer open air theater are one of the most famous festivals that happen in the city during the summer time. All these festivals are full of art and admirable potential everything is very unique in itself and hence every festival is worth visiting for the ultimate experience.

Accommodation

During summertime Paris is in a state of relaxation, people come from around the world to attend these festivals so the most important suggestion that one can give is to find any nice cheap hotels in Paris. At this time of year there are many Paris cheap hotels and many cheap hotel Paris to find accommodation in. there are numerous cheap hotels in Paris to book your stay in advance. It is a wonderful experience to be in Paris for such wonderful events and to see the artistic side of Paris which will dazzle you each and every moment of your stay.

Industries in Paris & the Parisian Economy

2011-12-18T11:22:00.000-08:00

With an inflow of around 45 million tourists every year, Paris undoubtedly is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. As per a survey conducted in 2005, the urban area of Paris has been declared the biggest city economy in Europe with a GDP of €533.6 billion (US$731.3 billion). However, in the world’s list of cities by GDP, Paris is ranked fifth. Little wonder then if it is called the engine of the global economy as Paris is the premier centre of economic activities in France.

Industries in Paris

Earlier, the activity in Paris urban area (though diverse otherwise), did not have a leading specialized industry. Most of Paris economy was mainly dominated by services only. It is only recently that the city economy has begun shifting towards some high-value-added service industries like finance, IT and high-tech manufacturing industries. No doubt Paris industries now play a major role in French economy.

Leading industries of Paris

A research conducted in 2005 informs that Paris has about 23000 industries with printing industry in leading position. This industry alone generates around 40% of the total industrial employment in Paris. Other leading industries are clothing and leather industries with 23 percent.

Fashion & clothing industry

As the world knows that Paris is quite synonymous with fashion and stylish clothing, there are many apparel industries here. The quality of stuff that you get in Paris just can not be matched with anywhere in the world and you get them at a good price also. Moreover, most of the internationally famous fashion designers have opened their showrooms in Pairs. Alberta Ferretti, Armani Exchange, Cerruti 1881, Chanel, Christian Dior, Diesel, Dolce & Gabbana, Dorothy Grant, Elizabeth Emanuel, E-xentric, Eres, Genny, Ghost, Gianfranco Ferre', Givenchy, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Giggles, and Hugo Boss are some of the leading fashion houses in Paris.

Tourists around the world consider Paris as the best shopping destination for clothing and accessories. No wonder you may arrive here with empty bags but when you are about to return, your baggage might double up due to exclusive dress-shopping. As a result clothing and fashion industry play a major role in Paris economy.

Tourism industry

Different segments like entertainment, accommodation, nightlife, restaurants and of course shopping, together work for tourism industry to grow. And since Paris is a dream tourist destination in Europe, all these segments including Paris hotels are the flourishing and revenue generating industries in Paris.

Tourists are also attracted towards numerous trade shows organized throughout the year in Paris. Thus these trade shows are not only a good crowd puller; they are a great way to build the solid Parisian economy.

Other industries in Paris

The suburbs of Paris house several industrial units and specially the heavy ones. Constructions Metalliques, Campionnet Carrelage, Finsa Forest Products, Jungheinrich France S.A.S., and Krings International are some of the construction and heavy industries in Paris. Manufacturing of jewelry, accessories, luxury articles, and perfumes are some other sectors that can be included in Paris Industries and economy. Industries like automobile, banking, finance, media, pharmaceuticals and telecommunications should not be missed as they are quite important for any developing city or nation.

So when you visit the city of romance, book a day to know what factors make Paris the main center of French economy and also the biggest economy in Europe. Read Paris hotel reviews as it will help find a good accommodation in Paris.

France- a well developed economy

2011-11-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

Author: Adam Wasp

France had a second largest empire after Great Britain at the height of colonization and was a major participant of both the world wars. France is very technologically advanced nation. It produces airplanes such as raffles and mirages, which are sold throughout the world and bought by various countries in the developing world.

The French culture

The French cinema and cuisine are as much adored as the French fashion throughout the world cuisine. The beliefs and values which are part of the French tradition and culture are very strong and evolved over a considerable period of time. French people take great pride in their countries national identity and culture. The French language is known for its sophistication and purity. Even today it is considered very tough to speak French by a person not from France.

Buying a house in France

Living in France is one thing desired by many individuals. If you want to live in France then you have to get French property. You can read the advertisement section of the newspapers which has the section of houses for sale in France. After making a suitable choice, you should research about the properties for sale in France. French property is now a days very much wanted also.

If you want to live in France and spend your life there you should select a proper house. French property is not cheap and you need to make a major investment. You must also know about the properties for sale in France at various locations. The houses for sale in France come in different prices depending on the location.

Due to the rapidly increasing costs of the French property, it is increasingly becoming difficult to buy one. You can also buy land and construct a house of your own. The properties for sale in France section of the websites will give you details about various land areas and plots which are available to you. You can also search houses for sale in France on internet. The online websites are very beneficial and will give you easy access to all the kinds of house you desire. You will also get the location of these houses, flats, apartments, villas and mansions. In this way you will be relieved of your tensions. You will get the price quotes of all the houses and apartments. You will not have to go to the real sites of each of the apartments.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/france-a-well-developed-economy-5032108.html

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Some websites also make it possible for you to purchase the land and apartment online. These land and apartments are posted on the internet along with their images .It becomes easy for the customer to see the real site and also purchase it. You need to make the payment by credit card. In this way you can acquire a Property for sale in Aquitaine for yourself by evaluating all the French property.

Less Expensive Trip To France By Cheap Ferries

2011-11-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

Author: digitamintellects

Most travellers prefer to travel to France because it is an amazing and wonderful destination to board with their families. We have plenty of ferries travelling across the channel between the UK and France. Ferry travelling is the common mode of easy transport in France.

Many people revisit France to enjoy their weekends with their family along with kids, who feels an enjoyable gift given by parents in their vacations as well. We can also see many couples and a group of friends enjoying and relaxing their holiday times in France. Visiting France is a memorable trip which you should not miss in your life.

Dover port has historic importance and it is known as a gateway to England. With modern shipping technologies Dover also enhanced itself and upgraded with many facilities where many passengers get connected and attracted to travel from Dover.

Worried about paying more cost for your travel trip? Here is the solution to relax you. If you plan a trip to France from Dover, then follow some guidelines that help you find cheap mode of transportation to France. Most of the travellers make their trip expensive by choosing cars, taxies, vans, minibus, trains, planes etc., to visit France.

Finding cheaper fares will relax you a lot when you mind on money matters. There is a wastage of money and uncomfortable travel if you prefer other than ferries. Cheap ferries to France provide you with a relaxable, comfortable and memorable travel where most of the people have an option to sit backside and enjoy the beautiful nature with fresh air, sceneries etc.

Mainly travellers have to plan their France trip by choosing the best ferry operators from the list of websites. Compare various websites for provision of ferries to France, cheaper rates, time schedules, reporting and departure time, facilities in port and ferries etc., all the details that you need.

Consider factors such as purpose of journey, how many number of passengers, kids care, luggage facilities book cheap ferries accordingly that affect your cost of journey. Book with best operator who provide relevant information, best service from starting point to ending point without any problems.

Try to plan your travel where you can save more money by reducing unnecessary expenses. Also, plan the places to visit in and around France by opting cheap ferries. You find yourself that travelling by ferries is the best easy option to get more benefits like saving money, enjoying and easy way to relax. So boarding France from Dover is made easy with cheap ferries.

In order not to worry about spending a lot of money for a trip, this article guides you to avail ferries to save your money and make travel very convenient without any strain. Make your France trip a memorable one by ferry travel.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/less-expensive-trip-to-france-by-cheap-ferries-5069384.html

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Digitamintellects is providing travel articles since five years

12 Places to Visit in Normandy, France, Europe

2011-11-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

Author: Kris Kemp

Two of the top places to visit in Normandy are Mont St. Michel and Giverny, at the opposite ends of Normandy. These sites are well known to travelers, but the charm of Normandy is visiting the smaller villages. There's a lot of history here--and artists have eagerly sought out the Normandy light.

For a luxury bed and breakfast chateau that was called "one of the top 50 romantic destinations in the world" according to premiere travel magazine "Travel & Leisure", click here to visit Chateau Isle Marie.

Mont St. Michel
Le Mont St Michel, a commune in Normandy, France, in Europe, is one of France's most iconic attractions and stands in the Gulf of St Malo. A commune is a village or a city, depending on the amount of people. Since 2006, the population of people living in Mont St. Michel has been 41.

Perched on a rocky island in the midst of vast sandbanks, the rampart-guarded medieval town is crowned by a majestic Benedictine Abbey. Mont Saint-Michel is on the border of Normandy and Brittany and is connected to the shore by a causeway.

According to legend, the archangel Michael appeared to Saint Aubert, bishop of Avranches in 708 and instructed him to build a church. Aubert repeatedly ignored the instruction until Michael burned a hole in the bishop's skull with his finger. This seemed to do the trick!

The Abbey is a technical and artistic tour de force and is depicted in the Bayeux tapestry. As the 'Wonder of the West' and a sacred destination, it is France's second most visited monument and is included on the Unesco list of World Heritage Sites.

After visiting the arcaded cloisters, one can wander at leisure among the maze of rooms, staircases and vaulted hall that makes up the Abbey. Travel to Mont St Michel is easy and can be included in a day trip from Chateau de L'Isle-Marie. Saint Malo, Granville and Villedien-let Puetes make interesting stops to avoid the crush of tourism at the Mont-St. Michel.

Giverny
75 kilometers northwest of Paris lies Giverny, a village in Normandy, France. Besides being home to the artist Claude Monet's house and Monet's garden, Giverny is surrounded by large forests, which are ideal for walking or bicycling.

In Giverny, among other things to do, visitors can tour can see the Monet's gardens which
inspired his paintings and experience Giverny's "special light" that influenced the work of Monet and other impressionists.

Despite its small size, Giverny has many festivals throughout the year. In September, the big
Giverny Festival comes to town. Due to the cooler weather, Spring and Fall are the best times to visit Giverny

10 other places worth visiting in Normandy, France in Europe

Cote Fleurie
The Cote Fleurie is the coastline between the D Day landings and the mouth of the Seine at La Havre. The impressionists loved it, and a walk around the quaint artist's village of Honfleur will let you know why.

Currently, Cote Fleurie is home to film festivals that are second only to Cannes. In a New York Times travel article (http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/travel/08Cover.html?pagewanted=all), the writer lauded Cote Fleurie for being glamorous without the fanfare that's normally attached to quiet seaside towns that become ruined by discovery, and the subsequent influx of the masses.

Caen
Caen has a castle and two abbeys, but many come for the Peace Museum. Caen, as we mentioned before, is the gathering point for excursions to the D Day beaches. Fewer come for les tripes à la mode de Caen. You can perhaps guess why.

The historic city of Caen, capital of Basse Normandie, has played a crucial role in Normandy's history since it was founded in the 11th century by William the Conqueror. Some six centuries after the city was sacked and torched by invading English armies in 1346, Caen's old town was levelled once more during the shattering bombardments of the Normandy campaign. The city was bombed and set ablaze on D-Day, and by the time it was liberated by Canadian troops on 9 July 1944, over 80% of the city had been razed to rubble. Practically all that remains of old Caen are the ramparts around the chateau and the city's twin abbeys; the rest has been rebuilt in a typically utilitarian post-war style, using plenty of
concrete and pale stone.

Today, Caen is a busy university city and commercial centre, with a clutch of excellent museums, including the groundbreaking Caen Mémorial. It's a useful base for exploring the D-Day beaches and nearby Bayeux

Bayeux
Bayeux is home to the tapestry that carries its name, and is also a town full of museums, split between the war and artisan crafts practiced here. Bayeux, with its perfectly preserved medieval ensemble, magnificent cathedral and world-famous tapestry, is 23km west of Caen – a mere twenty-minute train ride. It's a smaller and much more intimate city, and, despite the large crowds of summer tourists, a far more enjoyable place to visit. If you like to stay in a Bayeux hotel.

Cherbourg
Cherbourg was once a little fishing village but now sports a large historic port. The Liberation Museum is nearby. If the somewhat murky metropolis of CHERBOURG is your port of arrival, it's best to head straight out and on: despite some busy pedestrian streets and lively bars, the town itself lacks anything of substantial interest, and there are some much more appealing places within a very few kilometres to either side. If you want to sleep in a Cherbourg hotel, have a look at this site. Napoléon inaugurated the transformation of what had been a rather poor, but perfectly situated, natural harbour into a major transatlantic port, by means of massive artificial breakwaters.

An equestrian statue commemorates his boast that in Cherbourg he would "recreate the wonders of Egypt", though there are as yet no pyramids nearer than the Louvre. Cherbourg-Octeville is a city and commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.

Originally just Cherbourg, it was formed when the city absorbed Octeville on 28 February 2000, and was officially renamed Cherbourg-Octeville. Cherbourg holds an arsenal of the French Navy.

Granville
Granville is another seaside resort and commercial fishing village, but everyone comes here for the Christian Dior Museum; Dior grew up here. Go to the Haute Ville for picturesque. Go to the casino to lose your money. Granville is situated on the Cotentin Peninsula at the mouth of Bosq and Pointe du Roc (Cap Lihou) which in part closes in the north of the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel.

Domfront
Domfront is a compelling medieval town visitors seem to like Domfront is a medieval city, on a hill at 215 metres above the sea level, on the way from Paris to Brittany. This position gives the town an exceptional panoramic view on the Low-Normand bocages of which Domfront is the capital. As it has constantly adapted itself through the time, the town has busy shops and industry. If Domfront used to be famous for its tribunal and fairs, it is the quality of the accommodations and restaurants that does still attract many people every year.

Bagnoles
Bagnoles has its hydrotherapic baths which date back to the medieval times as well as some fine Art Deco architecture from the roaring 20s when Bagnoles came into its own as a tourist spa town.

This commune is famous for its hydrotherapic baths, which are known for their supposed healing powers for rheumatic, gynaecologic and circulatory problems. The origins of thermal activity are said to date back to the Middle Ages. The spa is centred around the lake, which is formed by the River Vée, a tributary of the Mayenne, before it enters a deep gorge cut through the massif of the Andaines Forest.

Local legend tells of the medieval lord, Seigneur Hugues de Tessé. Believing that his once-
glorious horse, "Rapide", was reaching the end of its life, Seigneur Hugues decided to abandon it in the Andaines Forest. He was amazed when the animal returned home some time later, strong and totally revitalized. Without resentment, "Rapide" took its master along to the waters of Bagnoles where he drank and was also rejuvenated. The spa was born.

According to another tale, a very old Franciscan monk who took the waters in Bagnoles found a new astonishing vigour and leapt across the highest rocks above the town, which are still called "Le Saut du Capucin" (The Monk's Leap).

Another facet of this fascinating place is the Arthurian legend, since Bagnoles and its
surroundings are supposed to be Lancelot's country. The village's calendar of cultural events includes a visit of the most famous Arthurian sites.

Camembert
Camembert is a small village you've heard of if you're a cheese eater. Gawk at the half-timbered houses and picnic by the river with your Camembert and bread. Camembert is a small village in the province of Normandy, in northwestern France. Perched on a hill in the fertile Pays d'Auge, overlooking the trout-filled Viette river, the village is composed of half-timbered dwellings huddled around the church. The origins of the village date back to the Dark Ages, well before the

Norman invasion of England led by William the Conquerer in 1066 AD. A certain "Mambert", of Frankish extraction, became the owner of a large tract of land. This area rapidly became known in old French as "Champ de Mambert", or "Mambert's Field" during the Middle Ages. Church records in the XVIth century list the village under the name "Campo Mauberti".

Successive generations transformed the name into the "Camembert" of today. The patron saint of the village is Saint Anne. Its population at the last census was 201 inhabitants; its area is about 2500 acres.

Evreux
Evreux has a fine cathedral with great stained glass. Évreux is a commune of Upper Normandy in northern France in the Eure department, of which it is the capital. Its inhabitants are called in French Ébroïciens. Évreux is situated in the pleasant valley of the Iton, arms of which traverse the town; on the south, the ground slopes up toward the public gardens and the railway station. It is the seat of a bishop, and its cathedral is one of the largest and finest in France.

The first cathedral was built in 1076, but destroyed in 1119 when the town was burned at the orders of Henry I of France to put down the Norman insurrection. He rebuilt the cathedral as an act of atonement to the Pope. Between 1194 and 1198, the conflict between Philippe Auguste and

Richard the Lion-hearted damaged the new cathedral. The architecture of the present edifice shows this history, with its blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles. As did many towns in the regions of Nord and Normandy, Evreux and its cathedral suffered greatly from Second World War.

At Le Vieil-Évreux (lit. old Évreux), the Roman Gisacum, 3½ miles southeast of the town, the
remains of a Roman theatre, a palace, baths and an aqueduct have been discovered, as well as various relics, notably the bronze of Jupiter Stator, which are now deposited in the museum of Évreux.

Lisieux
Lisieux has a couple thousand years of history under its belt. See Le Musée d'Art et d'Histoire as well as all the historic religious buildings, especially those devoted to Therese Martin (no relation), then head over to Le Domaine St-Hippolyte where you can taste Normandy specialties.

Lisieux (French pronunciation: [li.zjø]) is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France. Lisieux is the capital of the Pays d'Auge area, which is characterised by valleys and hedged farmland. The inhabitants of Lisieux are known in France as Lexoviens (male) or Lexoviennes
(female). Lisieux is situated on the confluence of the river Touques and many of its tributaries: the rivers Orbiquet, Cirieux and Graindain. The town is in the heart of the Pays d'Auge, of which it is the capital. Lisieux is therefore surrounded by Normandy's typical hedged farmland, where there is a mix of livestock farming (mostly milk cows) and cider apple cultivation (from which cider and calvados are made, not forgetting pommeau).

Rouen
Rouen is where Joan of Arc met her sad end, and is very much an art city along the River Seine. Flaubert wrote here, and there's a museum dedicated to him in Rouen. Rouen (French pronunciation: [?w?~]) is the historic capital city of Normandy, in northern France on the River Seine, and currently the capital of the Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy) region.

Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe[citation needed], Rouen was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages. It was one of the capitals of the Anglo-Norman dynasties, which ruled both England and large parts of modern France from the 11th to the 15th centuries. It was in Rouen where Joan of Arc was burnt in 1431. People from Rouen are called Rouennais.

The population of the metropolitan area (in French: agglomération) at the 1999 census was 518,316 inhabitants and 532,559 inhabitants at the 2007 estimate. The city proper had an estimated population of 110,276 in 2007.

Travel in France, Europe
Travel to and and from these towns and villages can be easily arranged by train or, for those who enjoy the more adventurous excursion, hitchhiking across Europe is generally less frowned upon than in other countries.

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/12-places-to-visit-in-normandy-france-europe-5075186.html

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I'm a minimalist, owning only essential items, which allows me freedom to travel and not having the obligations of unnecessary repairs, upgrades, or insurance. To find out more about my life, and to learn more about minimalism, visit http://kriskemp.com.

What To Do In France - French Manners And Etiquette

2011-11-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

Author: George Josserme

To French people, fine manners and proper etiquette are not the latest fashionable thing or the latest trend. French manners and etiquette have been part of their lives since before the Renaissance in 1400s, the Musketeers of King Louis XIII in the1600s, all the way to the XXI century.

Proud of their demeanor, deportment, and rectitude, French people passed their manners and etiquette on since those generations of bygone days to today's generations. People of the world raised with a solid foundation on values and principles of a higher order will find French manners and etiquette easy to assimilate. When it comes to wonder "What to do in France," cultivating ourselves make others notice and see us as well-thought-of person.

Let's review what to do in France when it comes to French manners and etiquette.

French people tremendously value taste and quality. One thing to do in France when dressing up is to denote taste. It is not meant to show off how much money you have.

French manners and etiquette dictate that compliments or commentaries on a person's appearance is inappropriate.

After a proper introduction, French manners and their etiquette mandate that you refer to a person using a title followed by a last name. If you meet a woman, but you know only her first name and not her marital status, you call her Mademoiselle followed by her first name. The right thing to do in France is to remain calling everybody in that way until you are told otherwise.

It is well-received if you present people you were introduced to with an elegant card meant for personal matters. It shows only your personal information, and nothing about your business.

As you leave a group, a general wave as you say "Au revoir" or "A toute a l'heur" is NOT acceptable. It is practiced in North America [U.S.A. and Canada except Quebec] but it is not what to do in France. Instead, you approach each person, make eye contact, and shake hands followed by an appropriate salutation.

Should you meet again with a member of a group you have been introduced to previously, a handshake as you make eye contact is expected. You accompany your salutation with an expression such as "Je suis heureux de vous rencontrer" [I am pleased to meet or find you again]. Do not attempt to hug anyone unless you are a very close friend. Assuming you know a person ~and you are well-received~ he or she may initiate a kiss on your cheeks. It is their hug.

It is tolerable for women to arrive 10 to 15 minutes late. A gentleman, however, is expected to have a trustworthy word. A man wondering what to do in France is to arrive as promised.

French people feel acceptable standing closer to one another than North Americans do, but this assumes that you are already well-received.

A long eye contact with a woman ~or a man~ is expected and well-accepted; but if you look the other away during a conversation ~or distastefully answer a call in your cell phone or yawn~ is do not show to know what to do in France.

French manners and etiquette mandate to denote kindness and respect by not interrupting others when they talk. Things to do in France involve exposing how amenable and interesting your conversations are, but do NOT monopolize a conversation. It is important to neither make statements on French matters ~unless you are an expert~ nor to engage in conversations on political, religious, and personal economy issues.

On thing not to do in France is to be loud. These folks find loudness a primitive and distasteful way to brutishly disrespect others. They are passionate by nature, and you may also be passionate when it is appropriate; but do NOT be loud !

What to do in France does not involve making questions such as "Where do you live?" or "Do you have a car?" or "What do you do for a living?" or "Do they pay well?" Refrain from prying in a person's private life !

If you want to know what to do in France, one thing is to spend time at sidewalk cafés. French people do like to look at people. You will get used to being looked at how tastefully you dress. They do NOT do this to maintain a long eye-contact, or to smile at you. That would be a big No No of French manners and etiquette.

If you are invited to visit a family home, do not expect to be taken for a tour. You will be taken to an area they consider appropriate for you to be at.

If a family invites you to have dinner, you show your good French manners, etiquette, and taste bringing flowers or chocolates; for instance. However, do not bring wine. Let them match the wine to the meal being served.

It is reasonable to arrive up to ten or so minutes before or after the agreed upon time, but a major thing of what to do in France is to NOT show up half an hour or more before or after you are expected.

You show disrespect and lack of good manners if you start eating before the host, the person that cooked the meal, or the person that served the meal is sitting at the table. Just wait until you are told to start eating, or when the others do. After drinks have been served, join in on the toast.

Meals usually consist of five or six bites, but your message is "I didn't like it" if you leave on the dish a good portion of the food you were served. French manners and etiquette accept you to leave some of the food, however.

French folks have perfected cutting and eating with knives and forks. What to do in France is to NOT use your fingers to eat a chicken leg, to bite the meat off a pork chop, or anything involving your fingers with food. The French are polished enough as to eat fruit with knives and forks.

One may construe, then, that when it comes to what to do in France is to learn French manners and etiquette before one arrives. It is because our grooming and appearance, how we dress up, what our demeanor and deportment is, and what comes out of our mouth is to French people like billboards exhibiting at a first glance our inner qualities.

When it comes to "What to do in France," it is to unfaltering remember that how we were raised makes up our reputation.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/what-to-do-in-france-french-manners-and-etiquette-5171477.html

About the Author

* George Josserme
* Editor-in-Chief
* The View - Visiting France & Paris

This author wrote several other articles intended to make a visitor's trips to France more enjoyable and productive. Visiting France - French Manners Of A Gentleman is one of them, and Visiting France - An Investment In Yourself is another very successful article.

His articles may be published in a family-friendly web site. The easy-to-use HTML code is available at each article at ArticlesBase, or by request at The View above.

‘Flying Blue' Benefits and Air France Status

2011-11-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

Author: Pardeep Gupta

18,000 plus daily flights covering a network of over 900 destinations and over 100 partners worldwide – that's Air France. And if you happen to have subscribed to ‘Flying Blue', you earn miles with every Air France online booking. Your importance as a frequent flier increases; you become a valued guest enjoying the benefits of a generous global network. Besides, you also earn miles in case you fly with Air France's participating carriers, viz. Kenya Airways, Air Europa, Aircalin, and Tarom.

To proceed, get registered at the Air France official website. Once you get registered and subscribe to the aforesaid frequent flier programme, miles that you earn get credited to your account every time you do an Air France online booking. The earned miles, over time, can be spent on award tickets to any of its 900 destinations of your choice. Miles can also be bought as a gift for a friend or to top up your account.

It does not end with earning miles with a subscription for ‘Flying Blue'. There is much more to avail beyond that. You do get the recognition you deserve. As the number of your Air France online booking increases, i.e. as you travel more and more with Air France, you get rewarded with more and more offers. Every trip will then turn special!

Showing your Flying Blue card at the airport, you can access countless extra services. Besides, the more you travel, your membership level goes higher.

Membership for ‘Flying Blue' is available in four levels, viz. Ivory, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The higher the level, higher is the benefit. And each level has its own benefits and privileges. Plan for a trip or if you need to fly frequently, fly with Air France. With every Air France online booking, earning of points becomes easy. Miles are of two kinds – award miles and level miles. While award miles are valid for a lifetime also covering award tickets, hotel and car rental packages (mandatory to fly at least once in 20 months), level miles are valid until 31 December each year.

Checking of flight status is a part of post-booking affair. To check Air France status, log in to the airline's official website. Once you enter the details in the related column in the status page, you will immediately get your Air France status. In case of any changes in Air France status, you do get notified on time!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/flights-articles/flying-blue-benefits-and-air-france-status-5199325.html

About the Author

Pardeep Gupta is an internationally known author who writes on Air France, Air France Status and Air France Online Booking.

France Tourist Destinations - Most Visited Place Around The World

2011-11-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

Author: Peter Filinovich

France tourist destinations are no doubt one of the most beautiful places to enjoy the vacations. Moreover, this multi-cultured nation has something for everybody. And, the country is proud of its perfect combination of sublime foods and drinks with interesting culture, and romantic ambience. Also, it is well known for elegant tradition of art, and rich history. In addition, the France tourist destinations have lovely nature, serene beaches, breathtaking mountain scenery and dazzling nightlife that draws a large number of tourists towards itself. Nevertheless, the rich cuisine of the country and magnificent architecture also marvel the tourists. However, the France tourist destinations are also famous for many adventurous sports, for example sledding, skiing and hiking.

France tourist destinations feature some of the most amazing mountain ranges, lovely landscapes and rivers. In addition, it's most sought after places are the serene beaches; particularly the sun-drenched beaches of South France are most visited beaches of the world. Moreover, the Louvre museum of Paris is most visited museums in the entire Europe. In addition, the museum is house to many spectacular art collections of ancient eras. Also, it is recognized as world's greatest art museum that exhibits the magnificent paintings of the world's masters of art. And, the Mona Lisa painted by Leonardo da Vinci is the most renowned piece of art featured in the galleries of the France tourist destinations.

One of the world's most easily recognized France tourist destinations is the beautiful Eiffel Tower. Moreover, it was built in 1889, and from then on it is acknowledged as most legendary masterpiece of human skill and ingenuity. In additions, the tourists ensure to get to top of the tower to get the very best views of the city. Although, the Paris is a magnificent French city but, the France tourist destinations are incomplete without scaling the heights of Notre Dame Cathedral Bell Tower. Moreover, the tower took over 150 years to get completely constructed. And, the broad arches of tower and walls inside displaying the fantastic stone carvings tell the story of the French royalty. Also, the famous bell of Notre Dame is an example of Victor Hugo's incomparable artistic taste for art.

The snow tipped mountains and rocky peaks of Alps mountain range is the perfect place for wintertime fun in the France tourist destinations. In addition, the mountain range provides a wonderful opportunity to try a hand at snowboarding, canoeing, skiing, and hiking. Also, it is a wonderful experience to take a bike ride in the Alpine region of France tourist destinations. Moreover, the rich history of Normandy draws the attention of history lovers. In addition, Normandy has witnessed many battles but, now it is perfect place to seek for peace and serenity. Nevertheless, the premium France tourist destinations is the city of Cannes.

Furthermore, this city offers a wide range of attractions for tourists. And, it is situated in the most picturesque French region. Additionally, the major attraction of the city is an international event recognized as Cannes International Film Festival. Also, the nearby places of city are known for their breathtaking views of beaches, striking scenic charm and historic monasteries.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/france-tourist-destinations-most-visited-place-around-the-world-5234735.html

About the Author

Read about France Holiday Packages. Also know affordable Greece Holiday Packages. Read ways to find best Italy Holiday Packages.

Air France Online Booking and Status Notification

2011-11-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

Author: Pardeep Gupta

There are reasons why you should go for an Air France online booking at the airline's official website. Cheap airfares are of course offered by almost all international airlines making vacationing a whole lot cheaper. But when you get an additional INR 3000 off in airfares related to destinations in Europe and North America, you only gain a competitive advantage. Yes, Air France, at the moment is offering this scheme. So, if you have any plans of visiting these two countries, now is your chance to enjoy a cost-effective trip.

Airfares related to Air France online booking for destinations like Paris, Barcelona, New York, etc. from India are displayed at the home page of the Air France corporate site. You will come across a big list of the same. For example, from Mumbai, airfares to Barcelona start at INR 33600, to Amsterdam at INR 33600, to Paris at INR 35500, to New York at INR 56700, to Washington at INR 56700, to Chicago at INR 56700, and the list goes on.

When you do your Air France online booking, do enter your contact information so that you stay updated about Air France status in real time. Well, in the list of details you enter do enter the e-mail addresses and mobile phone numbers you will be using during your trip. It is then that you can get notifications about Air France status, i.e. any changes concerning your flight, in real time. While doing Air France online booking, there are options for individual travel, unaccompanied minors, and group travel not to mention guarantee of the best price on all the tickets.

Just choose the option when you book. If you are traveling as a couple or with children in metropolitan France, you can take advantage of special fares. This option is displayed in the Air France online booking form. All you need to do is tick at the dialog box. Do not forget to carry a proof of relationship; it may be requested at boarding. It will be wise on your part to consult the eligibility conditions too, which are also mentioned in the same booking page.

As aforementioned Air France status gets notified on time in case there are any changes. It will be wise on your part to check the Air France status online before you step out of your space for the airport so that you don't face any last minute hassles.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/air-france-online-booking-and-status-notification-5259769.html

About the Author

Pardeep Gupta is an internationally known author who writes on Air France, Air France Status and Air France Online Booking.