France travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises spa and resorts

This green counterpart of Venice could not be further removed form the mass tourism that has engulfed the Italian city in recent decades. Located in western France, just east of La Rochelle, Venise Verte is a canal network initially conceived to irrigate the surroundings farmland. As the water of the ocean receded, an area of marshland (called Marais Poitevin) was created. The area become a nature reserve. Photo by: patoche21

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Just few minutes away of the town of Marseille a piece of nature survive untouched among pine trees, rocky cliffs, and turquoise waters, all this making you feel as though you get across the Caribbean. Some of the cliff shores were once ancient river months. They puncture the shore as far as 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) inland. These areas are now protected and are left wild and untouched. Some have a few small, shedlike homes at the edge of the water with tiny little restaurants nearby. In Sormiou, Le Lunch restaurant offers plastic furniture and rather overpriced fresh fish, but it has a unique selling point. The Mediterranean gently laps at its feet while all around, the views offer only blue sea and impressive limestone cliffs.

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Maisonneuve Campsite is situated along the banks of the river Le Ceou at Castelnaud La Chappelle, a truly lovely site, just us and one camper van – warm sunshine at last! The nature-lovers will appreciate relaxing in the quiet and rest in peaceful surrounding. Each caravan is suitable for up to 4/5 persons. Extra persons will have to put up a tent on the ground and pay the camping rate.

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Originally conceived for Expo 2002, the hotel is designed by Swiss architects Sabina Lang and Daniel Baumann. From the roof of the Leipzig Gallery of Contemporary Art the one room hotel has moved to the roof of the Paris Palais de Tokyo. A 320 ton crane was used to lift this 10 ton structure 50 m above the building. Offers stunning views of Eiffel Tower, it is one of the best places to take in the sights of the romantic city of Paris.

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The Chateau de Chambord was constructed for King Francois I soon after his return from the French campaign in Italy, and its style can be directly linked to the monarch’s wish to adopt new Italian models. Leonardo da Vinci, who is known to have accompanied the king on his return from Italy, has been tentatively connected to the chateau. Domenico da Cartona, a Tuscan artist involved in other royal castle projects, supervised construction of the chateau and provided wooden design models. Photo by: Jelle Drok

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Built on Cannes’ famous “Boulevard de La Croisette”, Hotel Martinez is one of the top luxury hotels in Europe. With seven floors that overlook the sea, the hotel is home to the Givenchy Spa – the privileged place for people seeking lasting health, beauty and youth. It offers care treatments that relax the mind and the body, revive the skin and generally preserve youth.

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This is the largest remaining Romanesque church in the world. Saint-Sernin basilica located in Toulouse, France was built during the Romanesque Period between 1080 and 1120.
The Basilica of Saint Sernin is notable for its imposing architecture and important medieval sculptures and frescoes. It is worth visiting for the exterior brickwork, the two crypts, the tympanum over the main door depicting Christ’s ascension, and the 800 sculpted column heads.

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This small, elegant country chateau is more than 200 years old and stands in a quiet valley through the Pyrenees, among flower meadows, wooded hills and tree-shaded brook. In front of the house is a clear lake where the dragonflies hover and deer drink. It is also perfect for a cooling dip.

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Val d’Isere, France, is a very popular winter resort, includes around 10,000 hectares of skiable terrain. There are more than 300km of marked runs for every level of skier, tried-and-true off-piste itineraries for serious experts. All of this brings Val d’Isère holidaymakers and extreme skiers from all over the world. The lift and cable car system is ultra-modern and very efficient. Ninety-nine lifts can move more than 3,000 skiers per hour, uphill.

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The Palace of Fontainebleau is located only 50 km from the centre of Paris. A monument of French history, it is one of the largest French royal chateaux and offers visitors its art and architectural treasures, its gardens and the thousands of fascinating and precious objects that it has preserved.

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