Bon jour to the land of perfection!

France is among the very few countries in the world that always attract an opinion, irrespective of whether it is a positive one or not, in the mind of a person. Sure, France has its share of loopholes and un-pleasantries, but which country doesn’t? Besides, its sights and sounds are something one would not have seen in a lifetime! Crowded by celebrities, politicians and business tycoons, there’s little to ignore in the country of the Eiffel Tower. The food and wine too, are among the best in the world. Every evening, as the fabled champagne is popped open, celebrations like none other begin to take shape in the trendy nightclubs. Going deeper, every part of the country has its own specialty. There’s the River Seine that offers the most captivating boat cruises, a taste of royalty at the Versailles castle, an enchanting travel down south in the Mediterranean sea for exploring the Roman civilisation’s last strands, zipping past the open skies in a jet at Nice and St. Tropez, and skiing in the Alps! There’s something to keep one entertained at all times.

Mont St-Michel: The soaring towers and turrets of the Mont St-Michel abbey have since forever been showcased as the signature image of Northern France. The abbey emerges from white sands, and sits in crowning glory at the highest point of a small island, surrounded by ramparts and battlements. It is said that the abbey was founded in the 8^th century when the archangel Michael visited the bishop of Avranches in his dream. Even today, a gilded copper statue of Michael slaying a dragon has been preserved, as a symbol of good’s triumph over evil. Moving on, the bay around Mont St-Michel is pretty famous for its tides, and depending on the season and the gravitational pull of the moon, the difference between high and low tides can be as much as 15 metres, even though the area is completely surrounded by sea during the seasonal equinoxes. A unique phenomenon is that at any point in time during the year, mammoth amounts of water can flow in; the Mont could be having sand all around for miles in the morning, and in the early evening hours, the place would look like a mini tsunami had struck!

Paris: The city is almost like a person, with its diverse moods and romantic attitude! The ‘City of Lights’, as it is often referred to, has in fact nothing to do with the lights that glitter and shimmer during the night. Instead, it’s the fact that not too many centuries back, the city was a boiling pot for philosophers, scientists, poets and other eminent literary personalities who illuminated the city. Coming to the ground reality, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum are splendid sights, while the food and fashion scene is simply the best in the world!

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France: The country of love, that everybody loves

If there ever was a country that has to be visited before one hangs his/her boots and relaxes in life, it is France.

Bordeaux: Wide awake after years of slumber, the popular name La Belle Au Bois Dormant (French for Sleeping Beauty) does not stick as much to Bordeaux now as it would have many years ago. The 'breaking dawn' for the city was at the brink of the 21^st century, when, in a major revival, the city's neoclassical architecture was restored, its boulevards made more elegant and the transportation system becoming more modern. In the later years, a highly developed university students population only added to its 'activity', so to speak, and it is not at all a sleeping beauty in any sense of the word.

Corsica: Having a shape resembling a bunch of grapes, Corsica (popularly known as Corse) has mountain ranges full of green chestnut and pine forests, along with pastures and maquis scrubland. Grape cultivation here has been done since more than 3 millennia, and there are exquisite vineyards on the island. For instance, Bastia, towards the northern side, is famous for its casual spirit and relaxed feel, with very few tourists being the additional plus. The coastline of Corsice spans close to 1000 kms, with towns like Ajaccio, really high cliffs that merge into the sea just like that (case in point, Golfe de Porto), and shimmery beaches and bays at Calvi. It is really hard to believe that up until the early 19^th century, the coastal region was considered absolutely worthless. The local cuisine comprises of dishes like cured sausages, cheeses and lamb seasoned with wild herbs. Fishing has been traditionally done around Cap Corse, while the interior region, secluded from the busy ports and the seaside resorts, remains snow covered almost half the time, is the place where one is most likely to come across the local language, Corsu, along with other parts of the culture and festivals. It is advisable to choose the right time for visiting, since summers are when there is a flurry of tourists, while winters are also not the best time, with most of the activities, transportation services and accommodation options being scarce. Hence, the right time is during spring and autumn.

Normandy: Camembert, cider and cows are the three elements that make up the most of Normandy, which lies on the Channel coastline between north-east France and Brittany. It is actually quite spectacular to see the green countryside go at it with the unforgiving waves of the Channel, or La Manche. Simply put, Normandy is a plcae where the old meets new, and churned butter and soft cheese are the order of the day for so many people, not to mention the dry stone farmhouses located on the edge of the white cliffs, and not to forget, the broad fields.

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France - The lover’s paradise

Love it, hate it, but one just can't ignore it. These lines seem to fit perfectly for France, popular for love, food, fashion, wine... whatever one can think of, it's all here. The royal châteaux line the lands as elegantly as the designer-wear boutiques. Art and romance can be enjoyed like nowhere else at the banks of the River Seine, while the past comes to life at Versailles. A sojourn to the south is advised for getting to know the Roman civilisation up, close and personal, while skiing dreams can be fulfilled at the Alps, and last but not the least, the beaches of Normandy are sunny, sandy and scintillating with all the right ingredients of a world-class sea-side.

Paris: Besides romance, there's also a lot of eloquence and intellect at the 'City of Light', a moniker given to Paris which not many people are aware of. In short, it's many cities in one for different kinds of people. In spite of the fact that the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame have been countlessly described by poets and authors. However, what they have not been able to capture and convey is the grandeur which can only be experienced if one is present there. Since there has been such a clichéd image of Paris, first-timers often expect to see the most expected things – intellectuals arguing over deep matters, haughty locals who speak only French, parties at the nightclubs and magnificent vistas. Every one of these things can be found, but it's best to let go of all the preconceived notions and starts off exploring the city just like any other, for that is when one will truly uncover the magic that lies in the backstreets and avenues.

Mont St-Michel: The first and most prominent impression of the island is the sky high turrets of the abbey and the sleek towers that signify this signature town's superiority over its counterparts, or siblings, however one might like to see them as. Sitting atop flat white sands, the abbey is surrounded by battlements and ramparts that are connected via a causeway to the mainland. It is said that the abbey was founded in the 8th century when the bishop of Avranches, Aubert, was visited in the dreams by archangel Michael, and as a memento of sorts of this occurrence, a copper statue of Michael slaying a dragon crowns the abbey to depict the victory of good over evil. Moving on, the extraordinary tides that overwhelm the Mont St-Michel bay are more famous than probably any other sight here, following the gilded statue mentioned earlier. A height of 15m is regular, depending on the gravitational pull of the moon and the season, while the island is completely surrounded by sea at the time of the seasonal equinoxes.

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Fall in love with the unexplored France

The country of France does not need any introduction, so let's simply cut to the chase and explore some of the rather unknown, but supremely gratifying, destinations in France.

Corsica: Having the shape of a bunch of vine-ripened grapes, Corsica, also known as Corse, comprises of lavish mountain ranges full of green chestnut and pine forests, sweet smelling maquis scrubland and pastures. With a history of more than 3000 years in grape cultivation, the island has many extraordinary vineyards. There is roughly 1000 kms of coastline, with upbeat towns like Ajaccio, the scintillating beaches and bays of Calvi, and spectacular cliffs at Golfe de Porto. Such magical sights make it hard to believe that until the 19th century, this coastline was considered worthless. The Corscians took shelter in the mountains during those days, and to this date, it is the Centru di Corsica that is the true definition of culture at Corsica. The cuisine is simple yet exotic, owing to the wild herbs used very frequently, paired with cured sausages, lamb and cheese. However, the culture and customs of Corsica can be experienced first hand towards the interiors, which is snow capped for most parts of the year.

Normandy: The essence of Normandy can be summed in just three words Camembert, cider and cows. Stretching between the Channel coastline extending from Brittany towards the north-east part of the country, the soothing French countryside clashes with the rugged waves. The region is famous for the soft cheese and production of churned butter, and is the perfect combination of the old and the new, with fishing boats interspersing designer yachts at the Honfleur harbour, half-timbered houses and Gothic churches co-existing in Rouen with world-class restaurants and boutiques. Even in terms of infrastructure, this amalgamation can be seen, with the reconstructed town centre of Caen being a few minutes' drive away from the cobblestone streets of Bayeux. The region has a rich historical lineage; it was the Anglo-French frontier during the Hundred Years' war, and also became the fountainhead of impressionist art. Even today, one can feel the impact of history in the castles and picturesque cathedrals spread across the region.

Loire: To live the lavish life, one does not have to do anything else but visit the Loire valley, a châteaux county that houses some of the most magnificent fortified castles and country manors in all of France. The region has also been conferred the title of a World Heritage site by UNESCO. In short, it's a relaxed place that can be explored on foot or on a two-wheeler. However, a word of caution here goes out to those who are planning to visit during summers, as the region tends to get a bit overcrowded.

St. Tropez: With its signature pink, orange and red townhouses having a tinge of sunset shade, the town of St. Tropez is often described as being two towns merged into one. In case one decides to visit during summers, there is a big surprise waiting, with the population seemingly increasing exponentially by ten folds, and that is precisely it is advised to travel during spring, autumn or winters. Although the town does not have many conventional 'attractions', so to speak, it's fresh air and bustling culture draws thousands every year to this little-known destination.

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Fashion Art Love- France

Known the world over only for the Eiffel Tower, France has a lot more to it than just the architectural marvel by Gustav Eiffel. Following is a glance at all that the country has to offer to tourists who flock in search of the perfect setting for love, arts and fashion!

Paris: Often referred to as the 'city of light' by the who's who, this is one city that assumes a multitude of identities for as many people that visit it. Be it sunrise or sunset, or for that matter, any time in between, the two most iconic structures of the city – the Eiffel Tower and the Notre Dame, are nothing short of spellbinding, and it is only fair to state that many tourists have often felt regret over the fact that they can only do so much as take pictures of their experiences, and nothing else! But pictures and words can simply not match up to the feeling of exuberance in every nook and cranny of the most romantic city in the world, where intellect meets imagination, and the people are just about as friendly as in any other country, albeit with a touch of class, not to forget the immense multitude of fashion houses that have made this city rise to the stature of the 'fashion capital of the world.' Love it, or be bewildered by it, one simply can't ignore or forget Paris on any count.

Mont St-Michel: The contemporary portrait of northern France, the abbey of Mont St-Michel rests on top of a small island that is surrounded by ramparts and battlements, and linked to the mainland via a causeway. It is said that the abbey was founded in the 8th century when the bishop of Avranches, Aubert, saw the Archangel Michael in a dream, and the abbey still bears a symbol of the victory of good over evil with a gilded copper statue of Micheal killing a dragon. The bay around the abbey is popular for its tides, which might have a difference of as much as 15m between the high and low tides, depending on the season and the moon's gravitational force. Due to this, water only surrounds the Mont during seasonal equinoxes, and the low tide can see the entire area covered by white sand, while only six hours later, the high tide can cause the entire bay to submerge.

Épernay: Champagne lovers know Épernay like a Catholic knows the Vatican! With some of the world's most famous champagne houses, tourists can have a truly unique experience visiting the cellars and tasting the most preferred alcoholic beverage for the classes across the world. It is also the perfect destination to start on the Champagne Route. Underneath the Epernayian soil lie 100 kms of subterranean cellars, which house nearly 200 million bottles of champagne for the ageing process.

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The magic of France: Much more than the Eiffel Tower

If one loves the quiet life and likes to enjoy scenic beauty at practically every nook and cranny, France is the place to spend the next vacation in. There is a lot to discover in this beautiful country, which is also the most visited destinations in the world in terms of tourist inflow, the main reason for this being the fact that it has a combination of everything one wants from a holiday, right from the world's most romantic city, Paris, to more historical monuments than any other nation anywhere in the world, scenic mountains, and to top it all, numerous beaches to relax in the sun. Add to this great food, the world's most exotic wines, and one gets a heady concoction that is bound to leave anybody spellbound.

The Northern region of France comprises of flatlands surrounding the town of Lille and the English Channel. It is reminiscent of Belgium and the Netherlands, particularly in terms of palaces like the Grand Palace, which resembles the one in Brussels. Quite obviously, Paris is the most 'in demand' cities of sorts in every sense of the word. Besides the Eiffel Tower, which has been a sight to behold ever since it was constructed, the city is also the fashion capital of the world, and has some great gourmet cooking in fine dining restaurants to satisfy the palate in every sense.

The Western portion faces the Atlantic Ocean, with Normandy and Brittany to the north, that have sand beaches, harbor towns and rolling hills. There are many neolithic sites, and one can still feel a uniqueness in the atmosphere that sets this region apart from the rest of France, with its Celtic origin evident in the inhabitants.

France's eastern side has four main regions: Alsace, Lorraine, Franche Comté and Burgundy. Laike the Western part, the landscape here also has many rolling hills, along with beautiful cities like Metz, Strasbourg, Nancy and Dijon. Eastern France is basically known for famous wines like the Yellow wine from the Jura mountain vineyard, as well as pinot noirs and chardonnays.

The central part of the country is also its quietest part, but even that has a gem of a tourist destination in the form of the Loire Valley, which is bejeweled with a multitude of fascinating castles and towns, Chartres and Tours being the crown jewels among the lot.

For skiing, there can be nothing better than the Alps, which double as a hiking spot in summers, along with great places to visit like Albertville, Grenoble and Chamonix, all of which have hosted the Olympic Games.

Coming to the south, there are great views, delicious cuisine and fascinating Roman ruins along with the Riviera, which is a constant tourist attraction at all times of the year. Places to visit are the towns of Orange and Arles, as well as big cities like Marseille and Toulon. For those who like exploring little known places, there are many villages as well in this region.

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