Golf in France is as strong as anywhere else in continental Europe with over 500 courses, fast approaching another famous European golfing nation, Ireland.
Disneyland - a must for all children and some adults. Once upon a time is now! Imagine an enchanting kingdom filled with fantasy and a world full of make-believe characters - these dreams come true at Disneyland Park where there are no less than five imaginary lands to enjoy. Discover a place so magical that young and old alike will remember it for ever.
France has some of the best skiing in the world. The French Alps are unsurpassed
in the facilities offered, the resorts to choose from and the convenience of modern lift systems. Many resorts are linked to form huge ski circuits with a wide variety of pistes to suit all abilities. An increasing number of resorts now offer dedicated snowparks, half-pipes, specialist schools and board hire to accommodate the increasing number of snowboarders attracted by the superb snow conditions. Away from the pistes, there are many activities ranging from ice skating and sleigh rides to hang gliding and parascending. The scenery is stunning and the apres-ski unbeatable!
National parks
For an escape to the mountains, head for one of the four national or regional
parks - Vanoise, Ecrins, Queyras or Vercors. All offer excellent walking with
marked routes, mountain refuges and huts. The Grande Traversée des Alpes, crosses all the major massifs from St-Gingolph on Lake Geneva to Nice although most people just do sections of it.
Champagne
If you like the bubbly stuff, a visit to the Champagne region is a
must. Epernay has 72 miles of caves or underground galleries beneath the city where wine used to make champagne is stored. Many producers offer tastings.
History / Places of Interest
France is an independent nation in Western Europe and the center of a large overseas administration and is the third-largest European nation. In ancient times France was part of the Celtic territory known as Gaul or Gallia. Its present name is derived from the Latin Francia, meaning " country of the Franks, " a Germanic
people who conquered the area during the 5th century, at the time of the fall of
the Western Roman Empire. It became a separate country in the 9th century.
Since the 17th century, France has played a major role in European and world events. In the 20th century, it experienced numerous crises, including the devastation of two world wars, political and social upheavals, and the loss of a large empire in Indochina, Algeria, and West and Equatorial Africa. Despite all of this it has survived and emerged from the ruins of World War II to become an important world supplier of agricultural and industrial products and a major partner in the EUROPEAN COMMUNITY (EC, or Common Market).
Many of the museums are models of clarity and modern design. There are some wonderful museums devoted to local arts, crafts and customs like the Musee National des Arts et Traditions Populaires in Paris and the Musee Dauphinois in Grenoble.
A
visit to Chamonix can include a trans-glacial ride on the world's highest téléphérique ( cable car ), which stops en route at skiing and hiking destinations. The Mer de Glace is the second-largest glacier in the Alps. It measures 14km
( 9 mi ) long, 1800m ( 5900ft ) wide and is up to 400m ( 1315ft ) deep. For a better look at the glacier from the inside, it is possible to tour an ice cave that is newly carved each spring. There is also a train that ascends to an altitude of 1915m
( 6275ft ) and a number of uphill trails, but traversing the glacier is dangerous and should not be done without proper equipment and a guide.
The Eiffel Tower
Most important ! Walk up, and don't take the cable car! Only by slowly walking up step by step, can you get a real feel for its history and magnitude.
Notre Dame
A Gothic masterpiece situated in the heart of Paris. Entrance is free, and the mass
is highly recommended. At the end of the ceremony, there is a procession through the narrow surrounding streets. Constructed in three stages, the cathedral was completed in 1250.
Arc de Triomphe
From the Place de la Concorde to the top of the Champs-Elysees, you will discover the Place de l'Etoile which is known today as the Place Charles de Gaulle. Here lies the Arc de Triomphe. The Triumphal Arch dates back to 1806, when Napoléon commissioned Chalgrin to build an arch to the glory of the French Army. Construction on the Arch began in 1806, restarted in 1825, and was not finished until 1836.
The Montmartre Hill
Montmartre is the highest hill of Paris. Very rural until recently, it still keeps a few windmills and a very subtle and unique atmosphere in spite of the affluence of tourists from all over the world.
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