Gems of France

Paris - The region of Ile-de-France is composed of eight departments: Paris, Seine-et-Marne, Yvelines, Essonne, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne and Val-d'Oise.

Newcomers to Paris are advised to take a leisurely stroll, drink in the atmosphere, and take in a famous sight or two. The initiated, of course, will want to explore their favorite haunts of the Capital. In and around Paris, whatever the season, there is something to delight young and old. Ile-de-France is the region surrounding Paris within a radius of about 50 miles. Its name comes from the rivers that form its boundaries.

Through this area travelled Charlemagne, Saint-Louis, Joan of Arc, Louis the XIV and all the kings of France, not forgetting Napoleon, all leaving their marks on the region. One is drawn to the magnificent cathedrals, beautifully preserved medieval abbeys and splendid châteaux architecture unsurpassed anywhere in France.

For the weary city-dweller and the nature lover, Ile-de-France offers peaceful valleys, forests and wildlife. On route for Versailles, you enter the prettiest countryside in Ile-de-France : the Vallée de Chevreuse. Picturesque villages abound, Châteaufort with its 12th century fortress, Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse, Saint-Lambert, Dampierre, the site of a 16th century château, and Les Vaux de Cernay, one of the loveliest valleys in France.

On the way from Fontainebleau, just on the edge of the forest, lies Barbizon, made famous as an artists' colony in the 19th century by Honoré Daumier, Constant, Musset, and the writer George Sand. You can also visit Rousseau's house on Grande-Rue, just behind the Monument aux Morts. Ile-de-France is the combination of culture, history, and nature.

The Provence-Alps-Côte d'Azur region is ideally situated between the Mediterranean coastline and the Alps. Its location and climate are extremely attractive. Extraordinary scenery combined with a rich historical past of exceptional archaeological and architectural interest, together with a multitude of celebrations and festivals, make it an exciting area to visit. Every city, town, village and resort is adequately equipped to accommodate and cater for the needs of the tourist trade whether in top class hotels or on camp sites.

An interesting variety of tourism has been carefully developed here over the years. Needless to say, the seaside resorts are the last word in entertainment, for aquatic sport and swimming, while the hill-walker and those seeking the quieter pathways find a varied countryside ; and when the seasonal change progresses, winter sports come into their own. One can honestly boast that vsitors from all over the world rate this place the premier European tourist region.

The French Riviera-Côte d'Azur stretches along the Mediterranean at the foot of the last outcrop of the Alpine chain. Thanks to its southern situation, the proximity of the sea, the full southern exposure and, above all, to the screen of high mountains which protect it from the cold continental winds, it enjoys an exceptionally high winter temperature. Its privileged position means that the slopes are covered with tropical vegetation : orange and aloe, cactus and eucalyptous, rose-laurel, bougainvillea and mimosa.

In under two hours you can travel from the palms and lemon trees of the coast to the nearby Alpine peak for coolness in the summer and snowsports in winter. With such a number of attractive features combined with the variety and quality of entertainment and the multitude of hotels and villas, it is no wonder that it attracts visitors from all over both in summertime and wintertime. Weather information for Nice.