Each year France has more visitors from overseas than any other country in the world. This is for various reasons: the country has magnificent scenery, great beaches, a large number of historic monuments and medieval villages; and of course, Paris itself – the Eiffel Tower alone attracts 20,000 visitors each day!
So how best to discover France yourself? The perfect way is to stay in one of the countless self catering resorts. These vary in size type and location and can be anything from a small cottage in the country to a luxurious clifftop villa with a private swimming pool.
The main attraction is that you will be staying in exactly the same kind of property that the French people themselves live in.
Paris
Paris is the number one romantic destination in the world – or at least that’s what it would tell you if it could talk. The thing about Paris is this. It’s extraordinary, it features some of the most stunning historic architecture and street layouts in the world – but it is also a pain to get around and potentially even more frantic than London. Going to Montmartre (where a lot of Moulin Rouge was supposed to take place, and where all the artists hang out hoping to paint tourist’s pictures) at any time of day, on any day of the week, is an exercise in stamina; and some of the central streets are as busy as Fifth Avenue in the spring.
That said, there is nothing more romantic than wandering by the Seine with a loved one, or sharing a streetside meal by candlelight in the right parts of the city. Plus, unusually for tourist locations, even places like Montmartre serve a decent meal. It is France, after all.
Nancy
Nancy’s a nice place to take a loved one – there’s enough of it to make it feel like a city, but it’s way smaller and less crowded than Paris. Central Nancy can be walked around, and the buildings you’ll see when you do are extraordinarily well kept. Plus the town has a central pedestrian area surrounded by gilded gates and parks, which used to be the grounds of a palace (now an administrative center. Streetside eating doesn’t get more romantic than sitting out in the evening surrounded by gold statuary.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux isn’t the dream of every romantic, but if you like your culture with a twist of independent sensibility then it’s the place to head. An ideal destination for travelers who like their culture with an edge. Bordeaux is full of tiny galleries and bars doubling as gig spaces. If you like live music, you’ll love Bordeaux. It’s got some nice parts as well, particularly out at the edges of the city center – where winding streets and tall old buildings can conspire to give the impression you have slipped back in time.
The Massif Centrale
The mountain range running through the middle of France is home to some of the most beautiful villages in Europe. If you’d asked an artist to sit down and paint you a picture of an idealized European village, the towns in and around the Massif Centrale are what you’d get. Little villages and hamlets surrounded by miles of lush woodland; gentle valleys; and lakes. There’s an air of Bavarian country life here, too, but not quite as spiky: the architecture is less Hansel and Gretel and more like the hamlets you might see in a fantasy film. You’d half expect to see a group of hobbits drinking in the local inn.
Check the location of your holiday home. Some are close to towns but some are really very rural, often several kilometers from the nearest shop or restaurant. In any case, you will almost certainly need to hire a car in France if you want to make the most of your visit – public transport in rural areas is limited and there will be many places you can’t reach without your own transport.
If this is your first visit to France you will need to decide which region to visit since the country is too large to explore properly on one trip. The most popular areas are Brittany and Normandy in the north, the Loire Valley in the center of the country, and Provence on the Mediterranean coast. In a contrast to the crowds of Provence, you could try the Languedoc region a little to the west – cheaper and less busy than the French Riviera, the region has a great deal to offer, from mountains and crashing rivers to long beaches and castles.
Wherever you go, a holiday village in France has something to add to a romantic break. Pick the countryside for a bucolic retreat; and choose a city if you want to throw some culture into the mix.
Happy visiting!