France is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world, and bare the language an extremely easy country to travel. Though distances might be quite far compared to home, covering all the main sights and cities is no problem at all since the road network is excellent.
Most tourists start with the obvious: Paris. Accommodating tourists is a major concern of the city administration and during high season they provide plenty of free parking space. If your vacation is supposed to cover all or even just some of France you will probably only have a few days in Paris, so you will want to stay with the traditional tourist tour: Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur Basilica, Panthéon, Louvre, Notre Dame, Versailles, Arc de Triomphe, Assemblée Nationale, Luxembourg Gardens – the list is seemingly (and factually) endless. As soon as your time in the capital is up, hit the Peripherique, the highway encircling the city, and just pick an exit.
We recommend a trip in western direction towards Bretagne (Brittany) region. This rugged beauty has preserved a special charm, and the locals are rough but welcoming and very down to earth. The obvious destination in the region is Brest, the biggest town. On the Atlantic shore it offers all the attraction one expects from an old seaport: there is a castle guarding the harbour, a defence tower (Tour Tanguy) right opposite it, plenty of seafront to enjoy and a number of good restaurants where fish and mussels are served with white wine and garlic.
Often overlooked but by no means less interesting is Quimper, an insider tip for Brittany region. Beautifully located on the confluence of no less than 3 rivers it features the gothic Saint-Corentin Cathédrale, medieval fortifications and countless little alleys framed by timber frame houses .
After a major jump south visit the Provence region and stop in Bordeaux and Toulouse on the way.
The Provence is quite different to the rough north, it is sunny and warm, and the air is full of lavender and rosemary. This is a particularly popular area among campers, especially the area around Mont Ventoux. Other places of note include Aix-en-Provence, the picturesque Roman city overlooking the river Arc. The rocky seaside and mountainous countryside have produced fantastic photo motifs like Le Barroux and Gordes, classic Provence hilltop towns, and the Château d'If, a fortified island.
Roman relics are scattered all over the Provence, and towns like Arles, Avignon, Nimes, and the village of Saint-Chamas are just a few examples of ancient towns in the region.
Marseilles, Nice, and Monaco are all worth a visit, and if you have to pick one because of time pressure, Marseilles is probably the most exciting, unless you like the extravaganza of Monaco.
Before we close a few words about driving in France. Few highways are completely toll-free, but the Routes Nationales, the country roads, are generally free of charge, allowing you to avoid pay stations. Book shops and gas stations sell maps which indicate toll-free sections.
The speed limit is 50 kmph in the city and 90 kmph outside, though on highways you can go up to 130 kmph. Speeding is a serious offence and fines are hurtful, and in residential areas you will find a lot of sleeping policemen.
On the bright side this means the French are quite relaxed and responsible drivers and once you get used to driving on the wrong side of the road you won’t have any problems.
