A walk through the French provinces. West of France. Tours to the provinces of France in the format of “Great Walks Tours in the provinces of France tour operator
The provinces of France, like Paris, are also famous for their attractions, ancient castles, fortresses, gardens and parks for which you can go on a trip. There are 34 provinces in France:
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Wherever you go on a trip to the provinces of France, everywhere you will get acquainted with the unique creations of the best architects and artists. The most favorable provinces for tourists are the following:
French Alsace is of particular interest to travelers. It is located a few hours away by car from the borders of Austria, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Moreover, almost all of these countries are united into a single visa area, which allows a guest of Alsace to visit other regions of Europe. Every turn of the winding roads of Alsace...
In the north-west of France is the peninsular province of Brittany, washed by Atlantic Ocean. The ocean has a positive effect on the climate of the region, due to which Brittany has fairly mild winters and moderate heat in summer. The coast is considered the “golden belt” of Brittany. River mouths, fjords, bays and coves have been formed over centuries. Here to Mont Bay...
The province of Normandy is located in the north-west of the country, near the English Channel. The province owes its name to the Normans, Viking sailors. Here, on the banks of the English Channel, are the prestigious resort towns of France: Deauville, Trouville, etc. The small town of Deauville is considered by many to be an additional district of the capital. The cozy resort is located very close to...
Champagne Province
The Champagne region is primarily a wine-growing region and one of the most beautiful areas in northern France. Champagne has been producing wine for over 2000 years. This is the birthplace of real champagne. The cities and suburbs of Champagne produce the most famous varieties of champagne wines, including Veuve Clicquot, Pommery,...
Province of Provence
Provence is, first of all, the famous region of France, the Cote d'Azur (Riviera), with such world-famous resort cities as Nice, the famous Cannes, as well as Saint-Tropez and Marseille. The names of these cities are strongly associated with luxurious life. Nice is the capital Cote d'Azur, magnificent resort, located in the Bay of Angels, surrounded by seaside...
Province of Languedoc
The province of Languedoc is located in the south of France, on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, it consists of two regions - the Lower (flat) and the Upper (mountainous). Languedoc has the largest number of cities that are famous for their monuments from the Gallo-Roman era. Among them is the city of Montpellier, where you can visit wonderful museums, the oldest Botanical Museum in the whole country...
Burgundy is considered the richest province of the country, a picturesque area among forest valleys and waterfalls. In the east of the region rise the Jura Mountains. The province is filled with architectural and religious monuments. The land of Burgundy was inhabited by Celts in ancient times. Then came the Romans, who were replaced in the 6th century by the Germanic Burgundians, who gave the country its name. She attracts...
Province of Aquitaine
The province of Aquitaine lies in southwestern France. The region is famous for its vineyards, seaside resorts and ports. The history of the province is rich in eras: Aquitaine was under the rule of the Romans, Visigoths and the English Empire. In the center of Aquitaine is the Bordeaux region with capital of the same name. Thanks to Bordeaux, Aquitaine secured the title of the largest wine producing...
This northern region, like other historical provinces, existed until the French Revolution of 1790, and after it all provinces were dissolved. French territory was divided into departments. The main purpose of this change was the need to replace the population’s devotion to the feudal regions with devotion to the central one located in Paris...
The Limousin province is located in central France and includes three departments: Corrèze, Creuse and Haute-Vienne. The main glory and attractiveness of this region and, above all, its main city of Limoges, is the fine production of porcelain, as well as ceramics and enamel. The development of porcelain is associated with Madame Darnay, who discovered such a substance as kaolin in the 18th century. She...
The province of Anjou is located in the northwestern part of the state, it is located in the lower part of the Loire River valley and entirely includes the Maine-Loire department, as well as some parts of the territories of such departments as Indres, Loire, Maine. Population is about 400 thousand people. The province was named so as part of the ancient Gallic tribe, which was renamed...
Angoumois is a historical area in western France; after the abolition of the provinces, it became part of the Charente department. Population 350 thousand people. Angoumois existed as a county since the 10th century and was annexed to the possessions of the French crown only in 1308. Then, from 1515, Angoumois became a duchy and in 1790 became part of the departments of Charente and...
Flanders is a historical territory that is located on the territory of three modern states, not only France, but also Belgium, as well as the Netherlands. Today, only part of the territory of Flanders is part of France, being part of the Nord department. This department is one of the first departments in France that were created after the Great French...
Berry is a historical province located in the center of France, once the Duchy of Berry, today its territory coincides with two departments - Cher and Indre. Population over 560 thousand people. The province of Berry is the main granary of France for the cultivation of grain, as well as the production of meat, milk and dairy products, and above all cheeses from...
Guienne and Gascony is a historical province located directly in the southwestern part of the country in the Garonne river basin. This province, like all the others, ceased to exist after the principle changed during the revolution administrative division countries. Guienne and Gascony includes 7 departments entirely and 6 partially. The population of the province is...
Dauphine is a historical province of France, the territory of which corresponds to the current departments of Isère, Drôme, and Hautes-Alpes. The province is located in the southeast of France, its most of located in the Alps and the Rhone River Valley. The province has a population of two million people. Dauphine - from the 12th century the title of the owners of the counties of Auvergne and Vienois (later...
Corsica is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, located 170 km in the southeastern part Cote d'Azur France. Central City- Ajaccio with a population of more than 260 thousand people, the main people living on the island are Corsicans. At one time the island was under the rule of the Moors, but later it came under the control of the Genoese...
Picardy is a historical province in northern France, it includes departments such as Aisne, Oise and Somme. The capital of Picardy is the city of two million - Amiens. It is Picardy that is considered the birthplace gothic architecture, here you can see six famous cathedrals. The largest of them is located in Amiens. The region began to be called Picardy in...
Roussillon is a historical province located in the southern part of France, midway between the Pyrenees and Mediterranean Sea(now the department of Eastern Pyrenees). The main city is Perpignan. It was here that the County of Roussillon was located in the Middle Ages, and then this area became the Catalan comarque of Roussillon. During the Roman era it was part of a province called...
Orléans is a very famous historical province of France until 1790; today, on its territory there are, for example, departments such as Loiret, Loire and Cher, as well as some territory of the departments of Eure and Loire and part of Yonne. In the past, this territory was owned by the Dukes of the Orleans family. The famous Loire River flows through the province. Loire Valley...
Maine is a former province that is located in the current departments of Mayenne and Sarthe. Its main city is Le Mans. During the time of the Romans, Cenomani lived on this land. This explains the name of the province. At one time it belonged to England - Saint Louis gave it to his brother Charles. Then, after the cessation of descendants of this family in the 15th century, she...
Franche-Comté is a historical province located in the east of the country. It occupies three percent of the entire territory of the country. It includes four departments - Doubs, Haute-Saône, Jura and Belfort Territory. This is the smallest and most environmentally friendly province of France. Translated, Franche-Comté means "Free County". This name was first...
Foix is a historical province of France until 1790, currently forming the Ariège department. This territory was annexed to France in 1607 by Henry IV. The main city has the same name: Foix. City of Foix The administrative center of the Ariège department is the city of Foix, the smallest French provincial capital. It is picturesquely located...
general description Ile-de-France is one of the 26 administrative regions of France, mainly coinciding with the territory of Paris. Its name literally means "Island of France", possibly derived from the ancient Frankish expression "little France". At first, in 1961, the province received the name "District of the Paris Region", but later it was...
General description of Comtat-Venaissin, historical region in the southeast of France, the lands around the city of Avignon, a significant part of the Vaucluse department (administrative region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur). From 1274 - part of the Papal States, in 1791 annexed by France. The county is also famous for the fact that between 1501 and 1791 it was...
General description Montbéliard is a historical province of France. The main city is Montbéliard. In fact, the city is sometimes called Sochaux-Montbéliard, since the eastern suburbs have long merged with the city, and in some way eclipsed it. Montbéliard - ancient medieval city, in 1397-1793 it was the center of the German principality of Württemberg as part of the Holy...
Province of Nice (Fief of Sardinia)
General description Nice is the fifth largest city in France, the second in the number of museums and also the “capital” of the Cote d'Azur. The city center is Place Massena, to the east are the old quarters of the city, to the west are the new ones. Well, the heart of Nice is the central embankment...
Attractions Mulhouse (German: Mülhausen) is the second largest city in Alsace. Mulhouse got its name from the construction of a mill. Here is a unique airport in Europe, from the building of which you can get to three different countries: Germany, France and Switzerland. IN summer time Planes also fly here from Russia. Since then the mill wheel...
General description of Auvergne - the region main city which Clermont-Ferrand. The area of picturesque landscapes is famous among tourists tired of the beaten path. You can get to Auvergne from different provinces of France by train, plane, or car. Health tourism is popular among vacationers. Thermal springs and therapeutic mud are the basis of health...
Today, tours to the provinces of France are offered by many travel agencies. However, we can recommend that you create your own route. Not always ready-made tourist programs include what will be of interest to you. Therefore, we recommend that you take a trip around France by car with your family. To organize your trip, you will need a map of France with provinces and our portal. We will try to tell you about everything interesting that this country has. Stay with us, it will be interesting further.
In modern France there are no official divisions into French provinces. The political and administrative structure of France involves dividing the country into departments. However, the historical provinces of France are still actively used not only by historians and archaeologists when conducting research, but also by ordinary citizens of this country. If you ask how you can get to Champagne, then the explanation will be quick and simple. Tourist tours in the provinces of France are also particularly popular. After all, most of them are built on an educational principle. During such a trip, you can not only study the history of the country, but also get acquainted with the ancient customs and traditions of France.
The historical provinces of France included 39 territories. The most famous of them are Normandy, Bordeaux, Champagne, Provence, Burgundy, Ile-de-France, Corsica, Nice, Alsace. This territorial structure France remained until March 4, 1790. During the French Revolution, it was decided to abandon the French provinces and switch to dividing the country using departments. Thus, the role of the provincial centers of France was diminished and the power of Paris was elevated.
The modern structure of France includes 96 departments with a population in each of them from 500 thousand to 1,000,000 people
Which French provinces are the most attractive to visit?
It is not possible to answer this question unequivocally. All French provinces are quite attractive for tourists. It all depends on what purpose you are visiting. this country. For example, if you are interested in the history of Napoleon Bonaparte, then you should start your trip from the island of Corsica. The historical province of France also has the same name. Here you can study in detail the entire biography of Napoleon and his life path. Corsica offers all the possibilities for this.
For a culinary trip, Provence and Champagne are more suitable. Here you will find the most exquisite dishes of French cuisine, world-famous wines and amazingly delicate French cheese. All this will be flavored with the aroma of Provencal herbs and dressed in a romantic Provencal style.
For lovers of active sea holiday We can recommend visiting the French province of Nice. On the Atlantic, its prototype is Brittany and Aquitaine. These historical provinces of France today provide maximum comfort for tourists during the summer months of the year.
For history buffs, we can recommend the French province of Normandy. You can add Burgundy and Bordeaux to it. Well, you won’t be able to miss the central province, on the territory of which Paris is located today. For ski lovers, we recommend the Alpine provinces and the Pyrenees.
Southern provinces of France
All southern provinces France are classified as tourist resort destinations and agricultural entities. Here you can combine a pleasant holiday on the Mediterranean Sea and excellent French cuisine. According to statistics, most tourists prefer to visit the southern provinces of France.
These include Nice, Corsica, Provence, Toulouse, Avignon. The tourism and service infrastructure is developed here. Organized daily for guests a large number of educational and educational tours of castles, architectural monuments and historical sites.
Northern provinces of France
The northern provinces of France are better known to us as ski resorts and sites of major historical battles. We recommend you visit Lorraine. This northern province of France is famous for many military battles. There are a large number of historical memorials and monuments here. Experienced guides will help you understand the history of modern France and feel the freedom-loving spirit of this people.
The northern French provinces of Savoy and Dauphine are regions of the French Alps. World famous ski resorts are located here. It is best to plan a visit to these lands during the winter months of the year.
First 2 weeks of September 2008.
Tour operator "DSBV"
Nice-Avignon-Pont du Gard-Nîmes-Carcassonne-Bordeaux-Cognac-Angoulême-Saint-Emilion-Arcachon-Sarles la Caneda-Rocamadour-Toulouse-Arles-Marseille + holidays in Nice
The trip was simply wonderful, very interesting and educational, although very difficult. Moreover, the flight was to Genoa (Italy), and then by bus to Nice. The tour was simply about endurance, because in the intense heat (it was more than +30) we had to walk almost 10 km with our legs almost every day, and even along mountains, steps, and abbeys. We must pay tribute, all the hotels along the route were from “3+” to “4 stars” with buffet breakfasts, i.e. with hot buffet, which is very cool and a rarity for a tour of France. I liked Nice, however, the dominance of Russian speech, you feel like in Sochi, and I went specifically to speak French. From Mount Chateau there is an incomparable panoramic view: the Bay of Angels, the English Promenade, palaces, parks, shops, restaurants. Bright sun, blue sky, turquoise sea. And all this is poetically called the Cote d'Azur! But personally I for beach holiday I would never choose Nice. The beach is large pebbles, it hurts your feet very, very much. And the equipped beach is no different: just a sun lounger - 20 euros, a soft mattress - 5 euros, an umbrella - 5 euros, and entering the water is just as stupid. I had to buy special swimming slippers.
Next we move to Avignon, famous for its bridge over the Rhone River, the Papal Palace and the Notre Dame de Dome Cathedral. The Rhone is wonderfully beautiful, its banks are simply buried in lush vegetation, and the emerald waters rush in a stormy stream. In one of the restaurants in the center of Avignon, a waiter approaches us, a purely Russian boy from Samara, whose mother married a Frenchman. Now he is French too. We eat amazingly tasty fish and wash everything down with rose wine. Mmm... How lovely! From Avignon we are taken to a wine tasting at Chateau Laurent Charles Brotte. These chateaus used to be castles, but now the chateau is an estate with outbuildings and endless vineyards. The tasting is conducted by the young owner himself and even with a guided tour. Of course, we buy 3-4 bottles of wine at a price of 20 to 50 euros each, remembering that the suitcase on the way back should weigh no more than 20 kg. From Avignon we move to a place called “Pont du Gard” (literally, “bridge over the Gard River”). Roman legionnaires also left their legacy here. A gorgeous, several-tiered aqueduct, which was built not by slaves, but by the Romans themselves with a good technical education. And a quiet village nearby. You can clearly see how the river is teeming with fish, and herons stand decorously along the banks. If I were an artist, I would immediately sketch this landscape! Next we go to the city of Nimes. He's not small at all. His coat of arms includes crocodiles. Residents are still fighting with the La Coste company, which allegedly stole their crocodiles. The city is decorated with huge arenas reminiscent of the Roman Colosseum. By the way, bullfighting is still held here, but bulls are not killed. There are a lot of beautiful squares and fountains, from the most ancient to the super stylish and modern. Everyone is allowed into the city hall; the doors there simply do not close. The canal itself along which we are walking is beautiful. We go into the "Garden of Fountains", admire the Temple of Diana, no one knows in what century it was erected. It’s hot, the sun is strong, no less than +33, and it’s already the month of September. But the photos will turn out great.
Then we move to the medieval fortified city of Carcassonne. As the French say sité, i.e. its central part is fenced with fortified walls with loopholes. The beginning of its construction dates back to the 15th century. I was there with my husband 6 years ago; we drove to Carcassonne from Spain. Nothing changed. Everything is just as beautiful, there are several museums: schools, ghosts and the Inquisition (the latter, by the way, is very interesting). And now about the town itself. It is located on very convenient routes, so everyone wanted to get their hands on it. He was besieged very often. And according to legend, during a long siege, Madame Carcass began throwing pigs from the fortress walls. By this she wanted to show the besiegers that the besieged inhabitants still had a lot of provisions. The siege was lifted... Since then the city has been called Carcassonne, and on the Narbonne Gate there is a bas-relief of Madame Carcasse. By the way, this is where the movie “Robin Hood” starring Kevin Costner was filmed. Wonderful little town. But we lived outside the walls of the site, in a simple city, however, also very old. Our hotel was called Terminu. Simple 3 stars +, the only hotel of this level, all the rest were normal European “fours”. I didn’t like the hotel, the reception desk looked like a train station in the design plan, but the hotel had a swimming pool and a jacuzzi. The rooms are tiny, between the sink and the bathtub directly to the toilet itself I made my way sideways and exhaled air!!!
After Carcassonne we move to Bordeaux. Surprisingly hiking trails Very little passes through this town. However, I didn't really like him. Big industrial city, very modern. And the wide and very dirty Garona River flows through it. True, it is dirty not from industrial waste, like our Moscow River, but from clay banks. I only liked the long embankment with a fountain, all in flowers, but it should have been called “Customs Embankment”! We live in Bordeaux for 3 whole days, going on excursions and returning to it. Here we have a very decent 4-star hotel of the Novotel chain. The room is large, spacious, with a luxurious bathroom and separate toilet. Which one then good restaurant This hotel, one might say, has gourmet delights! We drink wine a little at a time, but at breakfast, before lunch, at lunch, before dinner, at dinner, and after dinner. And we don't even get drunk. The wines are incredible!
Next we move to the city of Cognac, which stands on the beautiful Charente River. An amazingly beautiful bridge, all entwined with flowers. I can't resist taking pictures. The castle itself (chateau) belonged for many years to Baron Otar, who specialized in the production of cognac. Here the cognac is real, but everywhere else there is only brandy. And several centuries ago, the chateau belonged to Francis I himself. He was an extraordinary man for those times. Tall, healthy, with sloping shoulders and bent horseshoes with his hands. But he really loved the female sex, which is why he died prematurely. He had a mistress, Belle Froniere, and her husband could not forgive her for being the king’s favorite. He “awarded” his wife with syphilis, and she gave the king. The sad result is that all three died prematurely... But Francis did not forget about his wife, who bore him 7 children. We go into the chateau. The tour is conducted in Russian by a simple Ukrainian girl, who has lived and worked there for a long time, wearing a simple long dress stylized as a peasant woman. But we see mannequins in medieval clothes. Bah! Yes, this is Francis the First himself with Claudine of France and his retinue. I can't resist taking pictures! And then we are led through the vaulted halls and down into the cellars, shown the storage facilities, and told about the distillation system. And... finally, tasting. They pour little and little, and only 2 varieties. Of course, we also buy Otar cognac, the price ranges from 20 to 240 euros per bottle, depending on the V.S.O.P. or X.O.
Next we move to Angoulême. A medieval town, the old part of the city is again located high, high on the mountain. Oh, I'm crawling up! My poor legs, they are just buzzing with fatigue! The beautiful ancient St. Andrew's Cathedral, a modern theater, parks, squares, absolutely tiny and narrow streets. It seems that the city is sleeping, there are almost no tourists. And then here’s a very beautiful and old castle, now this is the mayor's office of Angoulême, surrounded by a stunning square with bright flowers and right there a monument to Margaret of Angoulême, the most educated woman of her time, by the way, the sister of Francis the First. IN free time We sit right in a restaurant near the Hotel de Ville (city hall) and, while drinking aromatic coffee, we meditate, i.e. We are transported to the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. Then we move to Saint Emilion. It is because of him that we chose this tour. Here are the best vineyards in France, here, not in Bordeaux. For information: in Moscow restaurants, a bottle of high-quality collection wine from the Saint-Emilion region costs from 5 to 10 thousand rubles apiece. The town is also very old, the cathedral is high on the mountain, and in its chapel there is a clock with such a melodious chime that you can’t help but listen to it, and the spire of the chapel soars high, high into the sky. There are apparently no liquor stores. And they offer free tasting in any of them. I buy one single bottle, but... for 155 euros. Oh, and my husband will kick me out of the house for SUCH a gift!!! Next we go to Arcachon, which is famous for its sandy beaches and oyster plantations. The beaches are indeed sandy, although not equipped. But there are plenty of seafood restaurants. Well, how can you deny yourself this? That's how clean ours is sightseeing tour It also develops into a gastronomic one. We order a huge plate of seafood, only 24 euros, and wine too! There is a huge dune in the city, its height is 115 meters, it gives the impression that you are in the desert. But the town is very nice, a real resort town and there are pine trees all around!
I really liked the city of Sarlat-la-Caneda (absolutely ancient), and we also went to the festive Saturday fair, where local farmers bring their products: excellent cheeses, smoked meats, fish, seafood and foie gros (goose liver pate). The province of Perigo is famous for this product. I really, really liked it here. Very old houses, but a modern, vibrant rhythm of life! Then there was tiny Arles, where Van Gogh lived and worked. Next, our path lies in the city of Rocamadour. Rocamadour Abbey is located high up on a steep cliff. When I heard that we were going there now, I almost fainted. “With your legs again?!” - a phrase involuntarily escaped from me, directed to the guide. It turned out that everything was simpler, they took us to the very top by bus, and from there, gradually downwards, along serpentine paths we went down to the town itself. The abbey is very old, it dates back to the 11th century, but everything is very beautiful, measured and calm.
And then Toulouse. Very Big city. A mixture of antiquity and modernity, an abundance of squares, parks and fountains. And there are a lot of Muslims, black people and homeless people. While we were relaxing at the Merkur Hotel in the very center of the city, it was in Toulouse that they tried to rob our bus at night. They knocked down a window near the driver's seat and got inside, but they stole little, some candy and cookies, apparently some teenagers got in. But the province of Languedoc has always been considered very, very rich. Remember Geoffrey de Peyrac, Count of Toulouse, who was richer than the king himself, from “Angelique - Marquise of the Angels” by Anne and Serge Gollon? Apparently Toulouse is not so rich now...
And then Marcel and his famous islands(Castle d'If and Frioul). We ate the famous bouillabaisse soup in Marseille. A plate for 38 euros, but nothing special, fish soup made from pureed lentils with fish, however, cooked according to a special, secret and time-consuming recipe. But most of all I didn’t like the fact that French is the second language in Marseille, the first is Arabic. There is a very large Muslim population. It was in vain that Charles de Gaulle allowed them into France in such a rank. And finally, the most famous cathedral, Notre Dame de la Garde, on top of which rises the golden Virgin Mary, stretching out her arms to the sea and protecting the peace of the inhabitants of Marseille. We ourselves, on a pleasure boat, go first to the island of If (remember the Count of Monte Cristo?), and then to the island of Frioul. All this is very close to Marseille. Honestly, I thought that in Marseille I would see drunken wandering sailors embracing whores. This is a huge port. But I didn’t see anything like that. And then again to Nice, to our 4-star Excellur hotel.
From Nice we went to the Principality of Monaco, beautiful and respectable. All Rolls-Royces, Lambarginis and Porsches. The wonderful gardens of Albert the First and himself princely palace. Even now everyone is allowed into it. And then to Monte Carlo, which is part of the city of Monaco. We also visited the famous casino. The entrance ticket is personalized, issued only if you have a passport and costs 10 euros. They don't allow you to take photographs there, which is a pity. Just luxurious palace with stucco and huge crystal chandeliers. Yes... I won’t be a lady. And although by Moscow standards everything is fine with my money, it was there that I strongly felt and realized HOW poor I was! And HOW far I am from this world. However, this did not upset me. I didn’t play in the casino, I just don’t know how, I “rooted” for our men! And now a little about the French in general: they eat great amount bread and croissants, while remaining not just fragile, but dry as a roach. There are a lot of expensive branded clothing stores in Nice; a friend bought a blouse for 270 euros for her student daughter in the Sonia Rykiel brand store on rue Paradis. Don't go to this street. The most expensive stores, the prices in which are incredibly “off the charts”. Sizes of fashionable clothes are mainly from 1 to 3 sizes, i.e. from 40th to 46th. And on the pedestrian street Massena there are the best restaurants. We especially liked the restaurant "Le Mirador", the seafood and marinated mussels served right in the shells are very good there! Overall, I really liked it measured image French life. They are never in a hurry at all, they enjoy and savor life according to full program. Everyone is obsessed with their body. In the morning, be sure to jog, bike or roller skate, and then aromatic coffee with a pile of croissants and the morning newspaper. They are actively fighting smoking; in restaurants they don’t even provide ashtrays, but put them on the street, on open verandas. And they themselves smoke a lot, a lot! The ticket for 15 days cost almost 2 thousand euros (price as of August 2008), I spent even more than 2.5 thousand euros there. All in the amount of more than 4.5 thousand euros. But she remained incredibly pleased. I plunged into the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, breathed in the real aroma of France, had a hearty conversation with the French, learned a lot of new things, and swam a little and sunbathed. Yes, the tour was very difficult, but since I survived, it means that it is accessible to everyone. I highly recommend this tour to lovers and deep connoisseurs of France.
Day 1 Moscow - Nice: Arrival V Nice.Detailed information on recommended flights from Russian cities and transfers is presented in the “Recommended Flights” section under the tour description. Transfer and hotel accommodation. We also organize transfers from Genoa. Free time.
After noon walking tour of Nice , founded by the ancient Greeks, which turned into a popular seaside resort European aristocracy. Many artists have linked their fate with Nice. IN Matisse Museum there is one of the largest collections of paintings by the master. IN Marc Chagall Museum presents works by the famous artist on biblical themes. Free time.
Day 2 Nice - Verdon Gorge - Moustiers Saint Marie - Roussillon - Marseille: Departure for a journey through the south of France along picturesque national roads. Visit on the way Verdon Gorgewith a stop at Lake of the Holy Cross. Then You will stop at a mountain village Moustier Saint Marie(~ 140 km), then you will have a stop at Roussillon(~100 km), which is a member of the Association of the "most beautiful villages France", with a short excursion and his famous natural park with ocher hills. Free time for lunch.
Then you will go to Marseille (~ 95 km). Accommodation at a hotel in Marseille. Free time. While in Marseille you should definitely tryBouillabaisse - Provencal fish soup, which is usually prepared for 2 - 3 people and which will cost about €50 - €60. You can try Marseille Bouillabaisse, for example in a restaurant Les Miramar at Quai du Port 12.Alternatively, you can also have a nice dinner in a restaurant Toinou at Cours Saint-Louis, 3 , located near the Old Port. Here you can try almost everything that local fishermen catch: oysters, shrimp, crabs, mussels, scallops, snails, which are delivered here 6 times a day!
Day 3 Marseille - Avignon: Sightseeing tour of Marseille, a port city in the south of France, founded by Greek traders in the 7th century. BC. At the top of the city is the Romano-Byzantine-style Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, which offers magnificent views of Marseille and is included in a city tour. The most famous modern buildings are the Radiant City complex, designed by Le Corbusier, and the CMA CGM Tower skyscraper by architect Zaha Hadid.
Free time. We recommend visiting Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations- a building in the form of a huge black cube near the Old Port. The roof of the museum offers beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea and the old port, and the building itself is connected pedestrian bridge with Fort Saint-Jean - St Jean of the 17th century. There is a good restaurant with original cuisine on the roof of the museum. Le Môle Passédat- address Quai du Port, 201. Lunch according to the “formula” will cost ~€20 here. Moving Avignon(~105 km). Hotel accommodation.
Day 4 Avignon - Pont du Gard - Nimes:Avignon walking tour - medieval city, famous for the Papal Palace of the 14th century. Papal Palace - a monument of history and architecture, object World Heritage UNESCO and one of the largest palaces in Europe. The Avignon Theater Festival is held annually. Free time in Avignon. We recommend visiting Papal Palace, where you can walk with an audio guide in Russian. If you climb to the very top, you will be able to see a beautiful panorama of Avignon overlooking the famous Avignon Bridge and the Rhone River. Free time for lunch.
In the afternoon, a trip to the monument of the Roman era - the aqueduct bridge Pont du Gard(~25 km). The Pont du Gard is the highest surviving ancient Roman aqueduct with a length of 275 meters and a height of 47 meters. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Then excursion to Nimes(~ 30 km) with a tour of the ancient Roman Arena for 23,000 spectators, built under Caesar, and the Maison Care Temple, erected under Emperor Augustus. We recommend visiting the Arena inside - it is still used for concerts - the acoustics are amazing. Free time. Return to the hotel in Avignon (~ 44 km)
Day 5 Avignon - Orange - Beau de Provence: Excursion trip to Provence. First you will go to the city Orange(~30 km). Orange, which was one of the most prosperous centers of Roman Provence under Emperor Augustus, is famous today mainly due to Ancient Roman theater, in which in the summer months are held music festivals. This horseshoe-shaped theater has no equal in terms of its state of preservation: the back wall is more than 100 meters long, and in the central niche stands a 3.5-meter high statue of Emperor Augustus. Next to the theater there is a wonderful museum dedicated to the history of Ancient Rome.
Transfer to a picturesque village Beau de Provence , which is included in the Association of “the most beautiful villages in France”, leads serpentine roads (~ 60 km). We recommend climbing to the very top of Beau de Provence, visiting the fortress and looking at the magnificent landscapes of Provence from above. The excursion day will end Wine tasting in Chateauneuf du Pape*. Return to Avignon.
Day 6 Avignon - Gordes - Senanque - Aix-en-Provence: Moving to a medieval village Proud(~50 km). A short stop. Medieval buildings dating back to the 12th century have been preserved here. Many people remember Gord from the movie " Good year". A short stop at Abbeys of Senanque(~ 5 km), located against the backdrop of lavender fields.
Moving to Aix-en-Provence(~75 km) is a university town in Provence, where the famous post-impressionist artist Paul Cézanne was born. The city is also known forEuropean Academy of Music and many art festivals. Excursion around Aix-en-Provence. Free time. Accommodation at a hotel in Aix-en-Provence.
Day 7 Aix-en-Provence - Arles - Camargue - Carcassonne: Moving to Arles(~80 km). Hiking around the city of Arles, one of the historical cities in the south of the country associated with history ancient Rome. Moving to Camargue(~12 km) regional natural Park South of France. Moving to Carcassonne(~228 km). Hotel accommodation in Carcassonne.
Day 8 Carcassonne - Bordeaux:Walking tour of the fortified city of Carcassonne, one of the most beautiful fortified cities of medieval Europe: a double ring of fortress walls, 52 towers with a length of fortifications of 3 km. It was here that Kevin Costner filmed the film “Robin Hood”, the setting for which was the walls of this famous fortress. Free time for lunch. Moving from Carcassonne to Bordeaux(~340 km). Accommodation at a hotel in Bordeaux.
Day 9 Bordeaux - Cognac - Angouleme: Walking tour of Bordeaux. A trip through the picturesque surroundings of Bordeaux with a visit to the city Cognac(~125 km). You will learn all the secrets of Cognac production technology and will be able to take part in a small tasting. You will learn what "Angel's Share" is. Then the city awaits you Angouleme(~47 km) with its famous cathedral. In the evening return to the hotel l in Bordeaux.
Day 10 Bordeaux - Saint-Emilion - Rocamadour - Narbonne: Moving to Saint-Emilion (~ 50 km) - delightful medieval town on a hilltop above a valley of vineyards on the right bank of the Dordogne river.
Moving to Rocamadour(~ 180 km) - a medieval city on the top of a cliff overlooking the Dordogne Valley, with an amazingly beautiful scattering of medieval houses, churches and terraces, a place of pilgrimage for believers and tourists, one of the three most visited attractions in France. Excursion to Rocamadour. Free time for lunch. Moving to Narbonne(~320 km). Hotel accommodation.
Day 11 Narbonne - Sigean - Nice: Walking tour of Narbonne. Moving to the safari park Sizhan(~22 km). Sigean Safari Park is considered a unique African wildlife sanctuary in France. Sizhan is interesting because here you cannot see the usual enclosures in which their inhabitants huddle closely. All collected animals are in conditions close to their usual habitat and roam freely around its territory. Entrance fees are payable on site: 35 euros. Transfer to Marseille (~ 280 km). Free time for lunch. Transfer to Nice (~ 200 km) - the capital of the Cote d'Azur of France. Hotel accommodation.
Day 12 Nice:
"EXTRA PACKAGE NICE"
Day 12 Nice: Free time in the morning. After noonExcursion to Monaco On the way, stop at the medieval the village of Eze, rising at an altitude of 427 meters above the peninsula of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, from where beautiful views to the Cote d'Azur, with a visit Perfume factory and perfume museum. During your free time in Monaco, we recommend visiting the magnificent aquariums at the Oceanographic Museum and the Garden of Exotic Plants. Fans of vintage cars will be interested in the Prince of Monaco Automotive Museum. Return to Nice.
Day 13 Nice: Excursion trip Cannes - Grasse with a visit to the perfume museum. Cannes- the venue of the famous Cannes Film Festival and the city Grass- the capital of French perfumery, located 20 km from the seashore, has retained its provincial charm. You will see a picturesque Old city, on the streets of which ancient perfume shops still operate.
Day 14 Nice: Free time. Transfer to Nice airport.
Regions of France – provincial magic perfection
Well, when the word “province” evokes only delight and a storm of emotions, your eyes run wide from tempting prospects, and your head is spinning with tempting possibilities! If you are experiencing something similar, you are probably planning a trip to France.
Planning to visit a European pearl, as if matured in mother-of-pearl doors neighboring countries, the first thing you need to decide is which of the 27 regions of France to go to, what type of vacation to choose for an unforgettable trip.
Whether you want to spend a week in Paris, ride the Golden Circle of France, listen to the Legends of Provence, go on a train tour to Cannes, or visit Prague, Paris and Nice in one trip, "DVM" will help you decide on the direction and route.
Thanks to the diversity and richness of the tourist infrastructure, the variety of climatic zones and landscapes, regardless of the time of year, a holiday in France will be excellent at any time of the year, whatever the purpose of your trip.
Sunbathe on the luxurious beaches of the Cote d'Azur or explore undersea world off the coast of rocky Brittany, try your luck at the Monte Carlo casino or get acquainted with the collections of the Louvre, Versailles and the Mahe Foundation. Arrange yourself a sightseeing tour of the castles of the Loire, the center of Paris or the famous Russian cemetery of Saint-Genevieve des Bois? Or maybe a healing tour to Evian with a world-famous mineral water or a trip to the waters in Vichy? But what about the Alpine “Three Valleys” with the ski resorts of Courchevel, Meribel, Saint-Martin?! And finally, we need to take the children to Disneyland and arrange a shopping tour of French boutiques...
Or stop racking your brains and create an individual tour to France visiting everyone interesting places, cities and provinces?
So that your visit to France brought maximum joy, impressions and benefits, "DVM" offers you informational reviews on French cities and provinces, thanks to which you can understand in which part of France you would be comfortable spending your vacation, vacation, business trip, family holiday or improve your health.
Regions or provinces of unitary France- these are its administrative-territorial units, subordinate to a single state system law, supreme authorities and the constitution. All 27 provinces (22 on the mainland and 5 overseas territories) receive a share of taxes and have their own budget, which is distributed among departments. So every province is almost small state with its capital, departments subordinate to it, rich cultural and political-economic life. At the same time, in any part of France there is uniform legislation, norms and standards that apply to the entire country. So in the country you can safely move from province to province, paying attention only to the climatic features of the region and choosing types of recreation that are relevant during the season of your trip to France.