The Mini Rough Guide to France (Travel Guide eBook)

By Rough Guides

This pocket-sized travel guide to France is a convenient, quick-reference companion to discovering what to do, what to see and how to get around the destination. It covers top attractions like Provence, as well as hidden gems, including Périgord. Our France guide book will save you time and enhance your exploration of this fascinating country. This France travel guide has been fully updated post-COVID-19.

This Mini Rough Guide to FRANCE covers: Ile de France, The Northeast, The Southeast, The Southwest.

In this guide book to France you will find:

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVERY TYPE OF TRAVELLER
Experiences selected for every kind of trip to France, from cultural explorations in The French Alps to family activities in child-friendly places, like Versailles or chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas, like Paris.

TOP TEN ATTRACTIONS
This France travel guide covers the destination's top ten attractions not to miss, including The Eiffel Tower, the Côte d'Azur, Versailles, Disneyland Paris, Parc Asterix and a Perfect Day itinerary suggestions.

COMPACT FORMAT
Compact, concise, and packed with essential information, with a sharp design and colour-coded sections, this guide book to France is the perfect on-the-move companion when you're exploring Normandy.

HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL INSIGHTS
Includes an insightful overview of landscape, history and culture of France.

WHAT TO DO
Detailed description of entertainment, shopping, nightlife, festivals and events, and children's activities.

PRACTICAL MAPS
Handy colour maps on the inside cover flaps of this travel guide to France will help you find your way around.

PRACTICAL TRAVEL INFORMATION
Practical information on eating out, including a handy glossary and detailed restaurant listings, as well as a comprehensive A-Z of travel tips on everything from getting around to health and tourist information.

STRIKING PICTURES
Inspirational colour photography throughout.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Insight Guides
• Release date: Jun 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9781839059421

Rough Guides

Rough Guides are written by expert authors who are passionate about both writing and travel. They have detailed knowledge of the areas they write about--having either traveled extensively or lived there--and their expertise shines through on every page. It's priceless information, delivered with wit and insight, providing the down-to-earth, honest read that is the hallmark of Rough Guides.

Book preview

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HOW TO USE THIS E-BOOK

Getting Around this e-Book

This Rough Guide Mini e-book is designed to inspire you and help you plan for your visit to France, and is also the perfect on-the-ground companion for your trip.

The guide begins with our selection of Highlights, plus a Perfect Itinerary feature to help you plan an unforgettable trip. The Introduction and History and Culture chapters give the lowdown on France, past and present, while the Out and About chapter is a comprehensive guide to all the best sights. You will find ideas for getting active in Things to Do, while the Food and Drink chapter introduces you to the local cuisine and gives listings of our favourite restaurants by area. Travel Essentials offers just that; practical information to help you plan your trip. Finally, Where to Stay provides a special selection of hotels for every budget.

In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.

Maps

All key attractions and sights in France are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map], tap once to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.

Images

You’ll find lots of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of France. Simply double-tap an image to see it in full-screen.

About Rough Guides:

Published in 1982, the first Rough Guide – to Greece – was created by Mark Ellingham and a small group of friends who couldn’t find a guidebook to meet their needs. Combining a contemporary, journalistic style with a thoroughly practical approach to travellers’ needs, the immediate success of the book spawned a series that rapidly covered dozens of destinations. These days, Rough Guides include recommendations from budget to luxury and cover more than 120 destinations worldwide, all regularly updated by our team of ever curious, roaming writers. These Rough Guide Minis may be small, but they are packed with information and inspiration and offer amazing value for money.

© 2023 Apa Digital AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd.

Table of Contents

10 Things Not To Miss

A Perfect Tour of Normandy & Brittany

Overview

Geography

The Northwest

Border Country

Wine Country

Southern Heartland, Côte D’azur And Corsica

The Capital

A Cultural Responsibility

History and Culture

From Gaul To France

The Middle Ages

The Ancien Régime

The Sun King

The Revolution

Napoleon Bonaparte

Towards Democracy

The Third Republic

War And Peace

May 1968

The Presidents

Into The 21ST Century

Out and About

Paris

The Islands

The Right Bank

The Left Bank

West Paris

Ile-de-France

Versailles

Chartres

Fontainebleau

Parc Astérix and Disneyland Resort Paris

The Northeast

Nord-Pas-de-Calais

Picardy

Compiègne

Senlis

Chantilly

Champagne-Ardennes

Lorraine

Metz

Alsace

Burgundy

The Jura

The Northwest

Normandy

Brittany

Loire Valley

The Southeast

Savoie

The Rhône Valley

Auvergne

Provence

The Côte d’Azur

Corsica

The Southwest

Berry-Limousin

Périgord

The Atlantic Coast

The Pyrenees

Languedoc-Roussillon

Things To Do

Sports

Outdoor Pursuits

Winter Activities

Water Sports

Spectator Sports

Entertainment

Classical Music, Opera And Ballet

Theatre

Jazz

Rock

Clubbing

Cinema

Shopping

Shopping By Area

Opening Hours

Market Shopping

Buying Direct

Tax

Food and Drink

Where To Eat

Menu Choices

What To Eat

Regional Cuisine

What To Drink

Apéritifs

Wine, Beer and Water

Digestifs

Useful Phrases

To Help You Order…

…And Read The Menu

A–Z Travel Tips

A

Accommodation

Airports

B

Bicycle and moped hire

Budgeting for your trip

C

Camping

Car Hire

Climate

Crime and theft

D

Driving

E

Electricity

Embassies and consulates

Emergencies

G

Gay and lesbian travellers

Getting there

H

Health and medical care

L

Language

M

Maps

Media

Money

O

Opening times

P

Police

Post offices

Public holidays

T

Telephones

Time differences

Tipping

Toilets

Tourist information

Transport

V

Visas and entry requirements

W

Websites

10 THINGS NOT TO MISS

iStock

1. The Côte d’Azur

This glamorous stretch of coast has long been the playground of the rich and famous. For more information, click here.

Public domain

2. Bayeux Tapestry

Normandy’s great treasure and a fascinating glimpse into the past. For more information, click here.

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3. Lascaux

The 17,000-year-old cave paintings in Périgord are the jewels of an area blessed with many prehistoric remains. For more information, click here.

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4. The Eiffel Tower

One of the most evocative images of France. For more information, click here.

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5. The French Alps

This spectacular natural border to the east is a magnet for skiers. For more information, click here.

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6. Provence

This southern region is packed with historical and cultural gems. For more information, click here.

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7. Versailles

A magnificent palace every bit as extravagant as its creator, Louis XIV. For more information, click here.

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8. The Loire Valley

The elaborate châteaux are icons of romance. For more information, click here.

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9. Wine tours

Exploring the vineyards of Alsace, Burgundy or the Rhône Valley makes for a fabulous driving holiday. For more information, click here, For more information, click here and For more information, click here.

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10. The Louvre

This erstwhile palace is now home to the largest art collection in the world. For more information, click here.

A PERFECT TOUR OF NORMANDY & BRITTANY

Day 1

Discover Normandy. Whether approaching from Paris or the Channel ports, our tour starts in Rouen, the home of Impressionism. Begin by exploring its spectacular cathedral and its many historic sights before heading north to the coast to the picturesque port of Honfleur or elegant Deauville. Enjoy the catch-of-the-day at a nearby seafood restaurant.

Day 2

World War II. Head west along the D513 to Caen to visit the memorial museum, which places the D-Day beaches in context. Alternatively continue over the Pegasus Bridge directly to the D-Day beaches. After the poignant experience make your way south to Bayeux to spend two nights.

Day 3

Bayeux Tapestry. Given that the queues can be long make an early start to view the wonderful Bayeux Tapestry. There is, however, more to the town than this treasure, so wander the streets of this ancient place that retains its buildings untouched by war and discover some excellent restaurants. If there is time, go back to the coast on the D6 to the attractive fishing village of Port-en-Bessin.

Day 4

Mont St-Michel. Head out early southwest on the D57 bypassing St-Lô and on to the D999 south to Villedieu-les-Poêles, then take the more scenic D924 to Granville and hug the coast road to Mont-St-Michel. Here you can explore the Benedictine abbey with its spectacular views of the bay. Do not cross by any other route than the causeway as the tides are rapid and the quicksands dangerous. Continue along the coast road and stay the night in the walled city of St-Malo.

Day 5

Explore Brittany. Spend the day in St Malo, stroll its attractive streets or take a bracing walk with views of the Emerald Coast. Or relax at the elegant resort of Dinard. Then check out the pretty town of Dinan just inland. If it happens to be a Thursday there is a colourful local market.

Days 6-7

Back to nature. Take the faster route via the E50 165km (103 miles) to Morlaix and then the D769 south to Huelgoat and spend a couple of days walking or cycling in the enchanting Parc Régional d’Armorique, staying in a B & B in the pretty little town.

Day 8

Ancient Carnac. Continue (approx. 130km/81 miles) south cross-country on the D769 and finally follow the coast road to Carnac with its fascinating megaliths. Learn more about the ancient stones at the Musée de la Préhistoire. There are plenty of places to spend the night and you can round off the day with a seafood meal.

Day 9

Beachside. Head south to relax on the beach at sophisticated La Baule or, to wind down, visit the fishing port of Le Croisic on the peninsula. If you need to stretch your legs there are some great hiking trails along the rugged coastline.

Overview

For many years France was a nation of internal contrasts – between the more urban and industrial north and the rural south, between the intellectual élite and the largely agricultural workforce, between chic Paris and the less sophisticated provincial cities – and a nation that saw itself as standing alone, distinct from all others. Much has changed in recent times. Paris is no longer the exclusive Mecca for ambitious young French from the provinces; cities around the country are attracting young professionals who want to escape the more frenetic life in the Ile de France; the number of agricultural workers has shrunk dramatically; industrial and high-tech centres have sprung up around the country; provincial cities are developing their own international reputations; and immigration and increasing migration of populations within a ‘border-free’ European Union are blurring the edges of the French identity.

Quality of life remains a paramount preoccupation. It is no accident that the French are best known for their food and wine, their clothes and perfumes, their art and monumental architecture. Their love of perfection serves them well.

Lie of the Land

France is by far the largest country in Western Europe, a hexagon measuring some 1,000km (620 miles) from north to south and east to west. It is bounded by three seas (the English Channel, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean) and three mountain ranges (the Pyrénées, the Alps and the Jura). The country’s four main rivers are: the Loire, running west to the Atlantic from the plateau of the Massif Central; the Seine, flowing northwest from Burgundy through Paris to the Channel; the Garonne, which comes down from the Pyrénées past Toulouse and Bordeaux to the Atlantic; and the Rhône, which starts in the Swiss Alps, then turns south at Lyon and flows down to the Mediterranean.

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Pretty Honfleur

Geography

France is blessed with an astonishing variety of landscapes: long, high dunes on the Atlantic Coast; craggy coves in Brittany; vineyards in Burgundy; steep gorges in the Tarn Valley; volcanic landscapes in the Auvergne, olive trees, umbrella pines and cypresses in Provence and beautiful beaches in the Côte d’Azur. At around 550,980 sq km (212,735 sq miles), France is the 48th largest country in the world. It escaped the gouging glaciers of the Ice Age, so on the whole its landscape is mellow and pastoral, characterised by gentle hills and plateaux, carved by deep river valleys. Imposing mountains lie only along the eastern and southern frontiers. Outside the major urban industrial areas, the rural population is spread thinly over huge areas.

Later geophysical development in the southeastern Garonne region left profound impressions between younger and older hills, providing perfect conditions for the formation of valuable minerals as well as oil and natural gas. To add to France’s fortune, an extensive network of rivers, such as the Garonne, provides much fertile agricultural land. Some 34 percent of the land is farmed, and although the economic importance of the agricultural sector is declining, there has been a substantial increase in the number of small organic farms in recent years.

The Northwest

To the northwest of the country are Brittany and Normandy, each with independent peoples and traditions dating back millennia. The thatched cottages, bent apple trees and locally produced cheeses and ciders of Normandy contribute to the region’s popularity as a place to visit. Many painters, understandably, have been drawn to the gentle green countryside, dotted with fields of black-and-white cows under a dramatic and often stormy sky, as well as to the picturesque, colourful fishing ports along the coast.

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Corsica’s rugged landscape

Further to the west, the craggy coastline and harsh landscape of Brittany continue to evoke the druidical presence of the region’s original Celtic roots. Particularly intriguing are the mysterious fields of megaliths and the pink granite rocks of the Corniche Bretonne. Fishing is a major industry in this area.

The subdued Loire Valley, dug out by France’s longest river (980km/609 miles), remains one of the country’s chief tourist attractions. The splendid châteaux and gardens of Touraine are still redolent of the glory of the Ancien Régime and its aristocratic pleasures.

Border Country

To the northeast are the old provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. The Rhineland is the least well defined of the six borders of the hexagon, and the result has been an unending series of nasty territorial disputes between France and Germany over the past few centuries. Alsace was especially valuable because its mines turned France into an important producer of iron ore. The city of Strasbourg, which houses the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, has a German feel in its architecture and its culinary specialities but it remains nonetheless defiantly French. Indeed, that paragon of French patriotism, Joan of Arc, hailed from neighbouring Lorraine, although she was martyred by the English in Rouen.

Located not far south from Strasbourg are the gentle Jura mountains and below them the French Alps, which stretch all the way down to the Alpes Maritimes and Côte d’Azur in the far south of the country. The imposing icy white peak of Mont Blanc, at an impressive 4,810m (15,780ft), is the highest mountain in Europe, and its broad-shouldered shape, once seen, is never forgotten.

Wine Country

A large number of French towns and provinces are most famous for the high-quality wines that bear their name. Bubbly, for example, is the Champagne region’s best-known offering, but the entire northeast is also a major industrial and agricultural region. Similarly, the long river valley running parallel to the eastern frontier and connecting the Saône with the Rhône River not only cradles the vineyards of the regions of Burgundy, Beaujolais and the Rhône, it also aids communication between the north of the country and the south.

Southern Heartland, Côte d’Azur and Corsica

Directly south of the Loire Valley is the enormous Massif Central, which lies in the heart of the country and supplies France with much of its grain. The strange puys of Auvergne (steep conical hills, caused by volcanic eruption during the earth’s formation) contrast pleasantly with the rolling hills, plateaux and deep river valleys of neighbouring Périgord and Limousin, located just over to its west.

Parlons français !

When Charles de Gaulle died, Noël Coward was asked what he thought God and the General would talk about in heaven. Coward replied: ‘That depends on how good God’s French is.’ Although outdated, the witticism captures French nationalism at its most confident.

That the lush Dordogne river valley, in Périgord, has been the site of human settlements for thousands upon thousands of years is evidenced by the prehistoric cave paintings found in its grottoes, particularly the enigmatic depictions of horses, elk and bison surrounded by arrows and strange symbols in the Lascaux cave complex, discovered in 1940 by two boys out walking their dog. Lascaux 4 opened in 2016, a spectacular replica of the paintings housed in a modern centre nearby the original site.

Further south still, basking under blue skies, is the sunny Midi. The landscape here, with its reds, yellows and browns, is very different again, with sun-baked clay buildings and a slower pace of life. That said, not even the south is visually uniform: the wide, yellow fields that seem to stretch forever, the even rows of plane trees and delightful red towns of Languedoc meld into the impossibly verdant Pyrenean mountain range towards the Spanish border, or the Cévennes and Ardèche national parks away to the east.

Many of the old southern cities, such as Toulouse, Montpellier and Nîmes have been quick to embrace the modern age, although there is still an indefinable languor about all of them. Montpellier is perhaps the most dynamic, with its many new buildings, a thriving university and medical school and TGV link to Paris, while Toulouse is famous for its aerospace industry and Nîmes has imaginative new housing and facilities for the arts. There is certainly no languor, though, about the bustling seaport of Marseille, the jet-set towns of the Côte d’Azur and, of course, the cosmopolitan principality of Monaco, tucked between France and Italy.

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Paris

The Mediterranean island of Corsica not only seems like a separate country to the northerner, it would even become one if the independence movement had its way. Its wild, barren landscape, steep cliffs and mountains and lovely beaches make it an interesting destination.

The Capital

At the country’s heart, slightly north of the geographical centre, Paris nestles in a basin that is ideal for industrial and commercial enterprise, comfortably surrounded by the forest and farmland of the Ile-de-France. The city has been called everything from a ‘whore’ by Henry Miller to ‘one of the most noble ornaments of the world’ by Montaigne. It remains the centre of everything French and the nexus of French transport (all distances in the country are measured from the square in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral). It is one of the world’s great fashion capitals, is revolutionary in its grand arts and architectural projects and also has one of the best-preserved city centres in Europe. It has a distinctive population – stylish, intellectual and reputedly strong minded – and very different from the rural French.

A Cultural Responsibility

If the land itself is the most obvious source of French pride, the nation’s cultural wealth is just as important, as is exporting that wealth to the rest of the world. Philosophy and the fine arts do