Notable Cities and Towns of France Agen | Lot-et-Garonne | Aquitaine| 47000 Agen is a large town located on the river Garonne between Bordeaux and Toulouse. The area is known for its excellent stone fruit (prunes), brandy and champion rugby team. Agen is a great place from which to take boat cruises or to hire canal boats as it provides access to over 300km of navigable waterways. Getting to Agen by road is via either Toulouse or Bordeaux on the A62 Autoroute. Flying to Agen from the UK is best via Bordeaux, Bergerac or Toulouse. Agen is well served by trains as well via Bordeaux, Limoges and Toulouse. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Albi | Tarn | Midi-Pyrénées | 81000 Albi is the principle town in the Department of Tarn. Albi was founded during the bronze age (prior to the Roman Empire) making it a very old town. It was a major centre of Cathar resistance to the Catholic Church during the middle ages. This resistance was brutally crushed by the Church and northern nobles in what was known as the Albigesian Crusades where thousands were massacred for their faith. Today Albi is a pleasant and attractive provincial city that makes an excellent base for exploring the Midi-Pyrénées and Languedoc-Roussillon regions. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Ajaccio | Corse-du-Sud | Corse | 20000 Ajaccio is the second largest city in Corsica located on the west coast of the island. It was the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. Its economy is reliant upon tourism and receives direct flights from Marseille, London and Paris. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Aix-en-Provence | Bouche du Rhone | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 13080 Aix-en-Provence (pronounced - axe on provonce) is located 30km north of Marseille with a population of 137,000. It is an important regional centre, a university town (one of the oldest in France) and is also a thermal spa. The city was founded as a Roman colony in 122 BC as a major outpost in what was then known as Roman Gaul. Aix, as it often referred to, is an attractive city known for its fine architecture and gentle climate. It is good base from which to explore the Provence Region. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Amiens | Somme | Picardie | 80000 Amiens (pronounced Ahm-yen) is the prefecture (administrative capital) of the Department of the Somme in north western France which was the site of many horrific battles during World War One. Now a peaceful regional centre it is a good base for exploring the Somme based around the river of the same name where it is possible to hire a canal boat. Official Tourism Site| Other notable sites: Angers | Maine-et-Loire | Pays-de-la-Loire | 49000 Angers is an important city in the Pas-de-la-Loire Region of Western France. Angers sits on the banks of the River Maine and can trace its human habitation as far back 400,000BC. It was home to a Gallic tribe known as the Andecavi who were overrun by the Romans who called the city Juliomagnus. In the 12th Century Angers was the capital of the ancient provence of Anjou which controlled much of southern France. Today this stately and historic city of approximately 160,000 people is a hub for tourism of the Loire Valley and a major university research centre. It is also the place where the well known liquour Cointrea is made. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Angoulême | Charente | Poitou-Charente | 16000 Angoulême is an old provincial city located between Bordeaux and Poitiers. Circled by ancient ramparts with narrow cobbled streets, Angoulême built its prosperity on the paper industry established in the middle-ages and lasting until the 1980s economic downturn. It still maintains a small niche industry concentrating on high end product however. Every September Angoulême hosts ‘Circuit des Remparts’, a vintage car rally around the ramparts of the city, drawing enthusiasts from around the world. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Apt | Vaucluse | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 84200 Apt is the main town for the Luberon area of Provence. It was originally a Roman colony (Apta Julia) founded in 125 BC and is now an important wine, honey and truffle producing area. Apt has excellent weekend markets. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Arcachon | Gironde | Aquitaine | 33120 Arcachon is a popular seaside resort on the Altantic coast near the mouth of the Gironde River. In summer it swells with holiday makers from Bordeaux 50km away. Arcachon is set on a large lagoon protected from the Atlantic surf. It is famous for its oysters and the enormous 'Dune du Pilat', a massive sand dune near the town that affords a great view over the coast and expansive pine forests. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Arles | Bouche du Rhone | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 13200 Arles is an ancient settlement on the banks of the Rhone at the head of the Camargue delta. Originally founded by the Greeks in the 6th Century BC it eventually became a major Roman city in their province of Gaul. Arles has a host of important Roman ruins that are World Heritage Listed including an arena that once held 20,000 spectators and rivals the Colosseum of Rome. Modern Arles has a population of 50,000 and is an important tourism and agricultural centre, being France’s main rice producing area. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Auch | Gers | Midi-Pyrénées | 32000 The attractive town of Auch is the prefecture of the Gers Department in Midi Pyrénées, one of the most traditional regions of France. People from the Gers have the greatest longevity in France which they put down to their consumption of the local red wine and brandy (Armagnac) as well as a diet heavily reliant upon duck. Like many towns of similar size in the Midi (south) Auch has a good rugby team. Auch was the location for popular French movie ‘Le Bonheur est dans le Pre’ which starred French soccer legend Eric Cantona as a rugby player. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Avignon | Vaucluse | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 84000 Avignon is an important city in Provence and once one of the most important in the world as it was briefly the seat of the Pope. In 1309 Avignon was chosen by Pope Clement V as his residence and remained the papal home until 1377 when the residence returned to Rome. Avignon is located at the junction of the Rhone and Durance Rivers and is the prefecture for the Vaucluse Department. It has a population of around 90,000 and is one of the most visited cities in France thanks mainly to the magnificent Papal Palace and because it is the gateway to Provence. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Bastia | Haute Corse | Corse | 20200 Bastia is the main port and commercial centre of the Mediterranean island of Corsica and has a population or around 40,000. It relies heavily on tourism and agriculture as there is little in the way of industry on the island. Corsica has always agitated for independence from France and has gained some autonomy, but this has not translated into economic benefit. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Bayeux | Calvados | Basse Normandie | 14400 Bayeux in Calvados, Basse-Normandie (population 15,000) is best known for the Bayeux Tapestry commissioned by William the Conqueror to commemorate his great victory over England in 1066. The tapestry is over 70 metres long and is housed in a purpose built museum in Bayeux. It basically tells the story of the lead up to the Battle of Hastings. It is one of the most important and instructive artworks remaining from this period in history. Bayeux is the closest large town to the D Day beaches and as such is a popular base for visitors to Normandy. Official Tourism Site Bayonne | Pyrénées-Atlantiques | Aquitaine | 64100 Bayonne is located at the confluence of the Ardour and Nive rivers near the Spanish Border. It is the main centre in the French Basque Country and many of its inhabitants speak Basque and proudly maintain the culture. Its Spanish influence is evident in the area’s passion for bull fighting (there is a bullfighting arena) and the huge Fete du Bayonne held every summer that rivals Pamplona. The old quarter of ‘Petit Bayonne’ offers a lively bar scene that has a distinctly Spanish flavour. Official Tourism Site Bergerac | Dordogne | Aquitaine | 24100 Bergerac is on the Dordogne River in eastern Aquitaine. The town services an important agricultural and wine area and has an attractive ‘old town’ with medieval half timbered houses. Official Tourism Site Besançon | Doubs | Franche-Comté | 25000 Besançon is the capital of the Franche-Comte Region. It is located on a bend of the Doubs River near the Swiss Border and 325 km from Paris. A handsome and historical city, Besançon is dominated by the impressive Citadelle of Besançon. Sitting on heights overlooking the city, the citadelle has been restored and now houses a variety of attractions within its grounds such as a zoo, several museums and even an aquarium. The ski fields of the Jura and Doubs mountains are a short drive from Besançon. Official Tourism Site Biarritz | Pyrénées-Atlantiques | Aquitaine | 64200 Biarritz was originally established by the Vikings in the 9th century. Today it is a beautiful seaside resort and a major centre for France's Basque population. It is also an emerging surfing destination and is on the world professional circuit.Biarritz also has a champion rugby team, winners of several national titles in recent years. Official Tourism Site Beziers | Herault | Languedoc-Roussillon | 34500 Beziers is an important regional centre and market town in Languedoc-Roussillon Region. It is located beside the River Orb and the Canal du Midi and has a population of around 70,000. A relative new comer, Beziers was founded during the middle ages unlike many towns in the region that trace their origins back to Roman times or beyond. Beziers is the centre for the Languedoc wine industry and is served by Autoroutes and TGV. Official Tourism Site Blois | Loir-et-Cher | Pays-de-la-Loire | 41000 Blois is situated on the River Loire betweens Orleans and Tours. It is home to one of the finest renaissance chateaux in France, Chateau de Blois. The town makes a good base from which to explore the Loire Valley and all its chateaux. Official Tourism Site Bourges | Cher | Centre | 18000 Bourges is an attractive city located in France’s Centre Region. It has a handsome medieval quarter and an impressive gothic cathedral. The city hosts a major music festival every summer featuring every thing from chamber music to hip hop. Bourges is worth a visit for the keen golfer as there are ten courses located around the city. Official Tourism Site Brest | Finistère | Bretagne | 29200 Brest is an major port and shipbuilding centre on France’s west (Brittany) coast. It is also the main base for the French Navy. Virtually obliterated by Allied bombing during World War Two (it was a major German submarine base) little in the way of notable architecture remains. The city's strength is its people who have remained true to their Breton language and culture. The Bretons are Celtic people and have much in and share origins with the Scots, Welsh and Galicians of Spain. Brest cuisine is most readily associated with seafood, crepes and cider. Brest is a gateway to the beautiful Brittany and Normandy coastlines. Official Tourism Site Brive | Corrèze | Limousin | 19100 Brive-la-Gaillarde is small provincial city located in the Limousin Region in the south west that dates back to the 1st Century BC. It was one of many places in the region to suffer during the Wars of Religion that raged for decades during the middle ages. The city was fortified during this period with thick stone walls from which the ‘Gaillarde’ (French for strong or brave) was added. Brive’s principle claim to fame these days is that they have a champion rugby team competing in the French and European Cups. Official Tourism Site Caen | Calvados | Basse Normandie | 14000 Caen is the capital of the Basse-Normandie Region of north western France with a population of around 20,000 (greater metropolitan area). This region was settled by the Vikings in the 8th Century who rose to great prominence in medieval Europe as the Normans (from Norsemen). William the Conqueror grew so powerful that he was able to successfully invade and defeat England (Battle of Hastings in 1066), be crowned King of that country and change the course of history. Caen suffered terribly during the Second World War in particular around the time of the D Day Landings in June 1944. The huge Norman Castle built by William the Conqueror was one of the few historic buildings to survive the assault by British and Canadian forces on the city. Official Tourism Site Cahors | Lot | Midi-Pyrénées | 46000 Cahors is located on the River Lot in the Midi Pyrénées Region of southern France. It has been an important trading town for centuries, pre dating the Roman era. The town has a population of around 25,000 with wine being one of the principle industries, producing a highly prized red. Tourism is important with many visitors coming to see the well preserved medieval quarter and impressive medieval bridge spanning the River Lot. Official Tourism Site (in French only) Calais | Pas de Calais | Nord-Pas de Calais | 62100 Calais (pronounced Kallay) is known primarily as France’s main channel port and interface with England. On a fine day the white chalk cliffs of Dover can be seen across the channel. It is where the majority of channel ferry traffic comes to and is the French side of the Eurotunnel. Calais has a well preserved medieval quarter, but these days most of the action is on the outskirts where massive ‘hypermarkets’ have sprung up to service day trippers from England taking advantage of France’s lower tax rate on alcohol and tobacco and luxury foods. Some of the largest supermarkets in the world are located here and a large proportion of visitors to Calais go no further than the hypermarkets. Official Tourism Site Cannes | Alpes-Maritimes | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 06400 Cannes (pronounced - cahn), just down the road from Saint Tropez is another of the Cote d’Azur hotspots. Known world wide as the home of the Cannes Film Festival held every May. It has many ritzy hotels and an attractive esplanade and beach (known as the Croisette). Cannes is worth a visit, but as with any well known tourist hotspots in Europe good value is hard to come by. 15 May 2010 - 17 May 2010 From 16-18 May, the glitzy city of Saint Tropez celebrates its military history and its patron saint Tropes (after whom the city is named). The origins of the event are thought to date back to 1554 when the Saint Tropez Chapel was completed in honour of Tropes whose body is said to have arrived here in AD68. In a tradition that still survives today, the people of Saint Tropez honour this date with the three-day celebration during which participants don old French military uniforms and traditional clothing. Festivities begin at dawn on 16 May with a traditional gun salute and are followed by ritualistic re-enactments of historical ceremonies and a procession that ends at the Saint Tropez Chapel. Wearing traditional Provencal clothing, pilgrims attend a service in the chapel the following morning on 17 May. In the afternoon, the traditional Bravades procession of the previous day is repeated again. On 18 May, the final day of the Bravades, thousands of locals and visitors join in the procession that ends with an outdoor feast and dancing before returning to the chapel to pay final respects to the patron saint Official Tourism Site Carcassonne | Aude | Languedoc-Roussillon | 11000 Carcassonne is a fortified city in the Aude Department of the Languedoc Roussillon Region. Carcassonne is strategically located along a trade route between Toulouse and the Mediterranean. It dominates the valley formed by the Massif Central and Pyrénées Mountains through which the Canal du Midi, the Autoroute and TGV line now pass. The city of Carcassonne with its double ring of stone ramparts and 53 towers is a World Heritage listed site and well worth a visit. Official Tourism Site Carpentras | Vaucluse | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 84400 Carpentras has Graeco-Roman origins and was an important settlement in Roman Gaul. In the middle ages it was the most important Jewish centre in France and is home to the country's oldest synagoge. Nowadays it is an important wine making centre and a popular base for those exploring the beautiful Provence hinterland. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Castres | Tarn | Midi-Pyrénées | 81100 Castres is a provincial city in the Languedoc area. It has had its share of trials and tribulations throughout history. Plagues and religious turmoil (Catharism and Protestantism) over the centuries have battered Castres (like many towns of the south). Its survival is testament to its resilient people and became a major centre for textile production during the industrial revolution. It also was the birthplace of the French union movement. Castres is economically dominated by the Pierre Fabre Group (pharmaceuticals). Castres Olympique, the local rugby club (founded in 1898) figures strongly in the French national competition. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Chambéry | Savoie | Rhône-Alpes | 73000 Chambéry located at the foot of the French Alps is a gateway to 110 ski resorts including some of the best in Courchevel, Val d’Isere and Tignes. The region is prosperous due to tourism and also for the fact that many high tech multinationals are chosing to locate their European operations there. Chambéry is very well served by flights from the UK. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Chartres | Eure-et-Loire | Centre | 28000 Chartres is the Precfecture of the Eure-et-Loire Department in the Centre Region. It is an ancient city founded by the Canutes, then becoming a Roman town. Its medieval cathedral is World Heritage listed and the surrounding medieval heart is very well preserved. The picturesque Eure River flows through the town’s centre and there are some beautiful parks and gardens. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Châteauroux | Indre | Centre | 36000 Châteauroux is located near Chartres in the centre region. It was the birthplace of Gerard Depardeiu and has a national 2nd division soccer team. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Clermont-Ferrand | Puy-de-Dome | Auvergne | 63000 Clermont-Ferrand is twin city consisting of Clermont and Montferrand located in the Auvergne region of central-southern France. It sits on a plain in the Massif Central (a large volcanic plateau) area and is surrounded by extinct volcanoes. The site of Clermont-Ferrand was where Julius Caesar suffered a rare defeat at the hands of Vercingetorix. Eventually the Romans prevailed and it became an important Roman colony. Clermont-Ferrand is the headquarters of the giant Michelin tyre corporation that has branched out into mapping, travel and food publications. AS Montferrand competes in the French rugby first division. There is an international short film festival held in Clermont-Ferrand every February. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Cognac | | Poitou-Charente | The town of Cognac is situated on the Charente River between the towns of Angoulême and Saintes with a population of around 10,000. The town gives its name to one of the world's best-known types of brandy including many famous brands such as Hennessy, Remy Martin and Courvoisier which are produced in the area. Cognac has an interesting and attractive old quarter that was once the a busy river port and is now popular river cruising stop over. Make sure you take a tour of one of the local Cognac producers. Official Tourism Site Colmar | Haut Rhin | Alsace | 68100 Colmar is an attractive city on the Lauch River in the Alsace region of northeastern France. The prefecture of the Haute Rhin Departement, Colmar has changed hands between France and Germany several times and has only been part of France since the end of World War One. It has an unusual microclimate, being the driest city in France, which helps it produce its excellent Alsatian white wine. The city has an attractive Medieval quarter made up of many well preserved half timbered houses set on canals earning the name ‘Petite Venise’. Colmar is 64km south of the important city of Strasbourg, capital of the Alsace region and home to the new European Parliament. Official Tourism Site Dax | Landes | Aquitaine | 40400 Dax is a small provincial city in southern Aquitaine region. It was established by the Romans after having discovered it had thermal springs. It became an important spa town for the Romans and continues to this day with the French. Thousands come to Dax each year for their ‘Thermal Cures’ which is covered by the French health system. By some quirk of French law designated Spa Towns are allowed a casino so this small provincial city is slightly different to its contemporaries. Corrida (bloodless bullfighting) is hugely popular and there is an impressive bullfighting arena located next to the 16,000 seat rugby stadium of US Dax, the town’s other passion. Dax is on the TGV line to Bordeaux and Paris and is 40km from Biarritz Airport Official Tourism Site Dijon | Côte-d'Or | Bourgogne | 21000 Dijon is capital of the Bourgogne (Burgundy) region of central eastern France. Established by the Romans as an outpost of their empire Dijon eventually became an important city during the middle-ages as home to the powerful Counts of Burgundy. It is centre of one of the world’s great wine regions and has one of the best preserved medieval quarters of any city in Europe. Dijon also gave the world Dijon Mustard and is an excellent food destination. Dijon is 315km from central Paris or around 90 minutes on TGV. It is also well served by Autoroute but has no significant airport. Official Tourism Site Dunkerque | Nord | Nord-Pas-de-Calais | 59140 Dunkerque (Dunkirk) is a small port city on France’s Channel Coast that is forever linked with the British Army’s escape back to England in June 1940 (Operation Dynamo) after having been routed by the Germans. Dunkerque was once part of the Netherlands and its name means ‘Church of the Dunes’. The Allied invasion of France in 1944 by-passed Dunkerque and its German garrison who had heavily fortified the town. The Germans did not surrender until the war was over. Much of the town was destroyed by bombing during the war. There are daily ferry connections to Dover. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Foix | Ariège | Midi-Pyrénées | 09000 Foix is a handsome medieval city located in the Eastern Pyrénées not far from Andorra and Spain. The town is watched over by a Medieval castles and surrounded by high mountain peaks making for an impressive setting. It is a good base from which to explore this end of the Pyrénées. Foix is 90km from Toulouse and 240km from Barcelona. Official Tourism Site Frejus | Var | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 83600 Frejus is a beautiful seaside town located between Toulon and Cannes. It was established by Julius Caesar in 49 BC and is filled with monuments including one of the largest amphitheatres from that era. Frejus is a highly sought after seaside resort and is packed during July and August. Official Tourism Site Gap | Hautes-Alpes | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 05000 Gap is small city at the southern foothills for the French Alps that was founded by the Romans in 14 BC. It has a pleasant climate somewhere between Mediterranean and Alpine and has a diverse environment including over 3000 plant species. An unusual feature in the area known as Les Demoiselles Coiffées (the hatted young ladies) is a mysterious row of stone columns with a hat-shaped rock formation on the top of each. Gap is a good base for skiing in winter or escaping the heat in summer. Grasse | Alpes Maritime | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 06130 Grasse is the centre of the French perfume industry. Its pleasant microclimate is perfect for cultivation of flowers and other aromatic plants used in the production of perfume. Grasse is situated about 20km from Cannes and the Mediterranean coast at an altitude of 350m. Official Tourism Site Grenoble | Isere | Rhône-Alpes | 38000 Grenoble is known as the ‘Capital of the Alps’ being the largest city in the French Alps and surrounded by more than 20 ski stations. Located in the Isere River Valley it is about an hour from Lyon. One of the most visited sites in Grenoble is ‘La Bastille’, a series of fortifications built into the surrounding mountains which are accessible via an impressive cable car. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: La Rochelle | Charente-Maritime | Poitou-Charente | 17000 La Rochelle is a port city of around 80,000 inhabitants located on France’s Atlantic coast between Nantes and Bordeaux. It has a lovely old quarter around the port with a good range of seafood restaurants. Excursions out of La Rochelle include boat trips to Fort Boyard (location from the Lara Croft game and movie). La Rochelle is also a good base for exploring the Cognac and Armagnac regions famous for their brandy. The excellent Puy de Fou theme park is also located near La Rochelle. Ryan Air, Easyjet and Flybe all offer connections to the UK. Official Tourism Site Le Mans Le Mans is a charming and historic town in western France. It has a beautiful old quarter and cathedral, but is better known as the location for the Le Mans 24 hour motor race. Official Tourism Site Les Sables-d’Olonne Les Sables d'Olonne is a major resort, yachting harbour and port on the French Atlantic coast. It is home to several nautical events every year, including the prestigious Vendée Globe race. Les Sables d'Olonne is a lively resort and has plenty to offer. There are 20km ocean beaches within easy reach of Les Sables d'Olonne, while the main beach, Grande Plage des Sables d'Olonne, is a long south-facing sandy beach. Official Tourism Site Limoges | Haut-Vienne | Limousin | 87000 Limoges (pronounced Lih-mohj) is a regional city in central France located on the banks of the Vienne River. It was an important settlement in Gaul which was Romanised in 10BC. The city is renowned for its porcelain products and is an important centre in the production of Cognac. It is on the TGV line between Paris and Bordeaux and has daily Ryan Air connections with the UK. Official Tourism Site Lorient Official Tourism Site Lourdes Official Tourism Site Mâcon | Saône-et-Loire | Bourgogne | 71000 Mâcon is a small city in the Bourgogne (Burgundy) region. It is located on the Saone River and in the transport corridor between Paris and Lyon. It is an important centre in one of the world’s oldest wine producing areas, the Burgundy/Beaujolais region. The Tour de France regularly passes through Mâcon on its descent from the Alpes. Lyon and its international airport is 70km to the south. Official Tourism Site Metz | Moselle | Lorraine | 57000 Metz is capital of the Lorraine Region of northeastern France. It is close to the borders of Luxembourg and Germany and was at one stage part of Germany. It is an industrial centre but retains some historic charm. It is located on the Moselle River home to the white wine of that name. Metz has embarked upon an ambitious urban renewal program and trying to change its economic direction to high tech. Metz is 360 km east of Paris via the Autoroute and is a useful base for exploring the Champagne region and the Maginot Line. A new TGV line linking Paris to Metz is soon to be completed. Millau Official Tourism Site Mulhouse | Haut Rhin | Alsace | 68100 Mulhouse is located close to the junction of the French, German and Swiss borders. The rivers Ill and Doller flow through the town on the way to the Rhine River. Like most towns in this area it has had a succession of rulers and as late as 1918 was considered part of Germany. Mulhouse has an attractive old quarter with a large number of well preserved ‘half timbered’ houses. Notable attractions of Mulhouse boasts a number of attractions including the Printed Textile Museum, Mulhouse Zoo, ‘Train City’, Europe’s largest train museum and the National Automobile Museum. Something for the whole family. Mulhouse Markets are also the largest in the region. The important regional airport known as Euro Airport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiberg is unusual in that it is jointly administered by France and Swizerland. It is a key air hub for northeastern France and southwestern Germany as well as for the Swiss city of Basel. Official Tourism Site Nancy | Meurthe-et-Moselle | Lorraine | 54000 Nancy (pronounced Noncee)is capital of the Lorraine region in northeastern France. It is an elegant city of many beautiful historic buildings including the magnificent squares of Place Stanislas, Place de la Carriere and Place d’Alliance. The area has changed hands between France and Germany over the centuries and was once known as Nanzig. Its cuisine is excellent, being the birthplace for such famous dishes as Quiche Lorraine, rum babas and Macaroons. Nancy is well served by train and road, but has no major airport although is 170km from a major hub in Basel-Mulhouse. AS Nancy competes in French soccer’s first division. Official Tourism Site Narbonne | Aude | Languedoc-Roussillon | 11100 Narbonne is located in the Aude Departement of the Languedoc-Roussillon Region. It was established by the Romans as Colonia Narbo Martius in 118BC located on the first Roman Road in Gaul called the Via Domitia. Nowadays it is a quiet provincial city of around 50,000 that is best known for decent wine and rugby. It is located on the main transport corridor (TGV and Autoroute) from France to Barcelona in Spain and has the Canal du Robine running through it. Although inland it is not far from the Languedoc coast and its many beaches. Official Tourism Site Nîmes | Gard | Languedoc-Roussillon | 30000 Nîmes (pronounced Neem) is in the Gard Departement of Languedoc-Roussillon region. It is one of the oldest settlements in France. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of buildings dating back to 1800BC. In 50BC it became the Roman colony of Nemausus and eventually one of the most important cities in Roman Gaul. Many of the Roman monuments remain including one of the best preserved amphitheatres anywhere. Nimes of today has a more Spanish feel about it especially the city’s passion for bullfighting and that it is an important olive growing area. The city has a lively nightlife and excellent dining options. It is served by the TGV and Autoroute and has daily flights to London with Ryan Air. Official Tourism Site Orange | Vaucluse | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 84100 Orange is a large town in northern Provence. It was established by the Romans in 35BC and retains many well preserved monuments from the time. Orange sided with the Protestant cause as did many cities in the south, during the Wars of Religion. It maintained strong links with Protestant Holland and the colour Orange is still a symbol of Protestantism around the world. It is often heard in relation to Northern Ireland, but also Orange Free State, South Africa and Orange New South Wales. Orange is at the crossroads of two major Autoroutes and not far from the Rhône River. It is an excellent base from which to explore the famous Côtes du Rhône wine region. Official Tourism Site Orleans | Loiret | Centre | 45000 Orléans is an ancient and important city in central France with a population of around 120,000. It was a major centre for the Gallic Celts and later for the Romans, naming it after the Emperor Aurelian (eventually becoming Orléans). The city built a reputation as a centre for learning since the 6th century and was extremely influential throughout the middle ages. The university in Orleans was established only a few years after Cambridge and the Sorbonne. Joan of Arc made her name here (the Maid of Orléans) successfully lifting the English siege on the city, marking a turning point in the ‘Hundred Years War’. Orléans is the namesake for New Orleans in Louisana, which the French sold to the United States in 1803. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Pau | Pyrénées-Atlantiques | Aquitaine | 64000 Pau (pronounce Poh) is an attractive small city at the foot of the Pyrennees Mountains approximately 100km from the Atlantic Coast of France. Pau is a university town and also has a strong sporting flavour to it hosting a Formula 3 Grand Prix motor race as well as strong basketball and rugby union. Pau has a long association with England as it was a garrison town for the Duke of Wellington's troops during the Peninisula War of 1815. It became a popular tourist destination for the English aristocracy in the 19th Century due to its pleasant climate. Pau has an international airport with links to UK and Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Perpignan | Pyrénées-Orientales | Languedoc-Roussillon | 66000 Perpignan was established in the middle ages and has passed between various rulers including Spain and currently France. At its heart however it is Catalan and is much closer spiritually and geographically to Barcelona than Paris. It sits on a narrow plain between the Pyrénées and the Mediterranean astride the main transport corridor between France and Spain. Perpignan is a colourful and lively city of many festivals and pageants. It has a team in the French rugby Top 14 competition and a growing tourism sector with numerous air connections to the UK. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Pézenas | Herault | Languedoc-Roussillon | 34300 Pézenas is a pretty market town in the Herault Departement of Languedoc-Roussillon. It was once the seat of local Government for the Languedoc during the 16th-17th Centuries. It produces very good reds, roses and white wines and specialty foods. There are several excellent restaurants in the town offering regional dishes. The old town has many artisans practicing their crafts such as leatherwork, jewellery making, glass blowing, metal work, painting and sculpture that have been passed down from generation to generation. Pézenas is also major antique centre and the town hosts one of the most popular markets in the region every Saturday. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Poitiers | Vienne | Poitou-Charente | 86000 Poitiers is capital of the Poitou-Charente Region of western France. It predates Roman occupation of France and is the centre of an important agricultural region. Located along the TGV line between Paris and Nantes, Poitiers has almost become a satellite of Paris due to these high speed trains. The availability of land combined with good transport links made Poitiers first choice for the major theme park, Futuroscope. The park attracts visitors from all over Europe arriving directly into the park on TGV. Futuroscope has in turn encouraged several other smaller theme parks and zoos to the area so it has become a popular family destination. There are also several thermal spa centres and watersports venues. Ryan Air has daily connections between Poitiers and the UK. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Reims | Marne | Champagne-Ardenne | 51100 Riems (pronounced remm) is the largest and best known city in the Champagne-Ardenne Region although it is neither capital of the region or even Prefecture of the Departement of Marne. Its fame lies in the fact that it is at the epicenter of the production of Champagne. Reims is also an important historic city containing no less than four World Heritage Listed buildings such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Saint-Remi Basilica, Tau Palace and Saint Remi Museum. The city endured significant damage during both world wars, but has been restored to its former glory. Reims is 165 km from Paris and is a popular tourist centre for day trippers. It is connected to Paris by rail and autoroute and relies on Paris airports for air access. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Rennes | Ile-et-Vilaine | Bretagne | 35000 Rennes is capital of Brittany. It is located inland from the Breton coast on the River Villaine. A fire in the 18th Century destroyed many of Rennes handsome half timbered buildings although several remain. The city was rebuilt and features many parks and gardens. It is a university town so has a youthful energy. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Rodez | Aveyron | Midi-Pyrénées | 12000 Rodez is a small city in the Midi Pyrénées region of southern France. It is a quiet backwater that like many towns in the south has had a turbulent past. A Roman town for several centuries, it was then fought over during the Wars of Religion. It was ruled by the counts of Toulouse and remains in that city’s shadow today. This is the place where Roquefort cheese is made and is good base for exploring the Tarn Gorges, Rocamadour, the Dordogne and seeing the incredible Viaduc Millau, the world’s tallest bridge opened in 2006. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Rouen | Seine-Maritime | Haute Normandie | 76000 Rouen is the capital of Normandy and was William the Conqueror’s home base. During the middle ages it was one of the largest and most prosperous cities of northern Europe. Rouen of today is still an important city in France with a well preserved medieval quarter and a large and impressive cathedral. Rouen also holds an important place in French history as it is where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. Rouen stages an annual medieval festival in the cathedral square with re-enacted battles, knights in armour parade on horseback, costumed performers put on displays of juggling, fencing and falconry supported by a full cast of jesters, fair maids, stilt-walkers, peasants and artisans. Craft demonstrations and food stalls are among the attractions, which are rounded off with a grand parade, cathedral illuminations and a firework display Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Royan | Charente-Maritime | Poitou-Charente | 17207 Royan is situated at the mouth of the Gironde River on the Atlantic coast north of Bordeaux. Established in the Middle ages, Royan was a quiet fishing town until sea bathing became popular in Europe in the 19th Century. The town was commandeered by Napolean as an R&R base for his armies. Over the years it developed as an attractive seaside resort boasting two casinos and a wealth of activities. There are many beautiful beaches in the area and Royan is a popular sailing destination. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Saint Emillion | Gironde | Aquitaine | 33330 Saint Emilion is one of the four principle wine regions around Bordeaux. So highly regarded is this area that the vineyards are World Heritage Listed. Saint Emilion is a well preserved medieval town featuring many impressive stone buildings. There is also a network of ancient catacombs and tunnels underneath the town, many of which have Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Saint-Étienne | Loire | Rhone Alpes | 42000 Saint-Étienne is a city located on the Massif Central (Auvergne Region). It lies on the route between Lyon and Toulouse and was once an important industrial centre notably for arms manufacture owing to the coal and iron ore found in the area. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Saint Malo | Ile-et-Vilaine | Basse Normandie | 35400 Saint Malo is a beautiful walled medieval port city on the Brittany coastline. Located near the famous Mont Saint Michel (one of France’s most visited attractions) Saint Malo is a major ferry port with connections to southern England. It is an excellent base to explore the Brittany and Normandy regions including the D Day Beaches. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Saint Tropez | Var | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 83990 Saint Tropez, located on the Cote d’Azur has a reputation as a playground for the world’s rich and famous. During the summer months the quay of this medieval era fishing port is bumper to bumper with sleek super yachts. It is worth a visit for a spot of people watching to see how the other half lives. Fortunately this is free, but pretty much everything else will cost. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Sarlat-la-Caneda | Dordogne | Aquitaine | 24200 Sarlat is a beautifully preserved town in the Dordogne area consisting of many fine examples of late medieval architecture and much of the CBD is car free giving it a lovely atmosphere. Sarlat is a fantastic place to eat, boasting many fine restaurants specialising in the local delicacies of duck, foie gras and truffles. It is also an excellent base from which to explore the beautiful surrounding region including Domme, Beynac and Le Roc Gageac. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Sète | Herault | Languedoc-Roussillon | 34200 Sète is fishing port established in the middle ages located on located on a narrow spit of land between the Mediterranean and the Thau Lagoon (Etang de Thau). Sète has long been known as a nautical center and currently serves as a training base for America’s Cup teams and has ferries sailing to North Africa. Sète has some major summer festivals dating back centuries associated with the sea. Dining in this historic port naturally revolves around seafood (fruit de mer) and the many specialties of the area including oysters from the Thau Lagoon, a major oyster producing area. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Strasbourg | Bas Rhin | Alsace | 67000 
Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace Region in northeastern France and is also one of two locations of the European Parliament. It is a city of approximately 600,000 located at the junction of the Ill (pronounced il) and Rhine Rivers. Strasbourg’s medieval city centre Grande Île (great island) is World Heritage listed. The city has a very Germanic feel which is no coincidence as it has changed hands between France and Germany several times. The last time was during World War One. Strasbourg’s foot in each camp history made it the ideal site for the European Parliament with the Germany and France as the main players in the European Union. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Tarbes | Hautes-Pyrénées | Midi-Pyrénées | 65000 Tarbes is the Prefecture of the Hautes-Pyrénées Departement at the foot of the central Pyrénées mountains. It is an attractive and well laid out town with a view of the snow capped Pyrénées. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Thionville | Moselle | Lorraine | 57100 Thionville (pronounced tea-on-vil) is an attractive city on the picturesque Moselle River which is at the heart of the Moselle wine region. Thionville sits near the border with Germany so has suffered through the various Franco-German conflicts over the centuries. Between the two world wars massive underground fortifications that were part of the Maginot Line were constructed near Thionville. Several of the forts of the ‘Great Wall of France’ have been restored and visitors can take tours through them. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Toulon | Var | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 83000 Toulon is an important coastal city and port on the Mediterranean with a population of around 200,000. It is a military town being the home base to the French Navy's Mediterranean fleet so probably lacks the glamour of Nice and Cannes further along the coast. It is however in a beautiful location and not being so touristy, accommodation is not likely to be as expensive so could make a good base for exploring the area. Toulon has a rugby team in the Top 14 professional competition if that’s your cup of tea. Toulon has low cost airline connections to London, Brussels, Brest and Rotterdam. Tours | Indre-et-Loire | Centre | 37000 Tours is an attractive city on the banks of the Loire River, was a established as a Gallo-Roman settlement around 2000 years ago. The history of Tours is an interesting and turbulent one. It was where the advancing Moors (arabs from North Africa) were halted in 732 by Charles Martel (still revered in France today). It became one of the most important religious sites in Christendom during the middle ages. During the renaissance period Tours was one of the most enlightened cities in France. There was a large Protestant (often referred to as Hugenots) population who developed an important silk industry that saw the city prosper. The Edict of Nantes saw the removal of all protection of the Hugenots in France and massacres followed soon after and the mass exodus of protestants from France began. During the Franco-Prussian War with Paris under siege, Tours became the capital of France for several months. Tours today is rather genteel, priding itself speaking the purest French in the country and having beautiful gardens. It has a reputation as being a little staid, but with a large student population and proximity to a marvelous wine region this is debatable. Tours is on the main TGV line to Paris so is only about an hour away from the bright lights. Ryan Air flies there daily from London. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Troyes | Aube | Champagne-Ardenne | 10000 Troyes was founded by the Romans in the Ist Century AD and remained relatively small until the early Middle Ages, and the rise of Champagne. During the middle ages the rulers of Champagne fortified their prosperous capital. The walls were demolished in the 1800s and the city was redesigned in the shape of a champagne cork. Many beautiful half timbered medieval buildings remain however in the city’s historic quarter. For the soccer fan, Troyes has a team in the French First Division and for the shopper there is a huge complex of factory outlet stores called Marques City. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Uzès | Gard | Languedoc-Roussillon | 30700 Uzès was established as a Gallo-Roman fortified town (oppidium) at the source of the Eure River. It was from here that the aqueduct supplying the Roman city of Nîmes was built and included the magnificent Pont du Gard taking the water across the River Gard. Like many towns in the south Uzès suffered through a series of religious based conflicts over the centuries that have marked their character. Uzès has changed very little over the past few centuries and remains an attractive market town that is popular with visitors. The surrounding countryside is known as the Garrigue, which is a low hilly scrubland found around the Mediterranean. This area is known for its production of herbs. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Valence | Drôme | Rhône-Alpes | 26000 Valence is an important city in the southern part of the Rhone-Alpes region of southeastern France. Established as a Roman colony named Valentia Julia, Valence shares an ancient pedigree with other cities and towns of the south. Valence however is also looking towards the future attracting several French high tech electronics and avionics companies. Valence is close to the famous wine region of Cotes du Rhone and like most good wine regions has excellent gastronomic experiences too. Valenciennes | Vannes | Morbihan | Bretagne | 56000 Vannes (pronounced van) is an important town in Bretagne and an attractive, well sheltered port. Tracing its origins to the Roman era, Vannes successfully resisted Julius Caesar’s attacks for some time, providing the inspiration for the Astérix comic book series. Vannes is Prefecture of the Morbihan Departement and popular destination for yachtsmen. There is a well preserved old town with many attractive ‘half timbered’ houses remaining from the late medieval period. Vannes is also something of a military town, being home base to the French Marines. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Versailles | Yvelines | Ile de France | 78000 Versailles is a city on the western outskirts of Paris that is home to one of the most remarkable palaces on earth, the Chateau de Versailles. Versailles was commissioned by Louis XIV and in 1682 was made the capital of France. The chateau and city were planned and laid out symmetrically with no expense spared. It was the object of admiration throughout Europe underlining France’s dominance of the continent. Today the city Versailles is basically a wealthy outer suburb of Paris, but the chateau has been meticulously preserved and is one of the most visited and revered sites in Europe. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: Vichy | Allier | Auvergne | 03200 Vichy is an elegant spa town on the River Allier that was originally founded by the Romans. Vichy’s thermal waters have brought it prosperity over the centuries which, is evident in its architecture, parks and gardens. In 1940 Vichy was chosen as the seat for the French puppet regime (known as the Vichy Government) after the Nazis conquered France. This is thought of by many residents as a stain on their city’s honour. Vichy of today remains one of the leading spa centres in Europe and has prospered in the bottled water business. By some peculiarity of French law, only spa towns are permitted to have casinos which, makes Vichy a popular gambling destination. In addition to the casinos Vichy has one of the leading horse racing tracks in France and some of the best golf courses. Official Tourism Site | Other notable sites: | 
