The Top 5 Cities to Visit in France

The Top 5 Cities to Visit in France
By Kieron Sellens

France is an amazing country with some truly wonderful cities.
I’ve taken on the difficult and controversial task of narrowing
the list down to a top 5 cities you should see on a luxury
holiday in France.

Nancy

Nancy is a must visit on a holiday in France mainly because it
carries an air of dignity and refinement rarely found in cities
in England. As well as some lovely architecture and some
fascinating museums, the city offers a sophisticated feel all
the way to its shops which feel almost designed for window
shopping.

Avignon

If you’re looking to explore Provence, there’s only one choice
of where to book a hotel in France. Avignon is an old graceful
city, full of jaw dropping art and architecture. The experience
begins from the approach, when you take in the wonderfully
preserved stone ramparts which circle the city, and won’t end
until you’ve seen the famous bridge (the Pond d’Avignon), the
medieval fortress and the Palais des Papes (the papal palace).
But perhaps the ultimate pleasure is people watching – now a
thriving student city, it almost rivals Paris as a place to sit
and watch the world go by. A must on any luxury holiday in
France.

Lyon

When you’re faced with a city the size of Lyon, you can be sure
there’s a huge amount of things to do to appeal to all tastes,
and the city does not disappoint. As France’s second largest
conurbation, it’s no surprise to see that the city contains
outstanding art galleries and museums, a thriving nightlife,
fantastic shipping and plenty of gourmet evenings out. If this
all sounds too fast paced, there’s also the historic old town,
which has enough cultural significance to be designated a UNESCO
heritage site. Lyon is essential for someone looking to
experience big city life outside of the capital on their luxury
holiday in France.

Strasbourg

Pretty and cosmopolitan, Strasbourg is a cultural haven, and a
must-visit if passing through Alsace. You can feel the taste of
Europe in so much of the city, from the European Parliament to
the Franco-German TV network which bases itself here, and it’s
this welcoming international feel that makes Strasbourg such a
great place to wander around. On top of that it has some
splendid restaurants, cafes and excellent museums – all great
ways to punctuate visits to the towering cathedral and old city.
Just make sure that you’re not looking for accommodation here
when European Parliament is in session – you may need to look
elsewhere in France for a hotel!

Paris

Paris really needs no introduction, and is the first call on
most luxury holidays in France. The best thing about it is that
it can be so many different things to so many different people –
it’s a shopping wonderland, a cultural epicentre, an architect’s
dream and the best place in the world to enjoy a gourmet meal.
It’s also got more iconic buildings and landmarks than many
entire countries manage! All of these elements combine to ensure
that Paris is the best city to visit in France, if you’ve
somehow managed to miss it so far.

No doubt many people will disagree with my list, because a
luxury holiday in France offers so many different things to
different people. Whether you feel others should have been
included or not, one thing is certain: all five of these places
are well worth any tourist’s time. Consider this list when you
book a hotel in France, and the luxury holiday you have will be
truly memorable.

About the Author: Kieron Sellens is the marketing manager of
the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AiTO). With an
AITO holiday in France
(http://www.aito.co.uk/france-holiday.asp) you can tailor-make
the dream holiday – whether you want piste pleasure or family
fun.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

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