Bradlee Goldsmith
There is a special part of the French Hotel donated to students who are learning the French language we decided this would be a good idea because it is a popular market which has not been discovered yet.
The French themselves are the greatest promoters of this diverse country. The food and wine are justly celebrated, and culture, lit-erature, art, cinema and architecture can be both provocative and profound. The French capital Paris awaits The French capital, Paris is rich in museums, art galleries and monuments. The Louvre, Eiffel Tower and Pompidou Centre are among the most popular sights. Surrounding Paris, Ile de France offers busy suburbs and commuter towns punctuated by châteaux, the most celebrated being Versailles. Greater Paris has over 9 mil-lion inhabitants.
Find gothic cathedrals and a rural heartland In contrast, the Vosges Mountains and the forests of the Ardennes border the flat open plains of northeast France. This area is best known for the fine wines of Champagne and Alsace, and some of France's finest gothic cathedrals. Lille is the most important city in northern France. Set to play a pivotal role in the new barrier-free Europe, Lille is served by its own rail station. The regions of west-ern France have played very different historical roles, from the ru-ral heartland of the Loire Valley, the D-Day landings of Normandy, to separatist Celtic Brittany. Visitors come here for the wonderful beaches, quiet rural byways and the sumptuous Loire chàteaux. The geological contrasts of Central France and the Alps reflect its enormous variety, from the industrial and gastronomic metropolis of Lyon to the largely agricultural landscape of Burgundy. The mountains attract visitors for winter sports, walking and other out-door activities.
A green and peaceful land The green and peaceful land of southwest France nurtures crops from sunflowers to foie gras. Other products include Bordeaux wine and Cognac. Major modern industries, including aerospace are focused on the two main cities, Toulouse and Bordeaux. Visi-tors come for wide Atlantic beaches, the ski slopes of the Pyrenées and the rural calm of the Dordogne. Sights include some of France's most celebrated Romanesque buildings. By far France's most popular holiday region is the South of France, drawing mil-lions of visitors each year to the Riviera resorts of Nice, Cannes and Monte Carlo, and the more modern beach cities to the west. Not forgetting beautiful Corsica, which still preserves much of its natural beauty.
Paris, France
Paris city breaks are nothing short of stunning; this romantic city is truly the perfect destination. The very name conjures up a host of images from the Eiffel Tower, one of the world's most recognisable monuments, and the breathtaking modernity of the Centre Pompi-dou, to bohemian Latin Quarter restaurants and the fun filled hands on science museum Cite des Sciences at de l'Industrie, whatever your style and whatever your budget, there are weekend breaks in Paris to suit everyone.
Top Paris Attractions
With so much to do and see in the capital of romance, it is always wise to plan your weekend break in Paris before you go.
Paris city breaks are, of course, full of some of the world's most recognisable sights; the Sacre Couer and the Arc De Triomphe to name but two. You may not want to miss these highlights, but be aware that Paris isn't simply a city of monuments and museums. It has a vibrant heart and while the tourist haunts are not to be missed, it is behind the famous streets and tourist traps that Paris short breaks really have something special to offer, presenting a whole new experience to those visitors willing to take a break which doesn't always tread the same tourist paths.
Apart from sightseeing, Paris museums are a must to see during your short break. Why not start with the Musée d'Orsay and the Louvre, then visit the Orangerie in the Tuileries Gardens and view Monet's Water Lilies in all their splendour.
Take time during your Paris city break to stroll around and really get to know the city's personality. From the cobbled squares of the various arrondissements, to the tree-lined grand avenues by the Arc de Triomphe, Montparnasse and the Marais, Paris is a wonderful place to walk, during which time you are guaranteed to fall in love!
If spending your weekend break in Paris walking doesn't interest you there are plenty of transport options; Paris Métro, RER and bus services provide great value way to see the city.
Café Chic &City Breaks
Paris has one of the world's best café societies; the Café de la Paix by the Opéra is one of the most famous but intimate, beautiful ca-fes exist all over the city. Taking short breaks in the food capital of the world, you can be sure that exceptional restaurants, intimate bistros and grand brasseries aren't hard to find. For many years Pa-risian cuisine has been influenced by exotic tastes from all over the world, which now lends the city a sublime contemporary cuisine.
Shopping
It is well known that when it comes to shopping, Paris is second to none, but it is the trendy hidden boutiques of the Marais with its appealing mix of chic interior design and original jewellery, and the weekend flea market at Clignancourt that offer a real fun shop-ping experience! If designer labels are more your style, visit the rue du Faubourg St Honore and boulevard St Germain, and try up rue Etienne Marcel for up and coming styles.
