Spanning 674, 843 km², France is one of the largest countries in Europe, divided into 26 different regions.

Each one of these regions are unique and offer something unique and distinctive to that area. This diversity is what makes France such a great destination to travel to.

One of the most popular areas is Normandy, a region located in Nortwestern France, famed for the D-Day Allied invasion on June 6, 1944, but also known for so much more.

From the rocky cliffs in the Cotentin peninsula and the famous white cliffs of Etretat, to wonderful small towns and villages with half-timbered houses in the inland area, there are many things to see in Normandy.

Here’s a quick guide to the top sights and attractions in Normandy …

White Cliffs of Etretat

Famous for its beaches and chalky white cliffs, these 70meter high cliffs are a beauty to behold and one of the most beautiful features of Normandy – its three rock formations are known as Potre d’Amont or the Upstream Cliff, Porte d’Aval or the downstream cliff and Manneporte.

Carved by nature and adorned by mysterious names there are images of a hollow eye needle and an elephant dipping its trunk in the ocean.

A walk along the Pebble beach, climbing up the steep stairs to the top of the cliffs for a view, and discovering a 17th Century oyster bed are just some of the things you can do in Etreat.

An easy way to get to Normandy is to take the ferry from UK to Calais and continue down the coast from there - click here for information about ferries to Calais.

Mont St. Michel

This tiny tidal rocky island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited places in all of France.

This remarkable medieval walled city, crowned by its great gothic abbey, is built on a small granite outcrop standing all by itself in Mont Saint Michel bay.

At the peak is the spectacular and well-preserved Norman Benedictine Abbey of St Michel.

During the French Revolution, the abbey was used a prison, and today a few prison-era showpieces, like the human hamster wheel used to lift supplies in and out of the complex, have been kept.

Still to this day, people actually live in this village, and there are even a few places where you can eat on the island, such as La Mere Poulard, which is world-famous for its omelets (a specialty on the island).

The D-Day Landing Beaches

On June 6, 1944 – today known as D-Day, Operation Overlord, a long-awaited invasion of Northwest Europe, began with Allied landings along the coast of Normandy where the Germans had turned the coastline into an interlinked series of strongpoints.

The Allies launched a simultaneous landing of British, Canadian, U.S., and French forces on five separate beaches with the code names Sword Beach (British), Juno Beach (Canadian), Gold Beach (British), Omaha Beach (American) Utah Beach (American).

When they landed they stormed the mined beaches and stormed the gun positions, and continued fighting their way into the towns and hills advancing inland.

The victory was a turning point in World War II and led to the liberation of Europe and the defeat of Nazi Germany.

While today the coast is dotted with lovely peaceful seaside towns, there are still many remains from German gun emplacements and bunkers, and war memorials and monuments marks where the allied forces landed on the beaches.

Since there is barely a square yard that wasn’t fought over, there are also monuments in almost every village and at every bend in the road.

These beaches can be reached from UK by taking a ferry from Dover to Calais and then continue by car for about 1.5 hours – you can simply drive your car on the ferry at Dover Port and drive down along Normandy when you land in Calais.

Have you been to Normandy? Share your experiences below!

(photo credit:  1 - 2 - 3)

The post A Quick Guide To Normandy, France appeared first on Travel Videos & Travel Blog - As We Travel Blog.

Guest Post By Jeremy Head.

As a child I spent many happy family holidays in France – living close to the south coast of the UK as we did, it was really easy to stick us kids in the car and catch a ferry from Dover to Calais, arriving on foreign soil ready to explore within a few hours.

I go back there still – here are three of my favourite spots, all are only an hour or two’s drive from Calais.

Le Touquet – Ideal For Beach People

The quirky coastal town of Le Touquet around an hour west along the coast road from Calais used to be a hangout for filmstars and a playground for politicians back in the 1920s and 30s.

Rich and powerful Parisians built exuberant villas here, a casino opened and the airport ferried in moneyed Brits from across the channel – today, the place has a bit of an air of faded grandeur about it which I really love.

You can hop on a bicycle and pedal your way around those grand villas – many of them with interesting Art Deco architectural flourishes, some now housing interesting art exhibitions.

The local produce market in the centre of the town buzzes with life, bursting with all manner of fruits, vegetable, fish and fowl – and then there’s the beach, which of course was what attracted the rich and famous in the first place.

Giverny – Lovely For Art Lovers

France has given the world its fair share of genuinely great artists and few come much more impactful than Monet.

At the forefront of the Impressionist movement which sought to depict hyper realistic scenes using tiny dabs of bright paint – Monet painted many of his most famous canvases at his house and gardens in Giverny which lies around 3 hours inland from Calais on the banks of the River Seine.

Monet lived here from 1883 to his death in 1926 and devoted much of his time to creating the most amazingly vibrant gardens – wonderfully laid-out expanses of brilliant blooms interspersed with placid lakes, shady bowers and delicate footbridges.

From these views were born some of his most famous works of art – in particular the vast canvases of waterlillies, many with a slender Japanese footbridge in the background.

Laon: Wonderful For Romance

The medieval town of Laon sits atop an escarpment on the wide plains east of Paris – it’s also around a 3 hour drive from Calais – down the A26 autoroute – but well worth the traveling time, particularly if you’re looking for a cosy weekend break á deux without many other tourists around.

The big autoroute going right past the door means many visitors to this part of France cruise right on by and that’s why I particularly like it – it’s surprisingly unvisited.

The tightly contoured hillside it sits on means that the old town is a delightful labyrinth of narrow old cobbled streets and wooden beamed houses.

It’s ideal for just strolling – sudden abrupt views of unexpected vastness arrive around corners as you reach stretches of the old ramparts.

And then, sat right in the midst of it all, is the massive cathedral – a Gothic fortress of the most incredible proportions adorned with all manner of carvings and statues.

In the evenings the town is quiet and cosy, ideal for a meander and a spot of food at one of the handful of local bars and creperies.

Getting there: P&O Ferries has regular sailings every day from Dover to Calais – the crossing takes just 90 minutes and if you’re lucky you’ll get to travel aboard their smart new super ferry the Spirit of France.

Have you been to northern France? Would you recommend any other places to visit?

(photo credits: 1 - 2)

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The Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in Paris (standing at 324 metres, roughly about the same height as an 81-storey building) and the most-visited paid monument in the world; with millions of visitors year round.

Nicknamed La dame de fer or “the iron lady”, the tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris.

Not only has it become an icon for Paris, but for the whole of France – and a visit to Paris without seeing the Eiffel tower just doesn’t seem right.

From being a structure that was planned to be torn down, to having become one of the most recognizable structures in the world, this historical structure has a fascinating history.

The Eiffel tower scam with Victor Lustig is my favorite story, where he actually managed to “sell” the Eiffel tower for scrap metal – twice!

Some are happy just to see it from underneath, take a photo of it and one with yourself jumping in front of it (you will see everyone doing it when you get there..!), others climb the tower to see the views, and a few go all the way out and dine inside the tower.

Yes, the Eiffel tower actually has two restaurants.

Eiffel Tower Restaurants: At the first floor is the Le 58 tour Eiffel, a restaurant seating as many as 200 people and offers traditional French cuisine – it is not easy to get a table there, so we suggest you book at least two weeks early.

Le Jules Vernes  is the second restaurant and is located on the second floor, with its very own private lift.

The restaurant is run by the world-renowned chef Alain Ducasse who is the only chef to hold 19 Michelin stars throughout his career.

The restaurant has a view of the city to die for, and funny enough it was featured in the movie “A View to a Kill” with Roger Moore.

Eiffel Tower Tickets: With the tower having three levels for visitors, tickets can be purchased to ascend, by stairs or lift, to the first and second levels – to skip the long lines at the gate, you can buy tickets online from the official web site.

Stairs Entrance Eiffel Tower Tickets: This is the cheapest type of ticket available (4.70 Euro) and will give you the opportunity to explore the Tower on foot.

However, it gives you an access only up to the second floor – you can’t get on the top level with this type of ticket.

Lift Entrance Eiffel Tower Tickets (2nd floor): A bit more expensive than the Stairs Entrance (8.20), this type of ticket will also take you only up to the second floor – however, you are allowed to use the elevator instead of the stairs.

Lift Entrance Eiffel Tower Tickets (to the top): The most expensive of all tickets (13.40), this is the only ticket that gives access to the top of the tower.

A little warning though; since it’s so high up top, landmarks or monuments are hardly seen, but definitely worth it if you like heights.

So now you know everything you need to know about a visit to the Eiffel Tower - have you ever been? if so, what did you think?

(photo credit: 1 - 2)

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Ooh La La! The current show at Moulin Rouge Paris is the spectacular “Feerie”, an extravaganza of frothing feathers and shimmering sequins, long-legged dancers, acrobats, magicians, comics and clowns.

If you are visiting the French capital don’t miss the chance to see this visually stunning show.

It’s the quintessential Paris experience – however, you should be aware that, while the cabaret is extremely sophisticated and tasteful, the female dancers are topless during a few parts of the performance, so it is not suitable for young children.

The celebrated Moulin Rouge Paris has been causing a sensation in the French capital ever since it opened in 1889.

In the very early days, it was a place of risqué entertainment where gentlemen watched beautiful girls perform provocative dances.

It was here at the Moulin Rouge theatre that the spirited Can Can, which had been around in dance halls since the 1830s, reached the height of its notoriety.

As the fame of the Can Can grew, certain sections of society flocked to the Moulin Rouge to enjoy it, while others went there to be scandalised.

But times changed and gradually the Can Can evolved into a form of more mainstream entertainment, leading to the development of cabarets across Europe.

Over the years the Moulin Rouge has presented a series of sumptuous shows to enthusiastic audiences.

Many international stars have performed on stage at the Moulin Rouge Paris, from Maurice Chevalier, Jean Gabin and  Edith Piaf to Ella Fitzgerald, Liza Minelli, Frank Sinatra, and Elton John.

Moulin Rouge tickets sell out weeks ahead so, if you want to see the Feerie Show, do make sure you book well ahead to avoid disappointment.

The Moulin Rouge is a great venue for a hen party or other celebratory night out and you can get Moulin Rouge tickets that include dinner as well as the show.

Then, there are a wide range of packages that combine Moulin Rouge tickets with other aspects of Parisian nightlife – a Paris illuminations tour, dinner at the Eiffel Tower, or a Seine dinner cruise.

Have you been? Would you like to go?

(photo credit: 1)

The post A Must See – The Feerie Show At Moulin Rouge In Paris appeared first on Travel Videos & Travel Blog - As We Travel Blog.

Guest Post - Paris is like a gift wrapped in layer upon layer of attractive paper, each time you visit the French capital you remove another layer and find something else delightful underneath.

Everyone has their own personal list of top things to do in Paris, here we include old favorites as well as new ideas for fun activities in this wonderful city.

When it comes to famous attractions, the celebrated Louvre Museum is a “must” – but in such a treasure trove it’s easy to be overwhelmed.

On your first visit we recommend you take a tour with a guide who can show you the highlights, later you can return and browse on your own, but never try to see too much on any one visit.

Some of the best views of the city can be seen from the river and we would include a Seine cruise on our list of best things to do in Paris.

In fact we recommend taking one of these cruises every time you visit, especially if you go at different seasons.

A river cruise offers a stunning parade of the city’s greatest monuments, including the Eiffel Tower, Grand Palais, Hotel des Invalides, Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and more.

A Moulin Rouge show, Europe’s most famous and flamboyant cabaret, is on the “must do” list of thousands of visitors to Paris each year.
Don’t miss the chance of seeing the high-kicking French Can Can performed in the place where it was invented, but do be aware that Moulin Rouge tickets sell out many weeks in advance.

To avoid disappointment plan ahead and order your Moulin Rouge tickets well before your trip.

When it comes to new and different things to do in Paris there are all sorts of possibilities.

Go off the beaten track on a wine-tasting tour in parts of the city that only the locals know well; or develop your own fragrance at a perfume making workshop, or explore Paris on a Segway personal transporter (a futuristic electric vehicle).

Foodies love the gourmet walking tours of the markets and food-shops of the Latin Quarter; keen photographers enjoy exploring the most picturesque parts of the city with an expert photographer-guide; and cyclists may like to get out of town on one of the delightful bike tours to Versailles or Monet’s Garden in Giverny.

What are a few of your favorite things to do while in Paris?

(photo credit: 1 - 2 - 3)

The post Things To Do In Paris – The City Of Endless Fun appeared first on Travel Videos & Travel Blog - As We Travel Blog.

After rushing through Luxembourg, we really needed a few days rest – but since the crazy city of Paris was next on our route, we didn’t have time to rest … instead we spent a few days exploring Paris.

It was great to finally visit all those attraction you had heard when you were younger:

- The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame de Paris etc and of course taste some of the yummy french food like Crepes!

To read more about our time in Paris, make sure you check out:

• Paris: Rumors & The Truth

We hope you enjoy our Paris video, and stay tuned for at least 1 new video every week – Next stop Lisbon!

(Our Paris Episode was Sponsored by InterRail & Residence Internationale de Paris)

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Paris: the city of romance and baguettes, one of the most visited cities in the world – and we hadn’t been there yet …

Paris is one of those places it feels as though you just NEED to visit.

For some people, it doesn’t seem to matter that you’ve been to other French cities – if you haven’t been to Paris, you haven’t been to France.

And besides, who doesn’t want to visit?

For me, when I think of Paris I think of the movies I’ve seen based there; all from children’s movies like Aristocats, Hunchback Of Notre Dame and Ratatoille, to romantic films like Amelie from Montmartre.

So coming to Paris was like entering a movie set, and then realizing that without the characters and storyline – it was a VERY different story..

I think Paris in particular, needs some time to let you get to know it.

But still, after a short time there we already had a lot of things to talk about …

Everyone Walks Around With Fresh Baguettes.

Walking down the streets in the neighborhood where we stayed, everyone was on their way somewhere – holding two baguettes in their hands.

Everywhere people were carrying baguettes, munching on one while at the same time holding another to bring home.

I don’t blame them; who would say no to a huge freshly made baguette still warm from the oven for 0.90 Euro? We had three of them in one day!

They Park Their Cars Anywhere.

We saw SO many cars parked randomly in front of pedestrian crossings, on the street corners, and in random places.

You never knew if the car was waiting for you to cross, or if it was just parked there – always look twice!

French Food Is Everywhere – Of Course!

In all the other countries we’ve been to we’ve had to dig a little to find some ”authentic” food specific for that country – in Paris, it was everywhere, and it was cheap.

Our challenge was to try ONLY ONE local dish – during our stay in Paris, local food was all we had: Croissants, baguettes, crepes – so good, so cheap, so French!

The People Were …?

I honestly can’t answer that question.

All those rumours about French people being stuck up, rude and not speaking English even though they could if they wanted to – well, I don’t agree, but I can understand where the rumors are coming from.

In many places the rumors are completely untrue, but in Paris?

Neither true nor false, I think just misunderstood.

It wasn’t that they were rude, they just didn’t care about strangers.

Most people seemed a bit hard to connect with, and us being there for only a day and a half we never felt that we got the chance to connect with anyone – we found it was harder than in other countries to get that eye contact, and to be noticed.

I left feeling as though nobody knew I was there, which is nobody’s fault – it’s just a feeling I had, perhaps one you get from those very big cities – where you are nothing to them but simply another tourist.

So in short, I have to admit that Paris needs some more time for me to give it an honest impression.

How about you? What are your thoughts, and impressions of Paris?

(photo credit: wlappe - Joe Shlabotnik - joanna855 - waitscm)

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