Discover France & Corsica

Bordeaux

As the capital of both Aquitaine and Gironde, and a UNESCO World Heritage city to boot, the 1 million Bordelais will tell you there’s much more to discover in their city besides the wine for which it is justifiably famous. But with the lush chateaux vineyards of Mouton-Rothschild, Latour and Margaux within a few short miles, it would be rude not to raise a glass to the stuff they’ve been making here for over 1200 years...

Must See:
After a suitably long lunch, hit the shops and take in the Rue Sainte-Catherine from the Place de la Victoire to the Place de la Comediev. At 1.2km, it’s said to be one of the longest shopping streets in Europe.

Brest

Perched on the edge of Brittany and jutting out into the Atlantic, Brest is France’s western-most city (in fact, about as far west as Cornwall and with much in common). Steeped in maritime history, it’s no surprise that visitors flock here for fabulous seafood and beautifully light crepes, all washed down with a jug or three of local Breton cider. Sante!

Must See:
Take a short stroll downhill from the castle and marvel at the mighty Recouvrance Bridge, a truly massive drawbridge some 64 metres (210 feet) high.

Chambery

Historical stopping off point on the journey from Lyon to Turin, civilised Chambery is the beating heart of the Savoie (Savoy) region of south-eastern France, and gateway to Switzerland, Italy and the southern Alps. Stay a while and you’ll discover plenty of hidden charm in this smart but compact town surrounded by lush vineyard slopes.

Must See:
Head into town and you’ll certainly encounter the famous Fontaine des Éléphants (Elephant Fountain) which has drawn admirers and detractors in equal measure - just ask a local to tell you its nickname...

Corsica

The birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte is today more likely to play host to visitors seeking undiscovered France than historians seeking more about Josephine. With gently shelving beaches and crystal clear waters, medieval villages squeezed between mountains and sea, pretty harbour towns and quiet coves, Corsica is a decidedly different and refreshing corner of France.

Must See:
Take a boat out to the marine section of the Scandolo Nature Reserve to marvel at the island’s red cliffs, some reaching 900 metres above sea level.

Grenoble

Flanked on all sides by the Alps, Olympic Grenoble is a truly alpine capital – and, built at 214 metres above sea level, it’s easy to see why. With many of France’s premier ski resorts nestled in nearby mountains, Grenobles is the perfect spot for some pre-ski, après-ski or summertime fantasy ski!
 
Must See:
Take the egg-shaped cable cars (‘Les Bulles’) all the way up to the hillside Bastille for a superb view of the Isere river and the town in the valley below.

La Rochelle

Sitting bang in the coastal centre of the Bay of Biscay, La Rochelle can count itself among the most picturesque and historically rich spots on the entire Atlantic coast. Much sought-after over the years (from the Huguenots to the invading Germans), it’s bathed in the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, creating an unseasonally good climate on a par with far pricier locations on the Med.

Must See:
Take a boat trip from the nearby Ile-d’Aix to the legendary offshore Fort Boyard, a jaw-dropping stone-built maritime fortress once home to 250 servicemen... and now home to the TV game show of the same name.

Lyon

France’s third city (and capital of the Rhone region) is also its internationally acclaimed capital of gastronomy, with more than its fair share of world class cuisine. Best discovered on foot, its historic centre is a perfectly preserved medieval city with a maze of alleyways hiding tiny boutiques and eateries. Elsewhere it’s an ultra-modern city – oozing 21st century techno-charm, where everything actually works.

Must See:
Head straight for the Saint-Jean and the Croix-Rousse areas and their narrow passageways (traboules) that seem to pass through whole buildings linking the streets on either side.

Marseille

Frances oldest and second city, located on the southern French coast is perfect for a summer retreat. Packed full of culture and sun-soaked terraces, its cafés are the perfect place to sit and watch the world go by. The port area is know as the hub of French life and is a way place to really get to grips with the culture.

Must See:
Visit the city’s most famous landmark: Notre-Dame de la Garde it’s a bit of a steep climb but well worth it.

Nice

Right in the heart of the action on the pulsating (and pricey) Cote d’Azur, Nice is perhaps the French city in which to see and be seen. It boasts not only some of France’s most golden beaches (and therefore most golden people) but a blinged-up waterfront of superyachts, WAG-stuffed boutiques for super-shopping and achingly trendy clubs and cocktail bars. What’s not to like about it?

Must See:
It’s impossible to be an Englishman abroad in Nice and not do the celebrated walk along the Promenade des Anglais – named in your honour.

Paris

The City of Light has every right to call itself a World City. Famously seductive, with a picture postcard scene on every corner, it boasts a legion of the planet’s most romantic spots – and is the one place you’ll want to dine in, schmooze in, propose in, wake up in, relish the view in and come back to time after time after time.

Must See:
If you haven’t the time to walk the city on foot, do it by boat in one of the famous Bateaux Mouches that ply the Seine and take in most of the sights in around an hour or so.

Perpignan

Perpignan – or at least the waiting room at its station – was declared by Salvador Dali to be the centre of the Universe. It may not be the centre of yours, but this friendly and chic South-eastern French town is handy not only for the beaches of the eastern Mediterranean, but for the Pyrenees and Spain beyond.

Must See:
A trip to the high citadel will reveal the 13th Century palace of the kings of Majorca, a gothic style fortress with more than just a hint of Moorish architecture, dating back to the time when Perpignan was the on-shore capital of the off-shore Kingdom of Mallorca.

Rennes

Proud capital of the Bretagne region, Rennes is an ancient seat of learning in the east of Brittany boasting not one but two universities. Stop a Rennais in the street and expect to hear a thing or two about history – for this is a city that has it in spades. Yet for all its gothic and medieval architecture, Rennes has a thoroughly modern outlook; optimistic, warm and welcoming.

Must See:
Where to go in a city of such historic contrasts? The Science Museum! Check out the ultra-modern Espaces des Sciences for its fabulous planetarium. It doesn’t matter if you don’t speak French... just sit back and marvel at the view above you.