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Beyond Paris: The Best Places to Visit around France

Claire — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:11:59 +0000

When people think of France, the first thing that most often pops into their mind is Paris, with its shopping avenues, Notre Dame, and of course, the Eiffel Tower. As enchanting and infamous as Paris is, there is so much more to France. In this article we will go on a tour of the country, with its top must-see locations around the country.

1. The Palace of Versailles

If you are staying in Paris for a portion of your visit, then just 20 kilometers away is situated one of the most opulent memorials to royalty – The Château de Versailles. Built by King Louis XIV, the palace is compromised of extensive landscaped gardens and sprawling, decorative castle grounds. It is recommended to take an audiotour of the castle grounds, or perhaps even a guided tour, as the history and stories behind the palace are both extensive and fascinating.

Garden at the Palace of Versailles, France by Urban

2. Bordeaux

The city of Bordeaux is listed as a World Heritage Site, as “an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble”. The city, and its surrounding region is famous worldwide for its excellent wines. It is also considered as France’s “Little Paris” thanks to its many cultural, architectural, and historical monuments. It is a lively town, with many young people as it contains the country’s largest university. Thanks to the youthful population, the town has a thriving cafe and night life scene. You will be raising your wine glass many times while visiting beautiful Bordeaux.

Saint Pierre Church, Bordeaux, France by Luidger

3. Provence

You haven’t seen the best of France until you have explored the Provence region. It is one of France’s most beloved regions, by tourists and locals alike. With a distinct Mediterranean atmosphere, it is also famous for its fields of lavender and rose wines. While in Provence, be sure to visit Verdon Gorge, one of the most beautiful gorges in all of the European continent. There are also several ancient castles in the region that should not be missed.

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie village, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France by Nepomuk

4. Brittany

Located in the North west region of France, the region of Brittany is perhaps most famous for its prehistoric megalithic monuments at Carnac. The Lac de Guerledan lake is an artificial lake that is worth a visit for its prime scenic beauty. A drive along the Cote d’Emeraude coast would make a memorable road trip, as there are many varied and bustling fishing towns and villages along the way.

Kermario Carnac, Brittany, France by Odedr

5. Normandy

Most famous for the 1944 D-Day invasion by the Allied forces, there are many other things to see and do in this northern region of France. There are many posh resorts on the coast, as well as wild and rugged landscapes of the La Hague.

Port Arromanches, Normandy, France by Comité Régional

When visiting France from overseas by plane, you’ll arrive in the nation’s capital, base yourself in one of the many beautiful Paris apartments from Worldwide-Accom and live like the locals!

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Vintgar Gorge – one of the most popular natural features in Slovenia

Claire — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 22:52:54 +0000

Vintgar Gorge is one of the most popular natural features in Slovenia about 4 km north of the town of Bled and contains of Radovna river Valley that surround the high rock walls. Gorge is a popular place for tourists, there are really beautiful natural scenery. Since 1893, there is a wooden walking path through the gorge, which is long 1600 m. The river makes series of rapids and waterfalls. The most popular waterfall is Šum. Next to the waterfall there is a pilgrimage church of St. Catherine. All along the trails there are lots of rest areas with benches and picnic tables.

The entrance to the gorge is paid and a basic adult ticket costs 4 Eur.

View Vintgar Gorge – one of the most popular natural features in Slovenia in a larger map

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Turda gorge – one of the most popular places to visit in Romania

Claire — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:50:58 +0000

Turda Gorge is a large natural reserve which is located 6 km west of Turda and is around 15 km south east of Cluj-Napoca which is located in Transylvania. Formed as a result of years of erosion, the canyon that makes up this reserve is 2,900 meters long. The canyon walls reach an impressive height of around 300 meters. With over 1,000 different species of plants and animals, a few of them endangered, it is an exotic and rugged landscape which attracts a number of people to it each year.

Turda Gorge, Romania by Cristian Bortes

With regards to the history of the Turda Gorge, the entire site has been traced back to the Neolithic period. So far there have been 67 species of birds, amphibians, fish, and mammals which have been identified in this region. There are also a number of caves throughout the reserve, so far totaling 60. A majority of these caves are fairly small in size, with the largest one measuring a total of 120 meters.

There are certain tourist attractions around this area, including Cheile Turzii which is only just a few km from several other canyons, including Cheile Borzesti and Cheile Turului. The Ciucas waterfall is another very beautiful attraction which draws in a number of tourists from around the world. When it comes to rock climbing in Romania, Cheile Turzii is by far the most popular place for those who enjoy this particular activity.

The Turda Gorge is located on the Hasdate River and is home to many different types of plants and animals. Its geography is made up of steep cliffs, rocky dells, and sharp crests which make it a truly unique landmark in the area. The breathtaking beauty of the karst landscape is considered to be one of the main natural attractions in all of Romania.

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