Musée du Louvre, Paris / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Kevin Poh

A seaside break

South of France, which houses the Rivera, is one of the top choices when it comes to sea side holidays. The Rivera hosts tourist hotspots like Nice, Monaco, St. Tropez and Cannes. These places are famous as the playground of the rich and the famous. Bumping into a celebrity, while taking a walk on the beach, is not uncommon. Cannes is also popular as the host of the prestigious annual international film festival. A holiday in one of these towns allows you to experience the lifestyle of the rich and the famous first hand.

Summer is hot and warm, while the winter is mild and short in the south of France. Summer is also the peak tourist season. If you decide to visit this region during summer months, you should be prepared for the hoards of tourists. For more relaxed holidays, it is advisable to visit during winter months. If your idea of an ideal holiday is sun, sand and surf, south of France is an ideal choice.

A cultural retreat

France is well known for art and culture. There are a large number of art galleries and museums in Paris worth a visit. The city also hosts Louvre, the largest museum in the world. Here you will come face to face with some of the most treasured works of art. These masterpieces have the power to take you to a whole new world. This is a great way to discover the historic heritage of Europe. The city also features a number of architecturally rich cathedrals.

The caves and castles of the Dordogne and the Roman remains in Provence are other culturally exciting options.  A charming French chateau is a perfect place to stay during your cultural retreat. These chateaux are a part of history themselves. There are numerous such properties across the country available for holiday rentals.

Burger Davis Sotheby’s International Realty are a leading provider of luxury property to rent or buy on the French Riviera. Rental properties are ideal for those looking for a high quality villa or apartment and are perfect for corporate rentals and the numerous festivals held in the South of France.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by phileole

Nice

The capital of the French Riviera Nice is the fifth largest city in France and one of the most exciting places to spend a summer on the Riviera. The city became a popular tourist destination in the 19th century thanks largely to an influx of British traveller’s seeking the warm Mediterranean sun. The beach may be largely pebbled but the city is beautiful. The Promenade des Anglais is one of the most famous sights and provides a beautiful beach side walk. The Orthodox Cathedral is well worth a visit and the medieval town centre is the perfect place for a leisurely afternoon stroll. Here you can find the remnants of the old Chateau and a rambling collection of narrow alleys and beautiful ochre houses. In terms of places to stay apartments in Nice provide you with a real sense of luxury but the many five star hotels are equally impressive and elegant.

Cannes

Cannes is famous as a millionaires playground and is one of the most outwardly extravagant destinations on the Med. The May international film festival is perhaps the most famous draw for the rich and famous and tourists more generally but the town has a rich warm atmosphere throughout the year. The seafront promenade and La Croisette and the Vieux Porte around the bay are a fantastic place to while away your afternoon’s while Le Suquet which forms the central part of the old town is a fantastic series of rambling streets and medieval buildings as well as the impressive 11th century castle. Nearby you can access the popular Iles des Lerins via a brief ferry ride and enjoy some fantastic beaches. In terms of staying here in France, villas are at their most luxurious and hotels aren’t far behind. Further inland you can find cheaper accommodation and numerous camping grounds.

St. Tropez

St. Tropez is one of the most laid back and stunning parts of the South French coast. It manages to retain village like charms despite being an incredibly popular destination. The port and surrounding streets are messy in an ever endearing way and the beautiful buildings and very traditional French culture mean that St. Tropez is one of the best destinations in France all year round. The 11th century citadel with its museum is perhaps the most interesting sight but the views are the most impressive thing about it. The town hall is fairly impressive but really the culture is the most interesting and exciting thing about visiting this town. The real pleasures for many though are the beaches with St. Tropez being in close proximity to some of the region’s most beautiful and popular beaches. In particular Les Graniers and the beaches on Baie des Canoubiers are particularly impressive.

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Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic / Photo by admin

Karlovy Vary is also a city of festivals, conferences and seminars, meeting place of important people from the world of politics, science and culture. Since 1946, the year’s most prestigious film festival of the Czech Republic takes place here. It is the most important international film festival of category A in Central and Eastern Europe and the only film festival of category A in the Czech Republic. The atmosphere of the festival, which annually presents the latest films from all around the world, is supplemented by the unique location of the event.

The best of Karlovy Vary

The most famous concepts of Karlovy Vary certainly includes herbal liqueur Becherovka, Mattoni mineral water, Moser glass, spa wafers and Thun porcelain. Karlovy Vary is the biggest spa town in the Czech Republic and Elizabeth’s Spa (Alžbětiny lázně) is one of the largest spa facilities in the country. Spas in Karlovy Vary has more than 600-years old tradition, the spas were (and still are) visited by the guests from more than 80 countries. Mill Colonnade (Mlýnská kolonáda) is the best known and the most popular promenade.

Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic / Photo by admin

The best known source of natural healing is Carlsbad’s Hot Spring (karlovarské Vřídlo). Beautiful view of the city you can enjoy from the observation tower Diana, which serves since 1914 and offers amazing views of the whole town of Karlovy Vary and its surroundings. You can get there on foot, or by a cable car.

The history of spas

The spa town was founded in 1349 by Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV. The fame, the emergence and development of Carlsbad has been inseparably linked to the therapeutic effects of its warm mineral springs. Hot springs on the territory of today’s Karlovy Vary were used for healing long before the establishment of Karlovy Vary. However the first treatment was carried out at the end of the 14th century, when Charles IV. bathed his ill feet in one of the mineral water springs.

Famous hot spring in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic / Photo by admin

Spa enjoyed the favor of many noble families and wealthy burghers already in the 16th century. Due to a series of natural disasters from that time only a few buildings survived. Most devastating natural disaster was the Carlsbad Fire (1604), when only 3 houses were saved. The rest of the city was totally destroyed. Therefore the majority of architectural monuments are from the 18th and 19th century, when the city experienced a period of prosperity.

There are 13 mineral springs with temperatures ranging from 30 °C to 72 °C that are used for spa. The composition of mineral water is unique, as well as its unique beneficial effects on the human organism. It is used for drinking and bathing. Sources have virtually the same mineral content, differing only in temperature and the amount of carbon dioxide. The colder springs usually have a slightly laxative effect, warmer springs have a dampening effect, slowing down the bile and gastric juices.

Elizabeth’s Spa

One of the most beautiful architectural landmarks of Karlovy Vary is Elizabeth’s Spa, located in the Smetana Park. The spa was founded in 1906 and named after Empress Elizabeth – Sissi. Although it is located right in the heart of the city, the spas are an oasis of calm, which creates a park with a fountain.

Sights and attractions in Karlovy Vary

The most important religious monument in the city is definitely the Church of St. Mary Magdalene made by the famous architect Kilian Dientzenhofer. The baroque church was built on the site of the former Gothic church. During the tour, note the valuable altar painting. In the underground of the church there is a unique funeral chapel.

You cannot miss also another important building of the Orthodox Church of St. Peter and Paul from 1898. Its construction model was the church near Moscow. The rich decoration of the church was partially sponsored by wealthy Carlsbad patient of Russian origin. It includes relief of the Russian Tsar Peter the Great.

The town has also a sundial in the pavement at the Carlsbad’s Hot Spring, bearing the Latin sentences Carpe diem.

However you cannot enjoy Karlovy Vary without tasting a traditional herbal liqueur that is produced only here – visit Jan Becher Museum, located directly at the factory. Becherovka was first manufactured in 1807 by Jan Becher in his pharmacy. First, he sold it as stomach drops. The exact list of ingredients was as a family secret passed from father to son. Today, there are only two people who know the recipe for Becherovka. They are preparing a mixture of spices and herbs once a week.

Besides walks on colonnades and Main Street, you could also go to the pleasant forests, which surrounds the spa town. For walking tours, as well as bike trips you can follow 180 kilometers of roads, trails and paths, most of which are named after famous guests of Karlovy Vary.

For a good choice of hotels with discount prices, visit Place to stay in Karlovy Vary for more information.

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It is good to conclude a travel insurance. Citizens of EU have the right to use necessary and urgent treatment. For visiting a doctor you have to pay 20 euros.

France is since 2002 the part of eurozone. Money in cash and travelers checks can be exchanged at banks, exchange offices, airports, post offices and nearly all hotels. Also credit cards are widely accepted almost everywhere, operates a dense network of ATMs. The amount that can be imported into France is unlimited.

If you travel with your pet, it is necessary to have a European passport issued and completed by the veterinarian. In addition, the animal must be vaccinated against rabies and identified either with a chip or tattoo. Animals younger than 3 months cannot be imported into France.

France is stretched in Western Europe at the Atlantic coast. The republic also includes the island of Corsica and 4 overseas departments of Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana and Reunion, as well as St Pierre and Miquelon, Mayotte, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna Islands. In France, there is a very diverse landscape and there are large differences between regions. The country has few large cities such as Paris, Lyon or Marseille, otherwise it is primarily a country of villages, which are gathered together in the smallest administrative units – communes.

France offers a huge number of monuments, we would need several years to visit all of them. There is a huge number of ways how to spend your spare time. Water sports certainly can not be forgotten. The level of pollution over the years has been steadily improved and is regularly measured and monitored. If you rather prefer more privacy, we recommend the beach to the north, in Brittany and Normandy. You can rent windsurfing or even larger ship with crew, which will certainly get you the experience of a lifetime. If you prefer to remain in the country, you can canoeing on the French rivers. Canoeing in the middle of beautiful forests certainly has its charm. France may be called the land of festivals. You will always have a chance to experience the atmosphere of some of the traditional and less traditional celebrations. Whether it is a carnival in Nice in February, international film festival in Cannes in May, bullfighting on the summer solstice in the Roman amphitheater in Nimes and wine festival in Burgundy in November.

France has a well-developed road network. There are highways on which you have to pay fees – “péage” and which are the fastest road routes. There is no problem to rent a car here, but it’s quite expensive. Better you do if you rent a car before you leave by your travel agent, but only if you are over 21 years, and if you have a valid driving license for at least 3 years. In July and August, when children have summer holidays the roads are often overcrowded and busy.

You have to be lucky when you need to park a car. In some cities, however, you can use blue zones where parking is free in one hour. The use of radar detectors is prohibited in France and punished by high fine.

Train services between Paris and other larger cities are provided by the SNCF – French National Railways. If you purchase a ticket, it is worth to buy a seat reservation, which is sold separately. All major cities can be reached by high-speed train TGV. There are also Motorail links, which also carry passengers with their cars or motorbikes. Train ticket is valid for 24 hours and must be marked in a special razor at the entrance to the platform.

French cuisine is unique in the world. It is extremely varied and suitable for every gourmet. Dining has always been a pleasure for the French. Their lunch often takes 2 hours. It consists of a starter, main course, vegetables, dessert, fruit, cheese or sweet dessert. Vegetables cannot miss in any dish, either in raw or modified form. The most common vegetables are artichokes, spinach or eggplant. French favorite meat is from sheep, poultry and venison. The menu also offers various steaks known as Chateaubriand, tournedos or Rumsteak, or with entrecote, which can be compared with roast beef. French national dish is rabbit, in all ways. As the France is the maritime country, it is obvious that they love seafood dishes. Among the real delights are crawfish, lobster, shrimp and sea urchins. The greatest speciality of French cuisine are snails and frogs’ legs. France is also a leading producer of cheese and you can choose here from up to 400 kinds of cheese. The table must also never miss a typical French Bread and the Baguette bread.

France is also a country of very good wines, which are served with every meal. No other country in the world can compete with France in diversity, tradition and prestige of wine art. The finest wines are considered Burgundy wines.

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