As one of the most prestigious vineyard areas of France, Languedoc has many estates that offer a taste of the finest wines the country has to offer.

Which wine?

Many well-known grape varieties are perfectly suited to growing in the Languedoc region. The prominent red grape varieties of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are popular in the area, along with Rhone grapes like the Grenache.

The most common white grape grown in the area is Chardonnay, which is used in the most popular wine from the region – Vin de Pays d’Oc. Chardonnay grapes are also used to make the deliciously sparkling Cremant de Limoux in the same way as champagne, with a second fermentation in the bottle to trap the carbon dioxide that gives the wine its fizz.

In addition, the fortified wines produced in Languedoc are a real treat. Sweet dessert wines like the indulgent Muscat de Frontignan and Muscat de St-Jean are perfect with some of the fine charcuterie and cheeses also available in the region.

Photo of Bottle & Glass of St. Hilaire Blanquette de Limoux, France by Agne27

Which producer?

There are several wine producers in the region that allow visitors to their vineyards to see the process of wine-making in action.

Domaine O’Vineyards, now run by two American expats in France, overlooks the castle ramparts at Carcassonne and offers tours to learn about the vineyard, the grapes and wine-making. A full-day tour is offered to small groups and gives the opportunity to wander amongst the vines with a glass of the vineyard’s finest in your hand, learning about how the wine goes from vine to bottle. The owners welcome you to their own table as family and lay on a delicious lunch that best compliments the wine that they produce while answering all your questions about the production of the wine and their experiences of the local area.

Vineyard in Languedoc, France by Kafeole

Another vineyard tour run by an Anglophone is Chateau de Combebelle near Villespassans. The tour gives visitors the opportunity to walk amongst the grapes and also see the cellars where the wine is stored in vats for its maturation. Once you’ve learned more about the vines and the making of the wine, you have the opportunity to sample some of the local product and buy some bottles – or maybe even a magnum – to take home with you.

If you’d like to see a number of vineyards to compare and contrast, there are several winery tour operators that offer the chance to have a guided expedition around several in one day. Vin En Vacances and Vindage Wine Tours are two such operators that you could check out to see if they have something that takes your fancy.

Something to go with it?

Once you have your wine, it would be nice to have some food to complement the flavours of your chosen domaine. There are fantastic Saturday markets in Pezenas, Ceret, Arles and Carcassonne where you can find a fabulous array of locally grown fruit and vegetables along with fresh fish and excellent cheeses and charcuterie. It’s certainly no chore to visit any of these to find provisions to stock your villa’s larder for a week of fine dining and excellent wines.

Conclusion

Although it may not be the best known of the winery regions of France, Languedoc has a great deal to recommend it. Visit Janu Villas to select a local villa, you have excellent vineyards and fabulous fresh food on your doorstep and just waiting to be discovered.

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Barcelona beach, Spain by David Spender

How to reach the destination?

Barcelona is well connected trough airways, railways, and waterways. The Barcelona EI pray airport is at a distance of about 17 kilometers from the city center. This second largest airport of Spain connects major parts of world to the city. Sabadell airport is another major airport near the city.

Popular tourist attractions of the city:

Barcelona is the best place to spend summer vacations. Some of the popular locations including the giant temple, Barcelona aquarium, Columbus monument, Tibidabo, monastery of pedaled, Santa Maria del mar, and many other exotic locations, add to the beauty of the city.

• Tibidabo: It is 512 meters above the sea level, and it surrounds the city and used to protect it from enemies from the north. The view from the top of the mountain is simply spectacular. Large Ocean, valleys and greenery adds to the scenic beauty of the mountain.

• Amusement park: A beautiful amusement park is established at the slope of mountains few years earlier. This amusement park has been extended up to 70,000 square meters.

National palace of Barcelona is one among the popular historical monuments of the town. Many other attractions like magic fountain, Mies Van De Rohe pavilion, and many others are located near the monument.

Popular hotels and resorts located in the city

Many five star and four star hotels have been established in the town for providing an unforgettable experience to the visitors. Easy access to metro and other facilities has increased the demands for these hotels.

Some popular hotels of the city include Casa Fuster Hotel, Arts Hotel Barcelona, Euro Stars Grand Marina Hotels Barcelona, Claris hotel Barcelona, Le Meridian, Grand Florida Hotel, Melia Hotel, Majestic Hotel and Spa, and many others.

The luxurious facilities offered by these hotels attract a lot of tourists every year. It is better to book a room for two or family well in advance, in order to avoid any kind of inconvenience.

• Casa fuster hotel: It is a 100 years old building providing five star services to their customers. The exterior, infrastructure and every other little thing is designed in an artistic way. The floors of the hotel are designed with shiny black mosaic. Common facilities offered by the hotel include sauna, terrace area, spa, modern gym, Galaxo restaurant, and many others.

Tibidabo, Barcelona, Spain by Leonora Enking

How to plan a travel to Barcelona:

Many tour agencies provide all paid vacation packages to this magnificent city. They help you plan your trip within your budgets. They make all the arrangements for you, from your stay to your food, and for visiting the popular attractions. They also arrange your air tickets.

Author’s Bio: Wilson has been blogging about various travel destinations from across the world. If you are planning on holidays to Portugal, then you might want to check out his posts on cheap flights to Portugal with Jet2.com.

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Saint-Tropez, France by Zoé de Saint-Tropez

1 – Convenience

If travelling from the UK, you can reach Calais and Le Havre in a few short hours or less. By comparison, a trip to the South of France can involve a longer flight, and day or two of driving. In this way, the North of France is recommended for people that want a quicker getaway, or don’t want to have to transport young children on a long journey.

2 – Cities

There are many excellent cities in both the North and the South of France. The North’s distinction comes through it being the location of Paris. However, travels to the South can take in the similarly large, if not quite as diverse, cities of Nice and Marseille along the French Riviera. Travellers going to the South West of France can also enjoy the historic city of Bordeaux.

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France by Trey Ratcliff

3 – Temperature

Those wanting to enjoy the sun and the beach are probably better off heading south than trying the climate of the Northern part of France, which is broadly similar to the UK. The South’s Mediterranean climate is much hotter, and features many more sandy beaches. Marseille and Nice are particularly popular for tourists. Visitors to the South and France’s Eastern border with Switzerland can also enjoy the sun and the skiing opportunities of the French Alps.

4 – Cultural Differences

While there are no major differences in terms of language and shared culture between the North and the South of France, there are a few contrasts that should be taken into consideration. The South of France is generally more tourist driven, and most French people will travel to it as part of their own holidays. The pace of life in the South is also slower and more relaxed in the larger cities and resorts. Cities like Monte Carlo are more expensive than the towns of the North. Food in the South is similarly more Mediterranean in terms of the use of spices and local fish delicacies.

Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, France by marcovdz

5 – Travel Options

Being based in the North or the South of France will create different opportunities for further travel. On the other hand, being based in the North means that you can easily travel onto Belgium and Germany, while also gaining access to the Netherlands. By contrast, a trip to the South of France creates the chance to travel to Switzerland and Germany via the Alps, as well as heading west to Spain and Portugal. The South of France is also a good base for journeys on to the North of Africa and parts of Greece.

Conclusions

Taken together, those wanting a short journey, and the opportunity to enjoy Paris and cooler temperatures should consider the North of France, while those after sun and beaches, and a more Mediterranean holiday, can head south. Again, however, there is no reason not to enjoy both during the course of a longer trip.

Brought to you by the bloggers from Cheznous. Offering holidays in France.

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Ibiza, Spain

Ibiza may be known as the party capital of the world, and a must-do vacation for the New Year, but it’s also one of the best summer destinations. The Balearic Island has a pleasant May climate, with clear days and temperatures in the mid-twenties. From June to September, the weather is warm and pleasant. Beach temperatures range from the mid to late twenties, making it a perfect place to laze around and get tanned in the mornings, and partying in the evenings. The northern region has olive groves and wooded areas, and is truly stunning. The beaches are packed till August, and less crowded from September onwards, so if you cherish your peace and quiet, that’s when you should plan your trip.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by David Sim

St Tropez, France

St Tropez is one of the oldest tourist attractions in Europe, and where the A-list crowd prefers to go. This tourist attraction owes its popularity to the influx of artists and musicians after the Second World War. It is known for its sunny beaches (with public tanning areas and private huts as well. The beaches also offer plenty of activities including windsurfing, sailing, yachting, diving and other water sports. These beaches combine glamour, leisure, nightlife and other activities to make an irresistible package.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Michael Gwyther-Jones

Malta

Malta, Gozo and Comino offers plenty of beautiful places for swimming. Sandy beaches are a popular choice, especially for families with children, but swimming is very popular on rocky beaches as well. Beach clubs and swimming pools are an excellent opportunity for those who like comfort. If you do not want to be surrounded by a crowd of people on the sandy beaches, it is better to visit them on weekdays.

Paradise Bay is probably one of the most beautiful beach scenery in Malta – the beach is located in a beautiful bay near the town of Cirkewwa. You can use chairs, umbrellas and enjoy a meal in a beach restaurant. Beach itself is small, but suitable for snorkelling.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Shepard4711

Sardinia, Italy

Sardinia is one of the two islands that lie off the western coast of Italy (Sicily being the other), and is not as crowded as the other Italian hotspots. It has stunning white beaches punctuated by the little coves. Apart from the obvious attraction of Mediterranean weather, Sardinia offers several attractions for the discerning tourist: from the Nuraghi (prehistoric cone-shaped buildings) to Nora, the archaeological sites where Carthiginian remains have been uncovered; from the Roman remains in Cagliari to the hillsides, meadows and hamlets of Barbagia.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by claire rowland

Santorini, Greece

Santorini in Greece, with its beaches, little hamlets and even an active volcano, is one of the hottest summer vacation spots in Europe. Traditional buildings (from as early as the 16th century), wineries, ruins and restored villas, and villages with their cobbled pathways, cafes and restaurants offer travellers a holiday they can cherish. The weather is mild from April to June, and September and October are the best times to visit the island. The sunsets here are known to be among the most spectacular in the world, sitting in perfect isolation on the outer ring of the Cyclades.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Lyn Gateley

While all these destinations can be stunning, it’s your interests and tastes that can make your holiday perfect. Choose what works best for you, pack your designer swimwear and head off on a holiday you’ll remember and boast about for years to come!

This article was brought to you by the people at Beach Cafe – online retailers and specialist in designer swimwear and travel tips.

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The constant sunny weather is almost guaranteed here. There is subtropical Mediterranean climate with an average annual temperature of 18 °C and average summer temperatures above 30 °C. Tourism started to develop here in this area in the 60′s of the 20th century. Until then there were just small fishing villages on the coast with the quiet life.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Stephen Heron

Costa del Sol is still relatively sparsely populated in comparison with northern parts of the coast, such as Costa Brava or so. In addition to a wide range of accommodation there is also a wide range of entertainment and shopping options. You can taste the famous Spanish cuisine and meet with the locals who are very friendly.

The area features the long beautiful beaches, many of which have previously received the Blue flag of the European Union, which proves their high quality. These beaches boast not only for its cleanliness and grooming, but also a high quality of services. Costa del Sol consists of a large number of large and small beaches, most of which has a gentle access to the sea, which is especially appreciated by families with children. Swimming is offered in a crystal clean and warm Mediterranean sea, whose waves are also ideal for various water sports. It is a popular destination for the lovers of windsurfing, kiting, water skiing or riding on water scooters.

Costa del Sol is an ideal place to spend quality holiday full of sun. In addition to great swimming in the sea and sunbathing on the beaches here you can also find beautiful landscapes and many historically significant places. Top cities worth a visit are Malaga, Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Torremolinos, or resorts like Benalmadena, Fuengirola and last but not least is Gibraltar. Costa del Sol is also very close to African continent, it is not a problem to get for example to Morocco.

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Area of Gennargentu National Park includes Gennargentu mountain that is mainly represented as the largest mountain complex in Sardinia, which peaks reach maximum heights of up to 1834 m above sea level (Punta La Marmora). During the brightest days you can see the entire coast of the island from those peaks. Other highest peaks of the mountain are Bruncu Spina (1.828m), Punta Florisa (1.822m), Punta Paolina (1.792m), Punta Erba Irdes (1.703m), Bruncu Allasu (1.701m), Monte Iscudu (1.676m) and Monte Spada (1.595m).

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Gennargentu mountains are connected to the mountains della Barbagia and extends to the sea where forms the bay of the Golfo di Orosei, wildest place over the Mediterranean.

The original idea of ​​establishing a national park in this area relates to people rather than nature itself. Recent local research has indicated that the area starts to slowly deteriorate and devastate and there was a noticeable decline in population. Unemployment also reached alarming values, the traditional sources of livelihood are dying and lack of employment alternatives.

Already in 1962 a plan to restore Sardinia was established, knowing that this exceptional region contains all the elements that clearly indicate the specific nature: richness of vegetation, flora, fauna, strong traditional economy (grazing) and also a very important historical and cultural aspects.

The climate of the national park is Mediterranean, with rainfall mainly concentrated in autumn, winter and spring. The higher mountain areas are characterized by a cool Mediterranean climate, which contributed to the maintenance of a typical high mountain vegetation. The snowfalls are frequent during the winter season but the length and thickness of snow cover is low.

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