Musee du Louvre, France

It’s hard to create a list of European museums without including the Louvre. All varieties of art, ranging from antiquities that date in the B.C. era to the famed Mona Lisa, fill the 652, 300 square feet of exhibit space. While it would take days to see all these amazing works, it is more than worth your time to map out a path to your favorite artists or periods of art and spend a few hours exploring the Louvre and ogling the art.

Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

Van Gogh Museum, The Netherlands

While the French painters certainly had their hey-day of beautiful paintings, the Dutch had equally amazing master painters. Much smaller than the Louvre is the van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Here, visitors can see the largest collection of works by Vincent van Gogh, as well as works by his contemporaries, such as Paul Gaugin, Claude Monet, and Georges Seurat.

Galleria degli Uffizi, Italy

If you love the masterpieces of the Renaissance, the Uffizi is a gluttonous indulgence of riches. Here hangs some of the most famous works that came under the art-loving support of Florence’s Medici family. Michelangelo, Boticelli, and Raphael are just a few of the masters who have art here.

Museo Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

One should visit the Guggenheim’s Spanish location even if modern art is unappealing. The architecture of the building is an amazing site to see on its own! Within this architectural landmark, visitors can see works by Basque artists and more general contemporary art from the Guggenheim collection. There are also site-specific installations. The rotating collections tend to focus on art from mid-20^th century to contemporary times.

Museo Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain by MykReeve

The National Gallery, UK

This landmark museum that towers over London’s Trafalgar Square has a well-rounded collection of paintings. Famous works by post-impressionist painter Paul Cezanne hang in rooms near Renaissance genius Titian. The National Gallery truly has something for an enthusiast of every period of Western art – plus, it is free.

Terry Carter writes about travel and backpacking for Camping Gear Outlet. 

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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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