Bray-Dunes, France by aimee daniells

A visit to the North Sea

While the southern beaches are great for those that like to enjoy the sun, do not neglect the North Sea from your route. Here, the weather is not as hot as on the French Riviera, so you can enjoy walking on the shores without fear of getting burned. During the nights, the temperature can get quite cold, so it is best to pack some warmer clothes with your luggage.

Some of the nicest resorts on the north coast are Zuydcoote and Bray-Dunes.

Visiting the English Channel

For families that love the quaint and the quiet part of France, there is no better place to embark on a vacation than the English Channel. Etretat is one of family friendly resorts that you can find in this area, especially known for the white cliffs and the white sand beaches that can be found nearby. Honfleur is a resort ideal for visiting historical places, as the local port and house are filled with history.

Other great family resorts along the English Channel are Perros-Guirrec, Berck on Sea and Granville.

Taking your family on the Atlantic Coast

When you want a bit of action and hotter weather, you can take your family with you on the Atlantic Coast of France. Some of the best known resorts here is Biarritz, a place where celebrities often meet. However, if you do not like the hustle and bustle of the trendiest resorts, you have plenty of others to choose from. Les Sables d’Olonne is famous for its beaches and for its boats.

Biarritz, France by Emmanuel Dyan

La Trinite-sur-Mer and La Baule are also great picturesque resorts where you can take your family.

A trip to the Mediterranean Coast

A great thing about France is that it can offer all kinds of weather, due to its spread from the North Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. Here the water is warmer and the weather is sweeter, which makes children really enjoy the many water activities that can be performed in the area.

Great family resorts on the Mediterranean Coast include Valras and Collioure.

Paris

If the beach and its attractions are not enough to complete a great vacation to France, there is always Paris. You cannot go wrong if you take your family on a trip to the famous capital. While seen as a trendy destination, Paris can also be very children friendly, with its Cite des Sciences (with a whole department dedicated exclusively to kids), and Centre Pompidou, with its Galerie des Enfants. The famous French deserts will definitely have your children beg you to stay more.

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The post A Travel Guide to Top Family Resorts in France appeared first on Europe Explored.

Long before the construction of the abbey on Mont Saint-Michel, the rocky outcropping within the English channel were an important strategic stronghold during the sixth and seventh centuries it would not be until the Franks laid siege to the stronghold that it would eventually fall can be torn down completely.

Mont Saint-Michel, France by Stevage

Soon after, during the eighth century construction began on the first religious establishment on the island. The choice of constructing a church on the rocks was as a result of the Archangel Michael’s appearance before the Bishop of Avranches back in 708. According to the legend, Michael instructed the Bishop to construct a church on the island and rename it Mont Tombe.

For hundreds of years, the mount was under control of France. However, in 1076 when the Normans conquered England, the island was annexed and made part of Britain. Soon after, the Normans financed the construction of an all new abbey on the island.

Aerial picture of Mont Saint-Michel, France by Playing Futures: Applied…

During the 12th century, Robert de Thorigny reinforced many of the buildings within the abbey in order to protect it from the oncoming battles with Normandy. Soon after the Norman annexation, King Philip financed instruction of an all new rectory and cloister in 1204.

Of course many things changed during the French Revolution as most of the monks had moved out of the abbey. As a result, the abbey was officially closed and turned into a prison responsible for holding the highest profile political prisoners. But unfortunately its use as a present would not last long because in 1836, the prison was finally closed down and declared a monument of historical importance. By 1979, Mont Saint-Michel was established as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Inside of the Mont Saint-Michel abbey, France by mat’s eye

Access to Mont Saint-Michel is currently made possible by a causeway that extends from the shoreline to the island. However, many pilgrims choose to ignore the causeway altogether an attempt to cross on foot to the island. As result of the quickly changing tides and the quicksand, this can be a very dangerous and sometimes deadly decision. Even today, it is not uncommon to hear about somebody being injured after trying to cross to the island via the tidal flats.

Of course once you arrive to the island, getting up to the abbey is no easy task. There are more than 900 steps that make their way from the shores of the mountain up to the entrance of Mont Saint-Michel Abbey. But do not worry, you will find that halfway up the stairway is a small church which has been carved into the side of the mountain; you will find that this is a perfect place to stop and take a rest.

Mont Saint-Michel in dark, France by Destination Europe

Visiting Mont Saint-Michel is definitely a unique day trip. Countless people every single year make their way to the island to see the centuries old abbey and experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the surrounding region.

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