St-Jacques’s Path, Midi-Pyrenees

There are four paths leading pilgrims to St. Jacques de Compostelle, through southern France and northern Spain. Rumor has it that the most beautiful is the via Podensis, in the Pyrenees. Starting from the medieval town of Figeac, the walk will take you through fields of safran, among herds of goats and sheep, and you will come across many interesting monuments along the way.

St-Jacques’s Path, France by Hk kng

The calanques, Bouches-du-Rhône

Situated between Marseille and Cassis, in southern France, the calanques are steep and uneven limestone formations, which bright pale color contrasts beautifully with the deep blue Mediterranean sea. The panorama is spectacular. Piece of advice: do not forget to bring sufficient amount of water since the heat can get intense and there is no fresh water available anywhere in the calanques. Preferably, choose to go there off-season, between March and May. The temperature will be fresher, and you’ll avoid most of the calanques’ annual 2 million visitors.

Sentier des muletiers, Puy de Dôme, Auvergne

Highest point of the Chaîne des Puys, a chain of extinguished volcanos in Auvergne, center of France, the Puy de Dome used to be an important place of worship in the Roman empire. You can hike up to the top using the historic sentiers des muletiers, the ancient path that once conducted worshipers to the temple of Jupiter, which ruins are still existing on the summit. The sentier des muletiers is a fairly easy hike that can be achieved within an afternoon, back and forth. The view from the summit is amazing; but brace yourself for crowds of tourists. The Puy de Dome is one of the most visited spots of France, which is the most popular destination of the world. So do not expect to be alone up there!

Mont Dore, Chaine des Puys, Auvergne, France by Sébastien Bertrand

While you are in Auvergne, seize the occasion to explore the surrounding Chaine des Puys. There are countless mountains hiking tracks, all more beautiful than one another: breathtaking panoramic views, waterfalls, pristine lakes, etc. It is well worth it.

Contentin Peninsula, Normandy

With over 436 km in total, the path that takes you around the Cotentin Peninsula, in Normandy, would take over 20 days to be walked completely. But you can easily choose to walk short sections of the path. The landscapes are splendid, the air is fresh, the view, panoramic, arouses an incomparable feeling of freedom and peace.

About the author:

Mireille Mayrand-Fiset is a travel, music and theater enthusiast. She writes for the stage and television, and is working as a freelance blogger for Tourism Montreal, which provides all kind of information to plan your trip in Montreal. You can find more information here.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Fernando García

Spain offers a mixture of historical, cultural and modern attractions to its tourists. Almost every key city presents different features every tourist will surely love. Here are some of the tourist attractions in Spain that you will surely remember:

Palacio Real (Royal Palace)

If you want to take a look at the King of Spain’s official residence, your feet should bring you to Madrid, the capital city. The Palacio Real is not the actual residence of the King but it serves as a place for state ceremonies. The palace was built in the 1700s so your eyes will feast on a fabulous architectural design.

Running of the Bulls

If you happen to be there from July 6-14, you should not miss the Pamplona’s San Fermin festival. Pamplona is located in Navarra – autonomous community in northern Spain. The festival gains its popularity because of its El Encierro or the running of the bulls. If you want to become part of the festival’s main attraction, you will be able to feel the exhilaration of running in front of numerous bulls that have been let loose to roam the town’s street.

La Concha

Believed to be one of the best city beaches in the Europe region, La Concha attracts beach lovers and surfers as well. If you are planning to take a break from your day tour, La Concha will take your stress away without a doubt.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Tomas Fano

Ibiza

Ibiza is one of the islands found in Balearic group of islands. You will be captivated by its nature scenery. Also, most of the tourists going to Ibiza are there to enjoy its live night club parties, bars and restaurants making it one of the favorite tourist attractions in Spain.

Sagrada Familia

You will find the ancient Roman Catholic Church, Sagrada Familia in the city of Barcelona. It was designed by the famous Antoni Gaudi who worked for this church for almost four decades. The basilica was constructed on 1882 and you will notice it was never finished completely.

Mezquita of Cordoba

This mesmerizing mosque is famous for its beautiful arches and pillars on its main hall. Aside from its stunning architectural design, its place in Spanish history will also broaden your knowledge.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Shaun Dunphy

Alhambra Palace

Alhambra Palace is one of the major tourist attractions in Spain. Almost every traveler here explores this magnificent palace and learns about how this palace was built. It is situated in the city of Granada, in the south. Alhambra boasts its intricate interior designs built in the 14th century by the sultans of Nasrid.

Given all of these amazing places to discover, prepare at least a couple of weeks if you are planning to visit all of these places. These major attractions will definitely give you a total Spain vacation getaway.

Nicholas Martin writes for Passport Visa Travelers Guide. Interested in traveling to Spain? Be sure to check the travel requirements for tourists before booking your trip.

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