What are the most interesting French towns/cities (not inlcuding Paris)? I have to describe the things you can do there, so its gota be a v interesting place!
(ne good touristy website appreciated - whether in French or English!)
pls help
xx
2007-03-14 09:25:43 · 13 answers · asked by Polka Dot 1 in Travel ➔ France ➔ Paris
Is there anywhere which offers wintersports as well as many other things the rest of the year?
2007-03-14 12:08:31 · update #1
Ok, I think I have what you are looking for:
AVIGNON
A nice city in the middle of Provence, known for quite a few things:
- The Palace of the popes... you have a great story just speaking about the plots and the history behind the popes and the city of Avignon.
- The "Pont d'Avignon" The bridge that inspired the famous French song of the same name.
- The "festival d'Avignon" Which lasts 3 weeks in July, its is for theatric plays for Avignon what the movie festival is for Cannes. Lesser known than its counterpart, but street plays and comedies, clowns, jugglers and other street performers make the city an amazing attraction.
- The special wine. One of the popes liked a wine soo much he bought the territory near orange 45 mins car from avignon) making Avignon the only city with an enclave (territory not adjacent to the city) also, the palace grows a very small vineyard of this wine on the palace cliffs and each year there is a celebration for the papal wine. Until the revolution the territory belonged to the pope, just like the Vatican!
You also have the University (ancient hospital) which was dubbed one of the most beautiful in France and inaugurated by Chirac, and many other historical artifacts and stories.
The entire city center is enclosed in a 5km long city wall, and the "papal gardens are unique, they are on a cliff above the river, the city and the palace itself, offering a round the clock view on the whole city.
Just take a look at the link I provide you, if you are looking for something easy and interesting to write, I think Avignon is your best choice! Hope that helped!
As for other things you can do... Well I lived there a few years so: You can do rowing on the river at the SNA club (quite famous in France, top rowers were breeded in this club) there is the Island of the barthelass right across avignon which is very nature, you can go for rides, walks and camp. There is also a paintball camp near the lake and forest, as well as pony rides and a laser quest. (more detail in website section rendezvous: leisure and sport)
For snow, just hop on the train and you are 1 hour away from the stations, just like in any other French city, barely 2 hours away from Italy, Spain, Germany, the UK...ect.
2007-03-14 16:41:34 · answer #1 · answered by iloho 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have been to probably hundreds of cities in France, and the one I found really fascinating is the walled city of Carcassonne. The ancient city was founded in the 8th Century BC. It was later home to the "Cathares" and the Knights Templar, and the place is a trip. It's "downtown" is still enclosed within the old medieval walls - which are adorned with gargoyles (apparently to scare away would-be invaders!).
Check it out:
http://www.carcassonne.culture.fr/
2007-03-14 19:26:07 · answer #2 · answered by lesroys 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try Bourges. Was already here when Caesar invaded France called Gaule at this time (Bourges was known as Avaricum and was an important city). Was very important in the medieval time and got the most fascinating cathedral in France. Has now one of the most famous music festival in france (Printemps de Bourges).
2007-03-14 17:55:42 · answer #3 · answered by glenjulio 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aix en provence is a good choice. The town has a very ancient history having been settled by Celtic peoples and then coming under the rule of Rome.
They have an excellant website: http://www.aixenprovencetourism.com/uk/
2007-03-14 18:13:19 · answer #4 · answered by Rillifane 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why not Amboise? It's in the Loire Valley and has a beautiful castle. There's a chateau that the King allowed Leonardo DaVinci to reside in. This is where he died in fact. It houses models of his inventions. It's a very charming city.
2007-03-14 18:08:04 · answer #5 · answered by g 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be honest, most of them are interesting. A good thing to do is when you've picked a town, is to write to their tourist office and ask for info about the town, they usually send you loads of great stuff. That's what I did when we had to do this in year 9!
As for towns, if you don't know which one to pick, just find a map of France, close your eyes, point and pick randomly! x
2007-03-14 16:37:26 · answer #6 · answered by polly423 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oj, I went to a town called Pontivy. It wasn't huge, but had a big castle, and was really nice. There is another town near by called Josselin which had the most magnificent castle on a hill side that you have ever seen. I've put on a link for you to a Tourist site.
2007-03-14 16:33:18 · answer #7 · answered by BrilliantPomegranate 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If it doesn't have to be a city in France Montreal has interesting things. There's a bunch of cool things in Quebec. I visited to a castle called the Le Château Frontenac.
2007-03-14 16:35:50 · answer #8 · answered by kate302 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Try Nizza (nice), Marseille, Bordeaux, Dijon, Geneve...
2007-03-14 16:33:50 · answer #9 · answered by Cold Bird 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try this :
http://www.reims-tourisme.com/
It's the city where most of the french kings were crown and where the champagne is from.
2007-03-15 07:10:42 · answer #10 · answered by fookine 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋