French Tourism

Touring France is among the best vacation experience I ever had. The country is filled with noted and popular tourist attractions in the world. If you ever get to explore the major cities of France, you are one hell of a traveler. Aside from the numerous attractions found in France, the collective experience alone is what you will always bring with you as you leave the country. Among the most well regarded sites in France are its religious sites.

Lourdes is among the top fascinating tourists attraction in France, even for people who are not seeking miracles and who are not faithful Catholics. So what makes the place a superb place to visit, especially for people who are extreme Catholic believers? Lourdes is only the a small village in France where the first ever miraculous sighting of the Virgin Mary was first encountered. Who was known fortunate one who saw the Virgin Mother in year 1858? It was none other than Bernadette Soubirous.

Bernadette Soubirous saw the Virgin Mary in a a now known sacred place called as Grotte de Massabielle. If you want to have one religious and spiritual holiday experience at Lourdes, it is a must for you to explore the shrine and the grotto, which is reported to have seated more than 20,000 guests at a time. If you prefer to purchase memorabilia for your trip at Lourdes, do not forget to tour along the numerous shops that sell various souvenirs and other religious Lourdes remembrances.

If you are saturated with the archaic museums and monuments of France and has already exhaust your budget on French coutures in Paris, might as well unwind a little bit. Paris by day, city by night! You will be allured with the night life and the city lights.

Nothing compares to the exquisite French cuisine or the romantic holiday atmosphere that lingers in cafes... But action is on a roll come the setting of the sun. You might be surprised to see American-sounding bars and clubs where most tourists scamper for social drinking and delightful dining experience.

There are existing versions for a "Moulin Rouge" for scouting city rats while trendy Paris clubs are mostly on seen the left bank and downtown. One of the better finds will be the Barfly. Don't be mislead by the name but people flock in the place who caters to a new hub for the nightlife.

Bars versus night clubs... Night clubs ordinarily features dancing shows and dinner treats while bars are more on upper scale of the city life after dark. Meanwhile, most locals are seen frerquently on pubs while restaurants are mostly open to anyone. If you're itching for that Paris nightlife, you may ask your hotel guides for the closest and best spot to enjoy the night away.

Among the best ways to spend holiday in France is by engaging in river cruises. French river cruises are very popular in the country. Each cruise package differs in style. There are luxury, sailing, budget, adventure, wilderness, and romantic cruises and all of them offer the same satisfying French tour a tourist can ever get.

True, the cruises are quite expensive. The luxury cruise, for instance, has big ships that carry the most number of tourists. Its amenities include spas, swimming pools, casinos, restaurants, salons, and fitness centers. Most packages charge tourists $300 per day. But I think, the price is incomparable to the beautiful sights awaiting the cruisers. Unlike with bus tours, tourists are able to see a bigger picture of France. Just imagine sitting on a ship while the cool breeze brushes over your face and the astounding view of France is laid right in front of your very eyes.

Some cruises are week-long like the most coveted Black Sea cruise. It stops over in Budapest and proceeds to Nuremberg. Also, tourists are given the option to have a round trip or one-way cruise. The best season to cruise is during the months of May and June when the sun shines its brightest on France so you could see more of the city.

This historical architectural structure is built in 1806. It was France's little corporal who appointed Chalgrin to construct the arch to glorify the triumph of his army. It took Chalgrin thirty years to complete the arc. Although the design for the arc is based on ancient arches, its size makes it stand out from among the triumphal arches in the country. The arc measures fifty meters high and has a width of forty five meters. The four pillars are adorned with the masterpiece of Rude that depicts the 1792 departures of the patriots.

Since the construction of the arc, it has become a famous site for heroic remembrances. History has it that the procession of the ashes of Napoleon passed underneath this arc on the 15th of December, 1840. Also, if we try to recall, the corpse of Victor Hugo was laid under the arc on the eve of May 23, 1885, the day when Hugo is entombed in Pantheon. On the 4th of July, 1919, the triumphant troops advanced under the same arc. Finally, an unknown army man is buried on the site on the 11th of November, 1920. Finally, on 1923, a burning flame is set on the arc to commemorate the soldiers who fought in WW1.

Valence exists for two thousand years now and is famous for its academic traditions which started in 1452. It is said the King Louis XI founded the university in the city. Even up to this day, universities continue to flourish especially the music schools.

The Mediterranean and city of Paris serve as boundaries of Valence. This location is also the reason for its fame. The main tourist attraction in the city is a cathedral, the St. Apollinaire, which is the iota of the town. Its vicinity is filled with lintels, religious relics, monuments, and chapels. Meanwhile, the oldest cotes near the cathedral are famous because historical personages such as Napoleon and Rabelais passed that way.

If you think that museums are a nuisance, then check out the 8,000 footwear collections in the Museum of the Chaussure. The collections range from ancient to present designs and showcases cultural exhibits. Also visit the Palace named after Cheval, a postman who created out of his stone collections a massive palace right in his garden.

History has it that the Romans called the city as Valentia in 2 B.C. The driving forces behind its economy are textiles, jewelries, textile products, munitions, and metal products. As a matter of fact, the ancient gunpowder factory is situated in this city.

How I wish I could also climb the highest peak in France which is the Blanc Mountain. It is the most outstanding tourist spot in France with an approximate height of 15,800 feet. It serves as boarder betwixt France and Italy. If you happen to be in Geneva, the mountain could be seen on a bright day.

Blanc Mountain is the perfect destination for family winter hikes. It is spectacular and although snow-capped, its beauty still shines. Just imagine you and your family climbing the mountain, enduring the cold weather while having fun in trekking the alps. The tour starts in the ice tunnel that leads to the steeps on either sides of the mountain. From here, climbers will likely to see the scenic view of Blanche Valley. Blanche or Blanc means white, so the name of the mountain speaks for itself.

At the area called Refuge, tourists have several rooms to choose from. There, a room is prepared for the guests should they want to chat or simply wait for dinner. Dinner is served early to allow guests longer sleeping hours and prepare for the hiking activities. Hiking starts at dawn and takes about ten hours. It is worth taking note that the route to the top is hindered by steeps and slopes with different angles.

A few days from now, the movie Da Vinci Code will have its premier world wide. I am just on of the millions who are dying to see the film. But, what I am really after is the discovery of the secret, and if the movie has really captured the essence of the novel. Anyway, I was reminded of this all because my uncle called me a while ago, asking me if I were interested in booking for the Da Vinci Code tour in France.

Whoa! That was initial reaction. I even asked him if such tour really exists. Then, he began talking about the details. It was pretty convincing, so I jumped at the invitation and packed for an exciting holiday. The tour costs more than 100 cents, and lasts up to four hours. All I wanted to see in the much coveted tour is the path that lead character Robert Langdon had taken while chasing the secret. Well, I was not disappointed. Right from the beginning, I was stupefied by the magnanimity of Louvre Museum.

I never imagined it would that humungous. Plus, I was literally amazed by the inverted glass pyramid hanging in the museum. All the famous artworks included in the story were presented in the tour. I only found it annoying that the tour guide seemed to repeat the story over and over again. Forget about that. Also, the guide mentioned some of the details not mentioned in the novel. All in all, the experience is a showcase of Louvre history. It merely used the film as the theme. But, all is well, and I wished I could have stayed longer in Louvre, and put my feet on the shoes of Robert Langdon. Anyway, I can join him in his adventure in the film.

If you want a total French performance, then go to a Paris cabaret. Hey, I know what you are thinking. Come on, this will be fun. Besides, there would be no harm in watching ladies sing and dance except that cabarets are really expensive. Entrance fee costs as much as $ 150. Of course, that includes champagne. But, never mind the wine, I want to see the performance.

Most of the cabarets are located in Paris. I came there, along with my buddies, to watch The Moulin Rouge. It was not different from the movie. Only, the live performance is much better than the movie version. The production was superb while the performance is truly world-class.

But, the fun did not stop there. There are as many cool Paris hotels as cabarets in the French capital. It is just amazing that cabarets are getting not just the attention of foreigners, but the respect of French people as well. Before, I share the same notion as with others that cabarets show sensual performances. True, the presentations are rated for adults only, but beneath the dazzling lights, the jazz, the sexy costumes, the naughty gestures, and the witty dialogs, cabaret performances are showcases of life. Without cabarets, we will not be able to see the sensual, happy side of human life.

It is such a pity that I have not yet been to Disney Paris, while all my friends have already gone there. God knows how I wanted to go there. I know I am old enough for fancy rides, but no matter what you say, I am still a child at heart!

Well, if you also are lamenting over being unable to visit Disney Park, all I can share with you is some information about it. Located at the heart of our beloved Paris, the park opened to the public in April of 1992. I am sure you still remember what happened that time. The park was literally sabotaged and the staffs were compelled to quit their jobs all because of the strict rules implemented by the managers. Anyhow, I felt really bad when the park raised the prices for its admission. We all know that businesses in France must cope with French market, so Disney had no choice but raise the prices. This, in turn, resulted to a terrible financial loss. Also, rumors spread that Disney Paris will have to close.

But, the rumors remained as rumors. In no time, the park finally re-opened and has already fixed admission costs, thus inviting more people to come and experience the Disney World adventure. What I am really after Disney Paris, aside from the rides and parades are cafe areas that feature stage shows performed by various artists who incredibly portray Disney characters. Also, I am dying to see the movies in the park cinemas. Oh, before I forget, I would love to tour over the fantasyland and see lovely princesses.

Once, the 14th Dalai Lama came to the Buddhist Monastery of Karma Ling in Arvillard, France where the first Spiritual United Nations or S.U.N was held. During the week-long event, His Holiness gave a series of teachings on the Noble truths of Buddha. Peoples gathered under a tent to listen to His lectures, sacred doctrines, which focused on explaining to the peoples how they, being ordinary persons, can become a Buddha.

Realize that 'existence' is the central theme of Buddhism. Existence is analyzed through the Noble truths that consists of discourses on suffering, its meaning, origin, cessation, and the ways that lead to its cessation. A person who willingly undergoes the process of realization will soon develop a very strong faith in Buddha and will have a deep compassion towards other people, thus achieving an eminent soul.

The Dalai Lama's visit to France only proves that Buddhism is by far one of the oldest religions in the world alongside the Hinduism of India and Christianism and Islamism of Asia. The said event was witnessed by indigenous peoples' leaders all around the globe. They aimed in forming a circle of religious and spiritual leaders that will provide them recognition and the opportunity to meet with other leaders and discuss issues concerning faith. Truly, this dream has come true.

Paris is absolutely one of the most enchanting places in Europe. To any traveler who indulgences himself so much into art, culture, and history, the lovely French capital should definitely be a part of his European itinerary. Touring the entire city can be quite a challenge especially if you only have a limited time of stay. However, you can possibly make the most out of your Parisian adventure by mapping and scheduling in advance all the places you want to see.

One of the best sites you must not definitely miss is the Louvre Museum. Being the largest museum in the world that houses the most extensive collection of art works from various epochs and countries, Louvre is the haven for lovers of art and beauty. Although I had managed once to tour the former palace only within a few hours, I must say that it is too enormous both in its floor plan and collections to roam around it only in a single day. If you want to maximize your time, you can go early and purchase your ticket before the queue starts to swell. Maybe going for a second round may not be bad either since some special sections are only opened at certain days.