France Guide
Parisians would like us to think that Paris is France. Outside the French capital lively cities, from Marseille to Mulhouse, ooze culture like a ripe brie while 22 regions dish up unique local food, wine and joie de vivre. Take along your phrase book and uncover France beyond the clichés.
Once you have seen Parisapos; inside-out Pompidou Centre and skyscraping Eiffel Tower, head south for the rich ochres of Renaissance Lyon and Spanish-influenced Toulouse. Go west for neo-classical Bordeaux and east for canal-crossed Strasbourg. Up north, feel inspired by Rouen's Gothic cathedral.
Chateau hop in the Loire Valley. In Provence, be impressed by Cézanne's Mont Saint Victoire or run with wild horses on the Camargue plateau. Pick blueberries in the Alps and touch prehistoric menhirs in wind-swept Brittany. Paraglide in the pointy Pyrenees and canoe in the lush Ardèche. Swim in Corsica's translucent waters.
Hunt for olive oil in Provence, foie gras in Dordogne and blue-veined cheese in Roquefort. Bag designer labels in Paris, Saint-Tropez and Cannes or bargains at Lille's factory outlets. Go artisanal with handmade gloves in Millau or porcelain in Limoges. Buy wine from the Loire, Burgundy and Bordeaux, and pear cider from Normandy.
Taste regional specialities, from hearty Cassoulet (pork and bean stew) in the southwest to galettes (savoury pancakes) and cider in Normandy, or bouillabaisse fish soup from Marseille washed down with heady Pastis. Wines range from priceless Bordeaux bottles to good-value vintages from the Languedoc.
Be seen at contemporary art venues such as the Abattoires in Toulouse and the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, or swoop along the Millau viaduct, Norman Foster's breathtaking bridge.
