Archive for 'Must See Attractions in France'

Nice is home to lots and lots of truly beautiful buildings and wonderful architectural gems both in and around the city. There are plenty in the city itself and if you have found a vacation rental in Nice, you don’t have to go far to refresh your eyes and soul with manmade architectural wonders. However, if you fancy experiencing the “around” part of “in and around the city” and venturing a bit further afield then why not go exploring the French Riviera and take a trip to the stunning Villa et Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild, which really does make for a perfectly dreamy daytrip destination.

Home to a rich fine and decorative arts collection located inside a Belle Époque Italian-style palazzo and an incredible surrounding park that boasts nine distinct gardens, this gem on the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is a truly magical place. It was built by the heiress Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild at the beginning of the twentieth century over the course of seven years during which ten different architects were hired and fired in turn, the whole thing eventually came together in perfection and served as her residence and party villa until the 1930s. In her will, it was bequeathed to the Institute de France for use as a fine art museum and today displays over 5,000; from fine furniture to paintings and statuary to porcelain dinnerware.

Those who love the Great Outdoors and like to get out and about to explore will have plenty of places to do so while holidaying in France, which ranges from a windswept northern coast and a Mediterranean south coast to Alpine peaks, and from fields of lavender to lush pastures. Amongst all of your options, one of the most picture perfect of all is the 2,000-hectare Néouvielle Nature Reserve. Located right next to the Pyrenees National Park, this incredible part of the world is a lake district with snow peaks and an idyllic glacier-sculpted scenery comprised of meadows, pine forests, mirror-like lakes and much more besides. If you have found a vacation rental in Midi-Pyrénées, be sure to come and see this computer wallpaper come to life...

While Disneyland is, without a doubt, the most famous theme park in all of France, it is not, by a long shot, the only one. In fact, it is not even necessarily the most interesting theme park you might visit. If you have found a vacation rental in Pays-de-la-Loire and you've had your fill of princesses and iconic characters and rides and are still looking for an interesting theme park to explore, one of the most fascinating that you could ever hope to stumble upon is Puy du Fou.

Puy du Fou is an incredible historical theme park in Les Epesses in the region of Pays-de-la-Loire that attracts 2 million visitors each year. Opened in 1978. originally as an open-air amateur dramatics night wherein volunteers re-enacted the bloody history of the Vendée in the ruins of a castle and is now known for its incredible historic recreation extravaganzas that make use of thousands of actors and animals, astounding sets, mind-blowing special effects and sumptuous costumes. There are no rides and, yet, children that visit are enthralled by the experience and adults, too, are blown away by the scale and magic of being transported back in time.

If you have found yourself a vacation rental in Provence and are looking for things to do in that beautiful part of the world, we would have to suggest a visit to the Fondation Vincent Van Gogh in Arles. This extraordinary gallery and museum is devoted to the life and work of the great Van Gogh and, in particular, his incredibly productive stay in Arles. A permanent collection of works by Van Gogh himself and by other artists in homage to his oeuvre, as well as temporary contemporary art exhibitions, are displayed throughout the museum, which is, in of itself, a rather beautiful work of art. If you're a Van Gogh fan or art lover visiting the area, it is a must-see attraction.

Vincent van Gogh came to live in Arles in 1888, in search of what he described as a “different kind of light” and he must have found it as is period in the city was the most productive of his life. It was then and there that masterpieces such as “Sunflowers” and “The Bedroom” were born. Sadly, few traces of the artist remained in the place that had inspired him so, bar the hospital in which he was treated after the infamous ear incident. To right this shame and reestablish a connection with the artist, a non-profit foundation was established according to Van Gogh's own desire to have an international center of artistic creation and exchange in Arles.

I don't know about you but I, for one, use Instagram as a handy tool to plan trips. Once my destination is set, I simply search hashtags related to the place (e.g. #discoverfrance, #discoverparis etc) or geotags (for specific cities or areas) and start saving things that catch my eye. This is a great way to save art galleries, viewpoints, beautiful buildings, restaurants, bars and more all in one place. Then, if more research is required, I can simply look up the places in question. So far, it has been an incredibly useful tool and has helped me find both secret gems and must-see hotspots, where to grab a bite, what attractions to put on the list, and where to go to simply wander and soak up the unique atmosphere of a destination.

One particularly good destination for a little Instagram detective work is France. A long-time favourite among travellers, with a massive tourism industry, it is really well-documented and snapped for Instagram. It is pretty easy to find photos and accounts specific to an area that you might be interested in but we have compiled a list of some accounts that we are particularly fond of from a few different places around the country to help you get started. If you have always wanted to plan a vacation in France, these are the best French travel Instagram accounts to follow...