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Ice-Driving in Rhône-Alpes
A unique experience awaits you in the region of Rhone-Alpes. Driving is taken to the extreme with ice circuits carved out of glaciers for you to drive on. Alpe d'Huez is the place to be if you want the challenge of controlling a Porsche on ice.
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Motor Biking in Provence/Cote D'Azur
Lovers of getaways and freedom will find this region an ideal place for motorbiking. Good weather year-round and sites to take your breath away offer a thousand good reasons to get away from it all and discover remote picturesque places in the heart of Provence, or follow itineraries with their unbeatable sea views.
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Devil Kart in Franche-Comté
For those who love nothing more than speeding around a track in a go-kart or for those who have always wanted to give it a go, Franche-Comté has a treat for you.
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Formula 1 Experience in Burgundy
Take the drive of your life in Burgundy where a Formula 1 track is at your disposal with a wide variety of different vehicles. Karting, driving a Porsche and other sports cars or Formula 3 and 1 cars are the options to choose from at Magny-Cours in Burgundy.
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Motor Biking Circuit Recommendations in Provence/Cote D'Azur
Circuit of the 3 Valleys (About 270km):From Briançonnais, to the Vallouise as far as the Valley of Queyras, discover beautiful valleys and special villages such as Saint Véran. The scenery of torrents, waterfalls, larch forests, glaciers, rocky crags and eternal snow will thrill lovers of nature and authenticity.
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Public Transport in Paris / Ile de France
Paris is one of the easiest cities in the world to get around. There is an extensive train system, called the Metro, with frequent trains, as well as an excellent bus service across the city.
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Train Tours in Rhone Alpes
Green Ardèche: Full Steam Ahead. The railroad circuit of the Chemin de Fer du Vivarais, between Tournon and Lamastre, allows one to admire ardéchois landscapes which are only accessible by train.
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Outside of Paris
Outside of Paris it is worth touring the Ile-de-France, a region of 11 million inhabitants outside of the "périphérique" or Paris ring road. Here you will find a more relaxed pace of life and a friendly welcome.
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For the Family in Poitou-Charentes
On-road Tourist Train: Train Touristique "Le Pibalou". Discover the history, flora, fauna and geography of the Marais Poitevin and see the local architecture in its villages from a small road train.
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Steam Train Journeys - Limoges
With a variety of routes from Limoges to Eyemoutiers and Ussel this is a great day out travelling back in time to the days of real trains! Weave your way through the gorges of the Haute Vienne with some spectacular viaducts.
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Tours in Midi-Pyrénées
"Star country" is a comprehensive itinerary pinpointing some of the most beautiful sites of interest in the Midi-Pyrénées under the headings of four thematic trips, as follows:
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The Pilgrims’ Way
Compostela, in Galicia, Spain, became the most accessible and popular destination for 'European' pilgrims in the 12th Century. For two hundred years 30-50,000 people travelled there each year.
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Montpellier in Languedoc-Roussillon
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Not to be missed in Burgundy
From the vineyards of Chablis to those of the Mâconnais passing through the Côte de Beaune and Côtes de Nuits, from the luminous Loire Valley to the opulent Bresse region passing through the mysterious forests of the Morvan, Burgundy is beautiful in its natural state and in every season.
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Not to be missed in the Loire (centre)
It is western Europe's last wild river, over 1,000 km long, that shapes the region : The Loire. On its banks the aristocracy built châteaux that are among the jewels of French architecture. Amboise, Chambord, Blois, Azay-le-Rideau are all extraordinary.
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Not to be missed in Limousin
Nature lovers who like to punctuate their walks with seeing the old craft traditions develop an immediate attachment to this region. Green woods and forests, it is also criss-crossed by water, the Creuse, Vienne and Dordogne rivers...
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Not to be missed in Normandy
Combining in the same land the pleasures of an extraordinary coastline and those of a green and blossoming countryside, Normandy is a very fortunate region.
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Angers in Pays de la Loire
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Not to be missed in Ile-de-France
Around Paris, Ile-de-France offers the joys of discovering both nature and culture. With 9 royal towns, 400 listed gardens and châteaux including 24 masterpieces of landscape art, medieval villages or Cistercian abbeys, the Ile-de-France region boasts a unique and fascinating heritage.
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Not to be missed in Alsace
Very long and narrow and backing onto the Rhine, Alsace has seen its borders moved on many occasions. The ups and downs of history have caused it to hang on to a very strong regional tradition. This can be seen in its language, its folk traditions and its cuisine. Its countryside beckons the walker, with its hillsides streaked with vineyards in the Munster valley and the flower-decked valleys of the Florival.
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Not to be missed in Aquitaine
If you had to define this land by one word, il would be 'generous'. A generosity that can be seen in its variety of landscapes with hills, valleys, sandy moors and a coast that is almost wild. The Bordeaux vineyards, the Basque Country, the plateaux of Périgord...
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Not to be missed in Rhône-Alpes
A great river and a chain of mountains give the region its name and create the pattern of life here. The Alps crowned by Mont Blanc provide a skiing area that is unique in the world. Hiking enthusiasts are becoming increasingly numerous in the summertime, walking the waymarked trails through the region's nature parks (La Vanoise, Les Ecrins, Les Bauges), and around the lakes (Lake Geneva, Annecy, Le Bourget). Nearer the Rhône, the Ardèche gorges are a paradise for canoeing.
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Nîmes in Languedoc-Roussillon
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Not to be missed in the Loire (western)
A land of water traversed by the Loire, the region is bathed in the north by the spray of the Atlantic Ocean. While Saint-Nazaire is an important merchant navy port, Nantes is the regional capital, and Saumur, Le Mans and Angers offer visitors a cultural heritage dominated by Gothic art and the Renaissance.
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Not to be missed in Corsica
Mountains in the sea, pierced with torrents, Corsica, an island of rare beauty, has the full spectrum of landscapes. Dry in the south, it makes up for it with long beaches of white sand, where lazing around can be enhanced by sightseeing tours.
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Not to be missed in Picardy
With its exceptionally rich architectural heritage, this province is a preserve of Gothic art. Famous for its cathedrals, it offers the discerning an opportunity to explore its towns and their medieval wonders.
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Not to be missed in Champagne-Ardenne
The fruit of its vineyards is so famous that the first thing you think of in this region is a glass of champagne. You can of course begin the journey underground and visit the wine cellars. Reims, its magnificient cathedral or its museum of fine arts, should not make you forget the 'vine-growers' villages spread around the region. There is also the Ardennes with its wild forests, populated by roe deer and hares.
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Nantes in Pays-de-la-Loire
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Not to be missed in Languedoc-Roussillon
The Mediterranean on one side, the eastern Pyrenees to the south and Lozère to the north, Languedoc-Roussillon takes pleasure in the contrats if its stepped relief.
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Saint-Etienne in Rhône-Alpes
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Not to be missed in Paris
Some cities call to mind lovers, others architecture, yet others an intellectual, cultural or appealing popular atmosphere. Paris has all these faces, plus lots more to discover depending on your particular interest.
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Not to be missed in Franche-Comté
This is a region with distinct faces. In the north, the valleys of the Haute-Saône which, from the Grays region to the Saône Vosges, passing through Vesoul, back onto the region of Belfort. Châteaux and churches give added attraction to its towns and villages, and a great many museums house specimens showing the traditional craftmanship related to wood, but also to clock making.
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Not to be missed in Poitou-Charentes
The dispute between Ancient and Modern is not on the agenda in this region where the vestiges of the past are keyed neatly into an openness to the future.
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Not to be missed in Auvergne
If it were possible, the best way to travel in this region would be on the back of a donkey, just as the writer Stevenson did. It is indeed probably the pleasantest way to see this land of volcanoes, fashioned by their eruptions. Inactive for centuries, they gave birth to a strange and majestic landscape.
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Avignon in Provence-Alpes-Côte-D’azur
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Not to be missed in Brittany
A land of seafaring people, and the aspect that makes Brittany the daughter of Neptune. Its thousands of kilometres of coastline, from Cancale to Saint-Nazaire, give it a prodigiously varied relief, with the strange rocks of the Pink Granite coast and the idyllic beaches of the Morbihan following on from one another.
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Lille in Nord-Pas-de-Calais
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Not to be missed in Nord-Pas-de-Calais
Traditionally an industrial region, it has now turned to tourism, a natural choice in a landscape where forests predominate, and where the Opal Coast has a host of beaches dedicated to surfing, wind-surfing, water-skiing, and more.
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Not to be missed in Lorraine
Bordered by the three countries, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, Lorraine is a strategic region which today exudes a peaceful charm. There is no shortage of reasons to explore it. For lovers of architecture and the arts, Mirecourt, Bar-le-Duc and Epinal possess many wonders. Enthusiasts for footpaths, will find routes dotted with lakes, forests and green valleys in the Lorraine Regional Park. Another excellent reason to come is for its springs and to stay in one of the well-known spa establishments in Contrexéville or Vittel, where the gastronomy is not to be outdone.
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Not to be missed in Midi-Pyrénées
Few regions offer such a variety of landscapes, climates and architecture. This is because the region is huge, it runs from Aveyron to Gers and from Ariège to the edges of the Dordogne.
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Marseille in Provence-Alpes-Côte-D’azur
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Not to be missed in Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur
Everything in this region sings, even the wind, when it is called the Mistral or the Tramontana. The great poets were able to convey its music, and painters from Cézanne to Picasso, captured its light. Provence is magical, it smells wonderfully of olive oil, lavender and thyme.
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Aix-en-Provence in Provence-Alpes-Côte-D’azur
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Not to be missed in the French Riviera
It is the blue of the south that defines this land. Its climate is so mild, its nature so filled with flowers that thousands of years after the Romans, English aristocrats, fed up with the greyness, fell in love with it. Since then, the Côte d'Azur has been entirely given over to summer pleasures.
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Nice in Provence-Alpes-Côte-D’azur
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Loire Valley (Centre) / Centre Val-de-Loire
The Loire Valley is made up of six départements (counties): Eure-et-Loir, Loiret, Loir-et-Cher, Cher, Indre, Indre-et-Loire.
Explore over 800 magnificent chateaux. Discover charming towns of art and history. Take a stroll through the lush gardens. And don’t miss a chance to visit one of the numerous museums and cathedrals. Escape into the enchanting countryside and enjoy cycle tours, bird-watching, golf, hot-air ballooning, canoeing and kayaking. If you are a food lover then the Loire Valley is the place for you from fresh fish to goat’s cheese, delicious wines and more delicious local specialities. An hour's drive South of Paris, the Loire Valley offers holiday experiences to suit everyone. Experience its astonishing châteaux open to the public, many with extensive, lush gardens. Be seduced by 740 religious monuments such as the impressive Chartres and Bourges cathedrals. The Loire Valley boasts a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Bouches-du-Rhône
This departement (county) is one of vast contrasts, It ranges from mountains (the Alpilles to the north, the Saint Baume and the Saint Victoire to the east) to plains and flat country (Camargue). The city of Marseille is a busy urban center but the creeks, beaches and ports have a more restful rhythme on this changing coastline.
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Haute-Saône in Franche-Comté
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Seine-et-Marne in Ile-de-France
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Haute-Garonne in Midi-Pyrénées
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Nièvre
An area of outstanding natural beauty. The Nièvre boasts a rich cultural & architectural heritage with the Morvan offering a variety of activities such as canoeing, skiing, horse riding, cycling, climbing & fishing.
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Nord in Nord-pas-de-Calais
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Loir-et-Cher in Loire (Centre)
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Val-de-Marne in Ile-de-France
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Alpes Maritimes in Provence Alpes Côte-d’Azur
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Meurthe-et-Moselle in Lorraine
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Territoire de Belfort in Franche-Comté
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Hauts-de-Seine in Ile-de-France
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Var in Provence Alpes Côte-d’Azur
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Yonne
Just an hour south of Paris, here you are in the land of canals and vineyards, fertile hills and huge forests. A land, named after a river, that features a seldom-seen natural diversity.
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Vienne in Poitou-Charentes
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Charente-Maritime in Poitou-Charentes
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Yvelines in Ile-de-France
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Tarn-et-Garonne in Midi-Pyrénées
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Mayenne
If you are after unspoilt countryside, rich cultural heritage or outdoor adventure, the Mayenne departement/county is the place to be.
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Seine-Saint-Denis in Ile-de-France
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Hautes-Alpes in Provence Alpes Côte-d’Azur
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Hautes-Pyrénées in Midi-Pyrénées
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Deux-Sèvres in Poitou-Charentes
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Val d'Oise in Ile-de-France
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Savoie - Mont Blanc
Walking, hiking, snowshoeing, sledging or dog-sledding, all our areas have come up with inventive ideas to ensure you don't have to be a fanatical skier to have an invigorating but relaxing winter holiday. In Savoie Mont Blanc, there are many fun and healthy ways to explore and enjoy the countryside.
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Pas de Calais in Nord-pas-de-Calais
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Eure-et-Loir in Loire (Centre)
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Charente in Poitou-Charentes
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Alpes de Hautes Provence in Provence Alpes Côte-d’Azur
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Vaucluse in Provence Alpes Côte-d’Azur
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Maine-et-Loire / Anjou
The landscapes of the Anjou département/county are ideal for every kind of outing. Walk the GR 3 footpath along the Loire Valley (a UNESCO heritage site), bike through the vineyards, ride on horseback through the forests, or float along the streams and rivers on longboats, canoes and kayaks. The highways and byways of Anjou will take you to delighful views over the countryside.
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Eure
The River Eure gives its name to the county/département which lies south of the Seine and between the Auge Valley and the western outskirts of Paris.
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City of Alençon
Situated on the crossroads between the routes from Brittany to Paris and from Belgium to the Loire Valley, Alençon is an ideal stopover point for visitors travelling further afield, yet also offers much worth spending time to visit. Once known as the “Cité des Ducs”, the town boasts a fine old town hall, 15th Century church as well as the Dukes’ Palace dating from the 14th and 15th Centuries.
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Gard
The departement/county of the Gard is bordered to the east by the Rhone Valley and to the north, the Cevenne mountains.To the south the Petite Camargue is nowadays a series of lakes and marshes. The short coastline has a superb beach at Espiguette and Le Grau-du-Roi is an important fishing port. The centre of the department is a world of dry limestone, the garrigue, of vines and olive trees and the perfumes of the Mediterranean.
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City of Dieppe
Dieppe is a seaside resort where the seafront has been developed with a promenade, grassy lawns and children’s play areas. Dieppe’s streets are busy with shops and restaurants, and the weekly market brings colour and tradition to the central square. The fishing port reaches right into the town itself, explaining its reputation for seafood, in particular the marmite dieppoise, a creamy fish stew. Visitors will be spoilt for choice with the range of cafés and restaurants.
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Haute-Marne
The Haute-Marne département/ county, is an intensely rural department, which has approximately 3 acres of forest per inhabitant, this area was the birthplace of the philosopher Diderot and is the final resting place of Charles de Gaulle. In the north west of the departement is the lac du Der-Chantecoq, which claims to be the largest man made lake in Europe and is a magnet for bird watchers, fishermen and watersports enthusiasts. The town of Langres also gives us one of France’s most distinctive cheeses, which tastes better than it looks!
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City of Bayeux
Essentially a medieval town, whose cathedral was dedicated in 1077 by William the Conqueror, Bayeux is also home to the famous tapestry depicting William’s epic journey to England and the Battle of Hastings. Intrinsically linked with the events of June 1944, the town provided headquarters for General de Gaulle after D-Day, now a museum.
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Sarthe
Sarthe offers a lot of open-air activities. The towns and villages bring together in one site a powerful historic and architectural heritage, while the many museums provide us with the keys necessary for understanding. Gourmets and connoisseurs of the good things in life will also, in one mouthful, be able to savour the wealth of the terroir and gastronomy of Sarthe.
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Orne
The Orne département/county lies in the south of the region and is Normandy in its most natural state. Green fields, deep river valleys and forests abound, punctuated by fine manor houses and estates. Some of these are home to well known stud farms for this is also the land of the horse.
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Lozère
The Lozère department covers the southern part of the Massif Central, including the mountainous regions of Aubrac, la Margeride, le Gevaudan and the Cevennes.
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City of Rouen
Rouen is the Capital of Normandy and the Seine-Maritime department. The city, also known as the ‘Ville aux cent clochers’ has preserved much of it’s historical centre which is now largely composed of pedestrian streets.
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Calvados
The Calvados département/county bears the name of its most famous spirit. The county covers much of the coastline of the D Day Landing Beaches and historic towns such as Caen, Bayeux, Honfleur and resorts of Deauville and Trouville.
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Aude
Aude is known for its wine, castles and abbeys. Often referred to as 'the land of the Cathars' it is here that you'll find the unconquerable mountain sites of Rennes-le-Chateau and Peyrepertuse. The coast provides a sharp contrast with miles of sandy beaches for family holidays and isolated inlets for those looking to escape the crowds.
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City of Cherbourg
Ideally situated as a port for both leisure craft and military ships, Cherbourg has long been a centre for the French navy as well as a popular destination with local and international yachtsmen who enjoy the choppy seas and challenging winds. The town was once also the centre for transatlantic liners and in its heyday saw many a famous celebrity arrive or depart from the Gare Maritime. Now transformed into the Cité de la Mer, an impressive museum dedicated to the world undersea and exhibiting the world’s largest submarine open to the public; this building is an architectural reminder of the town’s glamorous past.
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Ardennes
Bordering Belgium, the rural Ardennes departement/county is a nature lovers paradise. Largely covered by ancient deciduous forests it provides a fantastic playground for outdoor types. The emblem of the departement is the wild boar (Sanglier) which also features heavily in local dishes. The capital, Charleville-Mézières, has a very attractive main square modelled on the Place des Vosges in Paris (pictured).
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Manche
The Manche département/county forms the western coastline of Normandy. From the Landing Beach of Utah Beach, via the Cherbourg peninsula to the Bay of Mont St Michel, the sea has had a major influence on this part of the region.
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Hérault
The Hérault departement/county coastline is one of the most unpsoiled and protected on the Mediterranean but offers a large range of activities for all ages. An attractive alternative to the more ritzy and expensive Provence and Cote d'Azur, the Herault department is a real gem.
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City of Le Havre
Le Havre is multi-facetted, as important a commercial port as it is a popular yachting destination. Its 2 km of beach open onto the Seine estuary, once the backdrop for Impressionist artists who loved the effect of light and painted many famous paintings, including Monet’s “Sunrise at Le Havre”.
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Marne
The Marne is quite simply ‘Champagne Central’! The departement contains both Reims and Epernay, which between them are home to almost all of the well known Champagne houses. As you might imagine, the landscape is dominated by vines although part of the lac du Der-Chantecoq sneaks into the bottom south west corner. The Marne is also home to the administrative capital of the region, Chalons.
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City of Caen
Today Caen is a thriving commercial and university centre; with historical roots dating back even before William of Normandy in the 11th Cwntury. He commissioned the Abbaye aux Hommes as well as the Abbaye aux Dames, built for his wife Mathilde and now her final resting place. Both buildings survived the destruction of bombardments in 1944. The city was rebuilt after the War, and present day Caen offers an appealing mix of old and new with plenty of well-maintained green spaces. Various markets are held daily.
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Aube-en-Champagne
The Aube-en-Champagne departement/county is just a hop from London via the tunnel or the Ferry , one and a half hours from Paris and an hour south of Reims, you will find a tiny paradise with everything charming and relaxing about the French way of life.
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Vendée
The Vendée throws open its protected natural sites. Between rocky escarpments and beaches of divinely fine sand. Both along the coast and inland, a living heritage awaits your exploration – castles, humbler dwellings, tourist sites. Thanks to its position between land and sea the Vendée offers a comprehensive range of traditional flavours. A comprehensive network of walking and riding trails and of cycle paths covers the length of the coast and the hinterland.
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Seine Maritime
The Seine Maritime département/county fills the area between the Seine Valley and the Channel Coast. Dramatic cliff lines, rolling open countryside and the twists and turns of the River Seine are the main geographic features while the town of Rouen is the jewel in the crown.
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Pyrénées Orientales
The Pyrénées Orientales is a region in the southern most part of France, bordering with Spain. The department of Pyrénées Orientales, which includes the Languedoc, conceals many treasures: varied landscapes of rich beauty, an important architectural heritage, and traditions and a culture that have lasted for centuries.
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Loire-Atlantique
The Loire Atlantique departement/county boasts a magnificient coast and offers many additional interests to its visitors such as : picturesque fishing ports, canals and thatched cottages, forests, parks...
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