Although many countries and cultures have captured my heart through time, there’s a handful, which I keep returning to. Read on for some European travel inspiration. Third one on the list is France!

Why France?

To travel from the North to the South of France is like visiting two different countries. The biodiversity, cultural customs and gastronomical tendencies are  widely different from e.g. Paris in the North to Nice in the South - and that’s exactly why traveling in France is so unique. With its location in the heart of Europe all other countries are easy accessible making it a paradise for backpackers and people enjoying the benefits of traveling by car.

 So which part of the country should you choose? This obviously depends on what kind of vacation you’re embarking on. Wine and champagne lovers should visit both Bordeaux and the city of Reims, which is located in the region of Champagne. A romantic weekend get-away could be spent in either Paris or one of the small villages in the region of Provence, and families would ideally opt for a holiday in the South of the country in areas close to Nice and Cannes. The options are literally endless providing travelers with a great freedom to experience almost whatever they want. From luscious food markets, spicy scents and endless views of the Mediterranean in the South to shopping experiences, important historical sights and charming pavement cafés in the North. Welcome to France!

The food

This one might seem pretty obvious, but there’s no way around it; French food is some of the most distinguished and cherished in the world. Chefs all over the world are, or has been, involved with French cuisine in some way, and there’s a reason for its tremendous popularity. Since medieval times France has been equivalent to cooking traditions and proud peasants creating the perfect base for the French cuisine, and in the 17th Century the very first recipe collection was published by court chef Guillaume Tirel. At that time French cuisine was actually heavenly influenced by Italian cuisine, but that’s another story. Wine and cheese are inevitable factors in the French kitchen, and they appear in many different versions throughout the country.
In 2010 French Cuisine was added to UNESCO’s list of ‘intangible cultural heritage’.

The wine

As mentioned before, wine plays one of the most important roles in the history of French cuisine. Even though it’s not an actual food (or some would probably claim it to be!), wine has been used in cooking for hundreds of years. In medieval times wine was a very valuable commodity for France, for which reason French wine has been widely popular in Europe for centuries.
France consist of 7 top wine regions including Languedoc-Roussillon, Bordeaux, Rhone Valley, Loire Valley, Burgundy, Champagne and Alsace, and wine lovers can (and should) embark on a guided tour when visiting one of these regions, as wine production is something very unique to each of the regions. In Champagne it’s also possible to visit the old and prestigious champagne houses such as Taittinger, Veuve Clicquot and Pommery.

Read also: Champagne & Michelin stars: 3 days in Reims

The history

The history of France includes a powerful and glorious monarchy with characteristic front figures such as Louis XIV. The country was the center of a vibrant cultural production that extended across Europe and gave us both Gothic architecture, medieval universities and medieval music. Today France still houses several symbols of its splendid past scattered around the country, but most famous is probably Versailles and Notre Dame in Paris. French history is ubiquitous and something that should definitely still be celebrated as an important institution in European history. Guided tours are available in connection to most of the popular sights, but I’d also recommend visiting the small, charming villages, which most often holds an exciting history as well.

It’s quite possible you want to visit France after reading this, cause (quite obviously) there’s no country like it! Get a chance to arrange a rendez-vous in France with someone special by clicking the video above. Maybe you’ll be the lucky winner of 6.000 DKK (800 EUR) sponsored by Novasol! 

Read more about France here.

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