Travel 2 France

Ski Resorts In France

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La Plagne
La Plagne, is a 'third generation' French ski resort and it probably influenced other French resorts like Flaine, Avoriaz and Les Arcs to go for brave new world space age architecture abandoning the traditional charming rustic designs of ski resort architecture.
Skiing in La Plagne, you will encounter every conceivable permutation of piste and off piste, from exhilarating descents on the huge sweeping glacier at Bellecote (3,000m or almost 10,000ft), to delightful cruising down quiet, meandering, larch lined avenues to the charming villages of Montchavin-Les Coches, Champagny-en-Vanoise and Montalbert. In between these two extremes is La Plagne's biggest attraction for intermediate skiers anxious to cruise till they drop in the seemingly endless wide open skiing adventure.

Having extended its empire to 10 different ski villages, La Plagne is planning to send a tentacle across the valley between Montchavin and Peisy Vallandry to form what will arguably be the third ski domain in the world.

Les Arcs

Les Arcs, whose connection by Eurostar train terminal at Bourg St. Maurice makes it the most accessible high-altitude French resort and has always been at the cutting edge of skiing and snow boarding. It pioneered 'ski evolutif', a technique for fast learning by progressing quickly from very short skis to longer ones. It became the principle home of the Kilometre Lancee in which daredevils on huge 237cm or 8 ft skis, clad in thin aerodynamic plastic suits and 'Darth Vader Star Wars' style visors, speed down a special track at breathtaking speeds of about 240kph or 150mph.

Similar to La Plagne, Les Arcs has acres and acres of good cruising and its off piste opportunities are simply fabulous. The Aiguille Rouge, which dominates the resort has many challenging runs down its front face and is also the starting point for one of the longest skiing descents in the French Alps. The largely black run down to the charming village of Villaroger is over 16km or about 10 miles long. Can you beat that!

With such wonderful skiing opportunities, is it any wonder why La Plagne and Les Arcs ski resorts claim to attract the most holiday vacation skiers not just in France but in the world as well?

He is an avid traveler. More skiing articles at Winter skiing Lake Tahoe and New Zealand skiing vacation

Chamonix

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What could be classified as the first era of tourism for the 'Vallee de Chamouny' began in 1741 with two English explorers Windham and Pocock who 'discovered' Montenvers. Their enthusiastic retelling of their exploits initiated the first trickle of visitors to the valley. In 1760 this led a Swiss doctor, de Saussure, to offer a prize to the first person to reach the summit of Mont Blanc. However, it was to be another 26 years before Dr Paccard and Jaques Balmat, two Chamonix locals, set foot on the summit for the very first time.

In 1770 the very first hotel for tourists was opened, L'Hotel d'Angleterre - at this point English visitors outnumbered other nationalities. Since then the Chamonix valley has hosted mountaineers, skiers, painters, tourists and writers - such as Byron and Shelley.
In 1860, in recognition of the fact that the French had helped the Italians against the Austrians, the people of the Haute Savoie and Savoie voted to rejoin France. This in turn led to access routes to the valley being opened up with the construction of a new and improved road from Geneva to Chamonix in readiness for Napoleon III?s visit in September 1860.

With the opening up of the valley came a new era of exploration and mountaineering. Between 1863 and 1865 more than 100 peaks were summited, many by the English. In 1890, Joseph Vallot built an observatory for high mountain studies near the summit of Mont Blanc. A second observatory was completed in 1893 on the summit, but soon succumbed to an ice fall.

With the dawn of the 20th Century came a new flood of tourists. For the first time mountain guides were surpassed by hoteliers as the largest economic power in the valley. The construction and development continued unabated with Chamonix hosting the first ever Winter Olympics in 1924.

Matt lives and works in Chamonix He runs skiing holidays through his company Chalet 1802.

Gambling At Monte Carlo

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Designed in 1878 by the famous architect of that era, Charles Garnier, the Le Casino Monte Carlo casino is a mark in itself. The atrium of this magnificent building is made of marble and covered on its sides by 28 Greek columns made from onyx. While its spacious auditorium is painted in red and gold and embellished with bas-reliefs, frescoes and sculptures.

Besides everything else, the gambling rooms of the Le Casino de Monte Carlo act as a timeless pull. There are many huge gambling rooms that are wonderfully decorated with beautiful art work- sculptures and paintings etc. the mesmerizing beauty o these games add to the enthusiasm to play different games of chance. However, a paradigm example of creativity and elegance are the private rooms of this casino. Parading European styles and culture to its best, these private rooms are incredibly glamorous. It is a lifetime experience to play some of the hottest games like European roulette, English Roulette, trente et quarante, blackjack etc. within these richly-decorated four walls.

Apart from the famous Le Casino Monte Carlo, there are several other good hubs in Monte Carlo to spin the wheel of fortune. Known for its 19th century ambience, the Le Café de Paris casino is meant only for players above 21 years of age. American roulette, baccarat, blackjack, chemin de fer, electronic roulette etc. are the largely played games here.

But the young adults between 18-21 years should not get disappointed. Adhering to the dress code they can also successfully try their luck at the well-known Le Sun Casino that is located in the Monte Carlo Grand Hotel. The casino offers a set of 27 tables games, baccarat, and American roulette, blackjack, chemin de fer, craps and punto banco.

The Le Sporting Monte Carlo casino is a summer attraction. The casino that opens from last Friday of June to middle of September is known for its not less than 62 slot machines and 24 table games that include roulette, baccarat, banque a tout va, blackjack, chemin de fer, English roulette, French Roulette and punto banco.

These casinos and many others have largely contributed to their nation i.e. Monaco’s economy though its economy is not just based on gambling and tourism. Yet in today’s world, Monaco is globally acclaimed as the epitome of the gaming world, a place that conjoins gaming and wealth with beauty and international sophistication.

She writes about gambling in monte carlo. Learn more at www.oddsinmontecarlo.com

A Peep Into Historical Lyon

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Known to many art lovers as the ‘Little Louvre’, the Museum of Fine Arts (Musee des Beaux Arts) in Lyon is rated highly amongst a tourist’s itinerary. Here one can delight by viewing displays of arts and artifacts from ancient Greece and Egypt as well as from the middle ages to the present day. Apart from this there is an excellent collection of European paintings ranging from the 14th century to the middle half of the 20th century. These paintings include works of world famous artists like Picasso, Monet, and Rubens.

On a visit to the Musee des Tissues (Textiles Museum) you can see an astounding collection of 1000 textile samples. These samples have been taken from both Eastern and Western civilizations over the ages.

You must visit the Cathedrale St-Jean which stands on the remains of a 5th century church. It was built between late 12th and 15th centuries at the foot of the Fourviere Hill. It is without doubt one of the most beautiful cathedrals considered to be a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Stone medallions and glass mosaics found inside the cathedral add to its beauty and charm. On top of the pictorial Fourviere Hill is the Basilique de Notre Dame de Fourviere, a stunning tourist attraction, admired for its extraordinary design. You can take a cable car to approach the basilica and take in the beautiful views of the city and its waterways.

www.stayresfrance.com/lyon.html

Top 3 Roman Theaters (Arenes) in France

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Roman theater, Orange (Provence)

A UNESCO World Heritage site. It dates from the reign of Emperor Augustus and is one of the best preserved examples still existing. Every july, the Chorégies d'Orange take place in the theatre.

Get in: Orange is located near the junction of the A7 and A9 autoroutes. It is situated in the Rhone valley about 100km north west of Marseille, 30km north of Avignon and 200km south of Lyon.

Arènes d'Arles, Arles (Provence)

The Roman ampthitheatre (les Arènes d'Arles) was built in the first or second century B.C.E. houses Corridas at Easter and the Rice Festa in September. Throughout the summer there are various courses camarguaises.

Get in: By train: SNCF Gare d'Arles.
By bus: There are several bus lines from towns all over the Bouches-du-Rhône from which you can reach Arles. You can always buy your passage from the conductor.
By car: Take the Autoroute from Salon or yet another from Marseille, but give preference to the smaller routes and Alpilles towns like Fontvieille, Paradou, les baux, etc.

Les Arenes, Nîmes (Languedoc-Roussillon)

Place des Arènes, a well preserved Roman arena that hosts bull fighting festivals in September. It was built 100 AD to seat 24,000 spectators It currently seats 10,000 when full and is an amazing site.

Get in: You can access Nîmes via Autoroute A9 or A54. The SNCF connects Nîmes to Montpellier and Avignon. The airport Nîmes-Garons is 20km outside the city.

Hotel Splendid, Nice, France

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The Splendid is an exclusive 4* boutique hotel with modern amenities : modem plugs, satellite tv, WiFi, ISDN & DSL internt access, etc.

In the center of Nice,400 meters from the beach, the Hotel Splendid **** has been managed by the same family for the last 3 generations.

The sea, Casinos, shopping area, old town and Massena museum are nearby ...

The lobby and reception area are warm and relaxing; they can be used for work too as conference facilities are located on the same level.

Rooms are comfortable with air conditioning, en-suite bathroom equipped with all amenities, satellite TV channels include CNN and BBC, mini bar, etc.. "Deluxe" rooms also have a terrace, trousers press and individual safes...

Le "Chez Hugo" panoramic restaurant features fine mediterranean cooking with outdoor dining.

For relaxation "le Transat" bar on the 8th floor with panoramic views on the city and the Alps...

A computer is available in the lobby to access Internet. Breakfast will be served also on 8th floor in a panoramic dining room also ideal for your banqueting needs...

On 8th floor, you will find a panoramic solar heated swimming pool, a jacuzzi, sun drenched terrace, as well as leisure & nightlife in the city.

A recently opened Spa will help you relax!

50 Boulevard Victor Hugo, 06000 Nice
France
Tél: +33 4 93 16 41 00
Fax: +33 4 93 16 42 70

website: http://www.splendid-nice.com/

Côte d'Azur - Nice - Get in

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Nice is the capital of Riviera and the fifth largest city in France, one of the popular travel destination. Nice is a popular destination for vacationers both young and old, with something to offer nearly everyone.

How to get in

By plane

Nice Airport (IATA: NCE) is one of the busiest in France and has frequent daily flights to Paris, and direct to most major cities in Europe, including Moscow, as well New York, Atlanta and a number of destinations in North Africa and the Middle East. The airport is located at the western end of Nice on landfill. Arrival and departure in good weather often provides beautiful views of the French Riviera.

By train

Nice is connected to the rest of France via the SNCF train network. A direct TGV train from Paris to Nice takes about 6 hours, fare for an adult is about 100 Euros, and on TGVs a reservation is obligatory. The train arrives in Nice at the central station (called simply "Gare SNCF").

Trenitalia trains connect Nice to Italian cities like Milan, Genoa, Rome and Venice.

By car

The A8 autoroute is the easiest way to access Nice either from the west (Cannes, Aix-en-Provence) or from Italy. From the west take exit 50 and follow the signs for the Promenade des Anglais which takes you into Nice and is a lovely drive along the coast. From the west take exit 54 and follow the signs for 'Nice centre'.

By bus

Long distance buses connect Nice with other major European cities - through Eurolines, and the French LER "Lignes Express Regionaux" connect Nice with Marseilles, Toulon and Aix en Provence with a cheap and acceptable three hour journey time via the motorways.

By boat

Nice is right along the coast, so you should be able to find your way easily no matter if you run on gas or let the wind help you. However, remember to contact the local port before arrival to reserve a place for your boat. Otherwise there will most likely not be room for you.

Nice has direct ferry routes to Ajaccio (Corsica), Bastia (Corsica), Calvi and Ile Rousse. Advance booking is advised in all cases.

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

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Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) (Provençal Occitan: Provença-Aups-Còsta d'Azur in classical norm or Prouvènço-Aup-Costo d'Azur in Mistralian norm) is one of the 26 regions of France.

It is made up of:

* the former French province of Provence
* the former papal territory of Avignon, known as Comtat Venaissin
* the former Sardinian-Piedmontese county of Nice, whose coastline is known in English as the French Riviera, and in French as the Côte d'Azur
* the southeastern part of the former French province of Dauphiné, in the French Alps.

It encompasses six departments in south-eastern France, bounded to the east by the Italian border, to the south by the Mediterranean Sea and by the principality of Monaco, to the north by Rhône-Alpes, and to the west by Languedoc-Roussillon, with the Rhône river marking its westernmost border.

The region logo displays the coat of arms created in the 1990s and which combines the coats of arms of the old provinces making up Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

Economically the region is the third most important in France just behind Île-de-France and Rhône-Alpes. Its GDP in 2006 was € 130,178 million ($US 163,600 million) and per capita GDP was € 27,095 ($US 34,051).

France: Regions

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France is divided into 26 administrative regions. 22 are in metropolitan France (21 are on the continental part of metropolitan France; one is the territorial collectivity of Corsica) , and four are overseas regions. The regions are further subdivided into 100 departments which are numbered (mainly alphabetically). This number is used in postal codes and vehicle number plates amongst others. Four of these departments are found in the overseas regions and are simultaneously overseas regions and overseas departments and are an integral part of France (and the European Union) and thus enjoy a status similar to metropolitan departments. The 100 departments are subdivided into 341 arrondissements which are, in turn, subdivided into 4,032 cantons. These cantons are then divided into 36,680 communes, which are municipalities with an elected municipal council. There also exist 2,588 intercommunal entities grouping 33,414 of the 36,680 communes (i.e. 91.1% of all the communes). Three communes, Paris, Lyon and Marseille are also subdivided into 45 municipal arrondissements.

The regions, departments and communes are all known as territorial collectivities, meaning they possess local assemblies as well as an executive. Arrondissements and cantons are merely administrative divisions. However, this was not always the case. Until 1940, the arrondissements were also territorial collectivities with an elected assembly, but these were suspended by the Vichy regime and definitely abolished by the Fourth Republic in 1946. Historically, the cantons were also territorial collectivities with their elected assemblies.

In addition to the 26 regions and 100 departments, the French Republic also has six overseas collectivities, one sui generis collectivity (New Caledonia) , and one overseas territory. Overseas collectivities and territories form part of the French Republic, but do not form part of the European Union or its fiscal area. The Pacific territories continue to use the Pacific franc whose value is linked to that of the euro. In contrast, the four overseas regions used the French franc and now use the euro.

France also maintains control over a number of small non-permanently inhabited islands in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean: Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, Tromelin Island.

France: Climate

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Metropolitan France: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral
French Guiana: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation
Guadeloupe and Martinique: subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average
Reunion: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry (May to November), hot and rainy (November to April)

France map adcard

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postcard - France map adcard
Originally uploaded by Jassy-50

This is actually an adcard for a group of French restaurants in New York City.

France: Location

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metropolitan France: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain
French Guiana: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname
Guadeloupe: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico
Martinique: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Reunion: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

France: Introduction

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Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracy resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common exchange currency, the euro, in January 1999. At present, France is at the forefront of efforts to develop the EU's military capabilities to supplement progress toward an EU foreign policy.