Lonely Planet Discover France

Be it motoring between vines, pedalling past lavender or hilltop-village hopping, France is a land of languid moments laced with soul, a zesty spirit and more world-class art, architecture and culture (oh, and good food) than you can shake a baguette at.

This is a country that woos travellers with iconic landmarks known the world over. It is a place that seduces with its unfalteringly familiar culture, woven around cafe terraces, village-square markets and lace-curtained bistros with the day's plat du jour chalked on the board. The rhythm of daily life exudes an irresistible intimacy and it's really best to follow suit: French art de vivre (art of living) transforms simple, everyday rituals into unforgettable moments, be it a coffee and croissant in the Parisian cafe where Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir met to philosophise, a stroll through the lily-clad gardens Monet painted, or a walk on a beach in Brittany scented with the subtle infusion of language, music and mythology brought by 5th-century Celtic invaders.

The terroir (land) of France weaves a varied journey from Brittany and Normandy's cliffs and sand dunes to the piercing blue sea of the celebrity French Riviera. Outdoor action is what France's lyrical landscape demands and there's something for everybody. Whether you end up walking barefoot across wave-rippled sand to Mont St-Michel, riding a cable car to glacial panoramas above Chamonix, or cartwheeling down Europe's highest sand dune, France does not disappoint. Its great outdoors is thrilling, with endless opportunities and adventure. Allez!

Romance and culture in the City of Light

Possibly claiming more famous landmarks than any other city in the world, the French capital evokes all sorts of expectations and more than lives up to the promise. Think grand vistas across tree-shaded boulevards, romance along the Seine, world-class art museums, magnificent monuments evoking glorious histories, buzzing cafe pavement terraces and a bevy of city bistros. Allow yourself plenty of time to absorb, embrace and enjoy.