Lonely Planet Best of France 2

Vineyards, lavender fi elds and romantic chteaux France woos travellers with iconic landmarks and seduces with its unfalteringly familiar culture, woven around cafe terraces, village-square markets and lace-curtained bistros with the plat du jour chalked on the board.

France is a land of languid moments embued with soul. French art de vivre (art of living) transforms simple, everyday rituals into unforgettable moments, be it a coffee in the Parisian cafe where Sartre and 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.

Food is of enormous importance to the French: breakfasting on warm croissants from the boulangerie (bakery), stopping off at Parisian bistros, and market shopping are all second nature - and it would be rude to refuse.

The terroir (land) of France weaves a varied journey from Brittany and Normandys cliffs and sand dunes to the piercing blue sea of the French Riviera. Outdoor action is what Frances lyrical landscape demands - and theres 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 Europes 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

The cloud-piercing Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, gargoyled Notre Dame cathedral, lamplit bridges spanning the Seine has countless famous landmarks and the French capital more than lives up to its hype. Think sweeping vistas across grand boulevards, world-class art museums, monuments evoking glorious histories, buzzing cafe pavement terraces and a bevy of city bistros. Take the time to absorb, embrace and enjoy.