Children’s Activities
There are plenty of places to take the children on a visit to France, with
Disneyland Paris often at the top of the list. In addition to this top
attraction, there are numerous themed parks in many parts of
the country ranging from amusement to safari parks. Plenty of family activities
are also offered, with an opportunity to enjoy the French countryside – both on
bicycle and horseback.
Disneyland
The world of Disney is alive
and well in a suburb of Paris. The favourites have been re-created here,
including the Arabian Nights, numerous fairy tales, Pirates of the Caribbean
and Treasure Island. There are plenty of other attractions as well that will
be familiar to Disney devotees: Frontierland, How the West was Won and the
Haunted House are some of the most popular. Kids interesting in space travel
will be thrilled by Visionarium, where they can experience an extraordinary
journey into space – on Star Wars-like shuttles. The park is located just
32km from Paris off the A4 motorway.
France Miniature
The France Miniature park in Élancourt,
known as ‘France in Miniature’, is a children’s delight. On the park’s 12 acres,
visitors can experience France re-created in miniature villages, churches,
historic buildings and restaurants: even the Arc de Triomphe and Tour Eiffel. In
all there are around 150 models of monuments, tourist favourites and
culturally-significant locales – executed in painstaking detail. Phone: +33 1
3062 4079
Futuroscope
Futuroscope, a 90-minute train
ride on the Poitiers TGV, is a science fiction spectacle located in the city
of Jauney-Clan. The park was built with cutting-edge technologies, using
glass, light and steel. Features include the Kinemax with a 600 sq. meter
screen and the Omnimax with a surrounding 360degree cinema screen. You can
experience a race in a virtual racing car, explore the depths of a mine or
play a vast array of video games.Phone: +33 5 4949 3080; website:www.futuroscope.com/eng/index.php
Mer de Sable
Translated into English as the ‘Sand Sea,’ this popular attraction is
located in the city of Ermenonville. The park was built on a natural sand
deposit resembling a desert. A cowboy-and-Indian theme prevails, with a
daily ranch show, Indian attack and horse show. Fairground attractions are
also featured, and pony rides, water rides and a steam train. In addition to
horses there are loads of animals on site, including buffaloes and
camels.Phone: +33 3 4454 0096
Parc Astérix
Parc Astérix
actually comprises a leisure park and
two theme parks. In one area, visitors are taken through the history of the
country by means of a life-sized, humorous cartoon strip. Kids will find
plenty of rides to choose from, including merry-go-rounds and a water flume;
and attractions such as dolphin and sea lion shows. The shows are as popular
with parents as they are with kids. Phone: +33 3 4462 3434
Safari Park of Thoiry
This safari park resembles an actual
African reserve and is populated with lions and other species roaming free.
More than 80 species of animals roam the grounds here – including bears,
elephants and monkeys in addition to the lions. A small-scale train takes
visitors on tours of the grounds. Phone: +33 1 3487 4067; website:
www.thoiry.tm.fr
Cultural Activities
France boasts an enormous wealth of cultural attractions, many of which are
located in Paris – although you’ll discover numerous cultural riches in all
parts of the country. Some of the major highlights include the
Louvre
Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Orsay Museum, the Picasso Museum, the
Rodin Museum – and the Chateau of Versailles, located just to the west of the
capital.
Château de Versailles
The opulent Château de Versailles was built in the mid-17th century
for King Louis XIV. The estate is enclosed by a 43km wall, with twenty-two entry
gates. There are three distinct sections to the grounds:the Gardens comprise
lawns, formal flowerbeds and wooded groves; the Small Park incorporates the
Grand Canal, the Menagerie, the Swiss Pool and the Trianon estate andthe Great
Park was at one time reserved for hunting and includes a number of villages.The
gardens boast more than 300 statues, executed in bronze and marble – one of the
world’s most important outdoor sculpture collections. In 1919, WWII was
officially ended here with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The
palace is located in Versailles, approximately 30min south-west of Paris. Phone:
+33 1 3084 7618.
Visit this website for photographs and further information about
Chateau de Versailles .
Musée National Auguste Rodin
The Rodin Museum is located on
the rue de Varenne, in Paris, not far from the Varenne Metro station. The
focus of the museum in the life and work of Rodin and also features a
collection of the work of his mistress and pupil, Camille Claudel. Rodin was
not only a sculptor, but was also an accomplished sketcher, painter,
engraver – and collector. His personal collections are on display as well.
Phone: +33 1 4705 0134; website:
www.musee-rodin.fr/welcome.htm.
Musée National D'Art Moderne
The Museum of Modern Art at
the strikingly contemporary Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris was created to
house and exhibit modern and contemporary works in the visual arts – in the
same complex that houses music and theatre performances, cinemas and a
library. The collections comprise more than 1,300 works; the modern
collection highlights the work of artists from 1900-1950; and the
contemporary collection, of artists working from the second half of the 20th
century to the present day.Phone: +33 1 4278 1233;
Musée d'Orsay
The Orsay Museum in Paris has
an unusual history. Located in the city centre on the Seine River, and
opposite the Tuileries Gardens, the building was originally the Orsay
railway station, constructed for the International Exhibition in 1900. The
building itself is considered a work of art by many. The focus of the
museum’s collections is art from the years 1848-1914. One of the most
impressive collections is of works by Impressionist painters. Phone: +33 1
4049 4814; website:
www.musee-orsay.fr/en/home.html
Musée National du Louvre
The Louvre Museum in the heart of Paris began its existence as a royal
fortress and was eventually turned into one of the most recognisable public
institutions in the world. The museum comprises several divisions, with
collections ranging from ancient times to the mid-19th century –
including of course, the famous ‘Mona Lisa’ by da Vinci. One of the most
recent architectural features is the exterior pyramid, designed by IM Pei,
which marks the museum’s new entrance. Phone: +33 1 4020 5151; website:
www.louvre.fr/llv/commun/home.jsp?bmLocale=en.
 Musée Picasso
Paris’s Picasso Museum exhibits an exceptional collection of the artist’s works
in a grand town house located in the Marais district.The house was built in the
mid-17th century as the residence of General Aubert de Fontenay. It
now boasts the largest collection in the world of Picasso’s works, including
more than 200 paintings, at least 200 sculptures, nearly 100 ceramics and more
than 3,000 drawings and engravings.Phone: +33 1 4271 2521.
Dining & Shopping
It goes without saying that France is noted for its cuisine. Paris boasts an
amazing choice of eateries ranging from international fast food
– yes, McDonald’s is here – to quaint, atmospheric and inexpensive restaurants
in the Quartier Latin, to some of the most elegant and exclusive
restaurants in the world.
Most restaurants in France feature fixed-price three-course menus that change
daily. Often these specially-priced menus apply to lunches only, however, with
dinner menus traditionally being pricier. If you’re travelling
on a budget, enjoying a larger meal mid-day, and lighter fare in the evening,
can be the perfect way to experience France’s fine dining
without great expense.
Delicious takeout meals are on offer at boulangeries and charcuteries found all
over Paris – and in villages and cities throughout the country. Top-end
department stores feature gourmet food halls with prepared
meals to take away as well. It can be a bit of a challenge for vegetarians, as
Paris doesn’t offer much in the way of vegetarian restaurants.
Depending on your requirements, there’s always pizza – which you’ll find
everywhere, and Lebanese mezze – which you’ll find in the Quartier Latin.
 If
you’d like to combine a bit of sightseeing with good local food, the
Montmartre district is a good option. At the top of the very steep steps
leading to Sacre Coeur, at Place du Tetre, you might try La
Cremaillere 1900. It’s a bit touristy, but is also a favourite with
locals, featuring Belle Epoque décor, French singers and a good selection of
local dishes.
Shoppers will find that France offers great
variety and quality, combined with good value and excellent service. Whether
you’re looking for haute
couture, designer accessories,
art, handicrafts, antiques or wine, you’ll find whatever you seek available
somewhere in France, at a shopping mall, boutique or market.
Paintings and sketches
by local artists,
and handicrafts can be found at local galleries, from artists selling their
work on the streets and at many markets throughout the country. In the
summertime, artists take to the streets of Paris displaying their art in
areas popular with tourists, particularly in the
Quartier Latin
and Montmartre.
Antiques of all sorts are on offer – from rare
period pieces at high-end shops to more quirky pieces that can be found at
markets, such as the famous Paris flea market
(marchés aux puces).
There are plenty of mid-range
antique shops where antiques
lovers can search for that perfect piece of French history to take home with
them.
Some
of the most varied shopping in Paris can be found
in the passages of the second and
ninth arrondissements.
Dating from the 19th century, these buildings have been renovated and
house unusual shops offering up merchandise of all sorts. Along the streets
surrounding Place St-Germain-des-Prés,
the selection of shops is among the best in the city. Heading north from the
square, many of the narrow streets are filled with art galleries, antique shops
and interior boutiques and heading south you’ll find most of the world’s
designer labels available.
Markets in Paris and other parts of the country
are great places to look for unusual items, bargains – and foods from around the
world. North African specialties predominate in
Belleville and the Goutte d'Or,
and South-east Asian fare is found in the 13th arrondissement markets.
There are street markets in Paris filled with second-hand goods, clothes and
textiles – notably the flea markets, or marchés aux puces; and others
where you’ll find birds and flowers
for sale.
If you have an interest in wine, France has
been a world leader in the production of fine wines for centuries. Visiting
vineyards
is a good way to taste a range of wines before buying and a way to be sure
of some of the best prices. Shops and
wine cellars
around the country often offer specials when they feature fine wines at
attractive prices.
Outdoor Activities
France’s varied terrain – from sea coast to Alpine
regions - makes it ideal for a range of outdoor activities. You’ll find canals
that can be navigated by boats that double as accommodation,
cycling paths
that follow scenic routes, streams that are perfect for visiting anglers and
great golfing, hiking and skiing opportunities as well.
 Canal Boating
A unique way to explore parts of the French countryside, at a leisurely
pace, is to hire a canal boat. The boats cruise at six kilometres per hour
on the canals and 10km on rivers. Popular destinations for canal boating
include the Canal du Midi (near Paris), the Alsace, Brittany, the Camargue,
the Dordogne and Languedoc. A pilot’s licence isn’t required, but a fishing
licence is. In most cases, the locks, or écluses, are free, and can
be good spots to stock up on essentials such as wine and cheese. Boats
accommodate 4-12 passengers, and amenities include basic cooking facilities,
berths, showers and toilets.
 Cycling
There are plenty of opportunities for cycling in France, and it’s an
activity that’s taken quite seriously here – particularly during the Tour de
France race. For visitors who aren’t quite so serious, but in search of a
good means of exploring the countryside, a mountain bike, known as a VTT or
vélo tout-terrain, is a good choice. It will allow you to explore
varied terrain, either by road or one of the many cycle paths (pistes
cyclables) available. Good mountain routes can be found in the Alps
near Annecy and Chambéry, and in the Pyrenees as well. Scenic routes that
are easier on the cyclist routes are plentiful in the Dordogne, in the
Loire, and in Brittany and Normandy - following the Atlantic coastline.
Fishing
Fishing rates high on the list of popular outdoor activities in
France. Fishing for carp is a favourite pastime in Brittany, where it’s also
possible to fish for salmon and trout. For one of the most scenic spots to
fish for salmon, the Pyrenees area is highly recommended. To fish for bass,
the best options are the Garonne, Lot and Tarn rivers – and also the Saône,
located in the south-east. Deep-sea fishing is an option off the Atlantic
coast, where you’ll find bream, grey mullet, mackerel, sardines and sea bass
- and also crayfish, lobster and scallops.
 Golfing
Golf and skiing are the two most popular outdoors activities in France –
even though golf was introduced by the English in the 19th
century. The coastal stretch from Bordeaux to Biarritz is replete with
courses. There are two older courses found at Biarritz and Pau; and the
Chiberta Golf Club, which is quite near Biarritz, is a picturesque mix of
seacoast and pine forest - and one of the best courses in the country.
Hiking
France provides more than 120,000km of marked hiking paths (sentiers
balisés) for enthusiasts, which is a good indication of how much the
French enjoy walking in their scenic countryside. There are basically two
types of paths: the GR (sentiers de grande randonnée) and GRP paths
(grandes randonnées de pays). The GR paths are long-distance routes
which connect one point with another. For example, the GR10 runs from the
Atlantic to the Mediterranean, over the Pyrenees. GRP paths are usually more
circuitous routes, aimed at encouraging exploration of an area.
 Skiing
Skiing is a highlight of the annual outdoor activity calendar for professional
skiers, families with children, students and tourists. Many Parisians walk
around their city in January and February looking particularly healthy and
sporting deep tans – and talking about having just returned from the slopes and
sport d'hiver, or skiing. The country boasts over 400 ski resorts, and
everyone seems to have their favourite. Five mountain ranges in the country
feature ski resorts: the Alps, the Jura, the Massif Central, the Pyrenees and
the Vosges all have their own special appeal.
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