GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR VISIT TO FRANCE

1: Paris is not France. Paris is Paris, a capital city in every sense of the word, a unique place, and somewhere everyone should experience…for a while. But if you want to experience the real France, you need to move on.

Sure, make the most of the museums, the fabulous architecture, the luxurious restaurants and hotels; indulge yourself, see the principal sites…but then move on. Three days is plenty.

2: You can’t see France in just a couple of weeks; it’s far too large and diverse a country for that. So, focus. Pick a region, and get to know France region by region. More to the point, choose regions that are neighbours, so you don’t spend too much time just travelling. And, come to think of it, there’s no better way of grouping regions than to use the new, larger regions that came into force on 1 January 2016. 

You’ll get so much more for your money if you focus…not only the distinct characteristics of each region, but its cuisine, its wine, its culture. These elements really do differ from region to region. When you think Somme and Picardie, you’re thinking battlefields, war associations, military cemeteries. When you think Pays de la Loire, you’re thinking wine, chateaux, gardens, architecture. When you think Pyrenees, you’re thinking mountains, adventure, marvellous scenery and the history of the Cathars.

3: If you are fascinated by the French cities, then get to them by rail, and explore on foot or local transport after that. There’s no better way of getting to know Strasbourg (the best Christmas markets in France), Lyon (great museums and restaurants), or Marseille (for that Mediterranean tang). Let the train take the strain; the TGV service is outstanding, and very fast…and you can book all your tickets before you go by using Voyages-SNCF.

4: Slow down; relax. Ditch the hurry. You can see and learn a huge amount about France and the French by the simple expedient of taking coffee – or whatever – sitting at one of the street cafés. If necessary, have two coffees, and just watch the world go by. If you find someone playing boules, stop and watch them for a while; they won’t mind.

5: Challenge yourself. Determine in advance to try at least one French delicacy – snails, frog’s legs, foie gras, truffle, riz de veau – or something more calorific, like macarons, Far Bretonne, Iles Flottantes, crème brulée, Madeleines, or alcoholic, like pastis, Pineau des Charentes, marc, calvados, Armagnac…but not all at once! The last three of those are great for settling the stomach after a large meal…a digestif.