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France.
The world’s most romantic nation, France is a land of unimaginable beauty where style and culture enjoy a wonderful love affair and good living is virtually a religion. To travel to France is to travel the world. As diverse as it is sophisticated, even the smallest pleasures become an education. From the mountains to the beaches, the vineyards to the cities France is always breathtaking. It is a country where life imitates art as much as art imitates life and food and wine are virtual art forms in their own right. It is little wonder that France is the most traveled country in the world. The land of poetry where folk speak the language of love, you cannot visit France without learning at least a little more about yourself.

More has been written about Paris than probably any other city in the modern world. It is a place that fascinates people. It can bring out the artist in even the most ardent philistine. There are more famous landmarks here than any other city on earth - the iconic Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Champs Elysee; two of the greatest museums in the world - the colossal Louvre, home of the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo and the ultra-modern Pompidou Centre. The dining is sensational, the nightlife electric and the atmosphere simply oozes romance. Only two hours away on the TGV, the ‘gastronomic capital of France’, Lyons is also a treasure trove of beautiful architecture, splendid museums, wonderful parks and fine wine. The wild at heart may prefer Marseille, a truly unique city quite unlike any other in France. Colourful, crowded and cosmopolitan it’s not surprising it is referred to as ‘France’s New Orleans’. Or visit the birthplace of modern tourism, Nice with it's Mediterranean beaches and world-class entertainment plus the very best in sports and leisure activities. Those looking for a taste of quintessential France should make the pilgrimage to Bordeaux - a city rich in culture, with a history stretching back over 2000 years not to mention the world's finest wine.

France is far too vast a country to do justice in a few paragraphs. There is so much to do, from skiing in Chamonix to sunbathing in the uniquely elegant La Baule; from sipping Europe’s most popular beer in it's birthplace Strasbourg, to surfing off the coast of Brittany. It is a country where love, wine and fashion are virtual religions, where people pride themselves in their nationality and steadfastly maintain traditions. It is history, it is adventure, it is art, it is poetry but above all it is romance.

Chateaux and Wines of the Loire.
The lavish Loire Valley has spent centuries playing host to history’s greatest Kings and Nobles and this famously luxurious region has been seriously scarred with splendour as a result. Magnificent chateaux nestle within immaculate grounds throughout the valley and are perfect to simply visit or even to stay in to really soak up that aristocratic ambience. Of course, the Loire Valley is also famed for it’s wine. As one of the oldest wine growing areas with over 600 wineries, the Loire Valley produces some of the world’s most remarkable wines such as Muscadet, Vouvray, Sancerre, Montlouis, Bourgueil and some full-bodied wines like Chinon. The Loire Valley simply oozes sumptuousness and with a combination of chateaux and world class wines, life just doesn't get any better.

Eating and Drinking – The Secret Places.
Being a country renowned for it’s superb gastronomy, there are hundreds of secret places to go and sample some of the country’s best food. The best way to find the secret places is to ask the locals – anything listed in the major guides are always going to be teeming with tourists. A gastronomically proud yet little visited area is the Franche Comte. It’s local delicacies include Comte cheese, produced for more than 1,000 years in the region and wines from vineyards in Arbois, L'Etoile and Cotes de Jura, not to mention Kirsch, a liqueur produced from locally grown cherries. Similarly, check out Quercy-Périgord. It’s ingrained rural simplicity produces wonderfully good food like the "confit de canard". The trick is to understand what each region specialises in and then hunt down the goods. Discover what makes the region tick and eat and drink your heart out.

Ardeche Region.
Looking down on the wonderful Rhône Valley in the east of the massif central, the Ardeche region is packed with great things to see and do, partly due to it’s diverse geography. From picturesque little villages and resorts of spa-towns to prehistoric sites and monuments, the Ardeche region is a melange of many things. Visitors to the area can take advantage of the wonderful fishing opportunities, go canoeing, climbing, mountain biking or take a trek through one of the fascinating caves such as the Chauvet Pont d’Arc. There are even a number limestone gorges, some more than 35km to discover. Indeed, the Ardeche region is one of the most visited areas in Europe during the summer months and with such spectacular scenery and endless ways to enjoy it, is it any wonder?

The French Alps.
The French Alps are among the most popular year-round resort areas on the planet, boasting a number of internationally renowned ski stations such as Chamonix and Courchevel. Pretty little towns snuggle in valleys protected by dramatic snowcapped mountains and everyone has one common aim – to ski and make merry. From the easy runs and nursery slopes and to the red and black runs high up in the mountains, there is something to suit all levels of proficiency. Cable cars rise up through the clouds, taking skiers from the mist shrouded valleys up to the blue skies and sun of the upper peaks – a whole new world, like heaven itself. Enjoy a ‘vin chaud’ and a bite to eat whilst sitting on top of the world. The snow looks like soft meringue and the air is crisp and clean. The French Alps are like nowhere else on earth.

The Mediterranean.
The Mediterranean Coast of France is almost synonymous with luxury and glamour – Cannes with its film festival and hoards of movie stars and Monaco with it’s Grand Prix just scratches the surface. St Tropez is a major tourist magnet. Known as the village of the stars and artists, the pace of life allows visitors to unwind and feel like vacationing Valentinos themselves. Those who can afford it hire, or even buy a yacht. Those who can’t flock to the beaches, which surprisingly are not all over-crowded. Alternatively, head for Nice on the sun drenched Côte D’Azur. There is much to do whether budgeting or not. Nice is great place to walk and has an impressive 300 hectares of green space. There is skiing, trekking or rock climbing on the Alps. In warmer months, there is windsurfing, paragliding, scuba diving, and perhaps the most exhausting activity of all, sunbathing – which, wherever you are doesn’t cost a penny.

Economy of France:
France has a diversified and dynamic economy that is highly integrated into the rest of the world. It is the world's sixth-largest economy by nominal GDP and the fourth-largest in Europe. It is also the world's second-largest exporter of goods and services, as well as the world's fifth-largest importer of goods and services.

France's economy is highly dependent on tourism. In 2018, the country welcomed a record 89.4 million foreign visitors, who spent around $63 billion, making it the most visited country in the world. Other major contributors to the economy include the automotive industry, chemical production, aerospace, and telecommunications. The country also has an advanced agricultural sector.

France is a member of the European Union (EU) and the eurozone, and it is part of the Schengen Area. This means that it has access to the EU's single market and is part of the Eurozone, which allows for the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people within the EU. This, combined with the country's highly developed infrastructure, has made it an attractive destination for foreign investment and businesses.

France has the second-largest number of Fortune 500 companies in Europe, and it is the world's fourth-largest recipient of foreign direct investment. The government has implemented a number of reforms in recent years to make it easier for businesses to operate in France, including reducing bureaucracy and making the tax system more competitive.

France has a strong social welfare system and high levels of public investment. The government provides generous health care and unemployment benefits, as well as pensions and other social services. It also spends heavily on education, which has helped it achieve a high level of literacy and a skilled workforce.

Overall, France has a well-developed and dynamic economy that is highly integrated into the global economy. It is a major exporter of goods and services and a strong recipient of foreign investment. Its strong social welfare system and high levels of public investment have allowed it to remain competitive in the global economy.