• An incredible variety of scenery, climate, history and culture.
• Ancient stone towns and wide, sandy beaches of Brittany.
• The magnificent gorges, hills and rolling countryside of Gascony, the Dorgdogne and the Ardeche.
• The sun baked lavender fields of Provence and Languedoc.
• The wild horses of the Camargue.
• The majestic Pyrenees and Alps, the gentle Loire valley.
• The lively, sophisticated and chic Cote d’Azur.
• There are vineyards everywhere.
• Fascinating towns with a wealth of cultural and historical interest throughout the whole country.
• Each area is good for small children - the variety of scenery and towns/villages means that there is always plenty to do and see, and there is always plenty of space.
• Loads of accommodation choices - hotels, resorts, gîtes, villas, chateaux, camping.
• The food is, of course, a highlight, and the fixed price menus offered everywhere, from the poshest restaurant to the smallest café, are great value. Children love the variety.
• Children are welcome everywhere, as an integral part of life, not an optional extra.
• It’s easy to get to - giving a wide range of travel options - plane, boat, car, train, or a combination of all.
• Excellent shopping and medical facilities.
• Enough climate variations to suit everyone.

Things to think about:

• It is easy to get to, but the size of the country means some self-catering properties can be a long drive from the airport/port.
• Beaches on Riviera are pretty busy and you have to pay for a lot of them. Best to stick to West Coast, although sea is rougher. Check state of beaches in Brittany before booking - oil spills mainly cleaned up, but worth re-confirming.
• Many areas don’t have beaches (although river beaches abound).
• Still very much a smoking zone, so many restaurants can be smoky.
• Relatively expensive.

Best times to visit: May-early July, September-October

Flight times from GB: 1.5 - 2 hrs

Time difference: GMT+1hr

Currency: Euros. Travellers cheques and/or credit cards widely accepted, but take some cash too for more remote areas

Capital: Paris

http://www.franceguide.com