Bus tour of the provinces of France. The Other France: A Journey Through the Provinces

Today, tours to the provinces of France are offered by many travel agencies. However, we can recommend that you create your own route. Not always ready-made tourist programs include what will be of interest to you. Therefore, we recommend that you take a trip around France by car with your family. To organize your trip, you will need a map of France with provinces and our portal. We will try to tell you about everything interesting that this country has. Stay with us, it will be interesting further.
In modern France there are no official divisions into French provinces. The political and administrative structure of France involves dividing the country into departments. However, the historical provinces of France are still actively used not only by historians and archaeologists when conducting research, but also by ordinary citizens of this country. If you ask how you can get to Champagne, then the explanation will be quick and simple. Tourist tours to the provinces of France are also particularly popular. After all, most of them are built on an educational principle. During such a trip, you can not only study the history of the country, but also get acquainted with the ancient customs and traditions of France.

The historical provinces of France included 39 territories. The most famous of them are Normandy, Bordeaux, Champagne, Provence, Burgundy, Ile-de-France, Corsica, Nice, Alsace. This territorial structure of France remained until March 4, 1790. During the French Revolution, it was decided to abandon the French provinces and switch to dividing the country using departments. Thus, the role of the provincial centers of France was diminished and the power of Paris was elevated.

The modern structure of France includes 96 departments with a population in each of them from 500 thousand to 1,000,000 people

Which French provinces are the most attractive to visit?

It is not possible to answer this question unambiguously. All French provinces are quite attractive for tourists. It all depends on what purpose you are visiting. this country. For example, if you are interested in the history of Napoleon Bonaparte, then you should start your trip from the island of Corsica. The historical province of France also has the same name. Here you can study in detail the entire biography of Napoleon and his life path. Corsica offers all the possibilities for this.

For a culinary trip, Provence and Champagne are more suitable. Here you will find the most exquisite dishes of French cuisine, world-famous wines and amazingly delicate French cheese. All this will be flavored with the aroma of Provencal herbs and dressed in a romantic Provencal style.

For lovers of active sea recreation, we can recommend visiting French province Nice. On the Atlantic, its prototype is Brittany and Aquitaine. These historical provinces of France today provide maximum comfort for tourists during the summer months of the year.

For history buffs, we can recommend the French province of Normandy. You can add Burgundy and Bordeaux to it. Well, you won’t be able to miss the central province, on the territory of which Paris is located today. For ski lovers, we recommend the Alpine provinces and the Pyrenees.

Southern provinces of France

All southern provinces of France are tourist resort destinations and agricultural entities. Here you can combine a pleasant holiday on the Mediterranean Sea and excellent French cuisine. According to statistics, most tourists prefer to visit the southern provinces of France.

These include Nice, Corsica, Provence, Toulouse, Avignon. The tourist and service infrastructure is developed here. Organized daily for guests large number familiarization and educational tours of castles, architectural monuments and historical places.

Northern provinces of France

The northern provinces of France are better known to us as ski resorts and sites of major historical battles. We recommend you visit Lorraine. This northern province of France is famous for many military battles. There are a large number of historical memorials and monuments here. Experienced guides will help you understand the history of modern France and feel the freedom-loving spirit of this people.

The northern provinces of France Savoy and Dauphine are areas French Alps. World famous ski resorts are located here. It is best to plan a visit to these lands during the winter months of the year.

What you should definitely try while visiting these places are, of course, “rillettes” (finely minced pork or goose fried in lard), “rillons” (cracklings), pates and many other dishes typical of this region, prepared from wild boar and pork. Don't forget about some of the best goat cheeses in France. As for sweet dishes, they are also at their best here: need we introduce one of the most famous French desserts, “Tarre Tarin” - hot apple pie with caramel. The region also produces numerous wines: red, white, rosé, dry, soft or sparkling, among which the most famous are Chinon, Bourgueil, Vouvray, Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume. or Cheverny (Cheverny).

Poitou-Charentes

Poitou-Charentes

From Poitiers to the "walled city" of La Rochelle, passing through the town of Cognac, whose name is associated throughout the world with the famous alcohol, take the opportunity to taste the amazing local cuisine, originating in the vineyards and fishing harbors of the Atlantic Ocean. Only mussels are prepared here according to unique traditional recipes...

Poitou-Charentes is a place that invites travelers to discover a unique union of maritime and terrestrial culture, gastronomy and landscapes. As for cheese, there is not much of it in this region, but the butter here is excellent: this region, the only one in France, produces branded butter of the highest quality with a subtle nutty taste, which undergoes the strictest control.

North - Pas de Calais

Nord-Pas-de-Calais

The Pas de Calais region reveals to travelers its seaside landscapes with dunes and cliffs. The traditional picture of the region paints a picture of flat, deep countryside dotted with large, low and square farms where mussel dishes are endless and beer flows freely. Of course, in the north there are also ports and beaches where you can see fans of all sports, such as sailing, and where you can have fun in the numerous casinos located along the coast. And the favorite sweets of children and adults here are waffles, cakes with sugar and locally made mint candies ("Betises de Cambrais").

Ile-de-France

Ile-de-France

Historically, the Ile-de-France region has always supplied Paris with vegetables, fruits, dairy products and meat. But despite the fact that intensive development around the French capital has seriously changed environment, this region remained largely agricultural. Every year, holidays and fairs of local products are cheerfully celebrated here: wines and cheeses, of which the most famous varieties are “coulomier” and “brie”, as well as watercress, strawberries, blueberries, mirabelle, apples, hops, from which beer is made , cider and turkey. Some products used in cooking still bear the name of the city in which they were produced, such as the famous Chantilly cream.

In this region, which is also very close to Paris, you can quickly find yourself in nature, in a small hotel located next to the Fontainebleau forest in the charming village of Barbizon - a wonderful place famous for its school of landscape painters, which gave birth to the nineteenth century such famous names as Corot, Millet, Rousseau; or visit Auvers-sur-Oise, where Van Gogh spent the last years of his life and painted his most famous paintings, such as "The Church at Auvers".

Champagne-Ardennes

Ardennes: all seasons are good to visit this region, which has managed to carefully preserve its natural beauty! In winter it is ideal for skiing, in summer - for walks in the forest, in autumn - for hunting and contemplating magnificent landscapes, golden colors of falling leaves... Hikers will be happy to go on an assault on the ancient mountain ranges, or they will hide in the thick of the forests, which have given rise to a lot of all kinds of fantastic legends that have survived to this day. The region of Champagne, located right at the foot of the mountains, its name alone makes it clear where champagne was born, whose producers, from the most famous to independent, compete in the field of quality and sophistication. Champagne produces wine for special occasions and holidays, presenting it throughout the world as a unique drink that symbolizes luxury in the French way.

Alsace-Lorraine

Alsace-Lorraine

Called "the garden of France" by Voltaire, Alsace-Lorraine is a land of prosperity, and this prosperity is very contagious here. Mountainous and lowland areas impartially divide the territory of the region between themselves, stretching in vast spaces all the way to the Rhine, the natural border with Germany, and towering over the Vosges and Jura mountains. On this land, nature has not suffered from industrial expansion. The local gastronomy here is very diverse and skillfully combines French and German cuisines. Those with a sweet tooth will greatly enjoy the many local delicacies, such as the "Kugelhopf" - something reminiscent of a bun with raisins and almonds. When you know that this region is rich in apples, pears, cherries, mirabelles, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, sloeberries, lingonberries and much more, it becomes much clearer why the Alsatians give such preference to confectionery products that have a particularly high reputation. Almost every city has its own special delicacy, such as Bergamotes de Nancy (bergamot-flavored sweets from Nancy), Madeleines de Commercy or the famous Sauciases de Straubourg. (Strasbourg sausages).

Franche-Comté

Franche-Comte

The best period to visit this region, from April to October, will allow you to fully enjoy the sun, gently warming over the herbs and flowers, enveloping the air with thousands of delicate aromas. Franche-Comté invites you to wander through the mountains and also to taste the special local gastronomy, in which cheese is the main component, for example in dishes such as raclette or fondue, prepared with hot cheese. There is even a variety here bearing the name of the region - "Comte", produced in the mountains and having a special sweetish taste. In Franche-Comté you will also try the traditional ham with the divine taste (and name) "Jesus de Morteau" ("Jesus of Morteau"), made from pork shoulder. It should be noted that the city of Morteau is famous for its sausages of all types and varieties, thereby conquering gastronomes.

Cheeses: local cheese "Morbier" ("Morbier"), easily recognized by the grayish stripe in the middle. Another variety, "Beaufort" ("Beaufort"), is produced in the summer in wooden houses on high mountain pastures with cows. And then it is placed in a damp basement, where it “reaches” for another two years. The tissue structure of this type of cheese is quite grainy, and the taste is floral-sweet. It has a mild hazelnut flavor and is infused with rich mountain aromas.

Burgundy

Bourgogne

Burgundy is a region whose name speaks volumes to wine lovers. The natural beauty of this region is varied: on one side it is spread out by carefully tended vineyards, protected by wrought iron trellises - the pride of its happy owners, and on the other it is bordered by dense oak forests. Burgundy is a country of farmsteads, fairy tales, delicious wines and blackcurrant cream liqueur, which gave birth to the famous throughout France and widely consumed aperitif "Kir", named after one of the mayors of Dijon, who served this drink at every official reception in the city hall. But above all, Burgundy is a land where you will feel at home, thanks to the exceptional hospitality and friendliness of the local people.

Cheeses you should definitely try during your visit: Epoisses, Langres and Charolais; as for cow's milk cheeses, as well as from spring to late autumn fresh goat cheese Chevre frais ("Chevre fra") and Montrachet ("Montrachet") for lovers of goat's milk cheeses. It is also impossible to forget that Burgundy is incredibly rich in high-quality wines, such as Nuits-Saint-Georges, Chablis, Meursault, Montrachet, Pommard, Beaune, Bourgogne-Aligote, Volnay and Vosnes-Romanee. Local products worth mentioning are sausages and, of course, the famous mustard from Dijon, famous throughout the world.

Auvergne et Center

The center of France remains largely sparsely populated due to harsh conditions internal message over many centuries and harsh climates. This region will reveal to you all its breadth and beauty of volcanic landscapes, green hollows, stormy streams, clear lakes and warm springs with healing water. The chain of mountain ranges includes 8 volcanoes that have been “dormant” for eight millennia, and is the largest volcanic ensemble in Europe.

The region has enormous civil and military heritage dating back to the Middle Ages, and the castles and Romanesque churches perched on mountain ledges testify to a rich past, ranking among the masterpieces of French architectural art.

Akiten and the Atlantic Pyrenees

Aquitaine et Pyrenees-Atlantiques

Traveling through this region, you will take a real trip back in time! This is where the center of the prehistoric world truly concentrated, in periods from 300 thousand years to 10 thousand years BC. Many thousands of deposits and about half of the caves in all of France have been preserved here, including the famous cave “de Lascaux” (grotte de Lascaux), considered one of the world heritage of mankind.

Country of sun, fishing and mountain landscapes, this area of ​​wondrous beauty stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to Mediterranean Sea. It's nice to sunbathe on the white sandy beaches or hide in the shade of pine forests.

Southern Pyrenees and Languedoc-Roussillon

Midi-Pyrenees et Languedoc-Roussillon

This region of France, rich in rivers, lakes and ponds, will captivate lovers of fishing, light clothing and sun! Mosaic paintings of vegetable gardens, orchards and vineyards give a complete picture of the local nature, which from time immemorial has been conducive to the development of the region, which at the same time explains the richness of culture - the cradle of Romanesque-French art.

The wines of the southwest, less well known than those of Bordeaux, are strong and generous in taste: among them you will find Bergerac, Montbazillac, Pecharmant, Jurancon, Cahors and Bearn... The Roussillon region is more specialized in soft and sweet wines, such as Muscat de Rivesaltes and Banyuls.

Provence and Cote d'Azur

Provence et Cote d'Azur

The Cote d'Azur, which is a place of resort life for stars and celebrities, is famous throughout the world for the splendor of its hotels, luxury yachts, the Cannes Festival... We encourage you to get out at least for a couple of days and go a little further from the coast, taking unforgettable walks and submitting to the beauty of harsh and barren landscapes, where the ocher colors of the earth echo the bright blue of the sky and sea, and the green of pine and oak forests - with the whiteness of limestones. The Cote d'Azur is replete with whole carpets of lavender and fluffy mimosa, enveloping villages and villages in multi-colored fog.

Each individual market in Provence has its own characteristics and its own unique character. Here, delicate roses from neighboring gardeners coexist with fresh fish caught overnight, and the vegetables and fruits of local gardeners decorating the counters are generously soaked in the sun. This whole bouquet of fresh products makes up wonderful salads, for example, the famous “Nice salad” with anchovies or “mes-clun” (a mixture of different varieties of lettuce and aromatic herbs), so refreshing in the summer.

And the Mediterranean Sea, in turn, provides “stone” fish, which are excellent in dishes such as “bouillabaisse” (fish soup with garlic and spices) and “bourride” (a type of fish soup with garlic sauce), so typical for Marseille and the Côte d'Azur. The local cuisine perfectly matches the surrounding sunny landscapes and warmth: high quality olive oil, honey and nougat, fruit jams and goat cheese speaks for itself.

Cheeses, as noted above, are mainly made from goat's milk: Banon de Provence, Picodon and Pelardon.

The best wines of the region include: Gigondas, Beaume-de-Venise, Bandol and Cassis.

Rhone-Alpes

From the Rhone Hollow to Swiss border The area of ​​Grenoble walnut trees and vineyards is beautiful, growing in a staircase above the river flowing below. For most French people, today's Lyon bears a huge resemblance to Paris in the 1930s. Indeed, a passing tourist, finding himself in the second largest city in France, can get acquainted with the past and present, from traditional, unshakable cuisine to the gastronomy of tomorrow, thus stepping through several decades in just one day. It should be noted that in terms of gastronomy, Lyon and its region occupy one of the most privileged places, largely thanks to the huge number of bistros, called here bouchons ("bouchon", i.e. cork), which comes from the usual stoppers that are used to close bottles from - for wine. Here, authentic homemade dishes are prepared according to local recipes that have no analogues: “poulets de Bresse”, “gratin dauphinois”, sausages and locally prepared sausages of all types and stripes, and all this is served with young Beaujolais wine. The region also knows how to please lovers of sweets. In Lyon, for example, one of the world's best chocolate producers is Bernachon, which superbly produces both confectionery products, like the President cake, specially produced in honor of François Mitterrand, and chocolates. And Bresse waffles with cream and sugar are so tasty and popular that they are sold in all bakeries and pastry shops in the region.

Cheeses: "Arome de Gene" refers to the cheeses typical of the Lyon region, which are usually soaked in vodka from grape marc. And here is another type of cheese, "Saint-Marcelin", made from cow's milk and looking like a small, flat, puck-shaped pellet. In Savoy, however, there are dozens of different varieties of "Tommes de Savoie" (special Savoyard cheese), some of which have a spicy or peppery flavor.

As for wines, Beaujolais, Vin de Savoie, Vin de Paille, Vin Jaune, Hermitage and Cote-Rotie are worth trying.

"Privilege", No. 2, 1997

KMP Group – tour operator in France, having over 27 years of experience with this popular destination tourism.

We offer you a large selection of tours around this amazing country, which annually attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world. Today, France is the most visited country in the world by tourists. The number of tourists coming here is more than 86 million people a year. Rich history, special atmosphere and French sophisticated style are the main reasons for such popularity.

Besides this, France is a country of high fashion, exclusive cuisine and winemaking. Once you visit Paris, Nice, Marseille, Lyon or Bordeaux, you will definitely want to come back here at least again.

Location and climate: The northern and western regions of France are occupied by low mountains and plains, the snowy Alps rise in the southeast, the center, east and southwest of the country are occupied by mountains. The geographical location of France allows tourists to visit regions with completely different climatic and cultural characteristics. The southern Mediterranean regions - the Côte d'Azur, Provence and Occitania are one thing, and Norman, Brittany and the central regions of the country are quite another. And it’s very difficult to see all this within one tour of France! Each region is so unique and gives so many new emotions and impressions that any traveler wants to stay here longer. We will help you choose among this variety exactly those tours that will be most interesting to you.

Climate of France also varies significantly by region. In the central regions it is sea, moderate and quite mild, which allows you to comfortably travel around the country almost all year round. The southern regions of the Mediterranean Sea are located in the subtropical zone. IN eastern regions France has a continental climate. In January average temperature: 1-8°C, July average temperature: 17-24°C;

The most favorable time to visit Paris is May and September-October, the Riviera is September. Mountainous areas have their own microclimate, characteristic of high-altitude areas. The best months to visit Corsica are May to June and September to October.

Capital: Paris

Time: Time in France is 2 hours behind Moscow

Currency: National currency is Euro

Official language: The main language of communication is French, but throughout France it is possible to communicate in English. In addition, German is spoken in Alsace, and different provinces have their own dialects of French.

Tour operator in France KMP Group offers not only excursions, but also wine and wedding tours, with visits to ancient castle hotels, and holidays on the beaches Cote d'Azur and much more.

Popular resorts

France is one of the first countries that people dream of as a travel destination. Holidays in France mean magnificent palaces, museums where the originals of the greatest works of art are stored, and streets that are described in the works of classics, and with which the most important events of European and world history are associated. These are the most prestigious ski resorts and first-class seaside resorts on the Cote d'Azur, where the most influential people in the world vacation. Holidays in France are a combination of modern French luxury, the charm of small cozy restaurants with gourmet cuisine and the modest French province.

When purchasing tours to France, most tourists first go to Paris. Take a walk through the streets of Montmartre, try real French coffee, sit and savor the wine, praised by many connoisseurs. You will definitely meet lovers on the numerous staircases and bridges of Paris - believe me, it is impossible not to fall in love here. There are more than 200 museums here, including the Louvre, the Picasso and Rodin museums and the Paris Wine Museum. The heart of Paris is Notre Dame Cathedral, from which distances to other cities are measured.

When planning a trip to France, be sure to plan a visit to Disneyland Paris - this is a whole world of exciting adventures that will delight your children. You can’t get around all the attractions of this legendary Disneyland in a whole day.

You can also choose the Moulin Rouge, Crazy Horse or Lido cabaret. Or admire the views of the capital of France from Eiffel Tower, and then have dinner at the famous restaurant “Altitude 95” (“58 Tour Eiffel”), from the windows of which a beautiful panorama of the Seine and Trocadéro Square opens.

Tours to France are in great demand among tourists, most tourist routes invariably pass through this country. We have developed for you the most interesting routes and excursions to all the significant sights of Paris and other regions. Choose the most suitable tour for you and call - we will be happy to help you visit the most alluring and romantic country in the world!

Regions of France - provincial magic of perfection

Well, when the word “province” evokes only delight and a storm of emotions, your eyes run wide from tempting prospects, and your head is spinning with tempting possibilities! If you are experiencing something similar, you are probably planning a trip to France.

Planning to visit a European pearl, as if matured in mother-of-pearl doors neighboring countries, the first thing you need to decide is which of the 27 regions of France to go to, what type of vacation to choose for an unforgettable trip.

Whether you want to spend a week in Paris, ride the Golden Circle of France, listen to the Legends of Provence, go on a train tour to Cannes, or visit Prague, Paris and Nice in one trip, "DVM" will help you decide on the direction and route.

Thanks to the diversity and richness of the tourist infrastructure, the variety of climatic zones and landscapes, regardless of the time of year, a holiday in France will be excellent at any time of the year, whatever the purpose of your trip.

Sunbathe on luxurious beaches Cote d'Azur or explore underwater world off the coast of rocky Brittany, try your luck at the Monte Carlo casino or get acquainted with the collections of the Louvre, Versailles and the Mahe Foundation. Arrange yourself a sightseeing tour of the castles of the Loire, the center of Paris or the famous Russian cemetery of Sainte-Geneviève des Bois? Or maybe a healing tour to Evian with a world-famous mineral water or a trip to the waters in Vichy? But what about the Alpine “Three Valleys” with the ski resorts of Courchevel, Meribel, Saint-Martin?! And finally, we need to take the children to Disneyland and arrange a shopping tour of French boutiques...

Or stop racking your brains and create an individual tour to France visiting everyone interesting places, cities and provinces?

So that your visit to France brought maximum joy, impressions and benefits, "DVM" offers you informational reviews on French cities and provinces, thanks to which you can understand in which part of France you would be comfortable spending your vacation, vacation, business trip, family vacation or improve your health.

Regions or provinces of unitary France- these are its administrative-territorial units, subordinate to a unified state system of law, supreme authorities and the constitution. All 27 provinces (22 on the mainland and 5 overseas territories) receive a share of taxes and have their own budget, which is distributed among departments. So every province is almost small state with its capital, departments subordinate to it, rich cultural and political-economic life. At the same time, in any part of France there is uniform legislation, norms and standards that apply to the entire country. So in the country you can safely move from province to province, paying attention only to the climatic features of the region and choosing types of recreation that are relevant during the season of your trip to France.

“Southern Provinces” is a fascinating and unusual excursion route that will introduce you to southern part countries. The cities in the south of France, with their unique charm and ancient flavor, are not alike, and each one opens up some new facet on the path to understanding this amazing country.

Tours in the Southern Provinces of France

Tour date in 2020: on request

Paris, even being one of the most romantic cities the world - just a small fraction of what you need to see in France with your own eyes.

« Tours to the provinces of France"is a fascinating and unusual excursion route that will introduce you to the southern part of the country. The cities in the south of France, with their unique charm and ancient flavor, are not alike, and each one opens up some new facet on the path to understanding this amazing country.

The tour includes not only a rich cultural program, but also a tasting of famous varieties of French wines.

Tour route: Marseille - Toulouse - Montpellier - Nimes - Avignon - Marseille.

Tour duration: 8 days/7 nights.

Direct flight by regular flight "AirFrance" AF4317/AF4316, "Moscow - Marseille - Moscow".

Departures: Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday.

Tours around Southern provinces France - Marseille.

Tour program:

1st day

Arrival at Marseille airport. Transfer to the hotel in Marseille. Late check-in at the hotel.

2nd day

Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby. Transfer to the station. Transfer to Toulouse, 4 hours. Transfer to the hotel.

Afternoon: sightseeing tour of Toulouse, 2 hours.

3rd day

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time. Afternoon: transfer to the station. Moving
in Montpellier, 2 hours. Transfer to the hotel.

4th day

Sightseeing tour of the central part of Montpellier, tour duration -
2 hours. Transfer to the station. Transfer to Nimes, 30 min. Afternoon: sightseeing tour of historical center Nima, tour duration - 2 hours.

Tours in the provinces of France - Nimes.

5th day

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free time or additional excursion to the ancient Roman Bridge of Gars, excursion duration - 4 hours (for an additional fee). Transfer to the station. Transfer to Avignon, 30 min. Afternoon: sightseeing tour of the historical center of Avignon, tour duration - 2 hours.

6th day

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit to the Provençal market, tour duration - 2 hours. If you wish, you can continue the excursion with a wine tasting at the tasting center of the Papal Palace, additional payment for the guide and tasting is 40 euros + 6.50 euros / person. Afternoon: free time.

7th day

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Marseille, 40 min. Transfer to the hotel. Sightseeing tour of the ancient part of the city, tour duration - 2 hours. Afternoon: free time, individual program.

Day 8

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time, preparation for departure, vacating rooms, checking out of the hotel. Late transfer to the airport at 12:00. Departure.

Tours to the provinces of France - Marseille.

Tour cost per person in euros:

The tour price includes:

• accommodation in a hotel of the selected category;
• food - breakfasts;
• excursions according to the program;
• transfers "hotel - station - hotel" in Marseille, Montpellier, Nimes, Avignon, Toulouse;
• train tickets along the entire route;
• transfers “Marseille airport - hotel - Marseille airport”.