France is the undisputed leader in international visitors, with a total of more than 84 million per year. This surpasses the United States, at around 75 million, and far exceeds Great Britain at around 32 million. What are some of the reasons that France is on so many travelers’ wish lists? And which of these reasons might inspire you to follow suit? To get started, consider these three motivations for taking a trip to France.
Reason # 1: Cultural Discovery
A trip to France is endlessly entertaining and fascinating. France is proud of its heritage and celebrates its history. Wherever you go, you will find old world charm and atmosphere and historic buildings with stories to tell. You will be constantly reminded that you are following in the footsteps of kings and artists, conquerors and queens. Every day will be full of discoveries.
A journey through the Loire Valley to visit the castles will take you along the travel route of the flamboyant 16th century King Francis I, who racked up staggering national debts to live large and well. His castle in Amboise, perched high on the river, is the source of many stories. There are the large round turrets, with wide spiral roads inside to allow horse-drawn carriages to climb onto the castle grounds to carry their passengers, especially useful when one of the queens was pregnant. Here, in the extensive gardens, fireworks displays and festivals were held, designed for Françoise by her dear friend Leonardo da Vinci. Da Vinci himself lived the last years of his life across the street from the king, in a fascinating mansion that is now filled with models of his many groundbreaking inventions. A secret tunnel connects the abodes of these two close friends, used for nightly visits between the king and his brilliant friend.
In Blois, Françoise added an elegant wing to the already impressive palace, which is accessed via an exquisite external stone staircase. Here you will see the study of Catherine de Medici, wife of Françoise’s son and successor, Henri. The wood-paneled walls provided secret hiding places for his acclaimed collection of poisons, the political “solutions” of those dangerous times.
Then there is the impressive Chenonceau, with its glorious gardens and the vast ballrooms that stretch out over the river. Initially, this gem was the home of King Henry’s mistress, Diane de Poitiers. But when Henri was killed by a large splinter in his eye during a joust, his wife, Catherine de Medici, kicked Diane out of her castle and took care of him. Not to be outdone by the mistress, Catherine proceeded to build an even more splendid garden on the opposite side of the castle from Diane’s, and an even grander balcony than Diane’s to overlook. She placed a huge, dazzling portrait of herself, looming over the bed in what had once been Diane’s bedroom. And he re-engraved the initials on the tiles, replacing the “D” for “Diane”, interlaced with an “H” for “Henri”, with a “C” for “Catherine.” This was a woman determined to make her point. As you enter these long-ago lives and experience their luxurious surroundings, you will gain a true and immediate sense of culture and history.
And so it goes. The people, the history, the passion, the humanity … All this surrounds you on a trip to France. You will be intrigued and amazed, captivated and captivated. Each day of your visit will be intensely interesting, as well as being surrounded by carefully orchestrated beauty.
Reason # 2: a feast for the senses
Your senses will be stunned the entire time you are in France. The views are beautiful beyond description. The Eiffel Tower in Paris rises like a collection of giant builders, with an elevator taking you to the top for views of the Seine and the city. At night the tower lights up, best viewed from a boat as you cruise the Seine, passing under one beautiful bridge after another.
The Orsay, once an elegant turn-of-the-century train station that was built to welcome guests to the 1900 Universal Exhibition of Paris, now houses an astonishing collection of Impressionist art – Monet, Renoir, van Gogh, Dégas, Gauguin, Cézanne, Seurat – within a building that is itself a historical architectural treasure. Here you can have lunch in the grand ballroom of the old grand hotel attached to the train station and look through the glass of the giant clock that looks out over the river and makes this building particularly easy to spot.
There is more and more to come … The glories of Notre Dame. The extraordinary stained glass windows of the Saint Chapelle chapel … The beautiful flowers and statues of the Tuileries Gardens … The avalanche of visual sensations of the Champs Elysees … The imposing Arc de Triomphe, opposite the smallest Arch opposite the Louvre at the other end of the great five-mile boulevard where Napoleon imagined himself leading a march of his victorious armies.
There will be the glorious flavors of food and wine. You’ll hear wonderful music of all kinds, from the Vivaldi in Saint Chapelle, to the lively piano bars and boat bars along the left bank of the Seine in Paris and atop Mont St. Michel, to the mighty Notre organ. Give to me. You will walk through the flower markets, full of colors and scents, and you will shop in the weekly markets, full of people and all kinds of tempting offers.
This assault on the senses will remain with you long after your travels are over.
Reason # 3: Introduction to the good life
The last but certainly not the least reason to visit France is that it will introduce you to a better way of life. You will experience a different form of interpersonal interaction in France: more engaged, curious, outgoing and lively. The French truly recognize the importance of enjoying the best of life.
Eating here is a delicious experience, not just a stop to recharge. Food is an art form, always paired with the ideal wines to enhance the meal. The waiters take pride in their work, they strive to make dinner a memorable occasion by offering their expertise and carefully protecting your right to take all the time you need to enjoy your meal without rushing.
People in France are very nice to each other and will be with you. You will always be addressed as madam or sir, and you will be asked with a please, followed by a thank you. Cordiality is not only suggested in France, it is expected and ubiquitous. You will quickly grow to anticipate and appreciate this.
From the first moment you walk down a street past all the umbrella-protected outdoor tables in the cafes, you will notice that this is a culture where people come together to enjoy each other’s company. Old, young, families, single, rich, modest, fashionable, artistic, intellectual: everyone is in the squares and along the avenues, drinking in cafes and eating in restaurants. It’s easy to join in and be stimulated by the lively and friendly atmosphere. Musicians roam the streets, from old men playing accordions outside restaurants to jazz bands playing in city squares. And because house wine is so inexpensive, stopping by for a glass or pitcher is common, not exceptional.
At the tables around you in these cafes, you will notice couples engage in lively conversation, gazing intently into each other’s eyes. France is a culture of philosophy and art, science and technology, style and literature and love. As you take in all of this, you may begin to notice that it has an impact on you and how you relate to others. You will find that you listen more actively, express yourself more seriously and clearly, pay more attention, act with more consideration, and show more curiosity and interest.
The luxury of time for this entire gathering is due in part to the French commitment to maintaining an optimal work-life balance. Stores close for lunch so workers can focus their attention on enjoying a good meal and the company of friends and colleagues. Employees who work 39 hours or more per week must receive more than the five weeks of vacation per year legally required.
As you travel through France, you will come to enjoy and look forward to this higher level of connection, this greater appreciation for food and wine, this better work-life balance. You will never forget what you have learned about a different and better way of living life.
The sum of these three parts
Together, cultural discovery plus a feast for the senses plus an introduction to the good life create a unique travel opportunity. You’ll have a great trip to France, especially if you’re traveling independently and avoiding the bus, possibly using a pre-planned book trip to guide your explorations and adventures, and to make sure you get the full experience while you’re there.
Your trip will enrich you. It will refresh you. And it will change you. When you return home, you will find yourself incorporating elements of your travels into your lifestyle and planning to return to France.
