Countries of the World/COUNTRYS.BIN/dp/0136/01365.txt

Text File | 1991-06-25 | 19KB | 393 lines

$Unique_ID{COW01365}
$Pretitle{416}
$Title{France
The Kingdom of the Four Seas}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{French Embassy, Washington DC}
$Affiliation{French Embassy, Washington DC}
$Subject{france
time
ski
like
mountain
sea
slopes
it's
north
mediterranean}
$Date{1990}
$Log{}
Country:     France
Book:        Come to France for the Time of Your Life
Author:      French Embassy, Washington DC
Affiliation: French Embassy, Washington DC
Date:        1990

The Kingdom of the Four Seas

     France is the only country in Europe lucky enough to have a coast on four
seas: the North Sea, the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean and the
Mediterranean. There are 2200 miles of beaches, from wild and rocky to
civilized and sandy.

     Although they are all different, one thing they have in common is the
rivalry of their many attractions for sea-seeking vacationers.

     Le Touquet is the most famous of the North Sea beaches. It has everything
you expect of an elegant seaside resort: luxury hotels, comfortable pensions,
two golf courses, a casino, a riding club, a thalassotherapy center, a
seven-mile stretch of sandy beach where you have your choice of windsurfing,
sand-yachting, and "enduro moto". The cool air stimulates the appetite for
mussels, shrimps and a local specialty, frog leg soup.

     The Channel begins a little further down the coast, past a magnificent
bird sanctuary, the Bay of Somme.

     Le Treport and Dieppe with their pebble beaches are both popular with
Parisians.

     South of the Seine, it's Deauville and Trouville which draw a
cosmopolitan milieu. While Deauville and Trouville have the same attractions,
in August Deauville has the additional lures of polo and horse racing.

     Past Cotentin at the tip of the Normandy peninsula, the Atlantic begins,
with the deep swells that thrill surfers, a big sky, a jagged coast line
and hundreds of islands.

     Northern Brittany has dozens of sandy beaches and picturesque fishing
ports along its irregular pink and grey granite coastline. Here families
spend tranquil vacations full of simple pleasures: swimming, walking along the
shore, playing tennis, and marveling at the scenery, especially when a storm
whips up the ocean.

     Southern Brittany has a warmer climate and bigger beaches. But as in the
North, it's heaven for children learning to sail or fish for shrimp,
windsurfing, or picnicking on the islands; all enjoyed equally by adults.

     La Baule is more like Deauville, but instead of apple trees, there are
pines.

     South of Bordeaux begin 125 miles of beach filled with fine sand,
bordered with pine trees that protect the dunes, and dotted with small
sheltered coves. Discovered by the Empress Josephine in the middle of the
nineteenth century, Biarritz is a surfer's paradise. Waves that begin on
the other side of the ocean break on a setting of incredible beauty. Golfers,
hikers who want to explore the nearby Pyrenees, and devotees of
thalassotherapy are also attracted to this lovely seaside resort. Not far
away is the charming and lively port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, which competes
for tourists' attention.

SUN AND SAND

     No matter how many times you come to the Mediterranean shore, the
wonder never diminishes. The dazzling combination of blue skies, turquoise
waters and warm sunshine gladdens the heart and lightens the spirit. This
sense of undefinable happiness is the eternal lure of the Riviera, from
Perpignan to Menton. Add the splendor of the red cliffs that rise out of the
sea at the Massif des Maures and l'Esterel; or the deep fisure in the
mountain that creates a steep-walled inlet; or the long stretches of golden
sand as at Saint-Tropez. And everywhere, the song of the cicadas, the warm
sun, the balmy nights.

     So, what should you do on the Riviera? For starters, nothing at all.
Stretch out on a beach mat, rent a parasol to protect your head and watch
the waves wash the shore. Have a cold drink, take a long swim in the warm
water, lunch at an open-air beach restaurant, and continue to do nothing.

     After a day or two, you can increase the level of activity if you
wish with surf-boarding, water skiing, or wind surfing. You can also easily
rent a boat, (sail or motor) and explore the islands, which are havens
of peace and tranquility. Then, your can leave the sea-shore for other great
outdoor options.

CORSICA

     The French call it the Isle of Beauty: a fitting name for this 110 mile
long island, 30 minutes by plane off the coast of Nice, or 10 hours by ferry.
The scenery is magnificent in a wild, harsh way, with steep mountains in the
interior, exquisite beaches, villages clinging to the mountainsides or nestled
in pretty ports. The western coast offers breathtaking views with towering
cliffs plunging directly into the sea, and a constantly varying shoreline
marked by deep gashes in the rock. Corsica, also famed as the birthplace
of Napoleon, feels like another world.

GREAT-OUTDOOR OPTIONS

     Here's where you get to fill your lungs with fresh air an get a good
look at nature. Like everything else in France, we think you'll find it both
beautiful and full of variety.

     In the course of your travels you may already have seen some enchanting
valleys in the Dordogne or in Haute Provence, some high peaks in the Alps or
the Pyrenees, some imposing landscapes surrounding a feudal castle.

     Now, it's time to lace up your hiking boots, mount your horse or bicycle,
pack your knapsack and go exploring.

THE BIG NATIONAL PARKS

     These are the vasts nature preserves covering millions of acres and
consecrated to the preservation of plants and wild-life. No cars, no new
construction, no loud music. There, hunters shoot only with cameras, and the
residents are farmers aware of the need for environmental protection.

     A welcoming silence hangs over these parks, each with its own unique
character and specialties.

     In the southeast, for example, in the Dauphine region and the Alps of
Provence, summertime hikers can enjoy mountaineering without snow, in the
Parks of Vanoise, Vercors or Ecrins: wildflowers, a surprise glimpse of an
occasional chamois, a chance to practice rock-climbing, the excitement of
sleeping in the shelters found on the high slopes. Down in the valleys,
discover the thrill of navigating a kayak through white waters.

     Similarly, a canoe is the best way to see one of the loveliest places in
France, the Gorges of Verdon.

     A complete change of scenery awaits you in the flat coastal plains of the
Camargue. There, tidal ponds carved by the Rhone estuary swarm with pink
flamingos; and bulls bred for the bull ring graze the vast prairies. The ideal
way to enjoy the scenery is to rent one of the Camargue horses and ride
through this land of light and water.

     Still in the south, the Parks of Cevennes and Haut Languedoc offer every
kind of hiking; also fishing in the wild and scenic lakes, miles of trails for
horseback riding, and the possibility of sleeping at a farmhouse. The meals
there are simple but delicious; just what you'd expect of real country
cooking.

     Continuing west almost all the way to the Atlantic, the nature preserve
of the Landes is another source of wonder. There, pines are the dominant
feature, and a horse the preferred means of travelling freely through the vast
forest. Serious bird watchers won't want to miss the Park of Teich, close to
the enchanting Arcachon Basin. Walking there, you'll see a unique assembly of
ducks, wild geese, storks, flamingos and much more.

     North of Bordeaux another natural wonder along the coast is the Poitevin
Swamp sometimes called "Green Venice". You can best see it from a boat moving
slowly along its narrow canals. You can also fish for perch and crayfish, and
feast on your catch for dinner.

THE RESTFUL ROUTES OF THE CANALS

     If you're ready to take it easy, the most relaxing form of tourism is by
houseboat along the canals.

     France is fortunate in having over 1200 miles of these pea