Tourism in France

Table Of Contents
Topic Page Nos.
About France 1
Welcome to France 2
• Paris 3-7
• Strasbourg 8-11
• Marseille 12-15
• Bordeaux 16-19
• Lyon 20-23
• Toulouse 24-27
More on France 28
Glossary 29-32
References 33

ABOUT FRANCE
 France, in Western Europe, encompasses medieval and port
cities, tranquil villages, mountains and Mediterranean
beaches.
 Paris being the capital of France, is known worldwide for its
couture fashion houses, classical art museums.
 France is also renowned for its sophisticated cuisine and its
wines.
 France shares its borders with: Spain, Italy, Switzerland,
Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium.
1

WELCOME TO FRANCE
France entices its tourists with its unfalteringly unique
culture, museums, architectures, woven around cafe
terraces, village-square markets, lace-curtained bistros
and many more.
2
The following cities have been covered in this
presentation:
 Paris
 Strasbourg
 Marseille
 Bordeaux
 Lyon
 Toulouse

PARIS
 Paris, the cosmopolitan capital of France, is one
of Europe’s largest cities.
 It is located in the north of France on the river Seine.
 Paris has the well deserved reputation of being the
most beautiful and romantic of all cities, brimming
with historic associations and remaining vastly
influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food
and design.
3
 Climate:
Paris has a maritime climate with cool winters and
warm summers. The moderating effect of the Atlantic
Ocean helps to temper temperature extremes in much
of western Europe, including France.
December, January, and February are the coldest
months while July and August are the hottest months.
The best time to visit is summer (May to September).

Places of Tourist Interest
Eiffel Tower
Gustave Eiffel had only constructed this elegant, 320m-tall signature
spire as a temporary exhibit for the 1889 World's Fair. Luckily, the
art-nouveau tower’s popularity assured its survival.
Lifts ascend to the tower’s three floors; change lifts on the 2nd floor
for the final ascent to the top. Refreshment options in the tower
include two snack bars on the 1st and 2nd floor and at the top, a
Champagne bar.
L’Arc de Triomphe-The Triumphal Arch
It’s the magnificent 1836 monument to Napoléon’s victory at
Austerlitz (1805), which he commissioned the following year.
Beneath the arch at ground level lies the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier. Honouring the 1.3 million French soldiers who lost their
lives in WWI, the Unknown Soldier was laid to rest in 1921, beneath
an eternal flame that is rekindled daily at 6.30pm.
4

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris
It is a masterpiece of French Gothic architecture. Highlights include
its three spectacular rose windows, treasury, and bell towers, which
can be climbed. Cathédrale Notre Dame was begun in 1163 and
largely completed by the early 14th century.
Notre Dame is known for its sublime balance, though if you look
closely you’ll see all sorts of minor asymmetrical elements introduced
to avoid monotony.
Musée du Louvre
Few art galleries are as prized as the Musée du Louvre, Paris’ pièce
de résistance and the world's most visited museum.
The palace rambles over four floors, up and down innumerable
staircases, and through three wings. Showcasing 35,000 works of art
– from Mesopotamian to masterpieces by artists such as da Vinci
(including his incomparable Mona Lisa), Michelangelo, Rembrandt.
The main entrance is through the 21m-high Grande Pyramid . A glass
pyramid, designed by the Chinese-born American architect IM Pei.
5

Musée d’Orsay
The home of France’s national collection from the impressionist,
postimpressionist and art-nouveau movements spanning from 1848
to 1914 is the glorious former Gare d’Orsay railway station – itself an
art-nouveau showpiece – where a roll-call of masters and their
world-famous works are on display.
Just some of its highlights are Manet’s On The Beach and Woman
With Fans; Vincent Van Gogh’s self-portraits etc. There are also
some magnificent decorative arts, graphic arts and sculptures.
Parisian cafés
Parisian cafés serve as a center of social and culinary life in Paris.
They have been around since the 17th century, and serve as the
meeting place, neighbourhood hub, conversation matrix, rendez-
vous spot, and networking source, a place to relax or to refuel - the
social and political pulse of the city. Typical Paris cafés are not coffee
shops. They generally come with a complete kitchen offering meals
for any time of the day, a full bar and even a wine selection. Some of
the most recognizable ones are Paris cafés include Café de la Paix,
Les Deux Magots, Café de Flore.
6

Essential Information on Paris
Traveling around the city:
 Public Transport: There are 16 Métro lines on which trains travel all day at intervals of a few
minutes stopping at all stations on the line. There are buses available too.
 Bicycles: Renting a bike is a very good alternative over driving or using public transport and an
excellent way to see the sights. There are a few different bike rental programs in Paris.
Food:
 French food isn't all about haute cuisine and fine dining - some of the best food to be enjoyed in
the French capital can be bought for a couple of euros from a humble boulangerie.
 Some of the more famous food in Paris Include: Barguettes, Steak-frites, Croque Monsieur, Duck
Confit, Jambon-Beurre, Croissant, Macarons and finally Crêpes
7
Festivals:
 Bastille Day: The 14th of July is a very special day in France as it celebrates and commemorates
the storming of the Bastille. Considered a salute to the birth of French Democracy, Bastille Day is
one of France’s biggest national holidays. There’s a grand fireworks display at the iconic Eiffel
tower.

STRASBOURG
 Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace region
of France and is most widely known for hosting a
number of important European institutions.
 It is located in the north of France on the river Seine.
 It is also famous for its beautiful historical centre -
the Grande Île - which was the first city centre to be
classified entirely as a World Heritage Site by
UNESCO.
 Strasbourg is the perfect overture to all that is
idiosyncratic about Alsace – walking a fine tightrope
between France and Germany and between a
medieval past and a progressive future, it pulls off its
act in inimitable Alsatian style.
 Climate:
The average temperature of January is 1 °C , that of
July of 19.5 °C. The best time to visit Strasbourg goes
from mid-May to late September.
8

Cathédrale Notre-Dame
Completed in all its Gothic grandeur in 1439, the lace-fine façade lifts
the gaze little by little to flying buttresses, leering gargoyles and a
142m spire.
The Gothic-meets-Renaissance astronomical clock strikes solar
noon at 12.30pm with a parade of figures portraying the different
stages of life and Jesus with his Apostles.
No matter the angle or time of day, anyone will be captivated by this
red-sandstone monolith that is at once immense and intricate.
Grande Mosquée de Strasbourg
Designed by Italian architect Paolo Portoghesi and opened in
September 2012, France's biggest mosque (accommodating 1500
worshippers) sits on a bend in the River Ill and is topped by a copper
dome and flanked by wings resembling a flower in bud.
It took 20 years of political to-ing and fro-ing for this project to come
to fruition and its completion is considered the beginning of a new
era for Muslims and religious tolerance in France
9

Grande Île
History seeps through the twisting lanes and cafe-rimmed plazas of
Grande Île, Strasbourg's UNESCO World Heritage–listed island
bordered by the River Ill.
These streets – with their photogenic line-up of wonky, timber-
framed houses in sherbet colours – are made for aimless ambling.
Palais Rohan
Hailed a ‘Versailles in miniature’, this opulent 18th-century residence
is replete with treasures.
Built in 1732 by French architect Robert de Cotte, of Versailles fame,
the episcopal palace was once the lavish abode of the city’s princely
bishops, and Louis XV and Marie-Antoinette once stayed here.
10

Essential Information on Strasbourg
 Public Transport: Buses and trams in Strasbourg are operated by the Compagnie des Transports
Strasbourgeois (CTS). A few dozen numbered bus lines and six tram lines (named A to F) serve the city.
 Bicycles: Strasbourg has its own bike sharing program called Vélhop. However, since automatic rental
only works through card payments, for tourists it is usually easier to rent them at a Boutique Vélhop.
Food:
 Strasbourg is known for it's Alsatian Cuisine which incorporates Germanic culinary traditions and
is marked by the use of pork in various forms. The region is also known for its wine and beer.
11

MARSEILLE
 It is the second largest city in France, located on the
south coast and is considered as the third
largest metropolitan area in France
after Paris and Lyon.
 Marseille is the most important trading centre in the
region and the main commercial port of the French
Republic. Marseille is now France's largest city on
the Mediterranean coast and the largest port for
commerce, freight and cruise ships.
 Climate:
Marseille has a Mediterranean climate with mild,
humid winters and warm to hot, mostly dry
summers.
December, January, and February are the coldest
months while July and August are the hottest
months. Best time to visit is during the Summers
(May to October)
12

Notre Dame de la Garde
This opulent 19th-century Romano-Byzantine basilica occupies
Marseille’s highest point, La Garde (162m). Built between 1853 and
1864, it is ornamented with coloured marble, murals depicting the
safe passage of sailing vessels and superb mosaics. The hilltop gives
360-degree panoramas of the city. The church’s bell tower is crowned
by a 9.7m-tall gilded statue of the Virgin Mary on a 12m-high
pedestal.
Le Vieux Port
It is said that ships have docked for more than 26 centuries at this
colourful old port. It remains a thriving harbour for fishing boats,
pleasure yachts and tourists. The port’s southern quay is dotted with
handcraft shops, bars, brasseries, cafes and restaurants.
13

Le Panier
From the Vieux Port, a hike north, to this fantastic history-woven
quarter, which is fabulous for a wander with its artsy ambience, cool
hidden squares and sun-baked cafes. During WWII the quarter was
dynamited and afterwards rebuilt. Today it’s a mishmash of by lanes
hiding artisan shops, ateliers(workshops) and terraced houses strung
with washed clothes.
Château d’If
Located 3.5 km west of the Vieux Port, this island fortress-prison was
immortalised in Alexandre Dumas’ classic 1844 novel The Count of
Monte Cristo. Many political prisoners were incarcerated here
including the Revolutionary hero Mirabeau and the Communards of
1871.
14

Essential Information on Marseille
 Public Transport: Marseille has two metro lines (Métro 1 and Métro 2), two tram lines (yellow and
green) and an extensive bus network. Bus, metro or tram tickets are available from machines in the
metro, at tram stops and on buses.
 Bicycles: With the Le Vélo bike-share scheme, you can pick up/ and drop off bikes from 100-plus
stations across the city and along the coastal road to the beaches.
15
Food:
 Bouillabaisse: Traditionally it includes 5 different types of local fish. It is served with croutons,
aïoli sauce and rouille sauce.
 Moules Mariniere: Also known as sailor mussels, served with lots of garlic, onion, herbs.
 Tapenade: It is a puree made from capers, anchovies, black olives, garlic and olive oil.

BORDEAUX
 Located upon the River Garonne few kilometres
inland of the Atlantic Ocean.
 It is a major port city stuffed with fine architecture,
historic sites, exceptional shopping and a world class
arts and culture scene.
 It is home to the world's main wine fair, Vinexpo,
and the wine economy in the metro area takes in
14.5 billion euros each year.
 Climate:
Summers tend to be warmer and the winters milder
than most areas of similar classification. Substantial
summer rainfall is seen during March, April, May.
June, July and August are the hottest months while
December, January and February are the coldest
months.
16

La Cite du Vin
The complex world of wine is explored in depth at this place, a
stunning piece of contemporary architecture resembling a wine
decanter on the banks of the River Garonne.
Tour guides lead visitors around 20 different themed sections
covering everything from vine cultivation, grape varieties and wine
production to ancient wine trade, 21st-century wine trends. Tours
end with a glass of wine in the panoramic Belvedere.
Saint André Cathedral
Lording over the city, and a UNESCO World Heritage site prior to
the city's classification, the cathedral's oldest section dates from
1096; most of what we see today was built in the 13th and 14th
centuries. Exceptional masonry carvings can be seen in the north
portal. Even more imposing than the cathedral itself is the gargoyle,
50m-high Gothic belfry, Tour Pey-Berland, erected between 1440
and 1466.
17

Miroir d’Eau
A fountain of sorts, the Miroir d'Eau is the world's largest reflecting
pool. Covering an area of 3450 sq metres of black granite on the
quayside opposite the imposing Palais de la Bourse, the 'water
mirror' provides hours of entertainment on warm sunny days with
the reflections on its thin slick of water. A dense fog-like vapour is
ejected from time to time to add to the charm.
Musée-des Beaux Arts
The evolution of Occidental art from the Renaissance to the mid-
20th century is on view at Bordeaux’s Museum of Fine Arts, which
occupies two wings of the 1770s-built Hôtel de Ville, either side of
elegant city park Jardin de la Mairie. The museum was established in
1801; highlights include 17th-century Flemish, Dutch and Italian
paintings. Temporary exhibitions are regularly hosted at its nearby
annexe, Galerie des Beaux-Arts.
18

Essential Information on Bordeaux
 Public Transport: Urban buses and trams are run by TBM (Transport Bordeaux Metropole).
 Bicycles: Public bike-sharing scheme ‘VCub’ has 1700 bicycles available for use at 166 stations all
over the city.
 Boats: ‘Batcub’ boats shuttle between quai des Maréchal Lyautey (by Palais de la Bourse), quai de
Bacalan (by Quai des Marques shopping mall and La Cité du Vin) and quay des Queyries on the right
bank (near Magasin Général).
Food:
 It produces some of the best and most prestigious wines in the world, some of the most famous being:
Château Haut Brion, Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour.
19
Festivals:
 Bordeaux Fête le Fleuve (May-June)- Every other year, the city's biggest festival celebrates its river.
Various shows, river trips, dancing, concerts, eating, drinking, fireworks take place and to round the
whole thing off, the traditional mass swim across the Garonne.

LYON
 Lyon is located at the junction of the Rhône and
Saône rivers on the eastern part of France.
 Lyon is the third largest city in France in terms of
population.
 The city is known for its historical and architectural
landmarks and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
 Lyon was historically known as an important site for
the production and weaving of silk and in the
modern times has developed as the capital of
gastronomy in France.
 Climate:
January is the coldest month, while July is the
warmest month, hence maintaining its subtropical
classification. Precipitation is adequate year-round,
but the winter months are the driest.
20

Basilica of Notre- Dame de Fourvière
The Basilica of Notre- Dame de Fourvière is a minor basilica in Lyon.
It was built after the France-Prussian War when the people of Lyon
had vowed to create a Marian Sanctuary if their city was spared.
The construction took place from 1872 to 1884.
The Basilica is a blend of the Gothic and Byzantine styles with a
richly decorated interior.
Musée des Beaux Arts
The impressive cultural heritage of Lyon is evidenced in the Musée
des Beaux Arts is considered as the best fine arts museum in France
after the Louvre. The museum has the largest collection of artwork
including antiquities, paintings, sculpture and decorative. It also has
an excellent collection of impressionist paintings and modern art.
It contain the works of some renowned painters like Delacroix,
Rubens, Poussain etc.
21

Opera de Lyon
The Opera de Lyon is a beautiful 19th Century opera house with a
majestic- dome. This Italian – style auditorium has a sensational
ceiling painting, glided balconies and push velvet seats. The original
theatre was renovated by Jean Nouvel who tripled the size of the
building using modern architectural techniques.
It presents an wide variety of opera from Romeo and Juliet to
Carmen as well as dance performances and classical music concerts.
Musée de la Civilization
The Musée de la Civilization is an archeological museum displays
Gallo- Roman era objects including vases, gravestones, mosaics,
statues, coins and ceramics.
This site boasts the oldest ancient ruins in France, including two
Roman theatres – The Grand Theatre dating back to the 15th century
where tragedies and comedies were performed and the Odeon
Theatre for musical performances.
22

Essential Information on Lyon
 Public Transport: Buses, trams, a four-line metro and two funiculars linking Vieux Lyon to Fourvière and
St-Just are operated by local government. Public transport runs from around 5am to midnight.
 Bicycles: Pick up a red-and-silver bike at one of 200-odd bike stations throughout the city and drop
it off at another with Lyon's Velo’vbike rental scheme.
Festivals:
 Lyon has several festivals and hosts many special events. The city’s Festival of Lights is a four day
event starting from 8th December. The festival commemorates the sparing of Lyon from the
plague in 1643.
 In June and July , the Nuits de Fourviere festival stages some fifty open air concerts and theatrical
performances in the Roman theatre.
Food:
 Lyon is all about rustic, rich French food and is famous for a number of unique meals.
The traditional dishes include: Potato Lyonnaise, Silkweaver’s brain, Pistachio sausage, Rosette
Lyonnaise, Coussin de Lyon.
23

TOULOUSE
 Toulouse, capital of France’s southern Occitanie
region, is bisected by the Garonne River and sits
near the Spanish Border.
 It’s known as La Ville Rose (“The Pink City”) due to
the terra-cotta bricks used in many of its buildings.
 Toulouse is the forth largest city in France by
population
 The air route between Toulouse- Blagnac and Paris –
Orly is the busiest in Europe.
 Here the main industries are the aeronautics, space,
cosmology, electronics, information technology and
biotechnology.
 Climate:
Toulouse has a humid subtropical climate which can
be qualified as "sub-mediterranean" due to its
proximity to the Mediterranean climate zone.
24

Basilique Saint-Sernin
This is one of the most glorious churches on the medieval pilgrimage,
it is a masterpiece of Roman Art and has been classified by UNESCO
as World Heritage Site. It is constructed with the characteristic red
bricks of Toulouse, the Basilica has a five- aisled nave and three
aisled transept in the Romanesque Style. This church is dedicated to
Saint Saturninus (Sernin) of Patras, Greece, who was martyred by
being tied to a bull.
Chapelle des Camelites
The Chapelle des Carmelites for the Carmelite convent was built in
the 17th Century. The chapel was originally founded by Kings Louis
XIII and his wife Anne of Austria in 1622
The convent was destroyed during the French Revolution but the
chapel was spared.
Here the gorgeous murals by Jean-Pierre and the paintings by Jean-
Baptiste Despax have been well preserved.
25

Place du Capitole
It is the hub of Toulouse life. This town square showcases the classic
architecture of Toulouse. On the west side of the square, there are
beautiful arcades. On the east side of the square there is the 18th
century Capitole Building.
The most spectacular room of the Capitole is the Salle des Illustes
inspired by the Farnese Gallery in Rome. This hall and other historic
rooms of the Capitole are open to the public on Sundays.
Musée des Augustines
It represents a well rounded collection of paintings and sculptures.
The painting collection represents the works from the middle ages to
the 20th century. The collection of the paintings is noteworthy,
especially for the paintings by Rubens, Tournier and Laurens.
The sculpture collection spans from the Roman period to the modern
era. Noteworthy among them are the early Christian sarcophagi,
medieval religious art and the Renaissance works.
26

Essential Information on Toulouse
 Public Transport: Local buses and the two-line metro are run by Tisséo. There are ticket kiosks at
the airport, place Jeanne d'Arc and metro stops.
 Bicycles: The city's bike-hire scheme Vélô Toulouse, has pick-up/drop-off stations dotted every
300m or so round the city.
Festivals:
 The Toulouse International Art Festival features exhibitions throughout the city from May to June.
 The Toulouse D’Ete summer festival ( July- August) includes outdoor concerts ranging from
classical to jazz.
 The Piano aux Jacobins ( September) is an international festival of piano performances.
Food:
 Toulouse is best known for its food. It is the home for classic French country dishes like Cassoulet,
Foie Gras, Toulouse sausage and Croquants.
27

MORE ON FRANCE
• France has 37 sites inscribed in UNESCO’s world heritage list and features cities of high
cultural interest, beaches and seaside resorts, ski resorts and rural regions that many
enjoy for their beauty and tranquillity.
• Small and picturesque French villages of quality heritage are promoted through the
association “The Most Beautiful Villages of France”.
• The “Remarkable Gardens” label is a list of the two hundred gardens classified by the
French Ministry of Culture. This label is intended to protect and promote remarkable
gardens and parks
• The Tour de France, the most famous bicycle race in the world is held here, where cyclist
cover over 2100 miles in 23days.
• France is known as L’Hexagone, due to its geometrical shape.
• France is by far the most popular tourist destination in the world, with an average of
around 82 million tourists annually.
28

GLOSSARY
French English
La Ville Lumière The City of Lights
L’Autobus Bus
L’Arc Arch/Bow
Le Triomphe Triumph
La Cathédrale Cathedral
Le Notre Our
La Dame Lady
Le Musée Museum
Pièce de résistance The most important or remarkable feature
L’Été Summer
La Grande Large
29

GLOSSARY
French English
La Pyramide Pyramid
La Gare Station
Le Jardin Garden
Le Château Castle
Le Vélô Bicycle
Le Palais Palace
Ces Beaux Beautiful
C’est Nouveau New
L’Île Island
La Compagnie Company
Strasbourgeois/Strasbourgeoise Inhabitant of Strasbourg
L’Ateliers Workshops
La Foire Fair
30

GLOSSARY
French English
Le Vin Wine
La Cité City
Le Miroir Mirror
L’Eau Water
La Galerie Gallery
Le Magasin Shop
Le Haut Top
L’Atour Tower
La Basilique Basilica
La Chapelle Chapel
Le Capitole Capital
La Salle Room
Merci Thank You
31

REFFERENCES
 LonelyPlanet.com
 WikiTravel.org
 Slideshare.com
 Wikipedia.com
 Google Images
32

MERCI
Tourism in France
By: Rahul Shah, Kaveri Gayen, Diptarup Sarbadhikari.
St.Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata.
32

Tourism in France

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