Magnificent castle Chantilly appears at first glance on your way from Paris to Hauts-de-France. You may discover one of the most beautiful palaces and park ensembles in France, the former family residence of the noblest French aristocratic families.

The castle was built in 1358 and is a French cultural heritage treasure. The history of the castle is closely connected with the name of the Duke of Aumales, Henry of Orleans. He was the greatest collector and lover of the art of the time, and thanks to him the Château de Chantilly has a huge art collection. It includes rare books, jewelry, and famous paintings from different eras.

This day you will discover the beauty of Brittany visiting a prestigious seaside resort Dinard situated in the Ille-et-Vilaine department, and the medieval town Dinan, located in 22 km south of the coast at Dinard.

Enjoy the road which is sprinkled with fisheries, tide mills, stunning mansions, and charming small fishing villages, such as Saint-Suliac labeled as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France. Your full-day journey will start by visiting Dinard. Originally it was a fishing village until the mid-19th century, when vacationers from Great Britain started actively visiting it.

While in Dinard, you will walk along the seafront, enjoying the 19th century houses, magnificent villas and sweeping views out to sea. In the past, it was one of the most important market towns in France up to the 17th century. Dinard is a fashionable resort, famous for its spectacular scenery and sandy beaches, with a great number of hotels, villas, cafes, restaurants, galleries, shops, and boutiques.
In the downtown area you will discover some architectural buildings dating back to the 17th and even 14th century. Take time to explore local art galleries in the center of Dinard.

After lunch you will head out of Dinard to the historical city of Dinan.  

This outstanding town is famous for its well-preserved architecture such as timbered houses, the 18th-century granite buildings, the 15th-century belfry, the Tour de l’Horloge (the Clock Tower) from the top of which you can explore an exceptional panorama of the entire Dinan, and its Gothic bridge. You will be able to discover a gorgeous granite castle, known as the Château de la Duchesse Anne or Chateau de Dinan, built by the dukes of Brittany between the 14th and 15th centuries.

The capital of the wine region is the city of Bordeaux.  Its most beautiful square, Place de la Bourse, is painfully similar to the finest examples of Parisian architecture. The magnificent cathedral of the city — the Cathedral of St. Andrew — despite its fresh appearance, still remembers the wedding of Eleanor of Aquitaine with Louis VII. She gave Aquitaine to the English crown — and France had to spend a hundred years and shed a lot of blood to get her back. But the times of English rule were also the times of the economic prosperity of Aquitaine — the British really liked to drink Bordeaux wines. There would be a demand… the offer will not keep you waiting!

In fact, it is very surprising how ideas change and stereotypes over time. The heyday of Bordeaux — the heart of the wine-growing region of the same name, which brought France the world fame of the «wine» power — is the least associated with France. The French, so to speak, came to everything ready… Not to «expand and not deepen» the already existing success would be practically criminal. And the French still owe this success to their neighbours Anglo-Saxons.

Ancient history fans will be interested in visiting the Paleolithic caves of the Weser Valley in Périgord, including the famous Lascaux cave, «the Sistine chapel of the prehistoric world», with its multicolored images, made about 400 thousand years ago.

Formerly a county, Perigord has retained its unique look of elegant antiquity, and in some places even antiquity, this atmosphere is still in the air. It is completely incomprehensible why, but there are no tourists here, and fortunately, as a result, there is a rush, a series of shops or tourist stalls. This is an incredible mixture of high concentration of history from prehistoric times — Perigord is the oldest place in France and even the planet, and all our ancestors lived here.

Old mills… goose farms… butterflies that land on your hands and millions of flowers… tiled roofs of all colors… drinking fountains past which knights prancing… antediluvian cars… ladies with lace umbrellas and gentlemen with canes… Roman ruins and medieval castles, sites of primitive people and the biggest names in French history.

Every centimeter of Perigord is simply oversaturated with fabulousness. It’s like a fictional wonderland, where farms and towns are scattered across expanses where haystacks dry and a winding road wind. A perfect idyll in which you dissolve and completely fall out of time. Perigord is not even France, it is a different reality, a magical kingdom, where everything is like in a dream, perfect to the point of impossibility.

Outstanding prehistoric monuments have been preserved along the banks of the Dordogne River, as well as numerous castles, untouched nature, magnificent parks and gardens and cozy villages included in the list of «The most beautiful villages in France». There are more of them here than in any other region of the country. 

Sea water and clean ocean air, saturated with iodine vapours, increase vitality and restore the body’s defenses. The most famous French thalassotherapy centers are located in this region.

The scenery is simply magnificent: the boundless Atlantic Ocean allows powerful waves to break on the beaches. In the background, the Pyrenees chain rises on the horizon, which complements the panorama from the rock of Our Lady, the symbol of Biarritz.

Biarritz is a popular seaside resort located on the Atlantic coast near Spain. Popular among the aristocracy for its luxurious villas, long sandy beaches with healthy sea water, Biarritz is also considered the birthplace of surfing and the mecca of surfers.

Gordes is a small town that sprawls on a cliff in the Vaucluse mountains. Here you can go for extraordinary panoramas and rich history. In the center is a large castle, the first mention of which dates back to 1030. Today, art exhibitions are often held there. Quiet side streets, cozy craft shops of local craftsmen, authentic restaurants, and ancient buildings add traditional color to the city. At the foot of the cliff, five minutes from the city, is the Abbey of Senanque, a majestic masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, surrounded by thickets of lavender.

The lavender fields are the most famous attraction in Provence. The most beautiful lavender fields in Provence are located around the city of Valensole. The lavender season usually runs from mid-June to mid-July. In Provence, you can find many products made from lavender. So don’t be surprised if you see lavender honey, sausage or even pâté.

Nice is renowned for its rich history and picturesque surroundings, with ruins of ancient settlements and architecture from different eras and styles. It boasts numerous museums, galleries, parks, gardens, and white sand beaches along the affectionate sea. The city's predecessor was Nicaia, founded by the Greeks in IVV BC in honor of the goddess of Victory. The city's history includes numerous captures and liberations, with a relatively prosperous period under the Savoy Duchy that was overshadowed by two epidemics of the plague. From the mid-XIX century, Nice became a favorite foreign resort of the highest Russian nobility and a popular European resort.

Nice is also the birthplace of national hero Giuseppe Verdi and where Niccolo Paganini died.

Located on the shore of the Bay of Angels, Nice is surrounded by the foothills of the seaside Alps, which protect it from cold north winds. Despite this, rather hot days are not uncommon in the summer. Vieux-Nice, the historical center of the city, is an architectural oasis of renaissance and classicism. Its narrow streets are home to many monuments and small sculptures, with most buildings dating from the 16th - 18th centuries. The Palais de Justice, built in 1883-85, is one of the most famous buildings in Vieux-Nice and is located on the same area as a fountain that was previously the site of the XIIIV Dominican Monastery, which was destroyed before the start of palace construction. The most comfortable months to visit Nice are from May to September when the weather is warm and pleasant.

Nice is rightfully considered the most famous city in France. The rich history of the region left an imprint on the appearance of the city and its environs - here you can find the ruins of ancient settlements and monuments of architecture of different eras and styles. In the city you will find numerous interesting museums and galleries, cozy parks and gardens, an affectionate sea and snow -white beaches.

The predecessor of Nice is the city of Nicaia, founded by the Greeks in IVV. BC. e. In honor of his goddess of Victory Nicky. The further history of the city is replete with captures and liberation. Relatively prosperous were several centuries of being in the Savoy Duchy, however, overshadowed by two epidemics of the plague. In 1860, at about 1860, at about the same time, the city began to gain fame as the most popular European resort. From the middle of the XIXV. Nice became a favorite foreign resort of the highest Russian nobility.
Nice is the birthplace of the national hero of Italy Giuseppe Verdi. Another great Italian-a violinist-virtuoso Niccolo Paganini, died in the city. Here, the famous dancer-innovator Isadora Duncan died tragically.

Nice is located on the shore of Bay of angels. According to one version, the angels sent Adam and Eve, expelled from paradise to this bay. The “Gulf of Angels” was surrounded by the foothills of the seaside Alps. Mountains protect the city from cold north winds. Hot winds from Africa largely lose power in the open spaces of the Mediterranean Sea. Nevertheless, in the summer, rather hot days are not uncommon. Nice is also characterized by warm winter, late spring and a rainy second half of autumn. The most comfortable months to relax - May - September.

Vieux-Nice- coastal quarters that once made up the whole of Nice. The historical center of the city is a kind of oasis of architectural renaissance and classicism. It takes only two square kilometers, but in its narrow streets it is quite realistic to get lost. Most buildings here were built in the 16th - 18th centuries, and on the streets, you can see many monuments and small sculptures. This colorful part of Nice is more like Italian cities.

One of the most famous Vieux-Nice buildings is Palais de Justice on the same area. The Palace of Justice was built in 1883-85. On the same area with a fountain. Previously, in its place was the Dominican Monastery of the XIIIV., Closed by the revolution and destroyed before the start of the construction of the palace.

Monaco, apart from Vatican, is the world’s smallest country, yet a prestigious tourist destination famous for gambling, car races, and fairy-tale novels where beauty marries a prince. Located on the Ligurian Sea, it’s surrounded by France on three sides and consists of the Old City, Monte Carlo with the famous casino, the business center, and La-Condamine port. Monte Carlo is the most luxurious part with chic residences and hotels, and a real architectural masterpiece- the casino. The interior is impressive, and visitors can inspect it until 12:00 without a dress code. The changing of guards at Prince’s Palace is also worth a visit. Tourists can admire the snow-white guards and see the palace and monument to Francesco Grimaldi in front of it. The Cathedral of St. Nicholas and Japanese gardens are impressive. The oceanographic museum and aquarium offer a two-hour tour to learn about marine life. Monaco also has many monuments dedicated to Formula 1, and visitors can even ride along the roads where it’s held.

Except for the Vatican, Monaco is the smallest country in the world, but this does not prevent it from being one of the most prestigious tourist destinations. Monaco is famous for gambling, car races and fairy -tale novels (when a beauty (for example, American actress Grace Kelly) marries a beautiful prince (in this case, Rainier Rainier)). Monaco is brilliant and glamorous and offers travelers the opportunity to join the world of the rich and famous (or at least just to turn, looking at their cool yachts in the harbor). If you can’t afford such a lifestyle, do not despair.

The small world-famous state is located on the shore of the Ligurian Sea, surrounded on three sides by the territory of its large European neighbor — France

The Principality of Monaco includes the following districts-quarters: the Old City (Monaco), Monte Carlo with the famous casino, the business center and the La-Condamine port.

Monte Carlo is the most luxurious part of the principality and filled with chic residences and hotels. That is the first thing to go here. Since there is not just a gambling place, but a real architectural masterpiece — a casino. Inspection of this institution for cognitive purposes is possible until 12:00. At the same time, observing the dress code is not necessary. Of course, in the shorts and swimsuit of visitors they will not miss inside, but they will not require a tie with a jacket. The interior of the casino is impressive. Almost all halls look elegant and rich. Those who wish to make bets need to come in a casino after 14:00 and already in appropriate clothes. In the evening, you can visit the cabaret and opera located next to the casino. This is perhaps the only compact trip in Monaco.

It is worth making a trip to Monaco in order to admire the snow-white guards during the changing of the guard in front of the Prince’s Palace on Place du Palais. The crowd of tourists, no doubt, interferes with the process of contemplation, but if you arrive early, you will be able to see everything from the front rows. After that, you can see the palace itself and the monument to Francesco Grimaldi in front of it. It is forbidden to take pictures inside the palace. In general, it does not differ much from the residences of the ruling families of different countries. More impressive is the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, built of white stone and Japanese gardens.

The positive side of the trip to Monaco is that tourists can not only admire architectural monuments and have fun, but also learn a lot. Such an opportunity for all travelers is presented in the oceanographic museum and aquarium. During a two -hour tour, children and adults will learn interesting facts about life under water. And before the museum building, all guests are wondering what the unusual sculpture means

In Monaco you can see many monuments dedicated to Formula 1. And even ride along the roads where it is held.

Saint Tropez is a picturesque marine resort in southern France, known for its beautiful harbor full of expensive yachts. Its azure shore, warm sea, and pleasant climate make it a perfect destination for a vacation with family. You can enjoy the unique flavors of Provencal cuisine here, which combines Mediterranean traditions with sophistication and freshness. Don’t miss the chance to try olives, fragrant herbs like thyme and rosemary, local wine, and cheeses like Poivre d’Ane, Buchette de Banon, and Cabri aux epices. Start your sightseeing at the 16th-century citadel, which offers stunning views of the city, sea, and mountains. Visit the sea museum inside the tower to learn about the region’s history. The town’s narrow streets, ancient and modern buildings, and numerous yachts create a unique atmosphere. For a glimpse of real yachts and waterfront houses, head to the port of Grimaud, also known as the «French Venice.»

Saint Tropez is a popular marine resort in the south of France, with one mention of which the imagination begins to draw paintings with a beautiful harbor of full expensive yachts. The azure shore with its pleasant climate, a warm affectionate sea, I chose for ours with my daughter.

Being in Saint-Tropez, you can truly enjoy the kitchen of Provence, flavored with notes of Mediterranean traditions. All dishes served here are distinguished by sophistication and freshness, an unusual combination of tastes and at the same time, unique harmony.

Walking in the local market, you admire the freshness and appetizing type of products sold. Once here, you should try olives sold right in barrels and marked in various herbs and spices. To give a light aroma to the barbecue, be sure to purchase a couple of bundles or twigs of fragrant herbs — thyme, rosemary, or sage. And to truly plunge into the world of unique tastes, try local wine and cheese.

Thus, the soft cheese of the Poivre d 'Ane, as well as the Buchette de Banon or Cabri aux epices cheese, are characteristic of this area.

The first place where it is worth going is a powerful citadel, which has survived here since the 16th century and towering over the city with its harsh tower. At one time, this defensive structure played an important role in protecting the lands from Spanish invaders, now it provides a unique opportunity to enjoy the beautiful panorama of the surroundings. Indeed, from its top, a simply unique view of the city itself opens, the azure surface of the sea, as well as on the impressive peaks of the mountains des Maures and the Alps.

And having admired the view of the opening view of you, you can go into the sea museum located in the tower, where you will learn a lot of interesting things about the heroic past of the entire region.

The town is striking in its unique atmosphere and an unusual look, so it is quite possible to spend the clock, walking along its narrow streets, considering ancient and modern buildings, and admiring numerous yachts. If you want to see what real yachts are and see whole houses on the water, then eat in the port of Grimaud, the so -called «French Venice».