Sightseeing in France
Take a tour of France and enjoy a vacation in the land of Napoleon and the Sun King Louis XIV! The numerous sights of the country include the capital Paris with the Eiffel Tower as a landmark, the Notre Dame, the world-famous Louvre Museum and the nearby Versailles Palace, which was built in the 17th century by the Sun King Louis XIV. France has access to the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, including the beautiful Cote d’Azur, and is therefore also ideal for a beach holiday. France also offers dozens of national parks, a diverse nature and impressive architecture and culture. Visit the big cities of France on a group tour such as Marseille with the Notre-Dame de la Garde, the Old Port, and many museums and monuments; Lyon with one of the largest squares in France, Place Bellecour, the Vieux Lyon district; Nice with numerous baroque secular and sacred buildings, the Matisse Museum on Mount Cimiez; Nantes; Strasbourg with the Temple Neuf, the Gerberviertel, the L’Aubette; Montpellier; Bordeaux with the Englise Notre Dame, Place de la Victoire, or the city of Rennes. Get to know France on a study trip!
Biarritz
The extravagant Biarritz on the Gascognischen Gulf coast
Biarritz on the Bay of Biscay in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department now has a population of around 30,000.
The landscape in the Aquitaine region is very varied: In addition to agricultural areas, you come across wooded hilly landscapes, the rugged rocky coast of the Basque Country and the Pyrenees in the hinterland. Viticulture is practiced here in many places: The Irouléguy vineyards are known for their fine red wine.
The Atlantic coast stretches for many kilometers to the north. Sun-seekers will enjoy the mild and sunny climate and daring surf enthusiasts will get their money’s worth here because of the high waves.
Six kilometers of beach characterize the sophisticated seaside resort of Biarritz. The central Grand Plage stands out as one of the most beautiful beaches. The guarded beach section is a feast for the eyes due to its brightly striped beach tents in the colors of the Basque Country, ideal for families with children.
From here it is only a jump to the remarkable Casino Municipal with an auditorium-theater and a large terrace with a view of the Bay of Biscay. The French architect Alfred Laulhé completed the elegant building with clean lines and geometric décor in 1929.
If you continue the walk on the headland, the view of the historic fishing port of Biarritz and the Le Phare lighthouse is a highlight. The 73 meter high lighthouse with 248 steps was built in 1834.
Rocher de la Vierge, the virgin rock is a ledge lying in the sea. With its viewing platform, it forms the symbol of the city of Biarritz. The rock with the statue of the Virgin Mary, illuminated at night, is connected to the mainland by a bridge. Gustave Eiffel built it in 1887 on behalf of Napoleon III.
Hotel du Palais on avenue de l’Imperatrice in Biarritz
France is the country for historical travel and study trips.
Napoleon III gave the Villa Eugénie to his wife in 1854. The former summer residence in bright red is now an opulently furnished hotel.
Walls of Carcassonne
Carcassonne, the historic city, is located in the southwest of France and was founded by the Romans. Strictly speaking, the historic fortress walls enclose part of the old town of Carcassonne – called Cité – in a double ring, while the rest of the present-day city has expanded around this historic core. Erected in the Middle Ages, the fortress town was largely in ruins by the 19th century and was then gradually restored – initially by the famous architect Viollet-le-Duc – until the finished result was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
Walls with history
The city of Carcassonne is located at a strategic point on the banks of the Aude River, which afforded a wide view of the trade routes that once connected the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The construction of the first fortress ring began in the 12th century and it consisted of small stones supplemented with bricks and narrow towers with large viewing windows. The castle was also built during this period, as was the famous Saint-Nazaire basilica, which is still one of the most important sacred buildings in the south of France. A hundred years later work began on adding an outer wall to make the city finally impregnable. This ring consisted of artistically hewn sandstone blocks, the towers of this ring had several floors and large windows.
Walls that tell
About three kilometers of double curtain wall and 52 defensive towers are now accessible to visitors who have made the journey to Carcassonne. After the Gallo-Roman walls have already been visited, the medieval western part is now also open for tours or carriage rides and allows breathtaking views of the Basilica Saint-Nazaire and the city of Carcassonne up to the Pyrenees. A little over 200 inhabitants live in the interior of the fortress city today. In the evenings the walls are illuminated by countless spotlights, which gives the Cité a very special ambience.
