France Luxury Travel

While April through October traditionally marks peak season, France is truly a year-round destination. Spring showcases fashion season and lavender blooming in fragrant fields, while summer is best for France’s beaches and green spaces. The fall harvest season brings food and wine festivals, making it a great time to explore the country’s myriad waterways by canal barge. In winter, choose from France’s idyllic holiday atmosphere as well as sunnier escapes in Provence and the Riviera.

Renowned for its fine cheeses, foie gras and piquant Dijon mustard, the Burgundy region is a culinary delight. Nice is known for its distinctive olive oils, while Paris tempts with macarons, chocolates and freshly baked bread. France is synonymous with wine, particularly those from the regions of Champagne, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Alsace and the Rhone Valley. Normandy’s camembert, alcoholic cider and calvados (apple brandy) speak to the region’s wet, temperate climate.

France is renowned as a cultural mecca, with its iconic capital of Paris in a class all its own, boasting iconic sites like the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral and Louvre Museum, to name a few. A visit to the Palace of Versailles reveals gilded gates, sparkling chandeliers and the legacy of Louis XIV. A pilgrimage to the vast Normandy American Cemetery honors the fallen of the D-Day Landing. Following the winding flow of the placid Loire River reveals famous châteaus spanning the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. The Loire Valley embodies the cultural landscape of France; discover Orléans, a city once liberated by Joan of Arc, and iconic castles that include the Château de Chambord. In the sun-drenched South of France, home of lavender fields and Provençal cuisine, highlights include the Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard and the wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Further south, the Côte d’Azur, with its Belle Époque-era beauty, beckons, from Nice’s Old Town to elegant Monte Carlo in Monaco.

The Louvre houses one of the world’s most iconic fine art collections, while the Centre Pompidou boasts a vibrant assortment of modern art masterpieces. Impressionism and its legendary artists — Monet, Degas and Renoir — are celebrated at the Musée d’Orsay, Musée Marmottan and Musée de l’Orangerie. The Cite du Vin delves into Bordeaux’s wine heritage, while the Memorial de Caen pays homage to a solemn World War II legacy.

Private car is the best way to see the countryside of France. While France’s high-speed TGV network is a great way to get between major cities, it can’t take you to all the quaint villages en route. Barging is a superb option in Burgundy and the South as well, revealing charming small villages while affording an authentic glimpse into daily life.

Holders of U.S. and Canadian passports are not required to obtain a tourist visa for entry into France for stays of up to 90 days.