Why France is a Top Destination for 2009

Booking early is certainly the best bet for UK holidaymakers this year, but where will you go? There has been much written about how the poor pound is a big deterrent for anyone even considering the Eurozone, but France still has a veritable list of "plus sides" - namely that it is close and so cheap for transport and travel insurance, and also competitively priced (with petrol still 20p less than summer last year) once you get there. So what do Normandy, Brittany, and Picardy have to offer?

Normandy, in the central north area of France, is a picturesque region that inherits its name from when Vikings settled there in the 9th Century. The region is split into two parts, Upper Normandy and Lower Normandy. Upper Normandy is home to two significant ports at Le Havre and Dieppe which both cater for ferry services from southern England. Its capital city is Rouen which features the impressively tall gothic cathedral and the Gros Horlage.

Of course, Normandy is also famous for its architecture, such as the half-timbered buildings of the north and the granite farmhouses of Lower Normandy. This area is known for its rural way of life based on agriculture and dairy farming that bears many similarities to southern English counties such as Somerset. Caen is the biggest city in Lower Normandy and is also served by a ferry service from the UK (Portsmouth). The town boasts a host of sights such as the botanical gardens and two separate abbeys.

Brittany is to the west of Normandy. The region is well known for its Celtic heritage and its lengthy coastline stretching from the port town of St. Malo to Vannes on the west coast. Evidence of Brittany?s rich history stretches far further than the Celts and the Vikings however, scattered over the region are many megaliths which take the form of standing stones and stone circles. Brittany is a region of exploration and historical interest.

Picardy is to the east of Normandy and occupies a curious shape along the coast and almost encircling the County of Artois. Unlike the aforementioned regions, Picardy architecture is unique due to its dark red brickwork. However, the area is more famous for its large plains and flat fields, and is perhaps best known for The Battle of the Somme in the First World War. Picardy is also home to its own Picard language which is still spoken by some residents.

Article written for The Calculator Site
Article date: 05 Feb 2009