Vacation Rentals in France
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Travel destination France.
You can choose from 13049 vacation rentals and holiday rentals.
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Destination
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(399)
Aléria (1), Bastelica (1), Belgodère (5), Borgo (9), Bravone (6), Calcatoggio (9), Cap Corse (1), Centuri (1), Coti-Chiavari (5), Folelli (1), Furiani (1), Galeria (16), Giuncheto (2), L'Île-Rousse (6), Linguizzetta (4), Macinaggio (4), Moriani-Plage (88), Olmeto (2), Osani (1), Palombaggia (2), Patrimonio (1), Pinarellu (12), Poggio-Mezzana (2), Porto (19), Porto-Vecchio (112), Saint-Florent (15), Sainte-Lucie de Porto-Vecchio (1), San-Nicolao (14), Sant' Andrea-d'Orcino (1), Santa-Lucia-di-Moriani (1), Santa-Maria-Poggio (1), Sari-d'Orcino (1), Sartène (1), Solaro (1), Sotta (1), Tarcu (9), Tiuccia (41), Tizzano (1)
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(2)
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(185)
Beynes (1), Brières-Les-Scelles (1), Cerneux (1), Crécy-en-Brie (2), Crécy-la-Chapelle (1), Etampes (2), Le Val St. Germain (1), Lizines (1), Magny-le-Hongre (2), Maisons-Laffitte (1), Paris (164), Raizeux (1), Ronquerolles (1), St. Arnoult-En-Yvelines (1), Torcy (3), Vanves (2)
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(171)
Albé (3), Allarmont (3), Anould (5), Artolsheim (1), Avillers-Sainte-Croix (3), Cheval Blanc (3), Dombasle-devant-Darney (1), Epfig (3), Gerbepal (3), Girmont-Val-d'Ajol (1), Hinsbourg (1), Le Hohwald (3), Marckolsheim (4), Meuse (1), Nancy (2), Oberbronn (1), Pfaffenhoffen (3), Puberg (1), Reipertswiller (3), Saulxures-sur-Moselotte (5), Villé (1), Vogesen (113), Wimmenau (3), Xonrupt-Longemer (4)
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(57)
Airon-Saint-Vaast (1), Audinghen (1), Canapville (3), Cormont (2), Escalles (1), Gouy-Saint-André (2), Heucourt-Croquoison (1), La Couarde-sur-Mer (5), Le Petit Chemin (1), Le Touquet (5), Mouriez (1), Neuvillette (1), Pleine Selve (2), Quend-Plage (13), Recques-sur-Hem (1), Saint-Josse (2), Saint-Omer (2), Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise (1), Stella-Plage (6), Villiers (1), Wierre-Effroy (1), Wimereux (2), Zutkerque (1)
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(542)
Calvados (293), Commes (1), Douilly (1), Eure (22), Kairon Bourg (1), Manche (175), Manehouville (2), Orne (7), Orval (1), Saint-Léonard (2), Seine-Maritime (29), St. Remy Sur Orne (1), Tocqueville (2), Vernon (1)
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(373)
Brem-sur-Mer (2), Brive (1), Chauve (2), Guérande (5), La Chapelle-Palluau (1), La Turballe (7), Le Fuilet (1), Le Pouliguen (5), Les Moutiers-en-Retz (4), Les Moutiers-Sur-Le-Lay (1), Les Verchers-sur-Layon (1), Loire Atlantique (65), Maine-et-Loire (1), Meigné-le-Vicomte (1), Nantes (6), Olonne-sur-Mer (1), Pornic (79), Port Bourgenay (1), Vendée (189)
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(62)
Aisne (33), Autreppes (1), Berny-Rivière (2), Besmont (1), Chigny (1), Dorengt (1), Englancourt (2), Etreaupont (1), Fort-Mahon-Plage (6), Grandrieux (3), Grougis (1), Housset (1), Iviers (1), Jeantes (1), Lavaqueresse (1), Leschelles (1), Luzoir (1), Oise (1), Somme (3)
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Overview of France |
| Size |
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547,000 sq km (213,330 sq mi) |
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| Population |
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59 million |
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| Language |
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French is the official language with many regional dialects. Basque is spoken as
a first language by some people in the southwest, and Breton by some in Brittany.
People connected with tourism in the major areas speak some English. |
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| Time Zone |
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1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+1 GMT). |
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| Electricity |
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220V, 50Hz. Two-pin plugs are widely used; adaptors recommended. |
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| Clothing |
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Warm clothes and rainwear for winter and for higher altitudes; lightweights for summer. |
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| Religion |
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90% Roman Catholic, 2% Protestant, 1% Muslim, 1% Jewish, 6% unaffiliated. |
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| Currency |
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Euro (EUR)
Currency Converter |
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Location of France
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France, the largest country in Europe, is bounded to the north by the English Channel
(La Manche), the northeast by Belgium and Luxembourg, the east by Germany, Switzerland
and Italy, the south by the Mediterranean (with Monaco as a coastal enclave between Nice and
the Italian frontier), the southwest by Spain and Andorra, and the west by the Atlantic Ocean.
The island of Corsica, southeast of Nice, is made up of two départements. The country
offers a spectacular variety of scenery, from the mountain ranges of the Alps and Pyrénées to
the attractive river valleys of the Loire, Rhône and Dordogne and the flatter countryside in
Normandy and on the Atlantic coast. The country has some 2900 km (1800 mi) of coastline. |
Climate in France
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France has a predominantly temperate climate, with mild winters, except in mountain areas
and the northeast. The Atlantic has a profound impact on the northwest, where the weather is
characterised by high humidity, often violent westerly winds and lots of rain. France's northeast
has a classic continental climate, with fairly hot summers and cold winters. Midway between the two,
the Paris basin boasts the nation's lowest annual precipitation, but rainfall patterns are erratic.
Paris' average annual temperature is 12°C (52°F), but the mercury sometimes drops below zero
in January and can climb to the mid -30s°C (95°F) or higher in August. The southern coastal
plains are subject to a pleasant Mediterranean climate: frost is rare, spring and autumn
downpours are sudden but brief and summer is virtually without rain. The south is also the
region of the 'mistral', a cold, dry wind that blows down the Rhône Valley for about 100 days
a year. Relentless and unforgiving in spring, it is blamed for sending people into fits of pique. |
Best Time to Travel to France
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Spring offers the best weather to visitors, with beach tourism picking up in
May. Temperatures aren't too bad in autumn, although the short days mean limited
sunlight and the cold starts to make itself felt towards the end of the season,
even along the Côte d'Azur. Winter means playing in the snow in France's Alps
and Pyrenees, though the Christmas school holidays send hordes of tadpoles in
uniform scurrying for the slopes. Mid-July through the end of August is when
most city dwellers take their annual five weeks' vacation to the coasts and
mountains, and the half-desolate cities tend to shut down a bit accordingly.
Likewise during February and March. |
Events in France
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The French are a festive bunch, with many cities hosting music, dance, theatre, cinema or art
events each year. Rural villages hold fairs and fêtes which celebrate everything from
local saints to agricultural progress. Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in Provence is the venue for a colourful
gypsy festival in late May honouring Sarah, patron saint of the gypsies. Enthusiastic singing
and dancing characterise this extravaganza. Prominent national days off are May Day (1 May),
when people trade gifts of muguet (lily of the valley) for good luck; and Bastille Day
(14 July), which is celebrated by throwing firecrackers at friends. Regional events include the
primping and preening prêt à porter fashion show in Paris (early February); the glittering
and often-canned Cannes Film Festival (mid-May); the International Music Festival
in Strasbourg (first three weeks of June); the mainstream and fringe theatre of the Festival
d'Avignon (mid-July to mid-August) and the Jazz Festival in Nancy (9-24 October). |
Society in France
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Handshaking and, more familiarly, kissing both cheeks, are the usual form of greeting. The form
of personal address is simply Monsieur or Madame without a surname and it may take
time to get on first-name terms. At more formal dinners, it is the most important guest or host
who gives the signal to start eating. Meal times are often a long, leisurely experience. Casual
wear is common but the French are renowned for their stylish sportswear and dress sense.
Social functions, some clubs, casinos and exclusive restaurants warrant more formal attire.
Evening wear is normally specified where required. Topless sunbathing is tolerated on most
beaches but naturism is restricted to certain beaches – local tourist offices will advise
where these are. Smoking is prohibited on public transport and in cinemas and theatres.
Tobacconists display a red sign in the form of a double cone. A limited choice of brands can
be found in restaurants and bars.
Tipping: 12-15% service charge is normally
added to the bill in hotels, restaurants and bars, but it is customary to leave small change
with the payment; more if the service has been exceptional. Other services such as washroom
attendants, 10-15% of the meter fare. |
Food in France
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Dishes include: tournedos (small steaks ringed with bacon), châteaubriand,
entrecôte (rib steak) served with béarnaise (tarragon-flavoured sauce with egg base),
and gigot de présalé (leg of lamb roasted or broiled) served with flageolets
(light green beans) or pommes dauphines (deep-fried mashed potato puffs).
Other dishes include: brochettes (combinations of cubed meat or seafood on skewers,
alternating with mushrooms, onions or tomatoes); ratatouille niçoise (stew of courgettes,
tomatoes and aubergines braised with garlic in olive oil); pot-au-feu (beef boiled with
vegetables and served with coarse salt), and blanquette de veau (veal stew with
mushrooms in a white wine/cream sauce).
In the north of France (Nord/Pas de Calais and Picardy),
fish and shellfish are the star features in menus – oysters, moules (mussels),
coques (cockles) and crevettes (shrimps) are extremely popular. In Picardy,
duck pâtés and ficelle picarde (ham and mushroom pancake) are popular.
In the Champagne-Ardenne region, there are the hams of Rheims and sanglier (wild boar).
Among the fish specialities in this area are écrevisses (crayfish) and brochets
(pike). Alsace and Lorraine are the lands of choucroute (sauerkraut) and kugelhof
(a special cake), quiche lorraine and tarte flambée (onion tart). Spicy and
distinctive sauces are the hallmark of Breton food, and shellfish is a speciality of the region,
particularly homard à l’amoricaine (lobster with cream sauce).
Lyon, the main city
of the Rhône Valley, is the heartland of French cuisine, though the food is often more
rich than elaborate. A speciality of this area is quenelles de brochet (pounded
pike formed into sausage shapes and usually served with a rich crayfish sauce).
Bordeaux rivals Lyon as gastronomic capital of France.
Aquitaine cuisine (in the south
west of France) is based on goosefat. A reference to ‘Perigord’ will indicate a dish
containing truffles. Basque chickens are specially reared. In the Pyrénées, especially
around Toulouse, visitors will find salmon and cassoulet, a hearty dish with beans
and preserved meat. General de Gaulle once asked, with a certain amount of pride,
how it was possible to rule a country which produced 365 different kinds of cheese;
some of the better known are Camembert, Brie, Roquefort, Reblochon and blue cheeses
from Auvergne and Bresse.
Desserts include: soufflé grand-marnier,
oeufs à la neige (meringues floating on custard); mille feuilles
(layers of flaky pastry and custard cream), Paris-Brest (a large puff-pastry
with hazelnut cream), ganache (chocolate cream biscuit), and fruit tarts
and flans.
A typically French drink is pastis, such as Ricard or Pernod. The region of
Nord/Pas de Calais and Picardy does not produce wine, but brews beer and cider. Alsace
is said to brew the best beer in France but fruity white wines, such as Riesling, Traminer
and Sylvaner, and fine fruit liqueurs, such as Kirsch and Framboise, are also produced
in this area. The wines from the Champagne region of the Montagne de Rheims district
are firm and delicate (Vevenay Verzy), or full-bodied and full-flavoured (Bouzy and Ambonnay). |
Visa for France
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Nationals of the EU, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Israel do not require
visas to visit France as tourists for up to three months. Except for people from a handful
of other European countries, everyone else must have a visa. |
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