France
Boasting an extraordinary wealth and diversity of natural and
man-made attraction, an extensive history that gave rise to a
fascinating contemporary culture and a prominent position on the
world stage, it should not be surprising that France ranks number
one worldwide in the league of most visited countries. Few
destinations can rival this large and highly developed European
nation when it comes to meeting and exceeding travellers' needs and
expectations: the sizeable landmass between its borders stretches
through a multitude of terrains and climate zones, allowing for
splendid, varied sceneries and a plethora of potential activities;
as one of the oldest countries in Europe with its beginnings circa
486AD, it has long been embroiled in the affairs of the continent
and today houses some of the most memorable historic sites of
interest in the world; all the modern amenities are at the disposal
of travellers; and its distinct culture and people only add to the
country's allure.
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Over the millennium and a half since France came into being, its
global contributions have been immeasurable. From gastronomy (and of
course, viniculture) to architecture, literature to fashion,
politics to art and science to philosophy, France's influence on
modern cultures and societies around the world runs as deep as any
other civilisation in history and deeper than most. Moreover, the
country manages to retain a mystique as a land of romance and love,
a place where everything from the language to the lifestyle and the
setting brings immediate associations in the minds of travellers.
The intangible aspects of so favourable an association serve to
transform the country from simply a geographical landmass between
borders into an ideal whose abstract qualities prove more alluring
than the draw of any site of interest; of which France has more than
its fair share.
France's natural environment encompasses virtually every
topographical form, thereby simultaneously lending itself to a
multitude of activities and satisfying many diverse tastes. The
mountainous regions of the Alps and Pyrenees in the southeast and
south respectively are of perpetual interest to hikers and skiers
alike; the over-3,000 km coastline provides ample opportunity for
beachgoers and sun-worshippers to bronze themselves in quiet
relaxation or among fellow, active travellers; the lush, plunging
valleys of the Loire or the Dordogne offer the most picturesque
setting for ramblers and explorers to discover the wealth of flora
and fauna; and the lapping waters of the Mediterranean Sea off the
south coast or the more raucous Atlantic Ocean off the west allow
seafarers and water-enthusiasts to get their feet wet. It is little
wonder that France is often described as a microcosm of Europe for
its spectrum of landscapes.
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