I first visited France in 2006 when I went to Lille for a language exchange, work experience. Since then, I have visited France more than a dozen times for various events or to visit friends and family. 

Paris is one of the most popular cities in France. It has a number of monumental buildings that are worth visiting to observe, experience amazing viewpoints or learn more about French history or French culture in general. The Eiffel Tower is a prime example. Standing at a majestic height of 300 meters, the monument receives almost 7 million visitors a year. The Arc de Triomphe, is another. 

Paris is often dubbed one of the most romantic cities in the world. It is heaven sent, for the romantics at heart. Imagine sitting at the top of Sacre Coeur, watching the sun set over the city, before walking down to a local restaurant to have a gourmet meal made with locally grown produce, paired with wines from the region. After which, you walk along the streets lined with buildings that have stood the test of time and still reflect the beauty intended by the architect over a century ago. You enter into theatre and watch a show that brings tears to your eyes, with its subtle emotional evocation. Then you finish the night off by grabbing some warm sweet crepes which you eat while casually walking along the Seine River on a warm summer’s night, serenaded by beautifully strung instruments, as you watch the reflections of the lights from the surrounding buildings dance along the river and feel the gentle breeze on your skin. Fair enough, the city does have some beautiful romantic backdrops. Pont des Arts, also known as the Lock Bridge, is a place where lovers bring two padlocks and chain them to the railing, already choking with dozens of other padlocks. The keys are then thrown into the Seine River. The symbol is meant to show unbreakable and incorruptible love between the two lovers.

There are many other parts of France that appeal to me more, as the country has so much diversity. For the nature lovers, France has a lot to offer from the coastal regions/towns such as Cote d’Azure, Honfleur and Marseilles. For mountain lovers, you are in good company as thousands of people go to experience the wonder of the Alps and Pyrenees for hikes during the summer and winter sports during the snow season. I recommend this country to unleash your inner creative spirits as you walk along the regions that inspired a number of amazing creatives of our time and in history.

France is also the home of fine dining, with most professional chefs starting out with the basics of French cooking, before branching out into different specialisms. The food is delightful and in many parts of the country, mixing a combination of traditional recipes with a unique modern flare. The cheese culture is amazing, with a number of different varieties, again – from different regions. Who wants food with nothing to chase it down with, they have you covered with multiple options of wines from across the country pair the food with. Some of the more famous wine regions of France include Champagne, Bordeaux and Rhone boasting unique grape flavours that will leave your palette wanting more.

As you walk down the street, the fresh pastries know you by name and call you into the patisseries every morning. If in France, don’t be rude – answer the call and allow yourself to give these floury beauties an opportunity to fulfil their destiny. They are so delicate on the tongue and may come with some lovely light nuts, cream, chocolate, fruit or sometimes hints of nutmeg and cinnamon.

France is also a popular sporting country with European football, Tour de France, the French Grand Prix, and The French Open pulling in crowds from all over the world