France has hundreds of kilometres of ski slopes, in some of the most spectacular mountains in the world. From snowboard slopes for the kids to pro black slopes, there is skiing for everybody all over the country; just as every traveller has a unique personality, so do each of these ski resorts. What is more, France was recently reported to have enjoyed one of the best winters for the past 30 years with more substantial and regular snowfall than many similar skiing regions.

Top 3 skiing areas in the French Alps

1. Les Portes du Soleil is the most Northern of all the ski areas in France, including what has been named the capital of snowboarding which can be found at Avoriaz. If you are taking the children for their first experience of alpine life, The Morzine ski pass includes ski-runs reserved for children only and the La Chapelle d’Abondance is reknowned for its family friendly atmosphere.
2. Tignes and Val d’Isère are very mountainous, offering  300 km of pistes to be enjoyed, with many of them standing at 2,500 metres in altitude which allows skiers to ski all year round. This area offers a good number of pistes for beginners and relatively inexperienced skiers, as well as pistes for the more intrepid. Val d’Isère is reputedly the most expensive ski resort in Europe and proudly hosts a major world ski championship event which takes place early December every year.
3. Les Trois Vallées are made up of Courchevel, Val Thorens and Les Menuires, and it is the world’s largest ski area accessible with a single pass. To ensure that no skiers are left feeling cheated if there is little snow fall there are almost 2000 snow cannons, which will guarantee a number of pistes will be open. Courchevel, with its collection of Michelin starred restaurants, is reputed as one of the most up-market resorts in the French Alps, on a par with Zermatt and St. Moritz.

Choosing the French Alps as your winter get away will be a chic, elegant and exclusive experience with a cosmopolitan ambience. Each resort perched on the mountainside with stunning panoramas and state of the art facilities will provide unforgettable holiday memories!

1. The Little Mermaid – a great tourist attraction in Denmark, Hans Christian Andersen crafted a fairy tale about her, Disney then made a film, and in Copenhagen there is a statue in her honour. This year however, The Little Mermaid will be transferred to Shanghai for the World Expo. Even though this is the case, tourists can still see the original copy of The Little Mermaid in Tivoli Gardens, and a Chinese art installation will take the statue’s place at the waterfront.
2. Tivoli Gardens – Tivoli, an extremely popular tourist attraction, is one of the most well established amusement parks of the world and as a result emanates custom and history. Nevertheless, modernisation blossoms throughout, for instance, with the floral splendour of the garden. Tivoli Gardens is always in a state of perpetual evolution and therefore the garden is used as much by locals as by tourists. The fairytale garden is still to this day a lively gathering place, where young concert goers, business men lunching, young couples with their children and elderly couples strolling, all congregate in the quaint, well-designed and distinctive garden.
3. Amalienborg Place – which takes its name after Queen Sophie Amalie, is a real royal castle even though it does not feature towers and spires. This tourist attraction is where the Queen lives during the winter spell. It is also the location of the renowned balcony scenes, which take place each time the royal family decide to greet the local people. Although the castle is chiefly the seat of the royal couple, tourists often have the option to experience some of the royal chambers which are not in use daily.
4. Statens Museum for Kunst (The National Gallery) – this tourist attraction is the one place in Denmark, which displays 700 years of cultural history and Western art. Subsequently a tourist visit to the museum provides an artistic encounter between classical and contemporary art, just as the museum structure itself represents a union of both new and old. In 1998, Anna Maria Indrio’s white, modernist addition to the building opened and is situated in parallel with Vilhelm Dahlerup’s original museum building from 1896. The hugely dissimilar buildings are separate entities, but are joined together by a glass-roofed Sculpture Street.
5. Strøget Pedestrian Street – For all tourists who enjoy shopping, Copenhagen’s largest shopping area, focused around Strøget in the heart of the city, is a must visit area. Strøget is the world’s longest pedestrian street, at 1.1 km long, with a multitude of stores ranging from budget-friendly chains to some of the world’s most expensive brands, such as Prada, Max Mara and Louis Vuitton. The area therefore caters to any and every tourist. Strøget is a nickname which originated in the 1800s, being formerly known as Routen. It was not until 1962 that the area was transformed into a pedestrian street ideal for tourists to peruse.

Tourism in Germany has been given a boost in 2010 by the Ruhr being the European Capital of Culture under the official name of ‘RUHR.2010, Essen for the Ruhr‘. This is the first time that the title been held by an entire region, in this instance, a conurbation of more than fifty towns and cities in western Germany situated near the border with the Netherlands. A surprising new side to the region can now be seen, with a vast number of highlights and events drawing in a great deal of tourism.

The Ruhr region was formally an industrial heartland with its coal mines, coking plants and steelworks. However, tourism is very buoyant within the places which were once associated with physical labour being transformed into recreational hot spots where culture and tourism thrive. For instance, there are over one thousand industrial monuments, two hundred museums, around a hundred arts centres, theatres and concert venues. The area holds around 250 festivals and fairs which allow tourists and other visitors from all around the world the opportunity to not only experience tourism in Germany but the European Capital of Culture.

For the last year, a panel of artists and the rest of the RUHR.2010 group have been working on proposals and ideas for the European Capital of Culture, which will attract a great deal of tourism to the area all year round. The programming structure of the European Capital of Culture 2010 “Essen for the Ruhr” consists of three main themes: which are mythology, metropolis and Europe. These are interlaced into and represented by the disciplines and theme areas of theatre, language, music and festivals; events enjoyed by a great number of tourists. It is through these media that the story of change in the area, from one of industry to tourism, can be told. Taking the Ruhr mythology as the starting point, the board of officials aim to show the birth of a new metropolis, one able of moving Europe through both culture and art, and so, tourism in Germany will be seeing a great deal of activity in 2010.

Tourism in Germany has been given a boost in 2010 by the Ruhr being the European Capital of Culture under the official name of ‘RUHR.2010, Essen for the Ruhr’. This is the first time that the title been held by an entire region, in this instance, a conurbation of more than fifty towns and cities in western Germany situated near the border with the Netherlands. A surprising new side to the region can now be seen, with a vast number of highlights and events drawing in a great deal of tourism.

The Ruhr region was formally an industrial heartland with its coal mines, coking plants and steelworks. However, tourism is very buoyant within the places which were once associated with physical labour being transformed into recreational hot spots where culture and tourism thrive. For instance, there are over one thousand industrial monuments, two hundred museums, around a hundred arts centres, theatres and concert venues. The area holds around 250 festivals and fairs which allow tourists and other visitors from all around the world the opportunity to not only experience tourism in Germany but the European Capital of Culture. For the last year, a panel of artists and the rest of the RUHR.2010 group have been working on proposals and ideas for the European Capital of Culture, which will attract a great deal of tourism to the area all year round. The programming structure of the European Capital of Culture 2010 “Essen for the Ruhr” consists of three main themes: which are mythology, metropolis and Europe. These are interlaced into and represented by the disciplines and theme areas of theatre, language, music and festivals; events enjoyed by a great number of tourists. It is through these media that the story of change in the area, from one of industry to tourism, can be told. Taking the Ruhr mythology as the starting point, the board of officials aim to show the birth of a new metropolis, one able of moving Europe through both culture and art, and so, tourism in Germany will be seeing a great deal of activity in 2010.

Just a quick trip across the channel and you will come across Normandy, a region renowned for history and its beautiful seaside resorts. Britain once controlled this area of France and there remains a Norman influence here that gives the region a slightly different cultural feel than other parts of France. Normandy offers something for everyone, with a coastline stretching 360 miles, including the dramatically evocative World War II landing beaches along with bustling towns and items of great historical importance.

A must visit location is Bayeux, which is conveniently located to reach any of the nearby beaches, and of course is home to the 200-foot long Bayeux Tapestry. The world famous masterpiece uses cartoon like scenes to depict the epic tale of William the Conqueror’s expedition to England in the 11th century.

The iconic Mount Saint Michel is world renowned for its architecture; a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic dating back to the 18th century. The Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel is also included on the UNESCO list of World Cultural and Natural Heritage sites and is often nicknamed a “Wonder of the Western World.” Mont Saint Michael remains one of the greatest sightseeing attractions in Europe and after the Eiffel Tower is the second most popular tourist attraction in France. The Abbey of Mont-St-Michel which is still home to local monks and nuns, proudly sits perched on a 264-foot high rocky islet which can be accessed from the mainland by a causeway.

Mont St Michel is also known for its tides and sees the highest on the continent. They are described as racing towards the Island at the speed of “galloping horses” by locals. The tide comes in at one metre per second. Popularly nicknamed “St. Michael in Peril of the Sea” by medieval pilgrims making their way across the tidal flats, the mount can still pose dangers for visitors who avoid the causeway and attempt the hazardous walk across the sands from the neighbouring coast. The dangers from the tides and quick sands continue to claim lives. The Mont is floodlit every evening throughout the year at nightfall so it is worth staying into the evening to take in this breathtaking view. Depending on the tides there are many pilgrimages across the bay which takes place throughout the year.

What would a visit to France be without enjoying its exquisite food? The President farm (the major Camembert exporter) located in the heart of Camembert is a must for all cheese lovers. Normandy is famous for its abundance of apple orchards and cider making, so no trip to the region would be complete without indulging in some of the local beverages. There is a clearly signed route called the “Route du Cidre” that is about 40 km long which will allow you to sample the local ciders, and explore some of Normandy’s small quaint villages.

]]> http://www.tourisme-rfo.net/2010/07/05/normandy-and-st-mont-miche/feed/ 13