Archive for March, 2009

Why Mountain Biking In France Is Popular

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

One of my favourite past times is to go mountain biking down
countryside trails and travel long distances from one town to another.
For me this is an enjoyable form of keeping fit and you have the added
benefit of appreciating the scenery. Mountain biking does not
necessarily have to be enjoyed in your own home territory and one can
be involved with mountain biking abroad. Places like France, Italy,
Spain, Africa and Australia.

Mountain biking in France is more popular than any other destination
because of the smooth and challenging trails that make biking here more
fun. The French Alps is famous for holding the popular Tour de France
biking event, whereby thousands of spectators come from all over the
world and support the contenders. The Alps is also popular with skiing
holidays and professional skiing competitions, which has placed the
French Alps as one of the top destinations for activity holidays.

The Tour de France has helped to keep the Alps to maintain its
reputation for being one of the best experience mountain biking in
France as a whole. The first Tour de France event began in 1903 and is
structured so it is partaken in stages rather than one long marathon.
History will reveal that the Tour de France was largely influenced and
inspired by the popular sporting magazine in France, called Le Velo.
Like most sporting magazines, this focussed on sporting events but also
included politic and current affairs in France.

Le Velo was produced and published to symbolise the innocence of
Alfred Dreyfus, who was accused and found guilty of selling secrets to
the Germans. There was a large division between the people of France,
with one side favouring his innocence and the other believing he was
guilty. Some of the advertisers were against what Le Velo stood and
were very much against the support of Dreyfus’s innocence. Those that
withdrew their advertising later published their own rival magazine.

L’Auto was established and to promote it the Tour de France began.
This was also a publicity spectacle to rival Le Velo and their event,
Paris-Brest et retour organised by editor Pierre Gifford. Originally,
the race was discussed to be a five weeklong tour, however with only 15
entrants this was then reduced down to just 19 days. Cycling journalist
Geo Lefevre and Editor Henri Desgrange announced the event on January
19th of 1903 - thus born a new trend of mountain biking in France.

The public were caught and drawn in by the event, from the growing
number of entrants (who were offered a daily allowance) and the
entertainment attractions (some amateur and unemployed entertainers).
The tour was split into stages of riding 400km, this saw the riders
riding into the night, which captured the spectators attention. After
the event, the magazine sales went from 25,000 copies sold to 65,000.
By 1933 when the Tour had finished Desgrange had received a record of
854,000.

L’Auto magazine was not a direct predecessor to the now popular
magazine L’Equipe, but was a spiritual figure and influence to the
current organisers of the Tour. This is not directly organised by
L’Equipe but is run by its owners called Societe du Tour de France. To
this day this is an event which has grown on a massive scale over the
years. This has influenced much of France to see many holidaymakers
take part in mountain biking in places like the French Alps, but also
open up other events like the Tour such as Giro d’Italia based in Italy
and Vuelta a Espana based in Spain.

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Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

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Sweet Powder: Skiing in France

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

For some people, a successful vacation is defined by how many hours
one can spend lounging about on a beach. And then there are skiers. For
people who like to hit the slopes, a holiday isn’t a holiday unless you
watch the world shush by in a flurry of fresh snow. One of the world’s
premier places to do that is in France.

Perhaps more known to some people for its fine food and fashionable
women, France is home to some of the best and most challenging ski
areas on the planet. Les Trois Vallees (Three Valleys) is comprised of
the three valleys that include four resorts: Courchevel, Meribel, Val
Thoren and Les Menuires. This popular ski area spans an impressive 600
km of pistes: a skier’s and snowboarder’s paradise! If you want to
catch a glimpse of some celebrities, Courchevel is your best bet.

France has two principal mountain ranges, making this country an
ideal destination for a ski holiday. With both the Pyrenees and the
Alps crowing the terrain, there is no shortage of places to hit the
slopes in France. Skiing in France doesn’t have to be a winter-only
pastime: France also boasts some of the world’s best summer glacier
skiing. While your sun-worshipping family members are basking in the
rays, you can still hit the slopes.

Ski resorts in France have something to suit everyone; there is
quite a variance amongst the resorts. There are the massive,
purpose-driven resorts like Flaine and the quaintest resorts, such as
the farming villages of Megeve and Chatel. Don’t discount the more
utilitarian resorts; they are the epitome of convenience. In many cases
you can even ski from the slopes right to your hotel. When you are
traveling with children, convenience is king.

The ski lift systems in France also vary from resort to resort. At
some ski resorts in France, you’ll find old-style single chair lifts,
while at others you’ll be lifted to the summit by a state-of-the-art,
high-tech, six-seat cable car. It just depends on the individual
resort’s amenities. Travelers to France hoping to get in a lot of
skiing ought to be aware that lift passes aren’t cheap in France. Make
sure you don’t lose your pass when you indulge in your apres-ski
activity of choice. There are lots of options for that in France, too.

Speaking of activities that don’t involve shushing down the slopes,
almost every region of France has its share of good bars and
restaurants. If your interests include food and wine, France is the
country for you. You’ll find great food and delectable wines at any
price point, whether you are looking to splurge or for a more
budget-friendly option.

With more than 400 resorts to choose from, knowing which ski resort
in France is the best for you can be daunting. In addition to those
located in the Alps and the Pyrenees, there are resorts in the Jura and
Vosges mountains, in the Massif Central and even on the island of
Corsica.

One popular family-friendly resort in the French Alps is Isola 2000,
located just 90 kms from warm-weather destinations like Nice and the
Mediterranean. Built in the 1960s, today Isola 2000 is a favorite ski
destination for skiers of all skill levels.

If you want to ski the world-renowned Alps, check out the region’s
largest group of interconnected resorts at Les Portes du Soleil. These
resorts span 14 valleys between Lake Geneva, Switzerland and Mont
Blanc, France. In total there are 13 resorts at Les Portes du Soleil
that offer access to 650 km of pistes and 230 lifts. Note that because
the resorts straddle the border between two countries, you’ll need to
pack your passport for this trip!

Some ski resorts in France are geared toward families and are
quieter and offer more activities for the entire family to enjoy. Many
resorts, however, are geared toward a more adult lifestyle and offer a
full selection of nightlife options. At some resorts you can even dance
the night away until the sun comes up.

When it comes to skiing in France, options abound. If you are on a
family vacation with skiers of all abilities, there is a resort for
you. If you are a partier and want to get your groove on after the
lifts are closed, you have choices too. Do your research before you
book to avoid any surprises.

Self Catering Holiday Destinations in France

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

France is one of the most popular self catering family holiday
destinations in Europe. There is a tremendous selection of holiday
villas with swimming pools, apartments and gites to choose from. France
is such a popular holiday destination because it has such a diverse
range of things to see and do. It is a country of beautiful clean
beaches, spectacular mountain scenery and cities packed full of
culture, good shops and fine wines and cuisine.

Paris is the top tourist destination in France with a superb choice
of self catering holiday apartments available for rental direct from
their owners. Paris is regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in
the world and many tourists go there for a romantic break or long
weekend holiday break. It is a city full of fine wines, good cuisine
and friendly people.

The West of France sits on the Atlantic coast and here Normandy and
Brittany are popular with tourists. Many stay in one of the numerous
holiday cottages and farmhouse that are available to rent. They act as
an ideal base for families on holiday to explore the sandy beaches.

To the East lie the regions of Alsace, Lorraine and Burgundy. It is
an area full of beautiful towns and spectacular rolling hills. Tourists
like to visit Nancy and Dijon and many stay in holiday gites and
apartments and explore the famous vineyards of the region.

In the middle of France lies the Loire valley. This is probably one
of the most beautiful regions of France and still remains quite
unspoilt. There are some charming gites and farmhouse cottages
available for rent in this region. It is a popular vacation destination
for family holidays and the tourists like to explore the local castles
and sample the farmers markets in the local towns. The locals boast
that Chartres, with its famous cathedral and Tours are the most
beautiful French cities.

The French Alps are one of Europe’s most popular skiing destinations
and tourists also come to the region in the summer for the hiking.
Albertville, Grenoble and Chamonix are better known amongst winter
sports enthusiasts for the part that they played in the Olympics.
Annecy and Grenoble have chalets and self catering apartments available
for rental.

The South of France is very popular with tourists looking for a
relaxing holiday in the sun. It has great weather, good food and the
famous Riviera. Here there are some luxurious holiday villas with
swimming pools available to rent direct from their owners. To the South
west of France lies the Dordogne. This pretty valley has some charming
holiday cottages and gites available to rent and holiday makers love
the excellent food and wines that are available locally.

In the Languedoc lie the Pyrenees, a mountain range with stunning
scenery that separates France from Spain. Here you can hike and ski.
The towns of Toulouse and Montpellier have numerous self catering
holiday apartments to rent.

Many holiday makers to France now take advantage of the superb range
of self catering accommodation available to rent in this marvellous
country. Tourists on their family vacation to France may book a quaint
Alpine chalet while skiing in the French Alps; Chamonix is an extremely
popular destination. Some families feel that their ideal vacation is a
holiday gite in Normandy. Holiday villas with swimming pools and
farmhouses are used as ideal holiday home bases to explore the Dordogne.

No matter what your taste or budget, France has some of the best
self catering holiday accommodation in Europe. It has great wines,
mouth watering local cuisine, beautiful clean sandy beaches and skiing
suitable for all levels of ability. It is no wonder that France is the
top self catering holiday rental destination in Europe.