According to ETHNICITYOLOGY, the main attraction of France is the city of Paris, which became the capital of the state in the 10th century. At any time of the year, Paris is filled with tourists from all over the world. Interesting places and historical monuments can be found in this city literally at every step. The islands of the City and Saint-Louis are considered the historical center of the city. The famous Catholic Cathedral of Notre Dame is located on the Ile de la Cité. This masterpiece of architecture, which took almost 100 years to build, is considered a real treasure of Gothic art. This cathedral can amaze with its bell towers, towers, galleries even those people who are completely ignorant of art. Near the cathedral there is a small circle on which the mark “0 km” is placed – from this place distances are counted throughout France. Most of the most important tourist attractions are located on the right side of the Seine. Those who come to Paris should at least once visit the most famous museum in the world, the Louvre. Previously, this place was a royal residence, which eventually turned into the richest and largest museum in the world. Here you can find more than 300 thousand of the most diverse works of all eras and peoples. Nearby are other equally famous sights: the Stock Exchange, the Arc de Triomphe, 50m high and 45m wide. You can make purchases and just take a good walk along the Champs Elysees, where the most famous shops, restaurants and car dealerships of France are now located, as well as the residence of the country’s president. Left-bank Paris is also not deprived of sights. It is here that the famous Eiffel Tower is located, which was built in 1889, and its height together with antennas is 320 meters. It will be interesting to visit the Pantheon, which was used as a burial place for the great people of the country. Here are the tombs of such famous personalities as: Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, Curie, etc. The highest point of the city is Montmartre with a height of 129 meters. A funicular goes to this hill, so visiting this attraction will be comfortable. The French consider this place the main center of culture and arts. Every day, you can meet many street artists, musicians and other creative people here. The main natural heritage of France and a resort for many famous people is the Cote d’Azur of France. Its territory is not very large, only about 100 kilometers. This place is protected from the northern winds by the foot of the Alps, as well as the Mercantour mountain system. Now this place has become the main European recreation center, despite the fact that holidays here are relatively expensive. The entire coast is dotted with the country’s best hotels, restaurants, private beaches and multimillion-dollar celebrity villas. The “capital” of the Côte d’Azur is the city of Nice, which is neatly surrounded by the foothills of the Alps. The main part of the city is the Promenade des Anglais, 5 km long. This place is ideal for leisurely walks.
National cuisine of France
French national cuisine has been considered one of the best in the world for many years. To confirm this, it is enough to say that many French dishes, wines and sauces are understood in many countries of the world without translation. Many consider this country to be the ancestor of many European dishes, the derivatives of which have become national in other European countries. Mayonnaise, cognac and champagne immediately come to mind. In local restaurants, you can choose a dish from the menu. The prices indicated in it do not include markups. Restaurant menus are rich in dishes, which include a variety of vegetables and root crops, as well as meat that has undergone complex heat treatment. The national cuisine of France is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in the section of intangible assets.
Transport
In most French cities, public transport consists of buses, in some cities trams, and in Paris the metro. The metro is the main public transport system in the capital. It is considered normal that from any house located in the center of Paris to the nearest metro station a maximum of 500 meters, it is worth noting, and this despite the fact that the city center is very large. Payment in public transport is made depending on the place where you go. Paris is divided into fare ring zones, where zone 1 and 2 are a single, central zone where travel costs the same, and you will have to pay more for a trip to other zones.
Currency exchange in France
Before holidays, banks usually close at lunchtime. In addition to banks, currency can be exchanged at special exchange offices “bureaux de change”, which are very often found at airports, train stations, tourist offices and in the central part of the city. By law, hotels cannot accept any currency other than the euro. The best way to make a currency exchange is through an ATM. Local ATMs accept most popular cards. Due to the fact that a certain commission is charged for each operation at an ATM, it is better to withdraw a large amount of money once than to use an ATM frequently. Traveler’s checks can be easily cashed in all major cities (in banks and exchange offices). Also, many banks offer a better rate than cash.
