See what the experts are saying about Balaruc-les-Bains. Get expert advice on how to get there what to see and more.
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Introduction
France presents visitors with an embarrassment of riches -- you may find yourself bewildered by all the choices. We've tried to make the task easier by compiling a list of our favorite experiences and discoveries. You'll find the kind of cand... Continue reading »
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Frommer's favorite experiences
Hunting for Antiques: The 18th- and 19th-century French aesthetic was gloriously different from that of England and North America, and many objects bear designs with mythological references to the French experience. France has some 13,000-plu... Continue reading »
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Best dining bets
The Best Upscale Restaurants Restaurant Plaza Athenee (Alain Ducasse; Paris; tel. 01-53-67-65-00): A coveted three-star rating from Michelin hardly seemed to challenge this brash chef. Ducasse is the darling of foodies and the spiritual he... Continue reading »
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The best castles, palaces & historic homes
Chateau de Chantilly/Musee Conde (Ile de France): Anne de Montmorency, a constable of France who advised six monarchs, began this palace in 1560. To save costs, he ordered the new building placed atop the foundations of a derelict castle. His... Continue reading »
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The best cathedrals
Notre-Dame (Paris): This structure's stone walls symbolize the power of Paris in the Middle Ages. Begun in 1163, Notre-Dame is the cathedral of the nation and a triumph of medieval architecture. It's dazzling in the morning and at sunset, whe... Continue reading »
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The best historic places to stay
Trianon Palace & Spa (Versailles, Ile de France; tel. 800/228-3000 in the U.S. and Canada, or 01-30-84-50-00; www.westin.com): Louis XIV nearly bankrupted France during the construction of his nearby palace, but this hotel overlooking its gar... Continue reading »
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The best hotel bargains
Hotel de Lutece (Paris; tel. 01-43-26-23-52; www.paris-hotel-lutece.com): It slumbers on Paris's "other island," the Ile St-Louis, which usually escapes the crush of visitors on the more popular Ile de la Cite, just across the bridge. You're... Continue reading »
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The best luxury hotels
Hotel Ritz (Paris; tel. 800/223-6800 in the U.S. and Canada, or 01-43-16-30-30; www.ritzparis.com): This hotel occupies a palace overlooking the octagonal borders of one of the most perfect plazas in France: place Vendome. The decor is pure o... Continue reading »
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The best museums
Centre Pompidou (Paris): "The most avant-garde building in the world" is a citadel of 20th-century art, with exhibitions drawn from more than 40,000 works. Everything is here, from Calder's 1928 Josephine Baker (one of his earliest versions o... Continue reading »
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The best romantic getaways
Deauville (Normandy): Using the resort of Deauville to propel herself to stardom, Coco Chanel added greatly to its sense of glamour and romance. Try your hand at the casinos, ride horses, stroll along the elegant boardwalk, or simply revel in... Continue reading »
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The best wines & vineyards
If your primary interest is the wines of Bordeaux, contact the Maison du Vin, 1 cours du 30-Juillet, 33075 Bordeaux (tel. 05-56-00-22-88; www.vins-bordeaux.fr), which offers 3-day courses that cost 305? to 490? ($397-$637) per person. The pri... Continue reading »
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The best driving tours
La Route des Cretes (Alsace-Lorraine): The Vosges, one of the oldest mountain ranges in France, once formed a boundary with Germany. Richly forested with hardwood trees and firs, they skirt the western edge of the Rhine and resemble the Black... Continue reading »
Balaruc-les-Bains Travel Experiences
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Montpellier, France
I arrived in Montpellier super tired from my partying in Marseille. Montpellier is a much cuter town than Marseille. Its fill... Continue reading »
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J'Adore La France! (And it's a Big One, so Do No...
Our trip began at about 12:00 midnight… After packing my miniature messenger bag full of all the bare necessities (thank God for space-sa... Continue reading »
