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France’s nickname is L’hexagone, named after its six sides that you see on a map. I have been to France twice. First in the Fall and second in the Summer. I much preferred France in the Fall because the summer is extremely hot and shade is not plentiful. It is also less crowded.

Necessities: sunscreen, sunhat with strap, mosquito repellant

Paris

If you are flying into France, there is a good chance you will be entering through Paris, the City of Lights. This nickname stems from the Enlightenment Era when culture, science and intellect flourished. It is also known as the City of Love. It is my favorite city in the world. It’s a good time to mention that subway system is air conditioned; such a relief coming from NYC where you wait sweltering underground for the next train. There is so much to see and do in Paris. If you are into museums, the Louvre can take hours, or days, to visit and is home to the Mona Lisa. Be aware that the Mona Lisa is not that large and EVERYONE wants a picture with her, making it quite the task. Only you can decide if it is worth it.

The Musee d’Orsay is much smaller and more manageable and can take as little as an hour to go through if you don’t read everything. It houses many famous paintings and has a beautiful terrace with fantastic city views.

The Musee de l’Orangerie is home to numerous Monets that were painted specifically for the space. They are so large it was difficult to get proper pictures.

There is so much more to Paris than just museums. You can walk around for days and see so many incredible neighborhoods and buildings. You can also eat or drink your way around the city. Visiting the Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre is special and provides a great view of the city. There is a funicular you can take up the hill if necessary. Or try taking a wine class at Les Caves du Louvre. I enjoyed the wine and cheese class where you are taught how to pair certain wines with certain cheeses. One of my best memories is eating charcuterie in the park out side of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame and almost getting hit by a car when I visited Arc de triomphe because I didn’t realize there was a pedestrian underpass. LOOK FOR IT!

Versailles

The Palace of Versailles is an easy day trip from France. It was built as a hunting lodge, but was transformed by Louis XIV into the Chateau it is now.

Getting Around France

Cities and towns in the South of France are easily reachable by a short flight, or the fast speed train. If you fly into CDG, you can find the SNCF train station between terminals 2C, 2D, 2E and 2F; just follow the train signs. There is a large waiting area with multiple little cafes offering small bites. There is also a very clean bathroom that costs 1€ to use. Note: The subway into Paris is also here, so make sure you are following the correct signs. You can only board the train a few minutes in advance. I had read that you should give yourself at least 90 minutes between the time your flight lands and your train departs. I had exactly 90 minutes and ended up waiting about 45 minutes for my train.

Burgundy

The region of Burgundy taught me a lot about Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Visiting the town of Beaune was a highlight. There is a wine cave there that you can walk through and taste multiple wines. I stayed at the Olivier Leflaive Hotel and rode a bike around the area, an activity I highly recommend.

South of France

Aix en Provence

Aix is a city, located about an hour north of Marseille. The city is known for being the home of Paul Cézanne, the famous post-impressionist painter who is said to have formed the bridge from post impressionist to early Cubism. I stayed at the Renaissance, on the outskirts of the old town but easily reachable by a 15 minute walk. The Cours Mirabeau lines one edge of the old town.

Walk down le Cours in Paul Cézanne.’s footsteps and visit the city as he experienced it. A pedestrian route marked by studs stamped with a “C” leads you from the house where he was born to his final resting place in the St Jean cemetery. Check opening times. His studio was closed during my visit. You can visit Musee Granet, a museum in a 17^th-century mansion, which has a room dedicated to the local legend Cézanne.

You can find markets everyday in Aix, along with cute little shops and cafes.

Cassis

Driving an hour South from Aix brings you to Cassis, a cute little fishing village and one of the entry ports to visiting the Calanques, which are dolomite or limestone inlets. Some are accessible by a hike, but there doesn’t appear to be much shade. There is a wooden kiosk where you can pick up your tickets or you can arrange a much more expensive Viator cruise, private cruise, etc.

Saint Remy

St. Remy is where Van Gogh painted starry night and where he checked himself into a mental hospital: Saint-Paul-de-Mausole. The mental hospital remains a working hospital today, although the actual building Van Gogh stayed in is a museum.

Les Baux

This hilltop town might be my favorite. It is small and easily navigable, but it took a while to figure out how to get there. After circling a few times and parking at the bottom of the hill, I hiked up to the top like everyone else. Lo and behold, there is a parking lot at the top. The signs had seemed to imply you could not drive up there, but I asked and was told you can.

Gordes

I had heard this might be the prettiest town in the Provence Region. It looked very cute, but I unfortunately didn’t have time to explore, as I was headed to a nearby Abbey. The route I took gave me a beautiful view.

Abbaye Notre Dame de Senanque

Being in the area in early August, I had heard most of the lavender had been harvested. If there was any hope to see the beautiful fields I would need to head North and Abbaye Notre Dame de Senanque (located about 15 minutes north of the town of Gordes) was a good bet. On the way, we saw many sunflower fields, but they too were at the end of their cycle. Upon arrival at the Abbey, while still pretty, I noticed most of the lavender was dried out. Also, if you have seen pictures of people posing in front of the lavender, don’t expect you can do quite the same. The fields are cordoned off.

Chateauneuf Du Pape

This is a famous (and expensive) wine region in the South of France. I only had time to visit a few wineries in the region. Clos du Calvaire was my favorite and no reservations were needed. They can ship their wines to your home for a fee that still makes each bottle less than if you buy them in the USA.

Avignon

A medieval town, Avignon sits on the Rhone River and is best known for the Palace of the popes, the largest surviving Gothic palace in Europe. Seven popes ruled from here over about 100 years while it was the center of Christianity. Note: Visiting in the summer could be difficult for some because it becomes incredibly stuffy inside. The town itself is also very charming.

Saint Tropez

It is gorgeous here. I had an amazing meal at Les Graniers, but I also paid a steep price for it. The location is set behind the Citadel, directly on a private beach. Reservations are required. They bring out the fish and the lobster so you can choose what main course you want.

The town itself is filled with high end stores, sculptures, cute little streets and beautiful yachts.

There is so much to see, do, eat and drink all over France – I cannot wait until next time!