Carcassonne is a wonderful (middle-ages) town, set in amongst some of the most gorgeous rolling countryside. -I love it. -As I recall, it was a 'holdout' secular city during the 'religious revolution'... -Am I remembering that correctly?
That western side of the middle of France (Bordeaux etc.) is perhaps where my heart lies. -It's so restful and peaceful. -I took my wife down there on her first trip; initially following the Loire, and staying for several days with longtime family friends in a tiny little village midway between Niort and Poitiers. -On my first visit to France ever, my family stayed with the same friends; they ran a farm and were retiring that year (1974). It was adjacent to some prehistoric burial mounds which had been investigated for a few years prviously (late 1960s, I think). A month after they retired, the new owners discovered an ancient 'tumulus' (burial ground) on the site of their farm. It is now a
museum, housing artifacts dating back
thousands of years BC.
For other stunning wonders, -if one had the time- some traveling would be necessary.
Another longtime family friend with whom I stayed on my very first visit owned land in the Gorges du Tarn. -A few years previously, an enormous underground cavern had been discovered, and subsequently opened to the public. I remember those visits as if each one was an entirely magical experience. -I was getting 'inside tours' into some of the most breathtaking ancient sites!
Le Mont Saint-Michel. [Where I had my first
'gauffre' (waffle)... -forget what you've had in the US; Waffles should be light, fluffy and lightly dusted with pure powdered sugar.] Again, a preserved antique bastion city,built on the only land around which isn't smooth and flat.
-A solitary rocky outcrop, with an elderly city clinging clustering and clinging to its edges. Topped by a breathtaking monastery. -In the right light; undeniably one of the breathtaking marvels of the world.
Provence... -Lavender. -As far as the eye can see at the right time of year. Wonderful food, and a place to forget about the world. Close your eyes, feel the sunshine on your face, hear the wind-whispering waves of Lavender, and breathe in the intoxicating aroma...
The Pyreneean region near the Spanish border... rugged but fabulous. The particular variety of plant life here is unique, and fascinating in its own right.
The Cote d'Azur... Cannes, Nice, (a short hop to Monaco and Monte-Carlo!) -Where the unimaginably rich go to perfect their tans.
Alsace: Historic part of the country, and perhaps the only place where I'd occasionally suggest trying the beer. -Not because the wines are any less enjoyable, but because if you really like beer, this is probably the finest in the country. The border with Germany has been tugged-at, bent and redrawn several times, particularly during the great world wars. As a result, parts of this region have been French, then German, then French again... lots of 20th century history.
The trouble is, the more places I think of, the more I worry about places I'm NOT mentioning. -I suppose it's no secret by now that I'm an enormous Francophile, and I attribute that entirely to the marvellous welcomes which I always received when I was younger. From the Normandy farmhouses (and their unique ciders), from the Breton villages, to the baking Mediterranean sunshine, it's a richly involving country.
Studying the language -like so many other European tongues- brings its own rewards and enlightenment, helping to understand how words evolve, and their subtleties... In English. -When I try to speak French, I also find myself trying to THINK in French... As George Orwell observed, language directs thought, and language structure partially governs thought structure.
If you can, visit. I sincerely hope that you have the most wonderful time. -If you manage to have a small PART of the rich experience which I've had, you'll be an immensely richer person for the experience.
Keith