The mystery of the Carnac Megaliths

Brittany’s mysterious megaliths near the town of Carnac are often included in private tours of France. Despite several archaeological excavations and numerous published scientific papers no one knows exactly what these 3,000 stones signify with some theories saying they were used for druidic rituals, others suggesting they served as astronomical observatories. While the jury is still out on the exact purpose of the Carnac Megaliths, there is no doubt they make up an unforgettable site where visitors can ponder on the mysteries of civilizations.

Carnac Megaliths

Dating back to around 4000 BC, the ancient standing stones are located in three fields: Ménec, Kermario and Kerlescan with various circles, alignments, dolmens, passage and mounds. The dolmens are thought to have been once graves of prehistoric people, however, no bones have survived to modern times. In the Dolmen of Kercado that retains its original shape, archaeologists found some fascinating artefacts such as pearl, axes, arrowheads, pearls and beautiful Nephrite gem beads.

Dolmen in Carnac

Several mounds (tumuli) built over chambers that once contained tombs of important families with artefacts that can be seen today in the Museum of Prehistory of Carnac located a short walk from the Ménec field. The museum has an excellent, one of the best in Europe, collections of prehistoric stone chests, tools, pottery, jewellery and other objects. 

The stones are fenced off and are only accessible on a guided tour in summer months, so plan your visit accordingly. 

Beach at Carnac-Plage

The old town of Carnac, Carnac-Ville, is worth a visit after you have explored the mysterious megaliths. The pretty old centre retains its old days charm and has plenty of pretty streets, flower-bedecked old buildings, cosy cafes and excellent restaurants that serve delicious local oysters and hearty traditional dishes. A short walk from the old town is the seaside resort of Carnac-Plage with a 2km-long beautiful sandy beach swept by waves and winds typical for Brittany.

Photos via Flick by: Nicolas Raymond, Jürgen Mangelsdorf, Jérôme Choain.

Alsatian Wine Route

The Alsatian Wine Route is one of the most popular destinations among wine lovers on private tours of France. Running from Thann to Marlenheim for 170 km, it takes travellers through the area where wine has been made for thousands of years. Apart from excellent local wines such as riesling, gewürztraminer, sylvaner and pinot noir, the region has a lot more to offer with its picture-perfect medieval villages, cultural and enogastronomic events and friendly locals.

Alsatian Wine Route

100 villages are scattered along the Alsatian Wine Route, one more beautiful than the other. Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, Ribeauvillé, Turckheim, Eguisheim are among the most popular which means they might get rather crowded in summer and during harvest celebrations. If you like quieter places head to Saint-Hippolyte, a sleepy village near a grand castle, Haut-Koenigsbourg. The village of Bergheim has well-preserved medieval walls and the imposing gate with a fortified tower that has been used for many centuries as the entrance to the village. The brightly painted half-timbered houses have not changed much since the 15^th century creating a charming atmosphere that takes visitors back in time. The capital of Alsatian wine, Colmar, is filled with flower-bedecked half-timbered houses, museums and wine cellars offering degustations to visitors. 

Bergheim

The Alsatian Wine Route is famous for its wine and food festivals loved by tourists and locals alike. In August Eguisheim hosts the annual Wine festival with open wine cellars, village dances and traditional feasts. There are great wine festivals in Mittelbergheim and Bergheim in July. In Autumn, many villages celebrate the grape harvest with wine tastings, parades, concerts and traditional meals.

Colmar

Apart from fine wines, you can enjoy hearty Alsatian cuisine. Locally made foie gras, classic choucroute cabbage with tasty sausages, jambonneau pork knuckle, veal tripe braised in Riesling and baeckeoffe slow cooked meat stew. Every village has at least one Winstub, a traditional Alsatian restaurant that serves great wine and simple local dishes.

Photos via Flickr by: Travis Nobles, Tjeerd Wiersma, Francois Schnell.

The most beautiful bridges in France

There are so many things to see on private tours of France. Towns steeped in history, elegant palaces, ancient castles, sunny seaside resorts and art museums. Some French bridges are often compared to works of art. Here we have selected some of the most beautiful ones in France for you that are worth a trip across the country.

Pont du Gard

Pont du Gard, Gard

Built across the Gardon River between 19 BC and 150 AD, this aqueduct is a living reminder of the Roman Empire’s engineering genius. The bridge was constructed with stones weighing up to six tons cut with such precision that no mortar was needed. 49-metres high, the aqueduct carried water to the homes, baths and fountains in Nîmes and was used until the 6^th century. Over time it has become one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions.

Millau Viaduc

Millau Viaduct, Millau

The world's tallest vehicular bridge, the Millau Viaduct spans a valley not a river and is part of the autoroute from Paris to Montpellier. It is almost 2.5 kilometres long, weighs 290,000 tonnes and sees between 10,000 and 25,000 passing vehicles daily. Inaugurated in 2004, it remains one of the greatest engineering achievements of our time.

Pont Alexandre III

The Pont Alexandre III, Paris

With its Art Nouveau lamps, cherubs and gilt winged horses the 19th-century Pont Alexandre III is certainly the most ornate and beautiful among the 37 bridges that span across the Seine River in Paris. Classified as a French Historic Monument it connects the Champs-Élysées quarter with the Invalides and Eiffel Tower. 

Pont du Diable

The Pont du Diable, Céret

The single elegant arch bridge raises at 22 metres above the river Tech in the town of Céret. A local legend says that when the Pont du Diable was constructed in the 14^th century, the builders asked the devil for help (hence the name), who agreed in exchange for the first soul to cross the bridge. When it was finished, the clever locals sent a cat across the bridge to trick the devil. 

Photos via Flickr by: Julian Fong, Richard Leeming, Joe de Sousa, Thierry Llansades.

Historic fortified city of Carcassonne

The picture-perfect city of Carcassonne is a must-see on private tours of France. The country’s second-most visited tourist spot after the Tour Eiffel, the medieval La Cité citadel attracts nearly four million visitors a year. 

La Cité Citadel

Surrounded by impressive concentric double walls and a moat, the citadel is a marvel of drawbridges, towers, basilica and a small town, which inspired Walt Disney’s The Sleeping Beauty. Visit the stunning 12^th-century Château Comtal with 31 towers and stroll along the cobbled streets. If you are not fainthearted, check out the fascinating Torture museum inside the La Cite to see graphic reconstructions of torture instruments from the Middle Ages through to the French revolution. Linger on the grassy river banks below outside the citadel to admire the views over Carcassonne and the snow-capped Pyrénées on the horizon.

Pont Vieux

Most tourist stay inside the walls and never cross the river to see lower part of the city known as the the Ville Basse. Dating back to the Middle Ages it is full of charm, shops, cafés and restaurants and is certainly worth a visit. Walk across the pretty 14^th-century Pont-Vieux, one of the few surviving medieval bridges in France that connects Carcassonne’s lower and upper towns. Check out the colourful busy food market that sprawls across Place Carnot in the centre of the town every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday where you can stock up on the best cheeses, charcuterie and other delicacies from the area. Stroll along Rue du Verdun wondering into tiny dusty shops and admiring the medieval buildings lining the street. Pop in to the Chapelle des Dominicaines to see the time line of the city’s history on its walls and look at the 17th-century paintings in the Church of Saint-Vincent. 

Canal du Midi

Hop on one of the boats on the Canal du Midi that will take you on a trip through the countryside along its tree-lined banks. 

Before you leave Carcassonne make sure you sample some of the delectable local dishes such as cassoulet, a meat stew with white haricot beans or duck breast.

Photos via Flickr by: Rob Glover, Thierry Llansades, Jeremy Eades.

Exploring Cahors

The time-burnished city of Cahors in south-western France is renowned for its stunning architecture and robust red wine. With 120 building listed as historical monuments, Cahors is a delight to explore. Its long rich history can be traced back to the Gallo-Roman times from which some ruins remain preserved. In the Middle Ages, its strategic position on an important route to Santiago de Compostela and Jerusalem brought many pilgrims and prosperity to the town.

Cahors

Start you walk through the old town from the Pont Valentré across the River Lot. The local legend says that during its construction in the 1300s, the architect in exchange for his soul asked the devil to help him to finish the bridge. Today, the striking Pont Valentré is one of the most photographed landmarks in France. 

The 12^th-century Cathedral of Saint Etienne dominates the town’s beautiful old centre and resembles a sturdy fortified castle with lovely stained glass windows. A local market sprawls across the square in front of the cathedral every Saturday and Wednesday. Stroll along the stalls laden with colourful fruit, glossy vegetables, fragrant herbs and delicious cheeses from the area. 

Pont Valentré

Follow a marked trail through the old town to see the medieval gardens of Augustinian friars, Moorish gardens and a lovely cloistered garden of Henri IV. During high season, hop on a Petit Train to see the city or hire a horse-drawn carriage. From May to September you can also board a cruise boat to see the splendour of Cahors from a different angle. 

Cathedral of Saint Etienne

Stroll along the tree-lined Boulevard de Gambetta dotted with elegant fountains, excellent restaurants and great shops. Chill out in one of the charming cafes here sampling delicious cakes or sip a glass of Cahors’ famous dark red wine that has been produced here since medieval times. The town has a museum dedicated to local wines or you can also visit a vineyard for a degustation.

Photos via Flickr by: Tom De Mulder, Marcel Musil, Jean-Jacques Boujot.

Exploring the city of Strasbourg

Strasbourg a stunning destination to visit on private tours of France. It has a wealth of architectural gems, museums and archaeological sites that serve as reminders of the city’s long history. 

Once the richest city in the Holy Roman Empire, Strasbourg prospered throughout its history and remains an important cultural hub and home to the European Parliament. History awaits at every corner in Strasburg as you walk its narrow cobblestone streets lined with  charming burghers' houses and elegant palaces. 

Strasbourg

The impressive Cathedral of Notre-Dame dominates the city. One of the most important monuments of Western architecture, the Cathedral took several centuries to complete. With the 142-meter spire, the Strasbourg Cathedral is one of the highest churches in the Christian world. Inside you can admire stunning medieval stained-glass windows, an old organ and an old astronomical clock that strikes at 12.30 every day while mechanical figures of Christ and the Apostles parade in front of spectators. 

Climb up the 330 steps to the top of the tower for spectacular views of the city the Black Forest, and the Vosges Mountains.

View from the Strasbourg Cathedral Tower

There are many well-preserved historic corners in the old city with the Quartier des Tanneurs, also known as "La Petite France” being one of the most charming. Take a walk back in time admiring 16-17th centuries half-timbered houses where the city's leather tanners and fishermen used to live. 

Another characteristic neighbourhood with a lively village atmosphere is the Quartier Krutenau where you will find picturesque canals, art galleries and quaint restaurants.

The opulent 18th-century Palais des Rohan houses three museums: the Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Decorative Arts and Archaeological Museum. Here you can see priceless works by such European masters as Botticelli, Delacroix, Van Dyck, Giotto, Goya, El Greco, Rubens, Véronèse, the opulent bishop’s apartment, excellent collections of decorative arts and antiquities.

La Petite France

At the quay by the Palais des Rohan you can hop on one of the boats that sail around the Grande Ile and take you up past many important sites including the beautiful modern European Parliament’s building.

Don’t leave Strasbourg without trying its delicious hearty cuisine. The city boasts several Michelin-starred restaurants and a plethora of excellent eateries serving typical Alsatian dishes accompanied by excellent world-famous local wines.

Photos via Flickr by: Carlos Andrés Reyes, Michael Camilleri, Gerry Balding.

Natural wonders in France

France is not all about museums, art galleries and castles. There are also the great outdoors with many spectacular natural wonders to visit on private tours of France. Stunning mountain ranges, dramatic gorges, caves, cliffs and dunes, - the list of things au naturel is endless. Here are just a few to whet your appetite.

Cliffs of Étretat

Cliffs of Étretat

Arching above the water, the dramatic white cliffs of Étretat in Normandy inspired painters Monet, Boudin and Courbet. One of the picturesque arches resemble an elephant with its trunk in the sea. There are three arches, the Manneporte, Porte d'Aval and Porte d'Amont, and a pointed needle rising from the water. You can go to the beach to see the cliffs close up in their full splendour or admire them from a distance from the lovely town of Étretat.

Dune du Pilat

Dune du Pilat

Europe’s highest, the Dune du Pilat in it is almost three kilometres long and 500 metres wide. The sand dune attracts one million visitors per year. Here you can try paragliding, walking through the deep sand or simply sunbathing and enjoying the sea breeze.

Gorges du Verdon

Gorges du Verdon

Carved by the turquoise waters of the Verdon River over centuries, the canyon is one of the most beautiful in Europe. It runs for 25 kilometres and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Adrenaline junkies come here to climb the gorge’s steep limestone walls, kayak down the river or hike along the rocky outcrops. Less adventurous visitors admire spectacular drives near the canyon and have relaxing picnics while enjoying the views.

Camargue salt flats

The Camargue 

The Camargue delta of the Rhone River in Languedoc covers an area of over 900 square kilometres filled with surreal looking red salt lagoons, marshlands and rice paddies. Flocks of pink flamingos and herds of white Camargue horses make the landscape irresistibly beautiful. 

Photos via Flickr by: Michel Marie, Francois Pouzet, Miguel Virkkunen Carvalho, Jeroen Komen.