If you come from Normandy and plan on heading on to Brittany you would do well to visit the magic island of Mont-Saint-Michel (MOHN-san-mee-SHELL). The picturesque island looks like a make believe castle although most of it is actually a Gothic abbey and not a palace. Visit the island not just for the sights but also for its famous omelette. You can find the “original” omelette at Hotel de La Mere Poulard although a search for the recipe in the internet will yield dozens of varying results.

After a visit to the enchanting island of Mont-Saint-Michel you can then proceed downwards to Brittany, which is actually the westernmost point of France. Here you will be fascinated not only by the rugged coastline but the hardy people bred by the sea. In Brittany you will find the legacy left by the old Breton seafarers and the Britons who settled there around 500AD. Here you will find small fishing villages as well a large port where fishing fleets sail once a year. Brittany is also known for its old beliefs and superstitions and if you visit the little villages there you might even see an oldster or two dressed in the traditional costume of long black dresses with a high, starched lace cap.

The popular attractions in Brittany include Rennes, its capital, and Nantes. Rennes is a metropolis where you will surely get a feel of the Breton’s history. The tourist attraction here is the Palace of the Breton Parliament where you can get a taste of history as well as soak in some art with its display of 17th century pictorial art.

Nantes is known as the European capital of good living where you can almost taste iodine and salt from the aroma brought by the Atlantic breezes. Enjoy the cafes, visit the botanical gardens, and indulge yourself in Muscadet, the most famous of Nantes wines.

Must have souveneirs from Brittany are the exquisite handmade lace and beautiful pottery from Quimper (kam-PAIR). Must try food are seafoods prepared with a special sauce called Amorican, cider, buckwheat pancakes, and port-salut cheese.

Who hasn’t heard of Bordeaux (bore-DOUGH)? France is famous for its wines and in France there are three regions that produce thair three very distinct and best wines – Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne. Bordeaux is very popular among tourists with its beautiful and intriguing vineyards spread in rows in the Garonne (ga-RON) valley. Each of the large vineyards in this region actually belongs to a castle who each produce special wines in their own presses.

Tourists love to take tours of the wine chateaux in Bordeaux and go for wine tasting in the at least one of the main vineyards still in existence. Some of the more popular chateaux include: Chateau Baret (Villenvave d’Ornon), Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion (Pessac), Chateau Luchey-Halde (Merignac), Chateau Picque Caillou (Merignac), Chateau de Rouillac (Canejan), Chateau Saint-Ahon (Blanquefort), Chateau du Taillan (Le Taillan), Chateau de La Brede, Chateau Bouscaut, Chateau Carbonnieux, Domaine de Chevalier, Chateau Couhins-Lurton, Chateau de Fieuzal, Chateau Haut-Bailly, Chateau Latour-Martillac, Chateau Malartic-Lagraviere, Chateau Olivier, and Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte. The most popular wines to be tasted on the other hand the very prestigious Saint Emilion and Medoc. Of course those who taste these also usually opt to go the the medieval village of Saint-Emilion, which is actually a World Heritage site. Others also take side trips to the equally charming villages neighbouring Saint Emilion each with their own sights to offer. Those who fancy red wines of course go for a visit to experience the Pessac-Leognan terroir. Pessac-Leognan red wines are known to be the best in all of Bordeaux.

A visit to the city of Bordeaux is also sure to be a satisfying one especially now that is has been recently renovated. At the city you will truly enjoy France as you stroll along its picturesque streets with its new pedetrianed areas. There you can lounge in cafes, shop or simply just browse in luxury boutiques, and of course see the monuments and museums.

Aside from the wines and sights Bordeaux is famous for its rich food and drink with specialties including truffles, goose liver, cheese, hams, and Armagnac (ar-mah-NYAHK) brandy.

Gascony is the south west region of France where the towns of Auch the historical capital, Bordeaux, Dax, Lourdes, Luchon, Mont-de-Marsan, Pau, and Tarbes are located. Aside from the its most famous town Bordeaux, southern Gascony, where the Pyrenees can be found is full of wondrous sights to behold.

The Pyrenees, which is the mountain borderland that separates France and Spain, is home to the Basque (BASK). The Basque have a distinct language (Gascon) and culture. The main attraction in the Pyrenees are its prehistoric caves where in paintings on the wall reveal what life was like during the prehistoric times. Aside from the caves another tourist attraction most popular among the religious found in the mountians is the grotto where Saint Bernadette, as a child, saw a vision of Virgin Mary.

To the right of the Pyrenees we arrive at another popular tourist attraction – the medieval walled city of Carcassonne (kar-kah-SUN). During the medieval times walled cities like Carcassonne was not unusual in France, in fact there were many of them. However, as time passed most of them fell and is no more. Carcassonne is a rare sight as a relatively intact walled town.

Even further to the right is the City of Nimes (NEEM). Nimes is historically an important city and could even have been one of the richest and finest Roman cities of Gaule. Many tourist attractions can be found in Nimes including:

? the Roman ampitheatre , which is still used as a bull fighting arena and concert area today,
? the Pont du Gard, which is a magnificent Roman aqueduct built by Agrippa,
? the Maison Carree or the Square house, which is a Roman temple built in 19BC and is dedicated to Agrippa’s sons,
? the Tour Magne, meaning Great Tower, which is a ruined Roman tower that is actually outside of Nimes in nearby Mont Cavalier,
? a cathedral of mized Romanesque and Gothic architecture dedicated to Saint Castor of Apt, and
? modern architectures like Carré d’art (1986), a museum of modern art and mediatheque; Jean Nouvel the Nemausus, a post-modern residential ensemble, and Kisho Kurokawa a building in the form of a hemicycle to reflect the Amphitheatre.