One of the most loved cities in the world, Paris is the home of haute couture and designers including Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Givenchy along with numerous other fashion icons. It is where you will find the Mona Lisa alongside Venus de Milo and many of the great masterpieces hanging together. And fine cuisine and wines. The French know how to tantalise the palette. They have given us the Five Mother Sauces of the world, champagne and vintage wines from regions across the countryside, petit fours and cheeses to die for.
City-wide, the architecture creates a captivating old-world ambience. At dusk, the city dazzles to life with thousands of lights illuminating the cityscape. Ornate arched bridges straddle the slow-flowing Seine cast light on the shimmering water below. In the back streets and along the promenades the yellow glow of light from cafe windows spills out across the pavements and illuminates the narrow cobblestone alleyways. Music wafts through the air. And the lyrical language of the french lulls you with its soft poetic tones. Little wonder it is one of the most visited cities on the planet.
There’s plenty to see and visit while you’re in the capital. The big four on just about everyone’s must-do list are Le Louvre Museum, the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame. These remarkable landmarks reveal so much of the city’s history and culture. You simply can’t leave until you’ve had time to visit them all. If you’re looking for a gift for someone heading to Paris or to spoil yourself while you’re here, a photography tour will capture your memories and the resplendent beauty of the city with stunning images that you will treasure for a lifetime.
If you love fine art and the masters Le Louvre is only your first must-do of many. The Musee D’Orsay is just as mesmerizing housing works of French impressionist and post-impressionist painters such as Cezanne, Monet, Renoir and Degas, as well as exhibitions from today’s most eminent French artists. And if you have a penchant for all things culturally inspired from a contemporary perspective the Centre George Pompidou is a must. Built in the late 1970s, this fabulous landmark building is site to behold with its colourful tubular walkways and exhibition rooms of all shapes and sizes.
Paris is also a shopper’s paradise. People travel from all over the world just to shop here. For those with a passion for the chic, Avenue Montaigne off Champs-Elysées Avenue is the place to head for high-end threads. The avenue oozes style. The buildings lining the avenue are typically charming and maintained to perfection. The big fashion houses are all here; their large windows dressed with statement pieces from their latest collections. Each boutique is as much an art gallery as it is a place for fine apparel.
All of the great cities of the world have their secrets - hidden gems that are often passé for the locals but fascinating and unforgettable to the uninitiated visitor. The Les Passages Couverts of Paris are a great case in point. These covered passageways off the main boulevardes were places where women of wealth gathered, shopped and took their afternoon strolls. In many instances, the ornate features and facades that were designed to captivate the elite clientele of the day are still in tact today. Lined with stores and cafes - some that have been there for 150 years - the covered passageways are an exquisite adventure into Paris’s past.
Great shopping experience don’t end there. Just as much a drawcard for the interested shopper are the many marketplaces found throughout the city. Paris markets often specialise in a particular genre - stamps, antiques, art and crafts, clothing, flea markets, food and drink markets. These are exciting places to visit and browse through because you never know what you’re likely find - the fun, fantastic, beautiful and bazaar! The markets are always good for picking up mementos of your trip that are completely unique.
And what better way to get to know the local haunts or where to get just want you’re looking for than being shown the ropes by a local. Gifting Owl has home hosted dining experiences and cooking classes that offer very different methods of exploring and learning all about the French cuisine, culinary customs and wines. Hosts often include a trip to the local market where their guests can get in on the action haggling for best produce at the best prices and getting to know something of the characters that run the stalls - who very often have spent their whole lives buying and selling at the one marketplace. Then it's back to the kitchen to whip up a storm while enjoying the gracious company of your hosts.
Gifting Owl French cooking classes are an especially great gift idea if you’re looking to treat someone who loves to cook. These sessions are not only entertaining but will give your recipient a new talent they’ll want to master over time. Imagine learning how to cook authentic cheese souffle, melt in your mouth macarons or traditional French dishes with a modern twist. These are the gifts that can set a person on a new culinary path and give long-lasting joy as they continue to discover new techniques for preparing and celebrating amazing food.
Good food needs nothing but a great partner to pair with and France is the home of delicious wines and spirits. The Champagne region is world-renowned for its liquid gold - those tiny bubbles that tickle the nose and put a sparkle in the eye. The region has been making its sparkling wines for centuries and the vineyards that spread out across the evergreen landscape reflect the glory of their fruits of labour. The long winding driveways, elegant buildings and tranquil countryside are as picturesque as they come. On the opposite side of the country, close the west coast, are the cities of Bordeaux and Cognac. Equally famous for their beverages these are wonderful places to visit and learn about the time-honoured methods that go into producing some of the world’s finest wines and spirits.
Just a few kilometres west of the city, you’ll find Château de Versailles. An extraordinary example of French opulence, in the 1700 century King Louis XIV transformed this once royal hunting lodge into his permanent residence creating an estate of incomparable beauty that still stands today as Europe’s most illustrious palace. The glittering grandeur of the 700-room building and acres of manicured gardens are breathtaking both in scale and detail.
People all over the world are fascinated by buildings that showcase mastery in design, architecture and art, and France has its fair share of iconic landmarks. In the past, the rulers of the day created palaces, cathedrals, mosques and temples across Europe to reflect their wealth and power as much as impress the cultural values on the people they reigned over. These architectural masterpieces are a major tourist drawcard with visitors flocking to their doors to marvel at ornate works that have survived over the centuries. The small island of Mont Saint-Michel is the site of one of the most impressive and imposing cathedrals in France. Cathedrale De Chartres sits like a crown of glory on the island’s hilltop. Beautiful spires reach up to the sky, while sunshine beams through huge glass windows, rich and vibrant with colour. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. In its long history the Abbaye has acted as a place of worship, a stronghold during war times and a prison. Now it is one of France’s most loved attractions.
The healing pools of Pèlerinage De Lourdes bring millions of Christain pilgrims each year to Lourdes, a small town of nestled against the foothills of the Pyrenees . Apparitions of ‘a lady’ thought to be the Virgin Mary first emerged in the mid 1900th century and since then, many devotees have made similar claims. Miraculous healings have also been reported over the years, attributed to the sacred waters found at the site.
For those seeking action-packed adventures in the great outdoors, La Valle De Chamonix is a favorite year-round playground for the French. The majestic white capped mountains of Mont Blanc rise up against the horizon, adding to the spectacular surroundings found in this part of the world. Serene lakes, waterfalls, rugged trails and breathtaking vistas make the days spent revelling in nature some of the best experiences of wild France. Fit and active folks will also get their kicks from Gorge Du Verdon in the south east of the country. This is a great place to escape the hectic city scene and spend the days glamping, camping, kayaking and enjoying all the natural assets of the gorge.
No matter where you travel in France, you’ll find wanderlust leading you on to more and more wondrous discoveries.
