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Two of the Best Ways to Experience France: Castles and Wine

There’s more to France than Paris, or is there? You don’t have to be a vinologist to know Champagne, Burgundy, and Bordeaux. It pays to know that some of the finest, cheeriest, and most celebratory reasons to visit the country are well outside the Parisian city limits.

While Paris is a must in the list of places to visit, and while many popular France tourist attractions can be found there, it is not the be-all and end-all of a trip to France.

France has been a top tourist destination for decades. It turns out the world is made up of many, many Francophiles. People from all over Europe, America, and Asia visit the country in droves. So, what makes it so attractive to just about everyone? The answer: diversity!

Only in France can you find such a wide variety of things to do, places to visit, food and drink to consume, and traditions to learn about and, if you’re up for it, participate in—dance around a bonfire for summer solstice, anyone? If you’re game, somewhere in the wide variety of France tour packages is an experience waiting for you.

Castles in the Sky

No, they aren’t in the sky. Castles, lots of them, are in France! You know you’re in the land of castles when they have the one that inspired a fairytale setting or two, think Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. France castle tours will help you get your fill of your childhood fairytale fantasies as well just plain allow you to experience rare architectural beauties.

These tours can take you from the chateaux of Paris and its surrounding areas, and the numerous others that dot the Loire Valley. We’re talking from Chateau de Chantilly and Versailles to places most of us may have only seen in postcards. Fontainebleau, Amboise, Cheverny, Chambord, and Villandry are just a few of the popular Loire Valley chateaux that you can visit.

Tchin-tchin!

There are other popular types of France tours from Paris. Besides castles, another top draw are the wine tours. These can be done by region and in as short as a daytrip, or as a multi-day, multi-city package.

Champagne, for example, is only an hour and a half from Paris. Visit some of the biggest names behind of this joyously bubbly drink like Moet and Chandon, and Mumm. Take a Champagne wine tour of various producers’ cellars; find out what makes Champagne, Champagne; and best of all, make a toast and take several sips of the one and only sparkling wine called by that famous name. You can make a long weekend of it and combine this destination with another region; Burgundy comes to mind.

For the true wine aficionados, France wine tours from Paris can cover various regions. Take the regions a day or a tour at a time from Paris, or go on a long trip along the entire French countryside to see and taste them all. Champagne, Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Rhone Valley, and Loire Valley await you.

Extend your wine trip past French borders with the France-Italy tour packages. Italy has its share of castles and vineyards. Go on a combined castle and wine tour for a truly extravagant European blowout!