French cuisine is renowned for its flavor and finesse. Once you have your first meal here, you’ll quickly realize that food in France is more than just fuel. The French regard gastronomy as essential to the art of living, and the culinary culture of the country runs deep. From wholesome desserts to delectable cheeses, wines, stews, soups, fresh fish….every region in France has its own specialty. In fact, French cuisine is so highly regarded around the world that it was added to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritages in 2010. The land of cheese, croissants, and crêpes is waiting for you. You can learn more about French's noteworthy food cities by clicking here.
Food is a huge part of Greek culture. The cuisine offers an incredibly rich and diverse array of foods and beverages that are the culmination of thousands of years of living, cooking, and eating. Flavors of Greek food change with season and geography, however, fresh vegetables, fishes and seafood always play a significant role in the dishes, mostly because of its long coastline. Overall, the food always incorporates much more than just flavors and dishes. It’s all about the fresh ingredients, the lengthy procedure involved in preparing the food, and the culture of sharing dishes with others.
Germany has a long culinary history reflecting its rural roots and geography. Mention traditional German food and most people tend to think of sausage, sauerkraut and beer, but Germany is much more than these three things. Over the years, German food has evolved as a national cuisine through centuries of social and political change. Each region has its specialty and distinct flavor. Eating in Germany, and discovering the culinary specialties and traditional foods with their diversity, consistency and excellent taste, is a big part of the fun in traveling to this country!
There’s no greater expression of a culture than the food people eat. It defines a culture, and in Italy, food is life...and food is love. Regional, seasonal and as fresh as possible, Italy’s cuisine is hearty, satisfying and made with heart. Italians are the masters of creating simple dishes that sing with flavor. From haute cuisine to street vendors, Italy’s food is authentic and surprising - pizza and pasta are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the diverse array of unforgettable food.
From the spectacular and beautiful natural scenery to the diverse range of outdoor activities, there is something to suit every traveller in Switzerland. But, did you know that the Switzerland food scene spans beyond just Swiss chocolate and fondue? Culinary Switzerland is a gourmet’s paradise that combines influences from their German, French and Italian neighbors. The traditional cuisine is a hearty, filling fare with different regions offering various degrees of delicious recipes that will have you drooling just at the sight of them.
Spanish cuisine is very flavorful, and is a quintessential Mediterranean diet, befitting the world`s largest olive oil producer and second-largest wine producer. Spain`s former colonies all over the world influenced the cuisine at home, in everything from tomato sauce to saffron. Today, the various regional staple delicacies represent history and tradition. With that said, Spain is also well-known as a cutting-edge food destination, and one city in particular, San Sebastian, boasts the second-highest per capita concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world.
France is famous for its wine regions, with over 3,000 different wines across two million hectares of vineyards, wine lovers from around the world flock to France for its sheer abundance of vineyards and vintages. Each wine region offers a different grape variety, unique environmental conditions, and their own special wines. There are seven primary wine-producing regions: Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire, Provence, and the Rhone Valley. These French wine regions are not just famous for their fabulous French wines, but also for their picturesque views, charming villages, delicious foods, lively culture and festivals, with beautiful surrounding vineyards.
France has so many charming towns, villages, cities and hamlets that are totally unique from one another and worthy of any travel bucket list. These villages offer the best of French culture and heritage and beyond the most popular tourist sites. Many of these villages only have a population of a few hundred, offering visitors a more intimate and authentic experience of France.
With over 2,000 years of history, France boasts more than 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and has the fourth largest number of historical sites in the world after Italy, China, and Spain. The UNESCO-listed sites take a variety of forms including historic towns, palaces, castles, religious buildings, forts, canals, and landscapes. These sites can be found spread all across France, so wherever you go, you won’t be far away from one of them.
France boasts lively cities, idyllic sun-drenched beaches and the glamorous and gorgeous Cote d`Azur coastline. There are so many different possibilities from world-renowned Paris, one of the most famous cities in Europe, to a seaside holiday spent lounging on beaches, swimming in the sea, and dining at stylish waterfront restaurants.
France is not just Paris, but fortified towns with elaborate chateaus and castles; Roman ruins and religious monasteries; verdant vineyards and sunflower fields; magnificent mountains and the warm Riviera sunshine and so much more. With its winding country lanes, exploring France`s countryside is often best done by car.