Propped up by a Herculean alpinist heritage and ski icons in spades, this historic town in Haute-Savoie’s Chamonix Valley is spectacular. Mountains loom large in every direction, climaxing with Mont Blanc (4807m/15,771ft) – Europe’s highest peak – and Aiguille du Midi (3842m/12,605ft), accessible year-round by cable car. From here, experienced skiers cruise across crevasse-chiseled glaciers with a guide on the 20km-long (12.4mi) Vallée Blanche descent, one of Europe’s most legendary off-piste runs. Normandy: the northwest region of France rolls off an English-speaking tongue as easily as a French one. Inland in the Languedoc are the wild, highland areas of Grands Causses and Cévennes ; walled Carcassonne with its witches-hat turrets and restaurants serving its local twist on white-bean and meat stew cassoulet . The engineering marvel Canal du Midi runs 150 miles (240km) from Toulouse to the Étang de Thau lagoon, adjacent to the Languedoc fishing port of Sète . Schussing through fresh powder reaches its zenith at Les 3 Vallées. Over a vast natural playground covering upwards of 45,000 hectares (111,197 acres), with 600km (373 miles) of ski runs and a cumulative 62,000m (203,412ft) of vertical drop and boundless free-riding opportunities, this is the largest ski resort in the world. And its altitude means the snow season stretches from November into May (outside of which the hiking and mountain biking are epic). Musée Masséna is one of the many architectural gems lining the city’s famous Promenade des Anglais and is well worth a visit to delve into Nice’s origins, the history and impact of tourism on the Riviera and the enduring importance of the Carnaval de Nice, which has been delighting locals and visitors alike since 1876. See some of Matisse's greatest artworks

Pair your wine tasting with some of the country’s most memorable Romanesque architecture – for example, the grand Cathédrale Saint-Lazare d'Autun – and you’ll uplift both body and soul. Detour: Once you’re done feasting on history, get ready for some of the creamiest and best ice cream of your life at Ferme de la Haizerie in Vaux-sur-Aure. It’s a tiny and unpretentious ice cream shop that offers local flavors such as Calvados, and teurgoule – a Normandy rice pudding – made from fresh farm milk. 14. Visit the iconic abbey at Mont St-Michel France is superb for cycling. The countryside is gorgeous, and the country has a growing number of urban and rural bike paths and bike lanes (known as pistes cyclables) and greenways (known as voices vertes) that make for lovely, traffic-free cycling. Vélos électriques (electric bicycles) are increasingly popular too, with lots of rental companies setting up shop. Leading from the village’s Obertor (Porte Haute) gate, Grand Rue is lined with pastel Hansel-and-Gretel-style half-timbered buildings; look for the early 18th-century wall-mounted sundial and wrought-iron signs of winegrowers’ houses. After sampling the local vintages and hearty Alsatian specialties at Wistub du Sommelier , work them off on a 1.25 mile (2km) stroll around Bergheim’s 14th-century ramparts. Make a pilgrimage to St-Jean Pied de PortLocal tip: For authentic local dining experiences, avoid restaurants that tout a menu touristique, or display a sample meal of plastic food on the pavement outside. 2. The Loire Valley's castles are best explored by bike Tipping isn’t part of French culture – the restaurant industry is a time-honored profession, and a service charge is included (though diners usually leave a few extra euros). Asking a waiter’s advice on the menu is appreciated. Requesting swap-out ingredients or items in the kitchen’s meticulously crafted dishes, however, is not. When you’re visiting religious sights such as churches, dress modestly and cover bare shoulders (skip sightseeing altogether while worship and religious celebrations are taking place). Health and safety 13. Prevention helps avert petty theft The French capital is likely to be one of your most unforgettable memories of France. Defined by icons like the Eiffel Tower glittering by night, Arc de Triomphe straddling the Champs-Élysées and Sacré-Cœur crowning hilltop Montmartre, Paris is crammed with megastar museums like the Louvre and impressionist-filled Musée d’Orsay; the mansion-housed Musée Carnavalet brings the city’s history to life. Other scenic cross-country resorts: Autrans in the Massif du Vercors (Isère); Domaine du Chioula, an hour’s drive from Toulouse (Ariège)

In the south of France’s sun-drenched region of Provence, lavender blazes violet-blue from June to August, peaking in July. Driving along Les Routes de la Lavande (Lavender Routes), open your car windows to let in the perfume from the rows of fragrant flowers upholstering the countryside like corduroy.At some point, you’ll want to be on two wheels as you explore the gently rolling landscapes of the Loire Valley – especially as cycling is made so much easier thanks to the extensive Vélo Verte network of bike routes. Combine visiting vineyards with glimpses into lavish Renaissance life in the 42 sumptuous chateaux, particularly the fantastically elaborate Chateau de Chenonceau and the more intimate and romantic Chateau d’Azay-le-Rideau on its own island on the Indre tributary. Beneath Épernay’s elegant streets, a staggering 200 million bottles of bubbly are aged in a maze of more than 110km (68 miles) of chilly chalk cellars. Delve below ground on tours of famous Champagne houses, including Mercier, Moët & Chandon and De Castellane. Calling Les Calanques “beaches” is perhaps overstepping the mark. Not really beaches at all; they’re more a gathering of pebbles and sand set deep into a series of knife slits in the Mediterranean cliffs, massaged by clear, turquoise waters. Flowing through central Paris, the Seine is flanked by many of the French capital’s most emblematic sights. Whether it's day or night, when the river’s ripples reflect the illuminated monuments, getting out on the water sees first-time visitors fall for Paris’ charms and return travelers – and even locals – rekindle the magic. A resort’s ecological footprint is becoming increasingly vital to skiers. Green-thinking Morzine-Avoriaz hits the spot with renewable energy-powered chalet accommodation, electric-vehicle transfers and car-sharing, zero-waste initiatives and plant-based dining. Skiers can rent ski clothing from Crevasse Clothing, feast on artisan cuisine showcasing local produce at Avoriaz’s cool new hotel-restaurant hangout MiL8, drink zero-waste coffee roasted in the valley by Cafés Vorlaz and chink craft beer with local eco-riders at Morzine’s experimental microbrewery Bec Jaune. Both resorts, accessible by train to Cluses or Geneva and then shared transfer, carry the Flocon Vert (‘Green Snowflake’) label, awarded for sustainable practice to 11 resorts in France.

Along with rural charms, Provence has well-heeled cities and towns like walled Avignon , with its famous bridge, arts festival and papal history; the splashing fountains and tree canopies of elegant Aix-en-Provence ; and Arles , famously painted by Van Gogh. By contrast, Provence’s biggest city (and France’s second largest), Marseille , is a fascinating multicultural metropolis set around its ancient Vieux Port (old port) with fantastic museums and restaurants specializing in its famous fish stew, bouillabaisse . Find beachside bliss on the French RivieraOriginally built between 1898 and 1901 as a second home for Prince Victor d’Essling, the grandson of one of Napoléon's favorite generals, Maréchal André Massena, this sumptuous belle-époque villa now houses a engrossing museum dedicated to the history of Nice and the Riviera. North of Paris is Hauts-de-France (Upper France). Its chalk-cliff-framed Côte d'Opale, beaches and wildlife-rich Baie de Somme estuaries are well worth exploration, along with the Somme’s sobering WWI memorials. With its cute steepled church and cluster of traditional Savoyard houses, this Real McCoy village in the Tarentaise Valley is straight out of a beautifully illustrated storybook. Skiers spill out of bed and onto snowy slopes at 1450m (4757ft), linked by lifts to the snow-sure Trois Vallées – the world’s biggest ski area stitched from 600km (373 miles) of slopes. Its seven resorts include Brit-loved Méribel, sky-high Val Thorens, family-friendly Les Menuires and A-lister Courchevel, where the super-chic hobnob. Skiing here is for all levels, although intermediates and above have an absolute blast.

A road trip gives you freedom for spontaneous stops, detours and impromptu picnics in the gorgeous countryside, but definitely save yourself the hassle of driving in Paris’ heavy traffic and scarce parking; the superb public transport system covers the whole city. Strategically situated in the eastern Pyrenees, some 31 miles (51km) west of Perpignan, the French Catalonian village of Villefranche-de-Conflent was occupied over the centuries by the Celtics, Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Spanish, and it still echoes with history. Its ramparts were constructed in the 11th century and refortified by French king Louis XIV’s military architect, Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, in the 17th century. Two hours' drive to the west is Ciderie Claids, is a cidery that’s been around since 1992. A visit here is a full-body apple-trip; you smell them first and then the fizzy flavors dance on your tongue. You can even take home a bottle that’s been made a certain year, just like wine. 8. Visit the charming harbor town of Honfleur But you don’t have to be a surfer or a queen to enjoy these golden sands. The idyllic summer climate, contorted coastline, strong Basque culture and soulful Atlantic views make Grande Plage, and Biarritz, a place everyone falls for.Southeast of Provence, the French Riviera is known in France as the Côte d'Azur for the azure-blue color of the Mediterranean glittering in the bright sun.