Alsace is home to one of France's newest wine routes

Having been part of France and Germany in their turbulent past, the regions of Alsace and Lorraine retain an intriguing flavour of both.

Storm-lashed Brittany has Celtic roots.

With the Channel on one side and the Atlantic on the other, the wild, windswept north-western tip of the country is a place with a salty tang in the air and brine in its blood, where fearless men still cast their rods from storm-battered rocks in the name of tradition (and hooking the perfect sea bass).

The birthplace of bubbly

As the extension of France's slick high-speed TGV train line opens up the country's northeast, the birthplace of bubbly is easier to explore than ever.

The noble houses of Veuve-Clicquot, Krug, Bollinger, Moët et Chandon and countless other top names are all here for the visiting, along with smaller but equally high-quality artisan producers.

The stunning citadel city of Bonifacio on the Mediterranean island of Corsica

Although politically part of France and only 112 miles off its south coast, the unspoilt Mediterranean island of Corsica is world's apart.

The independent state of Monaco is a wealthy tax haven

Less than two square kilometres, glamorous Monaco is the second smallest independent state in the world (trailing after the Vatican) and a constitutional monarchy ruled by the Grimaldi family.

It is located on the French Riviera, tucked behind the Maritime Alps on the Mediterranean coast.

The tidal island of Mont St-Michel is topped by a church

A region in northen France, Normandy is characterised by rolling farmland, the meandering Seine river and miles of beaches stretching along the English Channel, punctuated by granite and limestone cliffs.

The lavender fields of Provence

This diverse chunk of southeastern France is home to historic hilltop villages, Roman ruins, southern Alps, giant canyons, sparkling lagoons, lavender fields, salt flats and sun-drenched countryside.

The French Riviera is the summer playground of the rich and famous

From Bardot to the Beckhams, the French Riviera has long been the fashionable summer resort of choice among the rich, famous and famously rich.

The Pont Couverts in Strasbourg

The cosmopolitan city of Strasbourg - often referred to as 'the crossroads of Europe' - is located near the German border in the northeast Alsace region of France.

Swill, sip and spit your way through Bordeaux's wineries

Bordeaux is a charming port city located in the southwest of France.

Capital of the Aquitaine region, Bordeaux lies on the banks of the River Garonne and is the epicentre of one of the world's premier wine regions.

A Parisian gargoyles keeps watch over the City of Light

Even before Dan Brown had people itching to follow the Da Vinci Code trail, Paris wasn't exactly lacking in visitors.

The City of Light is the world's favourite, home to iconic sights such as the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, Notre Dame and the Champs Elysées.

Toulouse is known as la ville rose (the pink city).

Toulouse is a vibrant city in the southwest of France and is the capital of the Midi Pyrenees region.

The city is situated on the banks of the Midi canal and Garonne river. Toulouse has a lively atmosphere, thanks largely to its high student population.

Cannes is the domain of Europe's yachting set

Cannes is a glamorous seaside resort on the French Riviera.

With its sweeping sandy beaches and swanky yachts, the city's seaside promenade bustles with Europe's famously rich parading the latest in fashion and facelifts.

Marseille ain't no fairytale city, but it has loads of character.

Marseille is a gritty, cosmpolitan port city on France's Mediterranean coast.

Nice makes an ideal base for exploring the French Riviera.

Situated in France's sun-soaked southeast, Nice is the capital of the French Riviera.

Despite lacking the glamour of other Riviera destinations and its absense of sandy beaches, this Mediterranean playground is France's most visited city after Paris.

Climb every mountain in the French Alps

Snow-topped mountains, plunging valleys, sparkling lakes, and meadow-covered hillsides, the French Alps, home to Mont Blanc, Europe's highest peak at 4,807m, are a mighty fine place to breathe in the fresh air.

Hiking, biking, climbing and watersports keep summer visitors active, though it's once the temperature drops that the hills really come alive.

Hikers make tracks to Mont Blanc - Europe's highest peak

The most stunning town in the French Alps, Chamonix is a superb place for a skiing or outdoor holiday.

Chamonix is located near the Swiss and Italian borders and is just a baguette's throw from the imposing Mont Blanc - Europe's highest mountain.

The pink tower of the La Tour Rose hotel in Lyon

Lyon is a sprawling commercial, cultural and culinary hub and the capital of France's eastern Rhône-Alpes region.

Lyon lies on the mighty Rhône river and its old town, Vieux Lyon, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts a glut of medieval and Renaissance buildings.