French Fascination

Southampton, UK, is a city and major port situated on the south coast of England, and is widely recognised as the capital of the country’s cruise industry. Each year more and more cruise liners take advantage of its superb cruise terminals. It is, of course, a gateway to Europe’s largest city, the enormous cosmopolitan city of London, with all the cultural and gastronomic attractions you'd expect from a world capital. Read more about Southampton, Great Britain

The port city of Zeebrugge is a harbour town at the western end of the Belgian coast and a subdivision of the city of Bruges - one of the best preserved cities in Europe - for which it is the modern port. The new port has reinvigorated the city as an art and tourist centre for northern Europe. Upon visiting Bruges you will immediately notice that this city has always carefully cherished its architectural and artistic treasures from the past, but what makes Bruges so unique though is the way it deals with this past today. Read more about Zeebrugge, Belgium

Le Havre is a city in the NW of France, situated on the right bank of the mouth of the Seine River and 170 km from Paris. Best known for being the ferry terminal for the English Channel crossings, it should not be quickly dismissed. This city was devastated during WWII, but was rebuilt in modernist style and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. Read more about Le Havre, France

St Malo (aka Saint-Malo, Sant-Maloù, Saent-Malô) on the English Channel in Brittany in the NW of France, is an amazing, historic, ancient walled city. With its tall granite mansion blocks lining the attractive lanes and squares, its numerous ramparts that offer amazing views, and its cobbled streets brimming with restaurants, bars and shops, it is considered to be the most attractive channel port in France. The Citadel, aka the Old Town, was originally built on a rocky island at the mouth of the Rance estuary, a strategic position for defence, but today the modern harbour connects the citadel to the mainland. Read more about St Malo, France

Surrounded by the sea, Lorient offers a wide range of fresh sea food, especially mussels and oysters. One of the biggest attractions at Lorient is the German submarine base that remains here from WWII. The base was first extended by the French Navy and used for nuclear submarines. Read more about Lorient, France

The 1000-yearr-old French resort city with its eye on the future, La Rochelle has preserved its exceptional natural and architectural assets. Lying on an inlet of the Bay of Biscay, its sandy beaches, lush landscape, and sunny climate attract millions of visitors annually. Nestling at the heart of the Atlantic sea-front, the city has been able to turn its picturesque Vieux Port (Old Harbour) into a fantastic economic, tourism and cultural asset. Read more about La Rochelle, France

Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in SW France. It is the world’s major wine industry capital, while the historic part of the city is on the UNESCO Heritage List due to its elegant18th century architecture. It has become a sought-after destination for both tourists and cinema production crews. Read more about Bordeaux, France

Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in SW France. It is the world’s major wine industry capital, while the historic part of the city is on the UNESCO Heritage List due to its elegant18th century architecture. It has become a sought-after destination for both tourists and cinema production crews. Read more about Bordeaux, France

Saint Jean de Luz, one of France’s most charming and picturesque beach towns, is a fishing port on the Basque coast of France, on the northern side of the Nivelle River, near the Spanish border. It is now a famous resort, known for its Basque architecture, long sandy beach, its cuisine – be sure to taste the handmade espadrilles on Gambetta St. - as well as a great pedestrian shopping area and delightful town squares. Read more about St Jean de Luz, France

Bilbao, situated on the estuary of Bilboa in the north-central part of Spain, is a bustling city that epitomises the merger of the modern and the historical, as modern architects erect new buildings next to 19th-century structures. Thanks to its history and location, Bilbao is a magnificent ‘cocktail’ where architecture, tradition, character, and history, are blended to offer the visitor endless leisure and culture opportunities. With the railway connecting Bilbao and the coastal neighbourhood of Las Arenas, the city became a popular beach destination, but it was the inauguration of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao - a true masterpiece - in 1997 that gave the tourism industry its real impetus. Read more about Bilbao, Spain

Located in the NW corner of Spain, La Coruna is part of the Spanish autonomous community of Galicia. It’s a region of vast green landscapes with a rich Celtic and Roman heritage that keeps, to this day, a mystic and magic allure. Once protected by walls on three sides and by the sea on the other, the lively streets of the early medieval town with good examples of preserved Romanesque architecture, make for a fascinating visit. Read more about La Coruna, Spain

Southampton, UK, is a city and major port situated on the south coast of England, and is widely recognised as the capital of the country’s cruise industry. Each year more and more cruise liners take advantage of its superb cruise terminals. It is, of course, a gateway to Europe’s largest city, the enormous cosmopolitan city of London, with all the cultural and gastronomic attractions you'd expect from a world capital. Read more about Southampton, Great Britain