With just a little over 5 weeks until my Fall French getaway, what better time to highlight some of the reasons why France is so popular for tourists, including yours truly.
In early August, the French Government released tourism numbers for last year which showed that nearly 85 million people visited the Gallic country. These numbers were far ahead of any other country’s tourism rates. In fact, no other country surpassed 70 million tourists aside from France, although the US was a close second at 69.8 million.
So why do so many people love France? The Telegraph UK lists 17 reasons why tourists love France, but here are Bistro Chic’s Top 4 Reasons:
- Fashion and Fame – From Coco Chanel to Audrey Tautou, countless fashion designers and actors have called France home. These fashion and fame influences remain prevalent today on the streets of Paris and throughout the country.
- Comfortable Climate – The mild winters combined with gorgeous summers and crisp falls, make France an ideal vacation destination, much like California in the US.
- Macarons and Merlot – A gourmand’s mecca, France is known for having amazing cuisine, whether your tastes lead you to a neighborhood cafe or a trendy bistro. And with region names like Burgundy, Champagne, and Bordeaux, wine is as big, if not more, of a draw than the food.
- Monet and Manet – France, the birthplace of impressionism art, is home to many of the world’s greatest and most famous works of art, including da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Monet’s Water Lillies, and Rodin’s Thinker statue, just to name a few.
Really, what’s not to love about France? Afterall, how could 85 million tourists be wrong?
Ciao!
