2016 Europe, Middle East, and Africa Travel Guide - (Page 15)

To Paris, at her best in spring and fall; to the Cote d'Azur almost any time; to Provence and Bordeaux from April through October. FUN FACT: It took 666 years to build the Louvre, originally a palace but now the most visited art museum in the world GETTING THERE: Delta flies to Paris from Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Detroit, Newark, New York (JFK), Minneapolis, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh-Durham, Seattle and Salt Lake City; to Nice from New York (JFK); to Marseille connecting through Amsterdam, Paris and Rome; and to Bordeaux connecting through Amsterdam and Paris ENTRY DOCUMENTS: Valid passport CURRENCY: The Euro LOCAL FOODS: In Paris, restaurants and markets feature specialties from all corners of France, from fois gras to meringues; in Nice it's all about the salade nicoise and bouride provencale (fish stew). In Marseille, of course, the fabulous bouillabaisse fish stew is a must-try; and in Bordeaux, foodies find culinary nirvana at the Marche des Capucins, with stands serving up crepes, couscous, steamed mussels and fresh oysters BEST BUYS: Most unique is flea market shopping: the largest in Paris is the Marche aux Puces de St-Ouen; in Nice, the Cours Saleya becomes an explosion of colorful flowers, joined by fruits and vegetables weekday mornings; come Monday, it's the site of one of the country's best flea markets INFORMATION PLEASE: rendezvousenfrance.com BEST TIME TO GO: Bordeaux St. Emilion is located near Bordeaux. Marseille While now a major and cosmopolitan gateway to Provence, Marseille was founded by the Greeks in the sixth century B.C. and ranks as the oldest city in France. Yet in the last decade, this hub of the Mediterranean has come of age, complete with new international air services, high-speed TGV Med traveling from Paris in three hours, new cultural venues and the creation of landmark museums. SEE: Start with the new and brilliant Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations (MuCEM), right at the entrance to the Vieux-Port, the Old Port and the city's historic heart. Other choices are the newly renovated Musee Cantini (collection includes Picasso and Dufy) and the Musee des Beaux-Arts (collection ranges from 16th century Italian works to 19th century masterpieces). SAVOR: Here in the home of bouillabaisse fish stew, why not learn to make this special dish; Miramar Restaurant offers cooking classes. The premier restaurant to sample bouillabaisse is the seaside dining room of L'Epuisette. SIGNATURE EVENT: The Festival de Marseille takes place June 14 to July 7 in 2016, celebrating dance, music, theater and cinema in various venues around the city. STAY: The best place to stay is right by the Old Port at the new InterContinental Hotel Dieu, housed in a listed historical monument. CRUISE: Cruises lines such as Costa and MSC depart on Mediterranean itineraries from Marseille, France's largest commercial port. 15 GERMANY Bordeaux sits on the banks of the Garonne River, set in the middle of the largest wine-producing region in the world. Like her famous wines, today's Bordeaux is smooth and elegant, thanks to an extensive urban renewal project that created a gleaming tramway system and turned riverside warehouses into stylish museums, restaurants and shops. SEE: Among many must-see sites is the 11th century St. Andre Cathedral, whose magnificent interiors house an important collection of liturgical art; the Grand Theatre, one of the city's great edifices, built in its wealthy heyday of the 18th century and today home to the Bordeaux National Opera; and the Musee des Beaux Arts, displaying one of the most significant collections of European painting and sculpture outside Paris. Bordeaux, incidentally, boasts the finest assemblage of 18th century architecture in the country. Essential are excursions to the wine chateaux of the Medoc region and the beautiful medieval town of St. Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. SAVOR: Maison du Vin will take you beyond the big bold reds for which the region is famous, and introduce all 57 appellations of wine Bordeaux cultivates. Sample a few at Le Bar a Vins. SIGNATURE EVENT: Bordeaux Wine Festival, June 23-26, includes tasting booths, workshops, evening concerts and fireworks. STAY: The most famous hotel in Bordeaux, which was built in 1776, has been rebranded to the InterContinental Bordeaux-Le Grand Hotel, presiding over the city's most famous square and facing the Grand Theatre. And here in the Bordelais region, the hotel and wine spa Les Sources de Caudalie is a destination in itself. CRUISE: Bordeaux, home to some of the most famous wine appellations-St. Emilion, Margaux, Sauterne-in the world, is a new region for deluxe riverboat cruising, including on AmaWaterways. FRANCE FACTS http://rendezvousenfrance.com http://amawaterways.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2016 Europe, Middle East, and Africa Travel Guide

Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Holland
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Ghana
Kenya
Morocco
Nigeria
South Africa
Senegal
Tanzania
Egypt
India
Israel
Turkey
United Arab Emirates

2016 Europe, Middle East, and Africa Travel Guide