Lille springs to life at night: taverns and brasseries only start to fill from around 11pm, when tourists and locals share stories in wooden-walled drinking holes off the Grand Place and throughout Vieux-Lille. Occupying an enviable position … Henri Matisse might be associated with the south of France, but he was born and spent much of his formative life here in northern France. Step inside to ruminate on Perpignan’s Catalan heritage and be uplifted by superior views of the city. Other cities in the region include Lourdes, globally known for its pilgrimages, and Pau which has been heavily influenced by the English. It begins in the west on the Bay of Biscay at the French city of Hendaye and the Spanish city of Irun (43°22′32″N 01°47′31″W / 43.37556°N 1.79194°W ). Here you’ll also find ski resorts, such as Isola 2000 which you can reach from Nice for a day’s skiing and snowboarding. Valença. Here's a great tour of the main sites in the area. See all the major sites in and around Nice in three days. Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs. Boys towns also flourish in the border towns of Reynosa, Juarez, Neuvo Laredo and Piedras Negras. For winter resorts, try Courchevel which at its highest resort is glamorous and expensive, along with other famous resorts like Val d’Isère. Le Baracés is one of the smallest communes in my list of places to visit this year. Chartres, Loire Valley. Drench yourself in more history with a walk to the Palais des Rois de Majorque. Lastres. Sightseeing Strasbourg works up quite a thirst, and the proximity to Germany means the local winstubs (taverns) serve every shade of beer you can imagine. The Spanish border town at the center of the European sex industry ... the town bordering Spain’s Catalan border with France, for several months. Think sparkling lights, spicy biscuits and lashings of super-strength mulled wine. The region is also famous for the Cathars, the heretics who rebelled against the orthodox Catholic church. The wines of Alsace are sensational, particularly the whites. There will be a sign by the side of the road, and the language of the road signs will change. Travel to Colmar for its famous, and astonishing Issenheim Altarpiece. With close proximities to a different country, diverse cultural traditions can have certain influence to the place. The French area was once part of Italy, so the Italian influence is strong, particularly in Nice, the major city of the region. Strasbourg is an ancient city, part of the Holy Roman Empire until Louis XIV stepped in in 1681 and it became part of France. A border town is a town or city close to the boundary between two countries, states, or regions. The central area of the Pyrenees is particularly popular with walkers in the Parc National which offers high peaks, forests, streams and a cornucopia of wildlife. Expect to finish the nights dazzled, sozzled, covered in glitter and swearing to come back next year. Photos and documentary footage show the incredible sight of half a million people pouring towards the border towns of Puigcerdà in Spain, and Prats-de … Those who visit Vigo and Rías Baixas in Spain know that they shouldn’t skip this beautiful portuguese village by the border. © 2020 Lonely Planet. To the east, Languedoc-Roussillon offers a gentler way of life, much more French than the western border (though the Catalan language and separatist movement are strong here). Located on the Mediterranean coast of southern France, this small village is built around a small port with narrow maze-like cobblestone streets. Unique to this region, piperade is made from eggs with slow-cooked tomatoes, peppers and often Bayonne ham. The border starts at the Bay of Biscay near the towns of Hendaye and Irun and runs eastwards until it touches the Mediterranean Sea near the towns of Portbou and Cerbere, stretching a total length of 407.8 miles. When a border agreement between Spain and France was drawn up in the 17th century, Spain was obliged to hand over all of the villages of Northern Cerdanya to France. Don’t miss the Louvre-Lens, the outpost of the Louvre museum in Paris for an overview of French art from the ancient civilizations to today in a permanent exhibition as well as a series of important temporary shows. Spain to Italy routes. anyway the most recommended places and towns in France Spain border could be Andorra , Lanuza , Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port , Panticosa , Saint-Savin , Cauterets , Arreau , Benasque , Querforadat , Casteller de N’hug , Barruera and the Portbou . by boulanger.IE. The region in the north of France, taking in Nord-Pas-de-Calais and the Ardennes, runs along the Franco-Belgian border. Poulet basquaise is chicken browned in pork fat, then cooked in a sauce of tomato, ground chilies, onions and white wine. The architecture is more German fairy tale with half-timbered houses reminding you of Hansel and Gretel type stories. At this point, the small country interrupts the border between Spain and France for 63.7 kilometres (39.6 mi) on the Spanish sid… Other cities in the area include Menton, famous for its gardens and its annual lemon festival in the spring; Digne-les-Bains; Gap; Briançon and Grenoble. The regional specialty, baeckoffe, is like nothing you will find in Paris. Hardly surprisingly, German influence remains to today and it looks different from the rest of France. The Alsace region looks east first to Germany and Switzerland and then from that to the rest of Central Europe so it's something of a crossroads. Another specialty, farcis, is a classic Nice dish, where vegetables like tomatoes, eggplant, and zucchini are stuffed with cooked minced meat, garlic and breadcrumbs. Today it's more European than ever, hosting the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights and the European Parliament. Strasbourg mixes cut-and-thrust modernity with a rustic, village feel. For example Collioure or Carcassonne. Finish your border crawl in the beautiful south. The border continues eastward along the Pyrenees to Andorra (42°36′13″N 1°26′30″E / 42.60361°N 1.44167°E ). Burn it off by pounding the cobblestoned streets of Vieux-Lille (the old town), perhaps with a sinful stop-off at macaroon-maker Patrick Hermand (rue Basse). Benasque, Spain. Menus feature choucroute or sauerkraut. With … … You asked a similar question in another post and indicated that Madrid is the starting point. The border of France and Spain runs from just south of Perpignan along the Pyrenees on the eastern side to just below Biarritz and the delightful St-Jean-de-Luz on the west Atlantic coast. Other places to visit: Megève, Morzine; Avoriaz and Les Gets. People-watching is the perfect way to unwind in Perpignan – pick a waterside eatery and chow down on Spanish-influenced dishes and the freshest fish for miles. And at a mere three hours by train from Barcelona, it’s a great stopping point if you’re travelling between Spain and France. … 6 kms of wild Basque coastline overlooking the cliffs Hendaye is the furthest point in the South West of France that you can go to: a frontier town with Spain and confined on the edge of both the Atlantic Ocean and Pyrenees Mountains. Try the local pissaladière, pizza topped with an almost caramelized mix of onions, anchovies, and olives. It's a rural area, away from the glitz of the Cote d'Azur and the sophistication of Provence, but with rolling countryside and wonderful small villages. As the name suggests, this magical art gallery is housed within an old art deco swimming pool. Atlantic Seafood is well worth choosing in restaurants. A train ride from Madrid to Toulouse takes more than 7 … Further south, the border runs through some beautiful parts of France, such as the famous Vallée des Merveilles (The Valley of Marvels) in the Mercantour National Park which runs along much of the border. It begins in Marlenheim, west of Strasbourg, to Thann near Mulhouse. France Spanish Border You can cross from France to Spain near Biarritz and San Sebastian. These almond biscuit treats come in a rainbow of flavours from salt caramel to a very jammy raspberry. Meat, potatoes, herbs, and onions marinate for a day, they are roasted in a terrine for hours. It's popular with visitors, and the Canal du Midi which runs from the Mediterranean at Agde to join the River Garonne at Toulouse is particularly well known. The small French town of Ceret, where we are renting an apartment, is in the foothills of the Pyrenees a few miles across the border from Spain. Follow her on Twitter @lunarsynthesis. La Jonquera is a border town just below the main pass in the Pyrenees that separates France from Spain. Situated in the province of Huesca, just below the Pyrenees National Park and very close to the border with France, sits the idyllic little village of Benasque. Hendaye is a sprawling town, split into 2 main areas and separated by 2 kms. Its brisk metallic exterior houses plenty of artistic greats, like Monet, Picasso and Magritte. You're looking for Collioure which is close to the Spanish border and fits what you're seeking--is a beautiful village on the coast, and mainly caters to French tourists. Mulhouse is not the most popular of French cities for tourists, but if you’re a car fan you must visit the famous national collection of cars, the Cite de l'Automobile, one of the, Metz in adjacent Lorraine, is a pretty town with the. After mingling with the cultured crowd, fuel up with a buckwheat pancake at Le Galichon (24 rue Royale). Creative Commons Attribution. The northernmost border (to where France meets Switzerland) is in the Alps, a premier skiing area in winter and a great place to hike in summer. Collioure is a fishing village on the French mediteranean coast about 15km from the Spanish border. Its strong northern accents and cool weather are the target of plenty of good-natured ribbing from the rest of France, but Lille has the last laugh. Scarlet and gold flags fly high across the turrets of Le Castillet, a 14th-century gate and ex-prison. Opposite to Tui (Spain), Valença is divided in two: the “fortaleça” or fortified village and the living town where one of the most famous open markets takes place every Wednesday. These three melting-pot cities showcase the best of France while giving a tantalising glimpse into the rest of Europe - Lille skims the Belgian border in the north; to the east, Strasbourg grazes Germany; and Perpignan lies close to the southern border with Spain. Here everything is transformed by nearby Germany with the region's biggest city, Strasbourg, just across the Rhine River from Germany. Originally a Greek city, then the Roman regional capital, its Italianate architecture fits in perfectly with the sparkling blue of the Mediterranean and green hills behind. Many of them like Wilfred Owen's memorial is recent, the result of worldwide interest in World War I. Hitler used the region to launch the V2 rockets on London from La Coupole which today houses a spectacular museum; the first tank battle took place at Cambrai. Try Le Bar Parallèle (41 rue Lepelletier) for knockout cocktails, creaking stairs and blatant disregard for the ‘no dancing’ sign. The result is delightful. The town is hugged by the foothills of the Pyrenes and is surrounded by vinyards. And you’re only a couple of hours by train from your next adventure: head east into Stuttgart, Germany, or speed south into Switzerland’s festival capital, Basel. Arras was completely rebuilt after its destruction in World War I so that it looks like the medieval city it once was with arcaded streets and large squares. Lille’s Palais des Beaux-Arts boasts a world-class art collection, including pieces by Rubens, Goya and Delacroix. In World War II, Dunkirk featured as one of the most important sites due to the huge evacuation of British, French and Commonwealth troops. You’ll see these, particularly the tomato variety, for sale in every butcher in the south of France. Basel, Switzerland. St-Omer is a delightful small city with an old part, a spectacular Saturday market, a marshland which you can take a tour through where the postmen deliver by boat, a Jesuit college where some of the founding fathers of the U.S were educated, and where the first folio of Shakespeare was discovered (in 2014). Tastes of Spain can be found in the Southwest of France, where the rooftops are dappled in gold and orange as the sun beats down. Built alongside a cool mountain stream and framed by craggy mountain peaks, it’s ideal for adventure sports such as hiking and whitewater rafting. As you mention in particular the South of France, you should probably head for Perpignan if starting out from Madrid, but have a look at a map before deciding which route would be preferable to you. She lives part-time in Auvergne, France and writes travel articles about the country. 'Lille - Palais des Beaux Arts - 24-07-2008 - 11h47' by Panoramas. The central area of the Pyrenees is particularly popular with walkers in the Parc National which offers high peaks, forests, streams and a cornucopia of wildlife. Since around 0800 GMT, the highway - an important truck route from France to southern Spain - has been cut at the border point of La Jonquera, with protesters on the French and Spanish side. Marble sculptures are reflected in the water, which shimmers from the reflections cast by a huge stained-glass window in the shape of a setting sun. Pizza is especially good in Nice. To the west, you'll come to Basque country, where Euskara is spoken in the same way as it is just over the Spanish border. The area is on some of the major pilgrimage and walking routes of France. This sojourn invites you to walk in the footsteps of some of the most renowned painters and writers of the 20th century as you explore their most beloved Catalan towns. The best French border towns Lille, Strasbourg and Perpignan showcase the best of the country, while giving a tantalising glimpse into the rest of Europe. Locals get around via trams and the Vélhop biking rental system, but your own two feet are all you need for Strasbourg’s main sights. To experience the city’s cutting-edge, head towards the Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain. Nice is the capital of the Riviera and the 5th largest city in France, a place that has been internationally popular since the English aristocracy first made it fashionable in the 18th century. Anita Isalska is a writer and editor based in Lonely Planet's London office. Visit the Matisse Museum in Le Cateau-Cambresis for a different perspective on the famous Impressionist painter. The border is, however, interrupted by Andorra for some 30 miles. You’ll discover an inspiring skyline, a thriving art scene and stately gardens bedecked in flowers. You do not have to stop or even slow down. It also has the largest university in Europe. Only 1.5 hours from London by Eurostar, this friendly city is a popular weekend break for Brits, and it’s a great location for onward travel to the Somme battlefields, the gothic spires of Amiens or chocolate shopping in Belgium. The hot, crispy chickpea pancake is baked over hot coals. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Le Baracés. Learn more about Operation Dynamo and Dunkirk and the wrecked ships and World War II sites around Dunkirk. I’ve gained a renewed appreciation for two easygoing and easy-to-enjoy beach towns that stand like sister cities, each just a few miles from the France-Spain border. From Barcelona, you can easily reach Italian cities such as Rome or Milan. wrecked ships and World War II sites around Dunkirk, See all the major sites in and around Nice in three days. Map View. After residents complained about the noise, the district was moved out of town and the party atmosphere subsided. But when the weekends come, canalside strolls reveal a gentler pace to the city. Go upmarket with a fancy fish supper at Perpignan institution La Galinette (23 rue Jean-Payra). The Basque coast is superb, offering both rocky inlets and long sandy beaches ideal for the surf which pounds in from the Atlantic, particularly at chic Biarritz. It starts at Bray-Dunes just north of Dunkirk south to just near the hilltop town of Cassel near St-Omer, then turns slightly northeast to take in lively Lille and the textile manufacturing and design town of Roubaix then south down past the Luxembourg border through the glorious and much underestimated Ardennes region.​. There are no border controls between France and Spain. All rights reserved. Catalonia is a nation, not a country, with the border that separates France from Spain running right through it. I want emails from Lonely Planet with travel and product information, promotions, advertisements, third-party offers, and surveys. The mountainous Franco-Italian border begins in Chamonix and goes due south down to the Mediterranean at Menton in France and Ventimiglia in Italy. This blush-tinted 13th-century fortress dates to when Perpignan was the capital of the Kingdom of Majorca. Come winter, Strasbourg explodes in a cinnamony cloud of seasonal cheer, as Christmas markets sprout around the cathedral. Located on a main road just inside the Spanish border with France, Madam's has a large sign reading Entrée.The yellow number-plates on the Peugeots and Renaults in … Llivia is a small Spanish enclave completely surrounded by France. Check out the Nord Tourist Website and the Pas-de-Calais Tourist Website. There are two major airports: Basel-Mulhouse airport in France and Geneva Airport in Switzerland, both used heavily in the skiing season. This understated but trendy eaterie will serve you galettes stuffed with smoked salmon, brie or gut-busting tartiflette (potatoes, cream, bacon and Reblochon cheese). The Franco-Spanish border runs for 656.3 kilometres (407.8 mi) between southwestern France and northeastern Spain. Included here is one of our favorite gardens in France, the private and secret gardens at Séricourt. Lastres, Spain | ©Rubén Iglesias / Flickr. Not far from the Spanish border in the French Pyrenees is a tiny picturesque town by the name of Llivia. Usually the term implies that the nearness to the border is one of the things the place is most famous for. Llivia is around eight square miles in area with a population somewhere in the vicinity of 1500. The Spain-France border is the second-longest international border of all Spain’s bordering countries. France, Italy and Spain are three of the most visited countries with a Eurail Pass. The heresy was put down with huge brutality and the scars remain to this day. Until the early 1980s, boys town was near the center of Acuna, a city of about 120,000. Try the Basque fish soup, called ttoro, squid, tuna, sea bass, sardines, and anchovies. There are also some Picturesque French towns in the France Spain border which you can take your road trip there. France borders the northern part of Spain. Pretty Basque villages include Sare (lovely Hotel Arraya with superb restaurant), Ainhoa (there's a diarisis on the i but I can't do it)La Bastide-Clairence and Ascain. ... We show you what trains you can take from Paris to the Italian border. Strasbourg is equally fine in summer and winter: when it’s warm, race a rowing boat across the water in Parc de l’Orangerie and wander around the free zoo. Strasbourg hosts one of France's most important Christmas markets, with stalls selling as many goods from Germany as from France. The markets in the Cours Saleya are full of French and Italian fruit and vegetables, with a huge selection of olives on offer. After admiring this gothic masterpiece, make your way to the glassy canals of Petite France to see the best of Strasbourg’s half-timbered buildings and zebra-striped house fronts. It’s a busy area due to the two airports near the border which have both Swiss and French customs for people traveling from outside the Schengen area. Colourful Perpignan is nestled by the Pyrénées mountains and is a perfect hub for day trips to the coast. In many cases the old border post has been pulled down to straighten the road. 'petite france.' Verdun was the site of one of the most brutal battles of World War I, becoming for the French the symbol of the destruction and pointlessness of warfare is the same way that the battle of the Somme has for the British. Description: This map shows governmental boundaries of countries, cities, towns, railroads and airports in Spain and France. Mary Anne Evans is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers. There’s much to savour for vinophiles too: wines from the Alsace region are famed for their dry, complex character. The border of France and Spain runs from just south of Perpignan along the Pyrenees on the eastern side to just below Biarritz and the delightful St-Jean-de-Luz on the west Atlantic coast. The self-proclaimed cultural capital of Switzerland is also bordered by two other … France is in the epicenter of Europe, with a variety of borders that have influenced the country. Here you’ll find influences from Belgium in the north; Germany in Alsace; Switzerland and Italy to the east and south-east and the different cultures of Spain at the border that runs along the Pyrenees. It is also the place for the moving American memorials and cemeteries to the vital part the U.S. played in the war. Towards the east of the Loire Valley, you’ll find the medieval town of Chatres. Instead of coq au vin, you will find coq au Riesling, usually served over homemade egg noodles. Toulouse is a major city; also seek out Albi, the city of Toulouse-Lautrec and Perpignan along the coast. Start at the looming rust-hued Cathédrale de Notre Dame in the middle of Strasbourg’s Grand Île. 'Perpignan, South of France' by londoncyclist. The regional cooking is intense and hearty, part of the culture of the Pyrenean mountains, producing hearty dishes like cassoulet, consisting of Toulouse sausage, duck, and white beans, served with robust red wine. The Languedoc-Roussillon's regional fare reflects the intensity of the Pyrenees Mountains in the area. The Rhône-Alpes region in France which runs along the border is known for its skiing, particularly in this part for Haute-Savoie and famous Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. It makes for a heady mix of cultural differences and particularly cooking styles, and if you’re in these regions, it’s easy to make a quick trip to the neighboring country. Instead of vineyards dotting the landscape, there are a few microbreweries here. This pass has been used for thousands of years by peoples moving between the Iberican Penisular and mainland Europe. French and Italian influences are shown most markedly in the dishes you find in Nice where pasta of every kind will feature on restaurants’ menus alongside many north Italian dishes.Eat socca in the market from a stall like Chez Teresa. Share. Benasque, Spain December 14, 2018 Eggers, Mijia Europe, France Collioure is only a few kilometres north of the Spanish border. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. But give the city itself some time to shine. Here the long, dark wall of the Pyrenees runs headlong to meet the Mediterranean. Check out these articles on Nice for food lovers, top bistros, and good cheap restaurants. Although France’s official position during the Spanish Civil War was one of non-intervention, the country had turned a blind eye to weapons funneled across its border to … Bonjour, Megan, Toulouse is the closest to the Spanish border. In World War I, the first tank battle took place at Cambrai and the area around there has numerous sites and memorials, large and small to British, Australian and Canadian troops. Finish your night with an onion soup or some mayonnaise-drenched frites in a 24-hour brasserie like La Chicorée (15 Place Rihour). It's famous for producing top wines from Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Muscat, Sylvaner and Pinot Noir grapes. ... France / Spain. Share on Facebook If you're here try taking the famous Route des Vins, running down the foot of the Vosges mountains to the west along the west side of the Rhine valley. The beaches of … But make sure you line your stomach with some dense Alsatian cuisine, perhaps a sticky fondue at La Cloche a Fromage (27 rue des Tonneliers). It's a beautiful route in itself, taking you through small villages and past ruined castles. 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Lille - Palais des Beaux Arts - 24-07-2008 - 11h47, A Lonely Planet photographer shares secrets for taking that perfect shot, Ancient Japanese garden turns into living art with kaleidoscopic exhibit, 10 fantastic travel podcasts to whisk you away, Mysterious monolith discovered in Utah desert has disappeared. This area takes after neighboring Belgium, which produces more varieties of beer per capita than any other nation. The France-Swiss border is 572 km (355 miles) with no customs controls. As the seat of European Parliament, hotels can be packed out with politicians. The region has some delightful places to visit that have no echoes of the wars. Sare, Ainhoa and La Bastide-Clairence boast the "les plus beaux villages de France" designation, like Beynac and La Roque-Gageac in Dordogne. Also, try sweet red peppers stuffed with morue (salt cod). In 1871 Alsace along with Strasbourg, was annexed by the Germans until 1918, then again from 1940 to 1944. They were centered in the medieval walled city of Carcassone and around Montségur and typified the feeling of remoteness from northern France that the whole region shared. With chocolate-box-pretty town squares, hearty Flemish-inspired cuisine and some truly original attractions, Lille is an overlooked gem - and the perfect size for a city break. Better yet, time your visit for July to experience ‘les jeudis de Perpignan’: during this festival, the streets come to life every Thursday night with dancers, jugglers, pyrotechnic theatrics and convivial drinking in the warm summer air. We stayed there in late June/early July and the weather was great with 25C plus each day, sunshine and a … Creative Commons Attribution. That is, if you have any energy left after a fast-paced lillois weekend. Technically speaking, all of that part of France that borders Spain is the South of France but most people would think of The South of France as those towns and cities on the south eastern side of the country. But it’s La Piscine in Roubaix (20 minutes by métro from the centre) that steals the show. You can also cycle the route (or just part of it; it's 180 km long), check with the Tourist ​Off ice in Strasbourg which will also provide cycling maps of the route, cycle-friendly hotels, and more information. Both Collioure, in France, and Cadaqués, in Spain, are off the mainstream when it comes to Riviera holiday spots. Charming hilltop Cassel is worth a visit, and a stay at the romantic Chatellerie de Schoebeque in an 18th-century manor. This was a region ravaged by the two world wars so it’s prime territory for anybody interested in wartime history of the 20th century.