Frances Border Regions And Their Multitude Of Cultures

By Julio Florentino


If you're looking for a great holiday destination, you might want to consider France, in particular its border regions. They consist of a variety of cultures that are all within a very short distance from each other. These border regions are essentially right alongside the various other nations borders, and you are able to travel across all of them in an unrestricted manner. With this, you'll literally be able to travel from one country to another in less than one hour.

The Alsace region is close to Germany, and a short trip across the Rhine River from Strasbourg will put you in another country entirely. Cuisine from old German recipes and traditions will be sure to tempt everyone, and there are plenty of attractions and historical sites to visit here. You will find architecture reminiscent of something from a fairy tale, and you will often find signs and directions in both languages because of the amount of traffic that goes back and forth.

If you want to get to Spain, you ought to check out the Languedoc-Roussilon area. Near the border itself, you'll be able to see many remnants of Spanish architecture on its buildings. There is also the famed Pyrenees Mountains which will be of wonderful view. Cassoulets and wines of all sorts will have certain features of Spain mixed into them as well.

A trip to Nice means being close to Italian influences and a fascinating history that was not always pleasant or even honorable. In this region you will find many sidewalk cafes that offer typical fare found in Italy, rather than the French cuisine that may be expected. Farmer markets offer many varieties of olives and other products, and this is a land of sun and sea as well as plenty of things to see and enjoy. You can spend your entire stay here going back and forth, visiting the local attractions and sampling some of the finest foods and meals you can find anywhere.

Two other well known border regions include the Nord Pas De Calais as well as the Rhone Alps. Located just a stone's throw away from Nord Pas De Calais will be the nation of Belgium. Here, beer is the preferred beverage instead of wine, which you might be expecting. Similarly, you'll see many little breweries around the area instead of vineyards. In Rhone Alps, astounding views of snow-capped mountains will be available, along with its distinguished spa services and magnificent massages which are not available anyplace else.




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