PARIS AND ILE DE FRANCE.
This region of France has something for all the family to enjoy, from famous theme parks such as Disney Land Paris and Park Astrix, to beautiful chateaux and proud cities. Paris has many unforgettable places to see like the Champs, the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower. A visit to the cities famous Left Bank with its light hearted Latin Quarter should be on everyone's itinerary. Here you will find numerous shops and bistros such as the famous Cafe de Flore and the Deux Magots. In the cobbled square of St Germain des Pres, you can watch the street entertainers who delight tourists and Parisiens alike.

THE LEFT BANK.
A fascinating area long associated with philosophers and students. Enjoy a coffee at the Café de Flore, often frequented by Jean-Paul Sartre French novelist, playwright, existentialist philosopher, and literary critic, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1964 (which he declined) and Simone de Beauvoir French feminist, philosopher, novelist, and essayist.

THE ARC DE TRIOMPHE.
The triumphal arch covered with beautiful sculptures stands proudly at the end of the famous Avenue des Champs Élysées and in the centre of the Place de l'Étoile. Containing the eternal flame it commemorates victories of Napoleon I.

LES INVALIDES.
Founded by Louis XIV in 1670, as a home for old soldiers, the superb complex centres around the Dôme Church, whose magnificent golden dome soars above neat squares. The complex houses the largest single collection of monuments in Paris, including: Musée de l'Armée, Musée des Plans-Reliefs, Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération and L'Eglise de St-Louis-des-Invalides. During the French revolution on the 14 of July 1789, Les Invalides was over run by revolutionaries who entered the underground rifle store stealing some 28,000 arms. The most significant event in the history of Les Invalides was the triumphal return of Napoleon's body in 1840.

PLACE DE LA CONCORDE.
Between the Champs Elysées and the Tuileries Gardens. The Place de la Concorde's landmark is an obelisk brought back from Egypt in the 19th century. It's a popular meeting place for couple's and is beautifully illuminated in the evenings, followed by complete darkness on the stroke of midnight. During the French Revolution the Place de la Concorde is where the guillotine separated many a head including Louis XVI.

LES DEUX MAGOTS.
This famous cafe has long been used as a meeting place for writers, philosophers and artists including such greats as Hemingway and Sartre. The cafe is named after the two wooden statues that dominate the room.

THE MUSEE DE L'ORANGERIE.
The museum has an extensive collection of paintings by Monet.

THE JEANNE D'ARC STATUE.
The statue was erected in the 19th century and stands in the middle of Place des Pyramides. Joan of Arc was a national heroine who fought for France in the 15th century.

THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.
Americans living in Paris erected a small replica of the Statue of Liberty in New York's harbour. The replica statue is about 35 feet high and stands next to the Pont de Grenelle, Bridge.

PALAIS DU LUXEMBOURG.
The handsome neo-classical building is used to day as a meeting place for the country's politicians. However, the beautiful gardens can be enjoyed by all. Built for Marie de Medicis between 1615-1627 the large park, has sprawling lawns, masses of flowers, and shady trees. There are ponds for small boats and you can often see old men playing chess. The park also has many fine statues of the queens of France, including one of Saint Genevieve, the patron of Paris.

DISNEY LAND PARIS.
The theme park is about twenty miles from the city centre and a must for the young and the young at heart. The park is a magical place with plenty to offer all the family from pirates, fairy tails and runaway trains to grand parades, time travel and journeys into space. In the evenings there are lots of places to eat and be entertained plus the occasional tropical storm at the rain forest cafe.

CHANTILLY.
Just 40 km north of Paris was famous in the 18th century for its fine lace work, today it is better known for its elegant Chateau de Chantilly, it also has the distinction of being the horse racing capital of France. If you are visiting Chantilly to see the horses, don't miss a visit to LE MUSÉE VIVANT DU CHEVAL (Living Museum of the Horse) The Musee Vivant du Cheval is housed in what must be the most beautiful stables in the world, built by the Prince of Conde in the 18th century. The private museum was the creation of Yves Bienaime and shows several different breeds of horses and ponies as well as holding occasional riding exhibitions. There are 31 exhibition rooms and around 40 horses.

ENGHIENS LES BAINS.
A charming spa town beside a beautiful lake, offer's water sports and tennis on a small lake island. In the town there are chic and stylish shops, restaurants and cafes.

CHATEAU FONTAINEBLEAU.
Almost eight centuries of French history can be seen in the beautiful and lavish rooms of Fontainebleau, a favourite residence of the kings of France, from the 12th century. Over the years huge amounts of money were lavished on the chateau, starting with the coronation of Louis VII (7th) in 1137, to the fall of Napoleon's Empire in 1870. Fontainbleau's rich history is regarded as a national treasure. Francois I, made numerous improvements to the mediaeval hunting lodge as did Henri II and Queen Catherine de Medici, who added more magnificent buildings and decorations. Louis XVI (16th) and Queen Marie Antoinette enlarge and redecorated the royal apartments in keeping with the style of the times. In Henri IV's (4th), reign from 1552 to 1610 the palace became the main home of the kings of France (Dauphins). King Louis XV (15th) finding the chateau too small for his large court, redesigned the south wing of the White Horse Courtyard, built the Great Pavilion and the King's Staircase. The kings of France had many palaces and it was normal practice for them to move from one to another. Following in their wake would have been hundreds of servants driving carts loaded with furniture, tapestries, rugs and silverware, in fact everything needed to run a large royal household. Once the stay was over, everything was packed up and moved on, and the empty rooms returned to silence, probably for many years. After the Revolution, Napoleon (1769-1821) found the chateau completely emptied of its rich furnishings and set about refurbished the entire palace. The throne room is the most spectacular room in the apartment, decorated with rich silks and brocades. There is a museum dedicated to Napoleon, showing many of the small objects that were part of the everyday life he shared with his brothers and sisters, the monarchs of half of Europe.