Flights to France from CAD 673*

Air France flights to France from Canada

In some ways France is a country that needs no introduction. This 67 million-strong nation has had a world-wide influence on art and design, food and drink, philosophy and modern thinking that has few rivals. A member of the European Union and the Eurozone, the time difference between France and Canada ranges from 4 hours 30 minutes to 9 hours ahead. With a typical temperate west European climate (albeit with colder winters in the east and hotter summers in the south), France has plenty to offer in all seasons, including excellent Alpine skiing and delightful Alsatian Christmas markets in the winter.

Paris – the effortlessly stylish capital of France that boasts a fascinating mix of urban architecture

When people think of France, often it’s Paris that comes to mind. One reason Paris is such a fascinating destination is the sheer variety of its architecture, testament to the city’s 2,000+ year old history. The city has retained traces of its past inhabitants from practically every period, from the Roman baths in the National Museum of the Middle Ages, the church of St. Germain des Prés (one of Paris’ oldest) and the Renaissance Place des Vosges to the Arc de Triomphe, designed to commemorate Napoleon’s victories, the Opéra Garnier, the Eiffel Tower and the iconic Pompidou Centre, Paris’ key museum of modern art.

It’s possible to cover a lot of ground on foot in Paris. This makes it easier to get a real sense of the city by walking around, rather than queuing up for hours at busy tourist attractions. Art-lovers will adore the rue de Seine, with its innumerable galleries and antique dealers; foodies should try rue Cler, rue Mouffetard and rue Montorgeuil; while hopeless romantics should take a wander up rue Lepic, in Montmartre (home to the café where much of the film ’Amélie’ was shot). For something a little grander, walk over the Pont Alexandre III bridge with great views of the Invalides and the Eiffel Tower, followed by the Grand and Petit Palais. The Petit Palais houses the city of Paris’ art collection and, unusually for Parisian museums, the permanent collection is free to see. Thankfully, Air France flights to France from Canada include direct Montréal-Paris and Toronto-Paris services.

Idyllic vacations in rural France beckon!

France is a country of extremely varied landscapes and natural habitats, making it a favourite for rural vacations. What’s more, Air France’s excellent network of domestic flights makes it easy to explore France beyond Paris’ city limits.Provence is perhaps the best-known region of France abroad. It encompasses everything from the mountains of the Alps, vineyards and lavender fields to the famous ‘calanques’ (narrow inlets of the Mediterranean Sea), the Gorges du Verdon (Europe’s answer to the Grand Canyon) and the marshes, brackish lagoons and salt flats of the Camargue. Great for culture-vultures too, the region boasts major festivals of film, photography, theatre and more; lively cities like Avignon, Marseilles, Aix-en-Provence and Montpelier; as well as a concentration of excellent art galleries and museums around St Paul de Vence, Nice and Cap Ferrat.

If you’d like to try something a little different, Brittany’s ‘pink granite coast’ in France’s north-west, with its fantastically sculpted coastline is somewhere to escape the crowds. Other favourite rural destinations in France include the wine-growing regions of Burgundy and Bordeaux, the beaches and pastoral landscapes of Normandy and the wild ‘Massif Central’. For more ideas, visit Air France’s travel guide pages.

Plan your perfect French vacation with these websites!

Handy websites for a great start to your vacation in France!

• ca.france.fr/en/
• en.parisinfo.com/
• musee-moyenage.fr/en/home.html
• provence-alpes-cotedazur.com/en/
• bretagne-cotedegranitrose.com/fr/welcome-to-the-pink-granite-coast.html
• clermontauvergnetourisme.com/en/