Here, we take a look at 4 of the best place to visit in France during the winter.

Paris
You won’t get much respite from the cold, rainy days of England, but there is a certain air of romance and magic about Paris during the winter. As the festivities get under way for Christmas, the city comes to life in a flurry of lights, seasonal events and traditional markets. Spend your days exploring the city, which is far less crowded than during the summer months, before warming yourself with a delicious coffee in a cosy Parisian cafe.

Nice
The capital of the French Riviera, Nice is cosmopolitan, cultured and the perfect antidote to wintertime blues. Home to over 300 days of sunshine a year, the jewel of the Cote d’Azor has become increasingly popular amongst tourists who come to enjoy the distinct cuisine, beautiful beach and seafront attractions. When you’re not sipping a cocktail on the promenade, meander through the cities historical streets and marvel at the ancient Roman city of Cemenelum.

Strasbourg
Perched on the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg offers an interesting blend of both cultures. Strasbourg is considered to be the intellectual and cultural capital of Alsace and is also home to a 431 year old Christmas Market, the oldest and largest of its kind in France. From the end of November to Christmas Eve the city is taken over by seasonal stalls selling all manners of crafts, fantastic food and hot mulled wine.

Alps
France is a winter sports haven thanks to the excellent skiing opportunities in the Alps and the Pyrenees. There are many world class ski resorts to be found here, offering facilities for people of all abilities. Flaine is the best destination for a family friendly ski holiday, whilst Meribel is ideal for those looking to let down their hair with drinking and dancing after a day on the slopes.

Photo credit: mpix

It was built by engineer Gustave Eiffel for the Exposition Universelle similar to the Belgians building the Atomimum for Expo ’58.

Eiffel originally designed the tower to be built in Barcelona, but the Spanish council decided it was too expensive and did not match the aesthetics of the city. So Eiffel entered his design into the Parison contest for an entrance arch to the Expositon Universelle, part of the design brief was that it had to be easily deconstructed as the structure was only temporary, 20 years. Luckily it became an invaluable communications tower during the Battle of the Marne, so it was decided not to take it down.

The official tour Eiffel site has a great pdf of all you need to know.

It’s cheap for entry to the tower, the actual cost depends on which floor you visit, obviously the top is the most expensive at €12,00.

The view was amazing at night time, and was definitely worth the 2 hours queuing to get to the top! You have to queue to get the ticket, and queue between floors for the elevators but it was totally worth it.