Two hours' drive to the west is Ciderie Claids, is a cidery that’s been around since 1992. A visit here is a full-body apple-trip; you smell them first and then the fizzy flavors dance on your tongue. You can even take home a bottle that’s been made a certain year, just like wine. 8. Visit the charming harbor town of Honfleur Traveling around France by train is a joy. France’s state-owned SNCF is one of the best rail networks in Europe – fast, frequent and often very competitively priced, especially if you plan ahead and book in advance. Explore Deauville effortlessly with GetYourGuide. Book your tour today. 2. Tour Caen Castle and visit the Caen Memorial Museum

At some point, you’ll want to be on two wheels as you explore the gently rolling landscapes of the Loire Valley – especially as cycling is made so much easier thanks to the extensive Vélo Verte network of bike routes. Combine visiting vineyards with glimpses into lavish Renaissance life in the 42 sumptuous chateaux, particularly the fantastically elaborate Chateau de Chenonceau and the more intimate and romantic Chateau d’Azay-le-Rideau on its own island on the Indre tributary. With its cute steepled church and cluster of traditional Savoyard houses, this Real McCoy village in the Tarentaise Valley is straight out of a beautifully illustrated storybook. Skiers spill out of bed and onto snowy slopes at 1450m (4757ft), linked by lifts to the snow-sure Trois Vallées – the world’s biggest ski area stitched from 600km (373 miles) of slopes. Its seven resorts include Brit-loved Méribel, sky-high Val Thorens, family-friendly Les Menuires and A-lister Courchevel, where the super-chic hobnob. Skiing here is for all levels, although intermediates and above have an absolute blast.The exception is where you want to travel between cities located on different ‘spokes’ of the TGV network, for example Lyon to Nantes or Strasbourg to Nice, though some flights connect through Paris in any case. If you want to get to Corsica, flying is faster and more convenient than the ferry – unless you want to take your own car. Calling Les Calanques “beaches” is perhaps overstepping the mark. Not really beaches at all; they’re more a gathering of pebbles and sand set deep into a series of knife slits in the Mediterranean cliffs, massaged by clear, turquoise waters. Grèves (strikes) are relatively common in France, and disrupted or canceled transport services can really put a crimp in your plans. Stay up with the news and have a plan B ready if you need it. 5. Plan your itinerary around market days

Explore the planet's most surprising adventures with our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox. Delve into the sparkling cities and vineyards of Champagne Scout new ways to explore the planet's wildest places with our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox. 1. Palombaggia, Corsica Standing on the summit of Europe’s tallest sand dune, the 102m-high (335ft) Dune du Pilat, you get a sense of what an unusual place the Bassin d’Arcachon is.Spain’s train company is Renfe. It takes about 10.5 hours to get from Madrid to Paris, a route also served by SNCF. How to get from Switzerland to France by train The Deutsche Bahn’s InterCity Express (ICE) is Germany’s high-speed train service, allowing travel from Frankfurt to Paris in as little as 4 hours (as long as you don’t have to connect in Cologne). SNCF also serves the route. How to get from Poland to France by train