HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS OF FRANCE

Volcanos in France? Hardly a strong attraction for British tourists, nor even one that most would have known about. Yet they are a a particular facet of the Auvergne region, dominating the skyline in this central part of France over some 25 miles and known as the Chaîne des Puys.

Happily none is live – so they say – and more British visitors are being encouraged to put on their walking boots and tramp these other-worldly peaks. They would be following in the footsteps of the man who first told the world about them, British geologist George Scrope, whose research and books in the 1820s to 1850s were the first widely published descriptions of the Chaîne des Puys. His analysis laid the foundation for many of the basic principles of volcanology still recognised today. Not a lot of people know that. auvergen-tourism.com

The Auvergne was one of the French regions that came to London recently to encourage more British visitors. At a tourist fest in the City of London, with nice French wine and croissants, each region set out its stall and its attractions, with experts on hand to provide inside gen on what tourists might enjoy.

Above, the rounded chain of long dead volcanos in the Auvergne, and cycling up them, for energetic visitors, left.

With nearly 20 million Brits visiting France each year, it makes it not only a top destination for British holidaymakers but also, as our nearest neighbour, the country that we should know most about.

But though Paris is the first love for many travellers, the South of France and the ski resorts other centres that have long attracted British tourists, the delights of much of the country are nowhere near so well known. The stallholders were there to enlighten us.

With its long coastline facing our shores, and our historic links with the region, it should mean that we know more about Aquitaine than that it produces wonderful wine around Bordeaux, and that the Dordogne  is something of an ênclave of British expats. Now, it is being promoted as an eco-tourism centre, offering walking, biking, boating and gliding activities and some rather more leisurely and peaceful canal trips, with plenty of small guesthouses tucked away at reasonable prices. auvergne-tourism.com

Above, canals provide one of the best ways of exploring the hinterland, and this one offers luxury accomodation. hotelbarge.com Below,all kinds of sailing in Corsica.

Going from south to the north, the cemeteries and the monuments to those who fought and fell in the Great War provide poignant visitor appeal for the Nord-Pas de Calais and Normandy regions. Despite the passage of time, increasing numbers are making pilgrimages to these remembrance sites of the First World War, and more are expected as we approach the 100th anniversary of its outbreak in 1914. Bookings need to be made well in advance to secure accommodation at small attractive villages away from the sites, was the expert advice. northernfrance-tourism.com

We may know that Napoleon was born in Corsica but precious little else about this Mediterranean island. British visitors have been few – though they are increasing -  and it has the Med’s usual sun, sea and history, as well as donkey rides, a jazz festival and a range of mausoleums. Its more quiet, more leisurely than other Med hotspots, and protected marine zones offer a wealth of flora and fauna. visit-corsica.com

Credited with being the first to appreciate the potential of Nice in the 18th century, English visitors continue to enjoy this and other sophisticated centres along the Cote d’Azure, though the rest of the world has long since out-numbered us. Yet the Promenade des Anglais remains as reminder of the days when the English wintered here – and today’s fast trains from Paris mean it is easy to follow in their style and go by rail. nicetourisme.com

Whether choosing the comfort and ease of Eurostar to get across the Channel, or the vastly improved ferries or the cheap or expensive air options, a holiday in France has renewed appeal over those far-away places with strange-sounding names that are harder to get to. Long haul has lost its glamour and the neighbours are friendly. For more info on all the regions go to franceguide.com