Travel Tips - Historical-sights in France

It is surprising to think that the Catacombs of Paris have been left off the majority of tourist maps for the city, but they are easily one of the most captivating attractions of all that are on offer. Although you might find the queue can have a longer wait time than the Louvre (and it certainly did on the day I visited), this is due to the fact that only a handful of people are allowed enter at a time.

At the end of the 18th Century, Paris was overcome by disease caused by the large number of bodies in the city’s cemeteries. It was up to the churches to solve the problem and what they decided to do was truly unique. Taking the long winding staircase deep under the streets of Montparnasse, dimly-lit tunnels lead you through a maze of skulls and bones – each row of remains meticulously arranged as a sign of respect for the dead – and there are also some astounding crypts and altars where masses were held deep underground.

This vast burial chamber covers nearly two kilometres and you may be glad to be on your way out by the time you reach the exit. Although what has been a somewhat eerie experience will be undoubtedly one of the most memorable of your trip to Paris.

Take the time to visit the Gorges du Verdun, the largest gorge in Europe and second largest in the world after the Grand Canyon in the States. Its about 20kms long plunging 2,500metres from its highest point

It’s a spectacular drive along either side of the gorge with two lovely villages – Castellane and Moustiers Sainte Marie, that you should stop at. I would suggest Castellane for a coffee on the way and Moustiers for lunch

In the summer Moustiers does get busy especially at the weekend, but there are lots of small cafes and restaurants that you can eat at as well as the inevitable gift shops.

Lots of local white painted pottery but a lovely place to walk around close to the river.

Drive around the wonderful cap of St Jean De Cap Ferrat. Most houses are in the millionaire bracket including the wonderful Rothschilds Villa. It's open to the public and is a great place to wander around and enjoy the seven gardens ranging from Japanese, Spanish, a formal Italian water gardens and even an English Rose garden.

It's so beautiful to see such a wide variety of garden styles and no expense has been spared on the building itself, which is a magnificent example of a Baroque villa.

Spectacular views. 2,500 feet above sea level. Nice old castle to wander around, perfume factory, shops, restaurants and lots of hang gliders flying

The best place to eat in Gourdon is at the end of the village where the view is. The food is simple and in expensive but service can be a bit slow so expect a bit of a wait as it gets busy. The other restaurant (Le Nid d'Aigle) is probably the most spectacular one, with three menu prices going from Gastronomic to simple, however it is quite expensive, particularly for the quality of food you get, so might be worth giving this a miss.