The region of Ile-de-France in France
January 15, 2008
Covering only 12,012 km2 (7464 miles), Ile-de-France is one of the smallest regions in France in terms of surface area, after Alsace and the Corsica, but is by far most important in term of GDP and population. The Ile-de-France region houses 10,952,011 inhabitants and is made up of 8 districts, or “departments”, whose prefecture is Paris. Paris (75), Haut-de-Seine (92), the Seine-Saint-Denis (93) and the Val-de-Marne (94) form the small crown. Valley-of Oise (95), Yvelines (78) and Essonne(91) form part of the large crown, and Seine-et-Marne (77) covers almost half of the area.
The borders of Ile-de-France have been fluid over the years, but this spot has played a principal role in French history. Seat of royalty since the 10th century, land of the Franks since their arrival in Gaul, the area has been the historical, economic and cultural center of the country since France began. It is here that were born many great intellectual movements and architectural innovations such as immense Gothic cathedrals. Each monument tells the story of a period of the history of France, making Ile-de-France a true open-air museum. Tourists can’t go wrong here; which is why it is the most visited area in France.
Its exceptional historical heritage is evident in its unique monuments, such as the sumptuous residences imbued with a long royal past such as the castles of Versailles or Fontainebleau. To these add gems like the famous cathedral Notre-Dame-de-Paris, the Louvre museum, the Saint-Denis Basilica and the medieval city of Provins, to name only a few. Each district contains splendid vestiges of the past, allied with a perpetual search of innovation and modernity, and a great cultural vitality. Thus, the most beautiful historic buildings live side by side with contemporary architecture, such as the City of Sciences or the Center George Pompidou. The Eiffel Tower itself was at the time a modernist roll of the dice, much debated, and has become the symbol of Paris around whole world. The area puts as much emphasis on its present and future as it does on its illustrious past. Ultra-modern sites like the Arch of Defense and the François Mitterand library testify to this, as do the area’s new cities and theme parks like Disneyland in Marne-la-Vallée, and the Asterix Park.
At the crossroads of Europe and the center of France, the area shines thanks to very powerful networks of roads and communication. Indeed, Ile-de-France holds an important place as the administrative, political and economic capital of the country, and in positioned as the second largest economic region of the European Union. The economic fabric of Ile-de-France is composed of very diverse businesses, many official headquarters and an influential tertiary sector. To this, add the area’s prestigious, world-famous institutions of higher education and its pool of highly skilled labor.
In spite of its urbanization and its economic power, Ile-de-France remains a mainly rural area. 45%, of its territory is dedicated to agriculture; 23% to forestland and parks. The area is in the vast bowl of the Paris basin, with relatively flat terrain; no are elevations beyond 200 meters. The moderate climate and the fertile soil make it ideal for agriculture. In spite of the relatively unvarying terrain, this country presents a wide range of astonishing landscapes: valleys and plateaus, plains and hills. Moreover, the area is well irrigated by nearly 700 km (435 miles) of rivers, including the Seine, and its many feeders such as the Marne, the Oise, the Loing and the Essonne.
The forests hold also an important place in the vegetation of the area; among largest are those of Fontainebleau, Montmorency, Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Sénart. This diversity of landscapes bespeaks the variety and the richness of fauna and flora of France. The area emphasizes and protects its natural resources with four Regional Natural reserves: the Gâtinais Français, the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse, the Vexin Français and the l’Oise Pays de France. Besides preserving the environment, these reserves allow visitors to discover local nature along marked- out paths, accessible on foot, bicycle or on horseback.
Famous for its exceptional historical heritage and its vivid contemporary culture, the area is often overshadowed by the power of Paris, the most famous city in France. However, in addition to its capital, Ile-de-France abounds in cultural attractions and natural riches. Its rural past and its still largely undiscovered biodiversity make it an ideal ground for travel, exploration and leisure activities.
Map Ile de France
The region of Haute-Normandie in France
January 11, 2008
Haute-Normandie is the Eastern part of the old province of Normandy.
Created in 1956, the region is home to 1,780,192 inhabitants and covers and area of 12,317 km2 (7653 square miles). It is made up of two districts, or “departments” of France, Seine-Maritime (76) and the Eure (27), and has Rouen as its chief town. Relatively small in terms of size, it occupies a key place in the French landscape, thanks to its prime location between Paris, the sea and the Seine.
Haute-Normandie is characterized by the diversity of its “countries”, each with its own identity and history.
First of all, there is the country of Caux, which is located at the north of the Seine, part of the Paris basin. The Gallic people of Calètes, whose chief town was Caracotinum, (modern-day Harfleur) gave this area its name. Excavations uncovered their existence here, as in several other Gallo-Roman towns such as Lillebone and Marguerite-sur-Mer. Also to be found in this part of the region are a great number of grand manors made of local materials such as limestone or flint. These lordly houses, which often have dovecotes in their courts, date back to just after the One Hundred Years War, when fortifications became obsolete.
The Country of Caux is characterized by its geological form: a chalky plate, whose corrugated surface is furrowed by valleys and dry gullies. Covered with silt, its ground is particularly fertile, making it a prosperous agricultural area. Mixed farming is practiced here, with fields of corn, wheat, flax and potatoes butting up against cow pastures. The landscape of Caux is set apart by hedgerows that surround its fields, whose purpose is to slow down the water run-off during rains and to protect the crops from wind.
Northeast of Rouen is the country of Bray. Here the landscape is green, with ore-rich soil and beautiful national forests. This region is known for its “buttonhole” shape, a geological phenomenon due to a small reversed anticline of the Paris basin. With its moist, well-fed meadows and its clay soil, Bray is ideal for pastureland and the breeding of dairy cattle. Its agriculture has given rise to a number of local officially branded products of France (AOC) like the famous Calvados apple-brandy and Neufchâtel cheese as well as many other cheeses including the birth of “Baby Swiss”. Neufchâtel-en-Bray, Forges-les-Eaux and Gourmay-en-Bray are the principal cities of this area of iron-rich soils and water sources, the origin of a number of Seine feeders.
The Valley of the Seine crosses the region before emptying into the English Channel. The river banks display varied landscapes and well-fed vegetation. The “loops” of the Seine found here are bordered alternately by marshlands, peat bogs, forests, fields of grain and orchards. This major traffic axis, connecting Paris to the English Channel while passing by Rouen, naturally possesses a bustling river commerce, but it is also notable for its rich heritage in the history of France. Echoing its flourishing past, the valley is marked out by remarkable historic buildings like the abbeys of Jumièges, Saint-Wandrille and Saint George de Boscherville, and also many castles. Most of the latter were originally built on old fortified sites and were rebuilt later in various architectural styles: Etelan speaks of the French Renaissance while Yville bespeaks the Classical period.
This mosaic of original natural areas is preserved and development in the Regional Natural Reserve of the ”Boucles de la Seine Normande.” In this park, the old traditions and cultural heritage are preserved and developed, and the Norman landscapes are protected. Among these are the lower valley of the Seine, the national forests of Brotonne and Roumare, a principal part of Caux and the Marais Vernier, a true natural amphitheatre.The 60,000 km2 (37282 sq. miles) this park covers is also home to a rich variety of fauna and flora native to Normandy.
Lastly, the coast holds an important place in the diversity of Haute-Normandie’s landscapes. The 120 km (75 miles) of coastline from Tréport to the estuary of the Seine bears the name “Alabaster Coast”, in reference to its typical white chalk cliffs. These high limestone walls range from 60m to120m in height. The best-known cliff, subject of countless postcards, is probably that of Etretat. The cliffs are intersected by dry valleys and dotted with small ports like Fécamp, Dieppe, whose medieval castle overlooks the sea, and Saint-Valéry Caux. The beaches are covered in stones but still make inviting sites for famous seaside resorts such as Yport and Veules-les-Roses.
The coast ends in Le Havre, whose center, destroyed during WWII, is now registered on the list of UNESCO World Heritage of Humanity sites thanks to the restoration led by Auguste Perret.
With its rich history, architecture and delicious local fare, Haute-Normandie is one of the most interesting regions to visit in France. And its location makes it an easy and most pleasant day-trip for the tourist from Paris who wants to see more of France.
The region of Guyana : A natural wonderland of France
January 10, 2008
Guyana is an official “region” and an overseas district of France whose chief town is Cayenne. It is located at the North-East of the South American continent, more than 7000 km (4349 miles) from mainland France. With its surface area of 84000 km2 (approx. 51,200 miles), it holds the distinction of the largest “department”of France. It is also set apart by being the the most wooded area in France with 94% of its territory covered by Amazonian forest. Yet another distinction: unlike other regions of France known as the Dom/TOM, Guyana is not an island.
Bordered on more than 300 km (186 miles) of its Northern coast by the Atlantic Ocean, Guyana shares a border of 520 km with Suriname in the west, and with Brazil in the south and east that spans 580 km. The Maroni and Oyapock rivers and the Tumuc-Humac Mountains constitute true natural borders with these countries.
Once a colony, Guyana has known an animated history. Discovered in 1498 per Christopher Columbus, it was colonized by France a few years later. In the 17th century, it saw a succession of Spanish, English, Dutch and French explorers in the search of gold and new Eldorado. Finally in the 19th century, it became a place of deportation for prisoners condemned to forced labor, and became sadly famous for its prison camp of Cayenne. The prison authorities accommodated more than 80 000 convicts, including Dreyfus, Papillon and Seznec. This unfortunate blemish on the Guyana’s reputation still persists today, despite the abolition of the prison camp, which took place after WWII. It is still possible to pay a grim visit to the vestiges of the buildings in Saint-Laurence du Maroni or to the dungeons of the Isles du Salut.
Successive waves of immigration due to colonization, slavery and travel are at the root of a rich human mosaic and an intermixing of the population. The territory presents a wide range of ethnic groups made up of Creoles, mainlanders, Blacks, Amerindians, Chinese and many other foreigners. The vast majority of the Guyanese population lives near the coast, thus forming the most important cities like Cayenne, Rémire-Montjoly, Kourou, Sinnamary and St-Laurent-du-Maroni.
This is explained by the impassability of the inland territory, covered by a dense equatorial forest — essentially a primordial forest; that is, unexplored and unexploited by man. This area can be crossed only by inland waterway or by air.
This forest shelters unique ecosystems among the richest and most fragile in the world, such as mangroves, savannas and inselbergs, jutting mountains that are like land-bound icebergs. The presence of this immense forest plus the hot and wet equatorial climate has engendered the development of great plant and animal biodiversity, and makes Guyana a unique, unspoiled and spectacular nature destination. More than 5, 500 vegetable species have been recorded here, including more than 1,000 types of trees, as well as 700 species of birds, 177 species of mammals, 430 fish species and 109 species of amphibians. Micro-organisms are still more numerous, especially in the north.
A national park and six natural reserves were created to preserve this variety of habitats and unique species. Also, the exceptional beaches of the Amana natural reserve are one of the largest and most important preserves for marine tortoises in the world.
With such natural riches to offer, tourism in Guyana has developed primarily around adventure tourism of and “eco-tourism.”. The many rivers and waterways that burrow through the forest make for attractive walks and excursions, and footpaths have been arranged with this in mind. The hiking trails, varying in their levels of difficulty, are well marked out and often decorated with explanatory panels on the local flora and fauna.
Here, nature-lovers get front-row seats for the show, especially at night, to observe the caimans of the marshes of kaw or the laying of the tortoise eggs on the beaches of Hattes.
A majestic throne of nature and a melting pot of cultures, Guyana beguiles with its ages-old legends and the secrets hidden in its still-virgin forest. It is one of the most impressive wonders France calls its own.
The island of Corsica
January 6, 2008
Corsica: Napoleon’s birthplace is the uncut jewel of France
Corsica is located approximately 200 km (124 miles) from Nice, and 10 km (6.2 miles) from Sardinia; and is home to 260,196 inhabitants. A territory of France, its regional prefecture is Ajaccio, and it is composed of two districts: South Corsica (2A) and Haute-Corse (2B). It is fourth largest island of the Mediterranean, after Sicily, Sardinia and Cyprus, covering 8680 km2 (5394 square miles).
Since days of old, the island has occupied a strategic and very coveted position on maritime shipping routes. A mountain on the sea, its geography and its physical properties have had a great influence on its history. It is also possessed of a remarkable historical and artistic heritage, counting more than 167 buildings preserved as official historic monuments, including the “House of Bonaparte” in Ajaccio. Prehistoric times and fascinating archaeology on the island can be explored in Bonifacio, Levie and Felitosa, Different passages in history are evident in sites such as the city of Aléria, that bears witness to the Greco-Roman period, and Bonifacio, whose streets carry resounding echoes of medieval times.
Corsica’s political history is almost as rocky as its mountainous terrain. Changing hands a number of times and coming under a variety of influences, it was purchased by France from Genoa in 1768. The island figures prominently in the history of France as the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, who was born in Ajaccio into minor Corsican nobility. Since the island was under French control at the time, Corsican nobles were offered the ability to gain titles in France if their genealogy could be proven. Napoleon’s parents traveled to court in France, and like many other Corsican nobles, sent their son to school in France. Somewhat paradoxically, Corsica, the island that produced one of France’s most famous leaders, continually debates independence from the France he led. While many both in France and Corsica oppose total independence for the region, plans for more Corsican autonomy, including the preservation of the Corsican language, have been discussed.
Through the centuries, one thing has remained constant: the beauty of the island. Indeed, from the Greeks to our days, a whole succession of civilizations has marveled at the breathtaking Corsican landscapes, impressive enough to earn Corsica the nickname “Isle of Beauty”.
Corsica is above all a land of mountains, with an average altitude of 568 meters (1864 feet). The central range of the island extends from north to south in a succession of peaks, slopes and gorges. This mountainous solid mass, whose summits exceed the 2000 m, as Monte Cinto (2710m or 8891 feet) and Monte Rotondo (2625m or 8612 feet) divides the island into two parts: The Eastern, fertile and rich plain and the Western coast, with a terrain more jagged and full of cliffs. This central chain is also traversed by many rivers, most of them pristine and free of any pollution, that empty into the sea. Similarly, the island also possesses rare lakes of glacial origin.
Despite its far-southern location, Corsica’s nature is green and luxuriant. The forest covers almost a third of the territory, of which 40% is also covered n brush. The vigorous and twisting terrain of the island is also an exceptional habitat in terms of bio diversity, and Corsica has been quick to emphasize and to preserve this superb environment in five local natural reserves plus a Regional Natural Reserve. Created by France in 1972, the latter covers 37,500 hectares and 145 villages. The fauna and the flora of the island, its traditional architecture and the heritage it has built here are put on display, and this site makes it possible for visitors to discover an exceptional and rare place.
In the same way, the Conservatory of the coastline protects another great natural assets of the island. More than 200 km (124 miles) of Corsica’s coasts are protected from any construction. Corsica is known for its fabulous coastal landscapes and its colorful and varied marine life. With its 1034 km (643 miles) of coastline, it is a can’t-miss destination for vacationers in yachts and sailboats, tourists and enthusiasts of deep-sea diving. The island also boasts other considerable tourist assets, like its sunny climate, its warm, crystalline waters and its variety of rocks and beaches. The shores makes up an amazing mosaic of landscapes, such as the limestone cliffs of Bonifacio, the sandy East coast between Solenzara and Bastia, the flaky metamorphic rock of the Corsican cape and the pink granite found from Saint-Florent to Solenzara.
For centuries, Corsica has enchanted visitors from France and around the world with its history and landscapes of contrasts. Between its skyscraping mountains and green valleys, coasts and fine sand beaches, Corsica is unified in a rare beauty and a preserved environment.
The Auberge de Nicey – a Champagne Holiday
January 5, 2008
Getting ready for your next romantic getaway, or on the lookout for a unique vacation off the beaten path? Try Champagne… no, not the beverage, but the region, whose array of delights bubbles over with all the charm and good taste of its liquid namesake.
The birthplace of Champagne, the golden, effervescent wine that’s come to be synonymous with celebrations and special occasions, the Champagne region is welcoming and genuine. Whether your tastes run to touring ancient vineyards and cellars, sightseeing among the many historic and cultural treasures, or simply enjoying the beautiful open countryside and fresh air, Champagne has something to please everyone.
And if you want to be sure your accommodations match the quality of your surroundings, your best bet is to choose a hotel approved by Logis de France, like L’Auberge de Nicey.
Nestled in the heart of the Champagne region, this charming hotel-restaurant will partner with you in creating your dream vacation. Invaluable inside tips from the friendly management combine with the ideal location to make it the perfect home base from which to explore the wealth of experiences the area has to offer.
Known for its hospitable and convivial atmosphere, the Auberge de Nicey gets serious when it comes to gracious living and fine dining. Get cozy in any of their 23 comfortable rooms, and you’ll be treated to a mini-bar, room-service, a heated swimming pool and a gym area for relaxing after a hard day of sightseeing and Champagne-tasting. Dinners are a gastronomic adventure prepared by the restaurant’s chef, accompanied—naturally—by excellent wines. With so much going for it, you can’t help but have a fabulous stay.
So that you can make the most of your weekend in Champagne, the Auberge de Nicey offers themed packages to suits all interests:
Champagne and History allows history buffs to explore the rich and varied heritage of the region, with a guided tour of the 18th C. Motte-Tilly chateau and its magnificent grounds. If the spirit moves you, you can add on excursions to the medieval cobblestone towns of Provins or Troyes with its gorgeous half-timbered houses that still echo the splendor of the period. This package also introduces you to the art of Champagne tasting during fascinating visits to the vintners’ cellars, where they’ll share with you not only their exquisite product but also their passion for their vocation. To cap your trip in style, your days will finish with gourmet dinners meticulously prepared by the chef.
If you wish to delve even deeper, the “Explore Champagne” package will fulfill your every desire. Besides the tour of the historic and richly-furnished Motte-Tilly chateau, and the Champagne-tasting experience with visits to the magnificent vineyards, the Auberge de Nicey offers here a splendid walk in the Marnay botanical garden. You’ll wander and relax to your heart’s content in two hectares of beautiful parkland and marvel over their more than 2500 fascinating species of plant life. In the evening, sit down to a gourmet meal of traditional dishes that will give you a true appreciation of the region’s native delicacies.
The “Champagne Gourmet” package is a connoisseur’s delight, for those who want to immerse themselves in all the flavors of the region. Delicious and refined gourmet dinners and traditional meals are punctuated by visits with enthusiastic vintners at their homes and cellars, who will share their wealth of knowledge of how Champagne is produced and has been for centuries. You’ll acquire a whole new appreciation for this refined beverage, its long tradition and its character unique in the entire world.
You can choose to add an additional historic element to this package with a visit to the 18th C. Motte-Tilly chateau and its 60 hectares of spectacular gardens, jewels of a luxurious bygone era.
Finally, for guests who want a relaxing and nourishing break, the Auberge de Nicey is an ideal hideaway. In its calm and peaceful atmosphere, you’ll unwind in the heated and covered pool, Jacuzzi and infra-red sauna. The gym is ideal for workouts, and those who want to explore the great outdoors will love the hiking and cycling trails that surround the area. Just a bit further afield, you’ll find horseback riding, tennis, fishing and water sports. The Auberge de Nicey and its glorious countryside truly offer something for everyone.
History, adventure and great taste—it’s all waiting for you in Champagne!
For seminars and business retreats, think of Logis de France first.
With its comfortable guest rooms, bright and spacious conference room, the use of all business equipment and the warm and convivial atmosphere, the Auberge de Nicey is the ideal place to hold your seminar or meeting. Ultra-attentive to your every need, this hotel-restaurant offers quality accommodations, gourmet cuisine and personal attention that are sure to make your seminar a success for all concerned.
Auberge de Nicey24, rue Carnot
10100 Romilly sur Seine
France
tel: +33 (0)3 25 24 10 07
fax: +33 (0)3 25 24 47 01
Web : http://www.denicey.net
EMail : http://www.denicey.net/contact.html
Well worth the HR hunt: A headhunter (executive search) or recruitment consultant in France
January 4, 2008
Need to find an executive for your Paris office, or elsewhere in France? For the right human resources fit, a headhunter or executive search consultancy specializing in recruitment in France is an essential partner.
You’re opening for business in France…The executive search begins.
With so much of business going global today, you’ve probably thought of opening a branch office in Paris or subsidiary in France. You may even already have one. But no office anywhere in the world can succeed without the right people. And staffing, always a challenge even on your home turf, can seem a human resources nightmare once you have to cross an ocean. You may not know the local players or their strengths. Even if you can locate someone with the right technical or management skills, how can you be sure he or she will fit in with your corporate culture? Or be able to communicate in the necessary languages? How do you compete with other companies fishing in the same pool of talent? Or decide what salary will entice a candidate without breaking your bank?
Use your head: Find a headhunter specializing in recruitment in France.
The answer is, don’t go it alone. There are a few quality executive search firms in France. But you’ll need to choose carefully. It’s important that the firm focus on recruitment in France, and have been in business long enough to possess deep knowledge on who’s who in business in the area. They need to know who has the skill-set, the personality and language fluency you need. The headhunter you work with must be up-to-date on which executives worldwide may be looking to make a move to a company in France like yours right now—and be able to get to them before your competitor does. He or she should be familiar with going salaries in your industry in France. And you may want someone to help manage the headaches, expense and logistics of relocation. Finding one company in France that is strong in all of these areas can be a challenge.
GBO human resources: Your go-to solution for executive recruitment in France.
Fortunately, the perfect recruitment consulting partner in France exists. With nearly two decades of experience, GBO Human Resources is uniquely equipped to help you find the right executives and other qualified employees for every division of your company in France, so you can focus on running your business. Working in English, German and French, GBO’s executive search team will help you build your team in a multilingual environment. This Paris recruiter’s mission is to support you in realizing your vision by finding candidates that fit seamlessly into your company’s culture and ways of doing business. Whether you need to fill a permanent post or need short-term expertise to bridge gaps due to an absence, a merger or another transition, GBO knows the right people for the job, not only in terms of talent but also temperment, and provides follow-up to make sure the relationship “takes.” GBO and its partners can also help you navigate all the pitfalls of international business in France, from payroll and taxes to relocation logistics.
There will always be the inevitable hurdles, misunderstandings and headaches when doing business in France, but thankfully, hiring good staff there no longer needs to be one of them.
GBO Human Resources: For the past 18 years, GBO has specialized in recruiting executives and middle management in France and Germany for companies and their foreign subsidiaries. GBO focuses on researching and thoroughly understanding corporate Human Resources needs and corporate culture
Services
- Human resources France
- Executive recruitment in France
- Management help during crisis or transition
- Looking for an executive position in France?
35 rue la Boétie
75008 PARIS
France
Tél : + 33 1 45 63 08 64
Fax : + 33 1 45 63 04 28
Web : http://www.gbo-humanresources.com
Email : http://www.gbo-humanresources.com/contact.html
Guadeloupe : The island paradise of France
January 3, 2008
Guadeloupe is an archipelago of 8 islands in the heart of the Lesser Antilles: Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, La Désirade, Marie-Galante, Les Saintes, Petite Terre, Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin. Located 7,000 km (4,350 miles) from mainland metropolitan coasts, between the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, it was discovered in 1493 per Christopher Columbus. He dubbed it Santa Maria de Guadalupe de Estremadura in homage to a Spanish monastery. It was in 1946 that Guadeloupe attained the French status of Overseas District, then of Overseas Region in 1982.
Guadeloupe itself as most know it is made up of two principal islands, separated by a narrow sea channel called the Salt River and connected by two bridges. These two islands, Basse-Terre (848 km or 527 miles) and Grand-Terre (588 km or 365 miles ) form a pair of butterfly wings on the water. The first is the larger and more mountainous. Located on a volcanic chain crowned by the active “Sulfur mine” volcano (1,467 m or 4,813 feet), it’s covered in very dense tropical vegetation. The second is characterized by a large plateau and is composed of a southwestern plain covered with mangrove, a central irregular succession of areas called great pits and a plateau of dry and lacy rock coasts in north. A favorite tourist destination thanks to its picture-perfect beaches and coral reefs along its coasts, it is also the economic center of the archipelago.
Guadeloupe’s climate is particularly pleasant, with an average temperature of 26°c (78°F). Trade winds, the famous breezes that arrive regularly from the East, keep the atmosphere continuously refreshed. These tropical conditions also make Guadeloupe a richly blessed territory when it comes to diversity of flora and fauna.
Nature celebrates its generosity here in every imaginable shade of green, which gives the island its nickname: Emerald Island. Guadeloupe unveils its natural riches along its many footpaths as well as a national natural reserve that harbors a multitude of species of trees, plants and flowers as well as diverse wildlife. The nature reserve of Grand-Cul-de-Sac reveals a veritable mosaic of coastal terrains: mangroves, rainforests, grassy marshes, meadows, underwater gardens and tiny desert isles, all in a protected area.
This rich bounty of natural treasures makes Guadeloupe ideal for exploration and a visually exquisite backdrop for multiple activities: walking tours along ancient trails in a lush natural setting complete with many spectacular waterfalls, trips on marked-out roads that traverse the tropical forest and lead to the summit of the Sulfur Mine volcano, mountain bike excursions to the sugar cane fields in the footprints of Saint Anne and Saint Francis, canyoning and extreme sports in such picturesque sites as the breathtaking Carbet waterfalls or the Ecrevisse cascade. You’ll be hard pressed to choose a favorite among so many enchanting venues, all amazing places just waiting to be discovered, explored and enjoyed.
Guadeloupe and its islands are also known for its lagoons and its rich and varied ocean life, making it a true paradise for diving and other water sports. With more than 70 km (43.4 miles) of beaches that alternate between bewitching coves and bays, it’s ideal for vacationers in search of relaxation in an exotic setting. With only a mask and snorkel, any visitor can discover an underwater wonderland of mollusks, sea cucumbers, sea urchins and a myriad of multicolored fish. More seasoned divers will want to head for Cousteau Reserve, on the Pigeon islands, famous for its concentration of coral, sponges, angel fish and rainbow colored parrot fish, or to the wrecks of La Côte sous le Vent, the stingrays of south Grand-Terre, the caves of Port-Louis, or the majestic giant tortoises of Marie-Gallant.
Lastly, the rich and varied cultural and historical heritage of the island rewards repeated visits. With its multiracial population and its melting pot of many cultures, Guadeloupe’s character can be savored and appreciated through its Creole language, its craft industry, its traditional festivals and its music, all woven into the colorful fabric of everyday life here.