France

Ah, la France! Home to frog-eaters, little men with big, bushy moustaches and a baguette under their arm and more than 400 cheeses. Home to great writers and philosophers and the birthplace of Western democracy. And home to active holiday lovers. Despite the capital Paris' constant attempts to scare tourists away, France is a hospitable country and a pure paradise when you need to shake off the office dust. For la France offers a multitude of opportunities for active holidays on skis, on foot or on two wheels. France's landscape is very varied and consists of highlands, lowlands and mountains; vast and fertile agricultural areas that cover about half the country, making it one of the most farmed in Europe; vast forest areas - about 25% of France is covered by forest - and mountainous areas are numerous. These include the rugged and wild Pyrenees that separate the French from the Spanish; the softer and fertile Alps, which France shares with the Swiss and Italians and where Western Europe's highest mountain, Mont Blanc, rises; and the ancient volcanic Massif Central, which lies undisturbed in the centre of the country. Finally, France is criss-crossed by rivers, the four largest of which are the Rhône, Seine, Garonne and Loire. The variety of landscapes has made France a mecca for active holidaymakers, whether you're interested in hiking or climbing, skiing, cycling and mountain biking or canoeing and kayaking.