Home >
France >
Ile de France Holiday Cottages
These rental companies offer Ile de France cottages and holiday properties both in Paris and the surrounding countryside. Their collection includes renovated farmhouses, city apartments and chateux - some feature private swimming pools and extras such as satellite television and wi-fi. Visit the sites for more details.
Holiday Lettings - Over
130 Ile de France holiday cottages including a range of villas and gites. A large proportion are situated in central Paris and feature modern apartments and studio flats. Prices start at £175 for week-long stays.
French Connections -
60 cottages in Ile de France including a wide range of Paris apartments and studio holiday properties. Most are located in the city and can be found both in the suburbs and the centre of Paris. Rates start at around £220 for weekly rentals.
Cottages 4 You - More than 30 Ile de France self catering properties both in Paris and the surrounding countryside. In addition to their selection of city apartments, there's also a range of traditional properties including renovated 17th century farmhouses and stone cottages.
Hoseasons - A handful of Ile de France cottage properties and self catering holiday villas. Most are modern in style with some featuring outdoor swimming pools and extras such as satellite television. A few can accommodate up to 12 people.
Ile de France
Ile de France is one of the smallest regions in France but with the biggest population. This is due to the fact that Paris is set within its boarders. One of the most romantic cities in France, Paris ensures that the Ile de France region is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the country.
Paris Museums such as the Louvre, with its famous glass pyramid, are among the finest in the world and exhibit some impressive antiquities such as the Mona Lisa. The
Musée D' Orsay nearby, boasts a good collection of impressionist paintings by the likes of Van Gogh and Monet. The Seine river affords some excellent views of Paris that include the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame.
The surrounding countryside of Ile de France consists of green fields and dense forests. A collection of National Parks and forests such as the one at
Compiegne offer the visitor a glimpse of the beauty of the Ile de France region. French rural life is evident in the form of picturesque villages and scenic trails that wind their way through dense forestry and idyllic countryside.
Ile de France is also dominated by rivers and waterways such as the Marne and Ouse. These criss-cross their way through the area, while on their way to the Seine and are popular for river cruises and fishing. The
Château de Fontainebleau set in the forest of Fontainebleau is one of the most ornate and beautiful palaces in Europe and is also a major attraction. More information about popular Ile de France visitor attractions follows.
Ile de France visitor attractions
This region is geographically one of the smallest in France but one of the most populated urban areas in Europe and holiday makers renting cottages will find plenty there to see and do.
Paris, the city known as Europe’s style capital is the number one destination for tourists and is renowned as the international centre of fashion, Art, urban chic and haute cuisine.
Outdoor activities
The picturesque countryside and forests of the Ile de France provide plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. There are three National Parks and four National Forests all within a short distance of the Peripherique and affording the perfect setting for walking and boating.
The Seine is said to be the most romantic river in the world. Enjoy a cruise with
Bateaux Vedettes at Pont Neuf, boarding at Square de Vert-Galant.
There are around 440 miles of navigable waterways in this area and it is a great way to see all that this stunning region has to offer.
Disneyland Paris is obviously a must for children and there are several other theme parks which are also sure to be a hit. Paris is compact, making it easy to go sight seeing and the
Metro is cheap and user friendly. West of the city, the Bois de Boulogne is a 2,136 acre park - a huge tract of countryside perfect for strolling, riding and.cycling.
Food and drink
The restaurants, cafes and bars in Paris cater for everyone’s tastes and you will find traditional French food - moules, cassoultes and omelettes alongside Asian, Chinese, Japanese and North African food. Azabu, a Japanese restaurant in the
Rue Andre Mazet is renowned for its sizzling hot plates and offers a reasonably priced lunch time menu which includes soup and rice.
Allard in the rue St Andre des Arts is a favourite Parisian bistro - specialities are turbot and duck and
Les Deux Magots, a famous café in place St Germain des Pres, was a favourite of Picasso and Hemingway. For the best views in Paris, eat at Le Jules Verne - halfway up the
Eiffel Tower, with a world menu; it's very expensive but worth it for a special occasion.
History and Culture
Paris is more than 2,000 years old and Gauls settled there between 250 and 200 B.C. The city was conquered by Julius Caesar in 52 B.C. The first king of Paris was Hugues Capet and Paris became independent in the 14th century,
The Storming of the Bastille, a turning point in French history took place in 1789 when the country became a republic and it was occupied during World War II by the Germans.
There is much to see in the city and Notre Dame and
Sacre Coeur, open daily, are popular tourist venues.
The Louvre with its stunning glass pyramid houses a rich collection of treasures, including the Mona Lisa.
The Jardin de Tuileries is worth visiting and no trip to Paris would be complete without a view of the city from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Just 25 minutes away from the city centre is the magnificent chateau of Versailles, with its famous Hall of Mirrors.
