But the real beauty of France, in many ways, lies in the seemingly endless list of travel treats elsewhere. The country’s natural gifts are striking, with white sands, hulking mountains and fecund swathes of rolling countryside. It’s a land that has inspired dreamers and drinkers, revolutionaries and artists, gastronomes and geniuses.

The country has some 2,900km (1,800 miles) of coastline.

Away from the mainland and Corsica, there are a number of French-administered overseas departments and regions outside of Europe. These include Guadeloupe (an island in the Caribbean), Réunion Island (located in the Indian Ocean just east of Madagascar), French Guiana (on the northeastern coast of South America), Martinique (another island in the Caribbean) and Mayotte (an island in the Mozambique Channel).

Currency

Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two-pin plugs are widely used.

General business opening hours

Generally Mon-Fri 0900-1200, 1400-1800.

2018

Jour de l’An (New Year’s Day): 1 January 2018
Pâques (Easter Sunday): 16 April 2018
Lundi de Pâques (Easter Monday): 17 April 2018
Fête du Travail (Labour Day): 1 May 2018
Fête de la Victoire (Victory Day 1945): 8 May 2018
Ascension (Ascension Day): 25 May 2018
Pentecôte: (Whitsunday): 4 June 2018
Lundi de Pentecôte (Whitmonday): 5 June 2018
Fête Nationale de la France (Republic Day): 14 July 2018
Assomption (Assumption Day): 15 August 2018
Toussaint (All Saints’ Day): 1 November 2018
Armistice 1918 (Armistice Day 1918):
11 November 2018
Noël (Christmas Day): 25 December 2018

All information subject to change.

Make-up, costumes and music are the main features of any Carnival. Dozens of dazzling floats and thousands of entertainers join the big procession through the streets of Strasbourg for this fun and festive annual event. Due to its proximity to Germany, the Carnival is particularly important in this part of France, as it marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The main parade sets out from the Quai du Général Koenig, winding its way to the Place Kléber two hours later. After live music acts, party-goers continue their revelry at bars and clubs long into the night.

Every year, for one night (usually some time in May), the city’s museums, as well the university museums, open their doors to the public free of charge between 1030pm and 1am. This is a nationwide initiative, which has been very well received in Strasbourg, as special activities, such as public readings, workshops and talks complement the conventional programmes. In Strasbourg, this event is accompanied by various music and light shows on many of Strasbourg’s beautiful buildings.

This music festival takes place in all major French cities, including Strasbourg, every year on the same date. First conceptualised in France by then Minister of Culture Jack Lang in 1981, this all-day-and-night celebration of music has become one of the most popular festival in Strasbourg. Artists, professional, amateur and anything in between, all take to the street to perform a plethora of musical styles.

National Day commemorates the fall of the Bastille and the beginning of French Revolution. The event is celebrated with an amazing fireworks show.

The Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival (SEFFF) takes place every year in September and focuses on fantasy, science fiction and horror films. The festival was initiated in 2008 and has gained momentum since, attracting tourists and fans from around the world. The festival now kicks off with the Great Strasbourg Zombie Walk to allow fans to enact their favourite movie genre. The walk’s popularity has propelled it into one of the largest in Europe.

This music festival is an ode to Strasbourg long musical and cultural heritage, as it mixes various styles and means of expressions, from contemporary music in all its diverse forms and orchestral pieces to rock, jazz and multimedia creations. Creation and freedom are the fundamental cornerstones of this festival that invites both artists and the public to experiment and question their understanding of music and to embrace the democratisation of culture in Strasbourg.

A vibrant festival of the best European, especially French, contemporary jazz players – with important links to Germany. The key here is diversity: it has around 30 concerts in 10 different locations with plenty of different nationalities, from French to German to American, plus different jazz styles.

This famous Christmas Market is fantastic. The little chalets huts that line the Place Broglie, Place de la Cathédrale and other side streets have been going for years. Vendors prepare for this special time months ahead and goodies can include anything from a glass of vin chaud (mulled wine) to warm snacks and a huge array of gifts, a handful of which are still produced locally. With over 300 stalls, this Christmas Market attracts more than 1.5 million visitors every year. Dotted all around the city, these markets are a great way to get into the holiday spirit and to get extra stocking-fillers.