Avignon: once the capital of the Christian world, this delightful town has a 14th Century Papal Palace. The town's 12th century bridge (le pont d' Avignon) has inspired what is probably France's best known folksong, learnt in classrooms around the world. Avignon also hosts a yearly summer festival, which is a major showcase for European theatrical talent and which deserves its world-wide reputation.

Chamonix is both a narrow valley at the foot of Mont Blanc and a lively alpine town with a wide variety of restaurants, bars and shops. It advertises itself as the 'world centre of mountaineering and off-piste skiing'. It is also a major European centre for hiking, mountain-biking, paragliding and most other outdoor sports. It is just 15 minutes from the borders with Switzerland and, using the Mont Blanc tunnel, with Italy.

Grenoble, the major city in the French Alps, hosted the 1968 Winter Olympics and attracts students from around the world. It has a rich cultural heritage but also enjoys a very high-tech profile in the computer and micro-chip industries.

Lyon, a 2000 years old city is second only to Paris. Its excellent facilities include splendid museums, a first class university, delightful old buildings and elegant shopping quarter. There is much to enjoy in Lyon, including sampling some of is gastronomic delights.

Montpellier: only a few kilometres away from the Mediterranean, this ancient city is home to one of France's biggest universities. A vibrant, lively city bathed in sunshine, it is an obvious choice for many students.

Nice is a fashionable resort whose genoese style architecture dates from the Middle Ages. It is home to many first class museums, such as the Musée Matisse and the Musée Chagall. The city also makes a good base for visiting popular Riviera resorts like Cannes and Monaco.

Perpignan's architecture has a strong Spanish flavour, with palm trees and squares paved with marble. It has a fun, friendly atmosphere and is ideally situated for exploring the Pyrenees.