France has more than 500 different kinds of cheese and more than 450 types of wines. France is western Europe's largest and probably its most diverse country. Each of France's 22 regions has its own culture and scenery, its own style of architecture and art, its own gastronomy and lifestyle, and, in many cases, its own dialect. This delightful diversity is what makes travel in France so intriguing. © 2009, The Globe Pequot Press, LaVerne Ferguson-Kosinski Information by Europe by Eurail
The French lead the world in rail technology. French National Railroads (SNCF) operates some 21,000 miles of rail lines. Paris has six major railway stations, but travelers using rail passes will arrive in either Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est, Gare de Lyon, Gare d'Austerlitz, or Gare Montparnasse. Gare du Nord is the gateway to the channel ports of Calais and Boulogne plus Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and London via Eurostar. Gare de l'Est is the gateway to eastern France, Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, and Switzerland. Gare de Lyon is the gateway to the Riviera, southern France, Italy, and western Switzerland. Gare d'Austerlitz is the gateway to central and southwest France as well as Spain and Portugal. French National Railroads accepts the variety of Eurail passes and France Railpasses. © 2009, The Globe Pequot Press, LaVerne Ferguson-Kosinski Information by Europe by Eurail
