France is one of the places where international students are flying to pursue their higher education. This lovely country is well-known for its traditions and cultural legacy, but it also ranks first in terms of technological advancement. 

In our collective imagination, France conjures up a unique set of associations. Everyone has their romanticized vision of France, from its urbane sophistication and history to its famed food and wine to its beautiful beauty - think craggy mountains and lush woods, golden beaches and turquoise oceans, rolling fields and strong rivers. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, this is reflected in its ranking as the world's most popular tourist destination.

Perhaps your impression of France is based on its illustrious intellectual and cultural legacy. After all, this is the country that gave us René Descartes and Jean-Paul Sartre, Marcel Proust and Albert Camus, Jean-Luc Godard and Jean Renoir as directors, and Claude Monet and Paul Cézanne as painters.

France has a strong cultural past as well as a thriving artistic, intellectual, and scientific culture. France is one of the world's main cultural, culinary, and literary centers. For all of these reasons, it is a popular destination for international students from all over the world. The top tourist attractions in France encompass:

• Eiffel Tower (Paris)
• Château de Versailles (Versailles)
• Mont Saint Michel (Normandy)
• The Côte d'Azur
• The Louvre (Paris)
• Mont Blanc (Western Europe’s largest mountain)

Students benefit from a world-class education as well as a smart and diversified atmosphere because of the school's unique history and culture. France is rich in cultural, philosophical, and scientific traditions, all of which make it an intriguing location for students looking for new experiences while studying. In addition to attracting international students, the French government helps them by offering financial aid for housing and other expenses.

France, as a significant name in the international market with home firms such as Airbus, Total, Orange, L'Oréal, Renault, and Capgemini, provides students tremendous job opportunities. Aside from that, several colleges in France have close industrial relations with global corporations and seek transnational recruiting.

Get ready to add to your bucket list while in France!

Getting the chance to study in the country of wine and cheese, France, is perhaps one of the most rewarding learning experiences of your life, so seize the opportunity and hold it close! Because this country provides you with a plethora of sites to visit after courses and on weekends. 

Apart from the obvious city, Paris, which would be at the top of any list of "must-see locations in France," there are several monuments, museums, and churches in other towns that foreign students in France should see. Each city has its distinct flavor, from Aix's cobblestone streets to Nice's beaches. Each has its study abroad programs and chances. 

Paris: the world's top destination -- for all good reasons

Getting the chance to study in the country of wine and cheese, France, is perhaps one of the most rewarding learning experiences of your life, so seize the opportunity and hold it close! Because this country provides you with a plethora of sites to visit after courses and on weekends. Apart from the obvious city, Paris, which would be at the top of any list of "must-see locations in France," there are several monuments, museums, and churches in other towns that foreign students in France should see.

The Eiffel Tower is both a symbol of Paris and a symbol of the city. It's a shame to visit France without seeing the country's most iconic monument! The higher you climb the tower, the more you learn about Paris. Students may get reduced tickets to the Eiffel Tower. The ticket lift access (until the 2nd level) costs 7.50 Euros per person for a school group of at least 10 (not more than 24 years old), and the ticket lift entry (to the top) costs 13.50 Euros per person for a school group of at least 10 (not more than 24 years old).

Hit the beaches of France’s most glamorous coastline, the Côte d’Azur

What is the greatest way to characterize the glitz and glam of the Côte d'Azur? Imagine yourself locked within a Duran Duran video. Put on your most absurdly huge pair of aviators and walk down to the beach if that seems like a dream come true. Give the Côte d'Azur a miss if it sounds like hell on earth.

However, if you're a celebrity spotter or a film enthusiast, you might want to visit the calm coastal resort town of Cannes before fully avoiding the Côte d'Azur. Each year in May, a slew of designer-clad movie stars and bespectacled auteurs descend on the Cannes Film Festival, trailed by a swarm of frantic paparazzi.

Do the Vendanges (picking grapes to make wine)

Wine is one of France's most recognized exports, and creating it isn't simply a job for traditional French winemakers; it's an old art form that dates back to the 6th Century BC.

Working at Les Vendanges is common student employment in France during the summer vacation. It might be a terrific opportunity to boost your earnings, spend time in the beautiful French countryside, and meet new people.

Better yet, schedule a trip with a group of friends or classmates. Work in the vines for a few weeks, learn everything there is to know about French winemaking – and a few French phrases in the process – stay in shape, top up your tan, and make some extra cash. That's a lot better than the typical summer telemarketing job!

Lyon, the gastronomic capital of France

Lyon is France's second-biggest city, with a population of over three million people. Lyon, which is located at the gorgeous confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers and has a wonderful medieval center that is brilliantly lighted after dark, is also recognized as France's gourmet capital, which is quite a claim. Prepare to significantly boost your intake of crazily rare steak and frighteningly pungent cheese if you're an undergraduate student studying abroad at one of Lyon's many elite colleges.

Lyon, on the other hand, is a busy contemporary city with vibrant nightlife and a thriving underground jazz scene. Lyon also boasts a lively student environment, with six universities. While Paris may receive the majority of the focus, Lyon also provides an exquisite atmosphere for those wishing to study abroad in France – and for those already studying in France, a visit to Lyon is a vital part of your stay.

Sun, sand, smile, and surf at Biarritz

Biarritz, on the southwest coast of France, is known not only for its attractive town center, sun, beach, and world-class surfing but also for its intriguingly blended culture. Biarritz, located just a few miles from the Spanish border, is at the intersection of three cultures: French, Spanish, and Basque.

Paella, Basque flags, and pelota cohabit with a French speed and atmosphere. The city's famed rugby union team, Biarritz Olympique, is also more historically French and is one of Europe's top club sides. If you're new to the sport, a trip to the Parc des Sports Aguiléra might be a great way to get started.

Pay your respects at the battlefields of the Somme

With all of the aesthetic, cultural, and social charms of studying abroad in Europe, it's important to know that this now generally flourishing and peaceful continent was the scene of two of humanity's most catastrophic conflicts: World War One and World War Two. The poppy plantings and oceans of white headstones that cover the battlefields of northern France and Belgium (the former 'western front' in World War One) guarantee that the region has a solemn aura even after the final shots have been fired.

The Battle of the Somme, which took place during World War One, attracts the majority of tourists to the battlefields. It has several significant memorials dedicated to the estimated 1.5 million individuals who lost their lives there. While it may not be the most 'fun' activity you can do while studying abroad in France, make sure you visit these historically significant sites, if only to gain a sense of the scope of the battles and the number of lives lost.

Bask in the opulence of the Château de Versailles

The Château de Versailles is a sumptuous reminder of the pomp and grandeur of France's royal history, located barely 20 kilometers southwest of Paris. The palace, which served as the seat of the royal court from 1682 until 1789, is a maze of beautiful gardens, gold-encrusted decoration, and majestic, symmetrical architecture.

The huge palace grounds are well worth a visit in addition to the spectacular palace with its collection of exquisite art and royal artifacts. Every year, three million people visit Versailles, and a trip back in time to the luxurious luxury of Louis IX and Marie Antoinette's court is an essential part of your study abroad experience in France.

Indulge in France’s legendary food and drink – from haute cuisine to rustic bread and cheese

Former President Jacques Chirac caused a sensation a few years ago when he made some disparaging remarks about gourmet standards over the water in the United Kingdom. Though he may have harmed British (and Finnish) food, there's no denying that the French can teach most countries a thing or two when it comes to eating and drinking properly.

The only challenge for some will be that the concept of being a vegetarian has traditionally been difficult for the French to grasp. Vegetarian restaurants abound in Paris, although vegetarians in rural regions, in particular, may have to improvise.

Marvel at Mont Blanc  - or ski on it

Mont Blanc is the biggest mountain in Western Europe, the crown jewel of the Alps, and a snowy-peaked monster whose angular beauty famously floats English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley's boat. Mont Blanc, at 4,810 meters above sea level, towers over the French-Swiss border. However, the mountain is more than simply a picture opportunity or a source of lyrical reverie; it is also a popular sports and leisure destination, with hiking, skiing, snowboarding, and climbing among the most popular activities.

Taking the Aiguille du Midi cable car from Chamonix could be a far safer, warmer, and less exhausting way of taking in the most dramatic alpine views Europe has to offer for those who don't fancy the daunting task of scaling the mountain by hand and foot (you'll need to seriously know what you're doing and be part of an organized expedition before you even consider doing so).

Take in the Tour De France – and if you’re feeling inspired, why not have a tour of your own?

Since 1903, the French countryside has served as the picturesque background for the world's most famous cycling race, the Tour de France. The tour's precise route changes each year, but in 2010, 16 teams of lycra-clad racers will begin in Rotterdam, Netherlands, before pedaling south and completing three weeks and more than 3,500 kilometers later at the Champs Elysee in Paris.

Before getting down to the nitty-gritty – the grueling mountain stages in the Alps and Pyrenees - the 'peloton' passes through the undulating hills and green beauty of the Ardennes and the vineyards of the Loire.

Why not go on your small trip if you're already a cycling fan or if you're just inspired by watching the tour? There's a reason why France hosts the world's most renowned cycling race: it's a gorgeous nation to bike through, with some of Europe's most stunning and varied terrain and countryside.