France is a fabulously romantic destination for Valentine’s Day. This year, the 14th February is a Sunday, so you still have time to make a proper weekend of it with your beloved.

As birds begin to mate in mid-February, so too should men and women exchange love letters and romantic tokens. That’s the Valentine tradition, which probably started during the Middle Ages in both France and England.  For 2016, here’s our top tips for romantic breaks in France:

Stay in the countryside around and dip into one of these romantic cities:

• Cahors - a beautiful setting beside the river Lot and a remarkable medieval bridge
• Annecy - a lake and canals to stroll by and mountain peaks to admire
• Lille - on the Eurostar route, has stylish shopping, art galleries and fine dining.
• St Etienne – great museums and history
• Tours – beautiful city for history and wine buffs
• Paris – especially for the The Eiffel Tower and the Gothic cathedral of Notre Dame

Visit a romantic landmark

• The Canal du Midi or Canal des Deux Mers traverses the south of France for 240 km
• The Gothic abbey of Mont St Michel in Normandy – narrow winding lanes that ooze history
• The standing stones at Carnac, Brittany

Romantic coastal hideaways

• Normandy/ Brittany with their harbours, coves and resorts in the north
  The sparkling Cote d’Azur in the south, flying into Nice or Toulon

Romantic chateaux
With its vineyards and fairytale chateaux, its tranquil countryside and gourmet restaurants, the Loire valley is one of France’s most romantic destinations

Adults only
Your peace and quiet will be guaranteed at an adults only cottage in the glorious countryside of the Dordogne in south west France

Romantic activity break
Take one of our activity holidays and combine leisurely romance with a meeting of minds in learning new skills or refreshing tired bodies through pampering and sport.