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 France is known for its beautiful wines, magnificent sights, delicious cuisine and world famous arts, but these delicacies aren’t the only thing available in every corner of France. Another passion that sweeps the whole nation is sport, and the French love it. Thirteen million French men and women are members of a sporting organisation of some kind and considering France’s population is only 61 million, this is a staggering amount. Whether it be football (soccer) - which is France’s most played, most watched and most loved sport - rugby union, cycling, F1 or tennis, whatever you prefer, France is sure to offer it.
 Stade de France, Paris
The club league in France is called ‘Ligue 1’. It consists of 20 teams, with the most successful clubs being Marseille, Lyon Bourdeaux, Lille and Paris St. Germain. If you wish to see a match, ticket prices will range from about €15 up to €50 – prices vary depending on the profile of the clubs playing. Games in Paris cost around €45 each, whereas if you wish to see a less popular (for example) St. Ettienne game, expect to pay around €25 each. At many locations family prices are available. Newspapers always have pages and pages of football – so picking a team to follow shouldn’t be difficult.
For more information visit http://www.frenchleague.com/indexSite.asp
Purchase your tickets to Ligue 1 football games - BUY NOW
Rugby Union: When the children of Paris play ‘union’ in the Eiffel Tower gardens, you know it must be popular. The French rugby stars are usual opponents for Australia and New Zealand. They have 14 club teams but it is the national games that always draw the biggest crowds. In February 2009, 80,000 supporters turned up at the Stade de France in Paris, to see the French narrowly beat the Welsh. Expect to pay from €25 to €70. Upcoming fixtures can be found at http://www.ffr.fr/index.php/ffr/accueil__1
Purchase your tickets to French Rugby games - BUY NOW
 Spain's Alberto Contador won the 2009 Tour de France
Purchase your tickets to the French Open tennis - BUY NOW
Cycling: Perhaps the reason that the French are great bike riders is that there is great scenery to ride through. The highly popular Tour de France illustrates this point. Every July, the French roads attract the best cyclists in the world in the race to Paris, and each year many Australians ride in the Tour. If you are interested in having your own biking adventure, bikes can be hired from all over France, whether it be in Paris or in the tranquil countryside or join an escorted cycling tour .
Join a cycling holiday in France - enquire here
Story by Josh Schonafinger
Photos courtesy livesoccertv.com and wikipedia.org
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