It's more fun in the south! With cities like Nice, Cannes and Monaco famous for their weather, beaches, parties and money, Southern France is an experience. But I was sure there was more to France's bottom half than just the posh Mediterranean coast so I used my France Railpass to explore the towns of Provence and the Languedoc region. Arles in Provence in home to a 2000 year old Roman Amphitheatre that rivals Rome's Colleseum, was home to Vincent Van Gogh during his prime and has one of the best Saturday markets in a region known for good food. Pick up a Van Gogh walking tour map from the tourist information office and you'll learn why everything looks so familiar. His paintings "The Starry Night" and "Café Terrace at Night" are both scenes from Arles. The biggest must do in Provence is a picnic, buy some local wine, olives, bread, cheese and a selection of fresh fruits from the countryside. Bonne Appetit! Carcassone is an amazing find in the Languedoc region near Spain. The town has a walled medieval city that was built in 1125, remains in perfect condition and is now home to many courtyard restaurants and little shops. Carcassone puts on a great Bastille Day fireworks celebration annually on July 14th, the walls of the city are lit up and fireworks explode into the sky above its' turrets. It's amazing! Accommodation in the medieval city is limited, but backpackers are in luck because there is a great Hostelling International hostel right in the centre of the old city, which means that after the tour buses pull away you have the city to yourself to explore. I met two American girls there and we spent a few days exploring the town, eating the regional specialty Cassoulet (a bean stew) and sipping Patis the licorice flavored regional beverage. Rosey Marketing Coordinator, Canada