that's what the tour de france is about... maing commercial for the country- as a racer if you don't get among the top ten then your gage is merely a joke (2.300€ for peter luttenberger for place 12. or 13.- you gotta consider years of preparation and inhuman racing conditions- their accomodations are sometimes noting but a bad bad joke)

but as for the country france is extremely beautiful indeed- i loved the dune de pyla - the biggest sand dune in europe- it was great there!!!