I was in France 30 years ago. A friend (Frenchman who served in North Africa) told me that he thought the entire Middle East should be nuked. It was so wonderful back then.
I am planning a trip back next year but am stumped at where to go this time.
The Loire Valley is nice this time of year, if you like chateaus and (white) wine-tasting. Normandy looked fantastic when the Tour de France rolled-through last week, so if military history is your gig....