Lens A former mining town with distinctive slag heaps that can be seen for miles. Beer-drinkers must visit Page 24, an award-winning brewery. Lens is at the heart of the First World War battlefields and there are many war cemeteries.

Nantes Nantes’ most famous son is Jules Verne and his home is preserved as a museum. Rugby fans should head for Webb Ellis and Co, a rugby stronghold two streets west of Place du Commerce.

Montpellier Much of the centre is traffic-free, apart from the colourful trams and people on bicycles. Most fans will gather for pregame beer at Place Jean-Jaurès, ringed by English and Irish pubs.

Lyons You will find large screens and a party atmosphere at Place des Terreaux. Take the funicular up to the Fourvière district to enjoy the views and be sure to go inside the ornate Basilica of Nôtre-Dame de Fourvière.

St-Étienne Place Jean-Jaurès is the central square with a small park at the north end where crowds will gather to watch the big screen. Most Scots will be found at The Smoking Dog bar, the Irish will head to Le Saint Patrick, and the Americans to Little Rock Saloon, a country-style steakhouse.

Toulouse This year Toulouse’s rugby club celebrates its centenary. A special “Toulouse en liberté” discount card with deals on accommodation, meals, tourist sites, festivals, shopping has been issued. Screens will be set up in the central square and in Place Saint-Pierre.

Bordeaux The centre of the wine trade, but beer will be flowing at the many Irish bars. If you are looking for bars and big screens go to Place de la Comédie or Place de la Victoire. Place de la Bourse is the most beautiful spot in the city with its vast semicircle of harmonious 18th-century classical buildings that face the Garonne river.

Marseilles Vieux Port is the city’s horseshoe-shaped harbour with two fortresses standing at the entrance. In the bend of the horseshoe is the lively restaurant street, Quai des Belges. On the south side, Quai de Rive Neuve will be buzzing on match days.

Paris Paris has two stadiums: Stade de France and Parc des Princes. Stade de France is in St-Denis, just outside the périphérique. Parc des Princes is in southwest Paris near the Bois de Boulogne. St-Denis is hosting “Village Saint-Denis Rugbycolor”, where you will find beer gardens, restaurants, giant screens broadcasting all the matches, free concerts and fireworks. It will be open each weekend of the tournament. If you have had too much rugby, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and Pompidou Centre are among a long list of Paris’s fabulous galleries.

Don’t forget: Cardiff The Millennium Stadium is in the heart of Cardiff. The mix of bars and restaurants in the redeveloped Cardiff Bay is unrecognisable from the drinking dens that were there when the harbour was full of ships. Cardiff’s art gallery has the best collection of Impressionist paintings in Britain

Edinburgh With many fine galleries, museums, and a strong literary tradition, Edinburgh is popular all year round. The Old Town recalls its medieval origins with tall tenements, steep staircases, and cobbled lanes leading to hidden courtyards. The New Town has the main shopping street. Murrayfield stadium is southwest of the centre.

Information provided by Rugby World Cup 2007: Official Travel Guide published by The Purple Guide. Order for £12.99 at www.rugbyworld-cup2007guide.com.