France attractions

Founded in 1827, G. H. Mumm & Cie—one of the world’s largest and most-esteemed champagne houses—is a popular destination for oenophiles who are looking to sample and discover more about France’s world-class bubbly. Taste the winery’s famed Cordon Rouge Champagne and tour its underground caves as you learn the history of the House of Mumm.

From the island monastery of Mont Saint Michel to the Palace of Versailles, the France Miniature theme park on the outskirts of Paris is home to all of France’s most beloved tourist attractions and historical monuments—in miniature! More than a hundred 1:30 scale models are displayed in the park, laid out in a map of France, along with plenty of fun, interactive games and rides for children.

Originally known as the Jardin du Roi, the Jardin des Plantes was founded in 1626 as King Louis XIII’s personal herb garden. Today, the expansive botanical garden is the largest and most important in France, and it includes thousands of plant species, museums, a zoo, and more. It’s also one of the world’s oldest and grandest gardens; it has been delighting the public for almost 400 years.

Located across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower, the Paris Aquarium—also known as the Cinéaqua—is the most prominent aquarium in the city. Host to a shark tunnel, more than 10,000 marine species, a movie theater, and other attractions, it was founded in the 19th century, making it one of the world’s first aquariums. Visit this family-friendly destination to admire diverse critters that hail from French waters and overseas French territories.

The Fragonard Perfume Museum (Musée du Parfum), situated just steps from the iconic Opéra Garnier in Paris’s 9th arrondissement, offers an immersive and multisensory journey into the world of fragrance. Housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century townhouse, the museum is sponsored by Maison Fragonard, a legendary French perfume house established in Grasse—the historic capital of perfume—in 1926. Inside, visitors are treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the art and science of perfume-making.

This French Riviera city’s glamor is on full display at the Port of Cannes, whose docks are crowded with sleek motorboats, elegant sailboats, and luxurious yachts. Even if you’re not setting sail, the harbor—also known as the Old Port (Vieux Port)—is worth visiting in its own right, with its canopied cafés along the Quai Saint-Pierre and close proximity to La Croisette promenade and Le Suquet, the city’s historic quarter.

France’s longest and oldest canal, the Canal du Midi is both a feat of civil engineering and a popular sightseeing destination in the southern Occitanie region. Built by engineer Pierre-Paul Riquet in the late 17th century, the 150-mile (240-kilometer) waterway connects the Mediterranean with the Atlantic Ocean via the Garonne Canal.

The Battle of the Somme, fought over five months during 1916, was one of the bloodiest battles of World War I. The Somme 1916 Museum (Musée Somme 1916), set in medieval tunnels in the French town of Albert, includes a re-creation of the trenches and a first aid post, as well as photos, memorabilia, videos, and posed models.

Charles de Gaulle is one of the most celebrated Frenchmen of the past few centuries—and Lille’s Birthplace of Charles de Gaulle (Maison Natale de Charles de Gaulle) offers a glimpse into the early years of the French general and statesman. Visit his birthplace-turned-museum to see family keepsakes, documents, and other mementos.

Covering 64 acres (26 hectares in central Strasbourg, the Orangerie Park (Parc de l’Orangerie is the city’s oldest and biggest public park. Dating from the 18th century—and some claim—planted in 1804 to the plans of Versailles’ garden landscaper, André Le Nôtre, it offers flower-lined lawns, a lake, pavilion, stork sanctuary, and family attractions.

Set up in 1907 to preserve the region’s unique cultural heritage, Strasbourg’s Alsatian Museum (Musée Alsacien) is a fascinating tribute to Alsatian folk arts and traditions, with more than 5,000 items on display. Housed in a trio of 16th- and 17th-century timber-framed mansions, each of the museum’s rooms provides a snapshot of traditional Alsatian life.

In the heart of the Somme battlefields stands Château de Péronne, a historic castle that now houses the Museum of the Great War, or Historial de la Grande Guerre. Dedicated to World War I, this museum focuses on its history and effects, offering one of the most comprehensive overviews of this devastating conflict in the world.

The Musée du Luxembourg holds an important place in Parisian cultural heritage: It was the first public painting gallery in the capital and, later, its first museum of contemporary art. The museum is housed within the Orangery, a standalone building in the Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg), and hosts temporary exhibitions twice a year, making it a must-visit for traveling art lovers.

Paris’ business district is home to office buildings and other high-rise structures, developed in this area just outside the city limits to preserve the historical landscape of central Paris. Not many visitors make it out to La Défense, but those who do are rewarded with modern art and architecture that provide a new perspective on the city. Here, you’ll also find an open-air museum with 50 works of contemporary art.

Notre Dame de la Treille Cathedral in Lille is a Roman Catholic church that took almost 150 years to complete. The building is known for its modern stained glass panels and impressive organ.

With its 17th-century French Renaissance architecture, wine-making legacy, and idyllic setting within the UNESCO-listed Loire Valley, Château du Petit Thouars is the perfect addition to a Loire chateaux itinerary. The family-run winery offers food and wine-tasting tours, along with a traditional French château and vineyard setting.

While the original Château de Pierrefonds dates to the 14th century, the version that stands today is more modern. Commissioned by Napoleon III and designed by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century, the Château de Pierrefonds looks straight out of a medieval fairytale, with its crenellated towers and many turrets. Located within day-trip distance of Paris, it’s a must-visit for architecture buffs.

Within the Camargue region in the South of France, Les Saintes Maries de la Mer is located where the Rhône river meets the Mediterranean Sea. This popular summertime beach destination is a great base from which to explore the outstanding natural beauty of the coastline and natural reserve.

At the D-Day Experience, uncover the events that took place in Normandy on June 6, 1944. Explore the site’s two museums, including Dead Man’s Corner Museum. Then, find artillery equipment as you wander the grounds and follow in the steps of the 101st Airborne Division along a historical trail.

A modern-art gallery in Vence, near Nice, the Maeght Foundation (Fondation Maeght) has a special connection to Miró and features a wide variety of 20th-century artworks by the likes of Chagall and Kandinsky. Even the building itself is impressive, with clean-lined modern architecture and a mix of futuristic and Mediterranean elements, as well as indoor and outdoor spaces.

Flowing down from the Spanish Pyrenees all the way to France’s Atlantic coast, the Garonne is the most important river of southwestern France. Passing through two major cities—Toulouse and Bordeaux—the Garonne also runs into the Gironde estuary, the largest of its kind in Europe.

With its half-timbered houses and slate roofs, Beuvron-en-Auge exudes old-fashioned Norman charm—it’s even been officially designated one of the most beautiful villages in France. Antique shops, craft studios, and cafés dot the picturesque downtown, while the surrounding countryside is striped with lines of apple trees.

Montparnasse Cemetery (Cimetière du Montparnasse), Paris’ second-largest cemetery, sprawls across 47 acres (19 hectares) of gravesites that range from simple to elaborate, and cluster around elegant boulevards lined with linden, maple, and ash trees. Visitors come to pay their respects to greats, including Charles Baudelaire, Serge Gainsbourg, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir; some leave gifts and mementos on plots that have become unofficial public memorials.

One of Strasbourg’s most photographed buildings, Maison Kammerzell stands out for its unique architecture. Dating back to 1467 and largely rebuilt in the 16th century, the historic residence now houses a popular restaurant serving traditional Alsatian cuisine, along with a hotel.

One of the largest medieval enclosures in Europe, the massive walls of William the Conqueror's 11th-century Caen Castle thwarted invaders until the French swept in and recaptured not only the castle but the whole of Normandy in the mid-13th century. On a hill in what is now the city center, castle houses the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Normandy.

Housed in a grand 19th-century building, the Rouen Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des Beaux-Arts) is one of France’s finest art museums. The collection of drawings, paintings, and sculptures spans the 15th century to the present day. It includes works by Rubens, Caravaggio, Veronese, Velásquez, Tiepolo, Fragonard, Poussin, Degas, Monet, Pissarro, Modigliani, and Duchamp.

Located in the former University of Bordeaux Faculty of Arts and Sciences building, the Museum of Aquitaine (Musée d'Aquitaine) showcases the history of Bordeaux and its surroundings. From ancient artworks made of bone to a life-sized replica of a 21st-century grocery store, the museum's artifacts span prehistoric times to the present day, offering an in-depth look at life in this part of Southwest France.

Housed in a Frank Gehry-designed building, La Cinémathèque has one of the largest collections of films and movie memorabilia in the world. Trace the history of film, from its infancy to the modern age, via impressive exhibitions of costumes, props, posters, and cult objects—then catch a screening of a classic flick in the roomy theater.

A masterpiece of 12th-century Romanesque architecture, the Church of St. Trophime (Église St-Trophime) is among the highlights of the Provençal city of Arles, and part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. The church, which has long served as a pilgrimage site, was dedicated to Trophimus, the first bishop and later patron saint of Arles.

Take your place alongside royalty with a visit to Chateau Gaillard, one of the Loire Valley’s most celebrated palaces, commissioned by Charles VIII in 1496. The chateau is known for having some of the first Renaissance-style gardens in France, and today both its interior and grounds are open to visitors.