France attractions

Soaring up out of the bay, Mont-St-Michel seems as dramatic today as it must have been to its medieval pilgrims, who braved quicksand and strong tidal waves to reach it. Today, visitors cross the bay by easier means (shuttle bus or walking with a guide) to see historical treasures inside its intact fortress walls. For many, a highlight of the UNESCO–listed island is the abbey, where nuns and monks keep Mont-St-Michel’s religious heritage alive.

On the Right Bank of the Seine River, flanked by the Tuileries Garden and the Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde is the largest square in Paris. The infamous guillotines of the French Revolution were located here, but today it’s best known for striking monuments and storied architecture. Stroll through the sweeping square to admire the ancient Luxor Obelisk, monumental Fontaine des Mers and Fontaine des Fleuves, and palaces-turned-hotels.

An instantly recognizable symbol of Paris, the colossal Arc de Triomphe stands at the epicenter of Place Charles de Gaulle, where 12 of the city’s busiest avenues converge. The Napoleon-commissioned monument, adorned with high-relief sculptures depicting sword-wielding soldiers and inscribed with the names of generals and battles, commemorates French soldiers and military victories. The top of the arch, accessible via 284 steps, affords superb views over all of Paris.

Just north of popular Épernay, Hautvillers at first may seem like just another village in the countryside. But for true fans of sparkling wine, it’s a pilgrimage destination—as the birthplace of champagne. The town's Saint-Pierre Abbey is where Dom Pérignon first made the bubbly elixir; the abbey is now owned by Moët & Chandon.

Located above Omaha Beach, just outside Bayeux, the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is a moving World War II-era site. It’s the final resting place of almost 9,400 soldiers, the vast majority of whom lost their lives fighting the D-Day battles in Normandy in June 1944. Other WWII heroes are buried here as well, and 1,600 names are inscribed on the Walls of the Missing.

Paris’ Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin) is a popular historical area of the Left Bank. Home to the main Sorbonne University campus, this student-filled neighborhood is known for its arty, intellectual feel. The Latin Quarter was also frequented by Lost Generation luminaries including Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, as well as Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Pablo Picasso. Today, the area is distinguished by its buzzing cafés, lively restaurants, and must-see landmarks.

One of France’s most important World War II landmarks, Pointe du Hoc is best known for its role in the D-Day Landings. Today, the promontory overlooking the Normandy coast is a destination for history buffs, those with personal ties to the conflict, and others wishing to pay tribute to the many soldiers who lost their lives here.

The Pont des Arts—or Passerelle des Arts—boasts a long legacy as one of Paris’ most romantic bridges, famed for the “love locks” that couples once clipped to its railings. Conservationists have since put a halt to the practice, but the 19th-century bridge remains a popular spot for a romantic stroll with views along the Seine.

Instantly recognizable for its gigantic dome and snow-white facade, the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur—or Basilica of the Sacred Heart—is one of Paris’ most magnificent structures. Completed in 1914 and now a listed national monument, the basilica overlooks all of Paris from its perch on the Butte Montmartre (Montmartre Hill). Visitors are free to visit the church (quietly), after which they can admire the spectacular cityscape.

Built by King Louis IX to house the Crown of Thorns relic—now kept at nearby Notre Dame Cathedral—the 13th-century Sainte Chapelle is renowned for its striking Gothic architecture and some of Europe’s most renowned stained glass windows. The magnificent windows are a true masterpiece, with 15 bay windows towering five stories high and more than a thousand stained glass scenes bathing the chapel in a kaleidoscope of color.

The tree-lined Avenue des Champs-Élysées is one of the world’s most famous boulevards and one of Paris’ most magnificent sights. Stretching in a straight line all the way from the proud Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, the avenue draws visitors as much with its elegant architecture as with the boutiques, hotels, and restaurants that line it.

Île de la Cité lies at the historic center of Paris, in the middle of the Seine River. Visitors come to this natural island to see a variety of top landmarks, such as the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Palais de Justice, and Sainte-Chapelle. It’s also notable for being the birthplace of Paris, where the Parisii tribe created a settlement nearly 2,300 years ago.

Few buildings are as synonymous with the extravagance of France’s Second Empire as the Palais Garnier, the grande dame of Paris opera houses. The historic home of the Paris Opera and the inspiration behind Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, it’s best known for its grand auditorium, where you can sit beneath a magnificent Marc Chagall ceiling painting and a dazzling, 7-ton chandelier—the weight of an actual elephant!

French luminaries such as Victor Hugo, Voltaire, and Molière all lived in Le Marais, and the lively neighborhood remains a hub of art, fashion, and culture. Established in the 12th century, it’s one of the oldest districts in Paris, with boutiques, art galleries, and museums lining the narrow medieval lanes and picturesque squares flanked by elegant Renaissance-style buildings. The district is also home to the historic Jewish Quarter and a thriving LGBTQ+ scene.

Expect bright lights, extravagant costumes, and raucous music at the world-famous Moulin Rouge. Opened in the Belle Époque of 1889 to celebrate Paris’ thriving creative scene, the windmill-slash-cabaret hall has never stopped basking in fun and frivolity. As a staple of Parisian nightlife, an unforgettable evening at the Moulin Rouge is a must on any traveler’s France itinerary.

Once a royal palace and later a prison, the Conciergerie offers a haunting yet fascinating look into the city’s (and nation’s) past. Step inside the Gothic halls where Marie Antoinette and other prisoners awaited their fate, and explore vaulted chambers, reconstructed prison cells, and exhibits that bring the French Revolution to life. The landmark’s riverside setting on the Île de la Cité and striking architecture make it both a historical and visual highlight in central Paris.

The opulence of the Palace of Versailles reaches its peak in the Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces)—a 240-foot-long (73-meter-long) ballroom with 357 mirrors adorning 17 huge arches on one side and 17 arcaded windows overlooking the formal gardens on the other. It was also the location of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which formally ended World War I.

The Château de Chenonceau is France’s second-most-visited castle (after Versaille). The 16th-century UNESCO-listed castle is built over the Cher river, on top of a series of bridge-like arches, and looks like the scene of a fairy tail. The building is also famous for its relationship with the many powerful women who designed and owned it.

The largest and most-visited castle among the 300 found in the Loire Valley, Château de Chambord is a grandiose example of French Renaissance architecture. Commissioned by King Francis I in 1519, and part of the region’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, the 426-room castle includes a moat and French formal garden.

A household name for both its opulent architecture and political importance, Hôtel de Ville has been home to Paris’ city council since the 14th century. Its neo-Renaissance facade is a Le Marais landmark, and its well-appointed interiors include a replica of Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors. Having survived numerous wars and revolutions over the centuries, the city hall now hosts important exhibitions and events throughout the year.

A scenic hub from which to discover the UNESCO-listed Châteaux of the Loire Valley, historic Amboise is also well worth exploring. The market town was once frequented by the likes of Leonardo da Vinci and Joan of Arc, and is best known for its own castle—the Château d’Amboise, former home of King Francis I.

The Panthéon is one of Paris’ most striking monuments. Originally built as a church dedicated to Saint Genevieve, the site is now a mausoleum containing the remains of some of France’s most revered artists and writers, including Rousseau, Voltaire, Victor Hugo, and Dumas. Admire its magnificent triple dome, then head inside to explore the crypt, Foucault’s pendulum, and views of the city and the Eiffel Tower from the top.

Place du Tertre is among the oldest and most important squares in Paris’ bohemian Montmartre neighborhood. Set just steps from Sacré-Coeur Basilica—close to where artists such as Picasso and Modigliani once lived and worked—the square bustles with buskers and street artists selling their wares. Naturally, its many sidewalk cafés are some of the best places to soak up Montmartre’s creative energy.

Of all the French capital’s many charming neighborhoods, Saint-Germain-des-Prés may be the most quintessentially Parisian. Its perfectly manicured Luxembourg Garden (Jardin du Luxembourg), centuries-old structures such as the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and intellectual haunts including Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore—where Hemingway, Sartre, Picasso, and Simone de Beauvoir frequented—are just a few of the things that have lured people to the artsy district for decades.

Brittany (Bretagne) is the westernmost region in France, a peninsula on the northwest coast that stretches out into the Atlantic. Home to destinations such as Rennes, which has a thriving student community; Brest, an off-the-beaten-path city; and the walled former island of Saint-Malo, Brittany is rich in history, naturally beautiful, and too often overlooked in favor of Paris and the French Riviera.

The smaller companion to the neighboring Grand Palais, the aptly named Petit Palais is both an art venue and an architectural landmark. Like the Grand Palais, the Petit Palais was initially built for the 1900 World’s Fair. Today, it houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris (the Fine Arts Museum of the City of Paris), which contains thousands of works that span from ancient times to the present day.

With more than 57 acres (23 hectares) of flower-lined lawns, formal French gardens, and shady chestnut groves, the Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg) are one of Paris’ most idyllic green spaces. It’s a great place for plant lovers, thanks to thousands of trees and blooms, including a large number of orchids. The gardens are also popular among families with young children, who can often be seen in large numbers floating miniature boats in the park’s central pond.

In the heart of Paris’ chic Le Marais district is Place des Vosges, one of the city’s oldest and most elegant squares—a wonderful place to picnic and people-watch. Its central park is surrounded by shop-filled arcades and distinctive red brick houses, commissioned by King Henry IV in the early 1600s and once inhabited by famous locals such as Victor Hugo, author of Les Misérables.

A stylish walkway monopolizing four miles (six kilometers) along the Bay of Angels, the Walk of the English (Promenade des Anglais or La Prom) is a Nice icon offering stunning views, enticing pit stops, and the best people-watching in the city. Grab your bike, skates, or shoes—and don’t forget your swimsuit—for a sunny afternoon in Nice.

A popular stop for French Riviera travelers en route to Monaco, Eze has all you need for a calm couple of hours. Its narrow alleys give way to medieval architecture and flower-bedecked stone houses, and there are plenty of terrace restaurants that satisfy you with Mediterranean Sea views alone. The village is also home to the historic Fragonard perfumery and the Exotic Garden of Eze, where tropical foliage abounds.