The echoing halls of an art deco terminal that once welcomed arriving transatlantic liners now house one of Cherbourg’s star attractions, Cité de la Mer, a modern, interactive maritime museum. Exhibits include submarines—among them Le Redoutable, the world’s largest tourable sub—aquariums, displays on the Titanic and emigration, and films on Normandy and the D-Day landings.
Housed in the Palais de la Bourse, the former Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the enchanting Maritime and Commercial Museum of Marseille focuses on the city’s modern maritime history, which spans the last 500 years or so, and provides a fascinating look into what has made Marseille a major player in the worldwide maritime economy.
The Normandy town of Bayeux is artistically best-known for its 11th-century tapestry depicting the Norman Conquest, but don’t overlook the Baron Gérard Museum of Art and History (MAHB), a destination for art enthusiasts. The museum houses around 5,000 art objects from as many years of art history in Europe and France—with a particular focus on Normandy—all in a beautiful old palace.
Marseille's Contemporary Art Museum (MAC) features paintings sculpture, video and other installations. from the mid-20th century to the present, with frequent temporary exhibitions highlighting the work of new and emerging artists from around the world. With an emphasis on French artists, come here to catch up on the current arts scene.
Situated on Place Darcy in Dijon, Porte Guillaume— also known as William's Gate—is a large stone arch, sometimes likened to Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. It was built in the 18th century on a spot where old city walls once stood and is considered the gateway into Dijon’s pedestrianised center.
The central focus of Marseille’s Place Castellane, the Fontaine Castellane (Castellane Fountain) with its central column is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.
The largest and oldest cemetery in Bordeaux, Chartreuse Cemetery (Cimetiere de la Chartreuse) has graves dating back to the 18th century. With its mixture of grand tombs and simple graves, the cemetery offers a slice of Bordeaux history as well as quiet contemplation. You won't find as many notable graves in this cemetery as you would in larger cemeteries across France, but it's a peaceful place to stroll.
Spread out over 37 acres (15 hectares), Jurques Zoo (Zoo de Jurques) houses about 700 creatures from around the world. Here you can see everything from pumas to Humboldt penguins, along with a wide variety of snakes, primates, and birds, as well as an Australian aviary filled with colorful parakeets.
With its ancient roots as the oldest city in France, Marseille is the perfect city to host the Museum of African, Oceanic and American-Indian Art. Housed the Baroque-style Vieille Charité, originally a poorhouse dating back to the late 17th century, the museum features striking ethnographic pieces and ancient artifacts. Also inside the building is the excellent Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology.
Located in the heart of the Medieval fortified village of Les Baux-de-Provence, St. Vincent Church (Eglise St-Vincent is one of the town’s most interesting historic landmarks. This 12th-century church is partially carved into the rocky hillside and gives off a curious cave-like vibe with its three cavernous chapels and rock-carved baptismal font.
In the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region of Southeastern France, Castellane is many things: It’s France's least populated subprefecture; it’s a registered historical site dating back to the High Middle Ages; and it’s the Gateway to the Verdon Gorge (Gorges du Verdon), aka “Europe’s Grand Canyon,” a scenic area rife with hiking trails, overlooks, and rafting routes. While history lovers would be comfortable here, the town’s outdoors draw the most travelers.
This family-owned vineyard in the heart of Bordeaux wine country has produced high-quality cru bourgeois wines since 1932. Boasting the same gravel-and-limestone clay soils as big-name neighbors Château Margaux and Château Rauzan-Ségla, the estate is known for blended red wines using cabernet, merlot, and petit verdot grapes.
First discovered in 1902 by quarry workers, the Caves of Thouzon (Grottes de Thouzon) near Avignon are sometimes known as the “Fairy Caves” (“Grottes aux Fées”), owing to their unusual rock formations. Visit the subterranean landmark as a striking way to cool off in the summer or stay dry on a rainy day in Provence.
Go on a subterranean adventure at the Baume Obscure Cave (Grotte de Baume Obscure), part of a vast limestone ridge that runs along the French Riviera. See the cave’s many striking rock formations and experience the Souterroscope, a sound-and-light installation along its walkways.
Found inside the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, the National Sport Museum is a space where sports fans can comb through the history of French sports. Exhibits are arranged into four sporting themes—individual, one-against-one, collective, and beyond limits—offering visitors a way to view artifacts related to favorite sports such as soccer or skiing without much bother.
Built in 1912, this lavish casino is in the heart of Deauville, overlooking the sandy beaches of the Normandy coastline. Slots and games can be played year-round, but the landmark offers more than gambling, including multiple restaurants, a theater, two bars, and a karaoke club.
Spread out over 18 hectares (44 acres), the Zoo d’Amnéville is an expansive animal park that's home to around 2,000 animals representing 360 species from five continents. Wander through the park at your leisure or pause to witness one of many demonstrations on offer, from birds-of-prey shows to gorilla feedings.
Inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic bookThe Little Prince, this destination is a theme park with a twist. Marketing itself as the world’s first “aerial park,” it offers rides and attractions designed to take you up into the sky.
Bourg—also known as Bourg-sur-Gironde—is considered one of the most scenic historic villages in southwestern France’s Gironde department. Poised on a rocky promontory overlooking the confluence of the Dordogne and Garonne rivers, the village was founded by the Romans in the 2nd century, and is also celebrated for its wine.
Frolic and unwind year-round at a vast indoor water park that includes numerous pools, spa and beauty areas, and a botanical garden. Les Antilles de Jonzac, located just a short distance north of Bordeaux, is the largest such facility of its kind in France, and boasts all kinds of aquatic and pampering options under one roof.
With its time-worn stone façade and stark interiors, the Eglise Notre-Dame-des-Sablons might not rank high on the list of France’s most beautiful churches—but it does hide a turbulent history. Ransacked by Protestants in the 16th century, used as barracks during the French Revolution, and finally restored in the 19th century, this Catholic Church has stood the test of time.
Drawing from three centuries of winemaking history, Maison Champy is not only one of the most prestigious of Burgundy’s Grand Cru wineries, it’s also the region’s oldest wine house. Established in 1720, the estate is known for its Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune wines, as well as its historic building, inspired by Gustave Eiffel.
Just south of Dijon's city center, Parc de la Colombière is a 17th-century green space with large grassy areas, meandering paths, and thousands of trees. Thanks to playgrounds and animal enclosures it's particularly popular with families, and there’s plenty of space for kids to run around.
In the shadow of the hilltop chateau of Rocamadour, Durandal Park offers a different kind of medieval attraction, with a spectacular schedule of equestrian shows. Daring, high-speed tricks and stunts, jousting displays, and medieval reenactments are all performed on horseback, ensuring a thrilling experience for all ages.
The sprawling sand-colored fortress around the old town of Aigues-Mortes is the Camargue region’s standout historical site. Built as a 13th-century defensive fortress at the behest of King Louis IV, the monument remains remarkably intact and well-maintained. Visitors today can scale the ramparts, walk the walls, and head up the spiral staircase inside Constance’s Tower.
Overlooking Lake Geneva near the border with Switzerland, the Casino d'Evian is a large complex featuring table and electronic games, live entertainment, and plenty of dining options. It's also known for its Belle Epoque architecture and beautiful frescoed interiors.
Originally a Franciscan convent and orphanage (used as a hospital during both world wars), this 19th-century Deauville landmark has been given new life as an arts and culture center. The historic venue hosts events, exhibitions, and workshops throughout the year, and has a shop for local crafts, books about Deauville, and other unique items.
Between Place de la Bourse and Place des Quinconces, Quai Louis XVIII forms a picturesque stretch of Bordeaux’s riverfront quays. Flanked by elegant neoclassical facades and historic buildings to the west, and the Garonne river to the east, it’s one of the city’s most notable boulevards and a scenic spot to walk, cycle, or drive.
Originally constructed in the 17th century, and remodeled during the Second French Empire in the 19th century, this church in Fontainebleau continues to serve as a house of worship to this day, with regular services for the local community.
This 200-mile (322-kilometer) scenic road follows a portion of Napoleon Bonaparte’s 1815 journey across France when he escaped exile in Italy and marched from the Côte d'Azur to Paris to overthrow the monarchy of Louis XVIII. Today, drivers follow the landscape-diverse route from the seaside to Provence to the French Alps—with plenty of medieval villages and mountain views.
