France attractions

One of the oldest belfries in France—and among Bordeaux’s most recognizable landmarks—the Grosse Cloche (the Big Bell) is a veritable symbol of the city. Dating back to the 13th century and located right in the city center, the belfry used to serve as a defensive gate and prison; what’s left of the old ramparts and dungeons can be visited on select dates throughout the year.

A mecca for literature fans, Shakespeare and Company Bookstore is famous for being a gathering spot of literary greats such as Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, and Gertrude Stein. Today, this charming independent bookstore draws both locals and tourists seeking out new and second-hand English-language books. With its vintage ambiance, cozy café, and riverside location near Notre-Dame, it’s a go-to destination for book lovers from around the world.

An expansive green space that stretches between the Eiffel Tower and the Military Academy (École Militaire), the Champ de Mars has been an important public park since the 18th century, serving as a backdrop for World Fairs and Olympic Games. The riverside site has a far more tranquil reputation today, thanks to its gardens, fountains, and picnic-friendly lawns overlooking the Eiffel Tower.

Founded in 1743, Moët & Chandon is the world’s best-selling Champagne, producing so many bottles that the company claims someone opens one every second somewhere in the world. The Moët & Chandon Cellars in Epernay, France, extend for 17 miles (28 kilometers) through the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Champagne landscape, and are the largest in the Champagne region. No less a figure than Napoleon drank Champagne here.

Tourrettes-sur-Loup, an ultra-charming fortified hilltop village in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France, consistently makes every list of day trips from Nice. In the tiny pedestrian-only medieval center, a warren of narrow streets are lined with stone homes, many ground-floor shops, art galleries, craft workshops, and open-air cafes.

At the foot of Fourviére Hill, the historical streets of Old Lyon (Vieux Lyon) offer a welcome change of pace from the modern city across the river. With elegant medieval churches, Renaissance-era monuments, and pastel-painted facades, this is Lyon’s most atmospheric district.

The only battery on the Normandy coast to have preserved the guns and casements precisely as they stood in 1944, Longues-sur-Mer is unique. Between the famous landing beaches of Gold and Omaha, it was the target of over 1,500 bombs by Allied forces during the D-Day landings and was taken over by the Allies on June 7, the day after D-Day.

Located across from the Louvre Museum in the heart of Paris, the Palais-Royal is a 17th-century architectural highlight known for its scenic gardens and regal heritage. As its name suggests, the palace used to house French royalty, but it’s now used for government affairs. Luckily, you don’t have to be a government employee to visit—Palais-Royal’s shop-filled galleries, outdoor art installations, and oasis-like gardens are a popular public meeting place.

One of the highlight outlet shopping malls of the Greater Paris region, La Vallée Village is located in Marne-la-Vallée, very close to Disneyland® Paris. Home to over 110 boutiques from a range of brands and designers, and featuring discounts of at least 33 percent, the mall is popular among budget-conscious fashionistas.

The Paris Catacombs (Catacombes de Paris) date back to the 1700s, when the ossuary was formed from an old underground quarry. Over the years, more and more remains were brought here from overcrowded cemeteries to make room for the city’s development, up until 1860. For those with an interest in all things macabre, it’s a fascinating look at a former burial practice.

Built in the 13th century, the Bordeaux Cathedral (Cathédrale St. André is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its role in the religious and cultural development of Bordeaux. Eleanor of Aquitaine married Louis VII here. Her wealth benefited both the city and the cathedral, which was subsequently enlarged and lavishly decorated.

Delighting audiences since 1860, Au Lapin Agile is one of the oldest and most beloved cabarets in Paris. The 2-story cottage in Montmartre is emblematic of the bohemian district and is famed for once attracting a loyal following among artists such as Modigliani, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Utrillo. Picasso was another regular, and he immortalized the haunt in his 1905 painting, At the Lapin Agile, which now hangs at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met).

The northernmost wine district in Burgundy is not only home to some of the most sought-after vintages—it’s also beautiful. Nicknamed the “Golden Door of Burgundy,” this tiny village is full of remarkable edifices, including the City Hall, the Porte-Noël, St Martin’s Church, and the Maison de l’Obédiencerie, with its ancient wooden press.

One of only two Seine islands in Paris (the other is the neighboring Île de la Cité), Île Saint-Louis is a tranquil oasis in the city center. Most of its cityscape dates back to the 17th century, and it’s known for its scenic quays, elegant residences, and unhurried pace. Long a retreat for the city’s wealthy, Île Saint-Louis still retains its aristocratic allure, and its townhouse-lined streets are a lovely place to stroll.

The Strasbourg Cathedral of Notre Dame (also known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg, or simply, Strasbourg Cathedral) is the second most-visited cathedral in France, after Notre Dame in Paris. Up to 4 million people visit each year to admire its 465-foot (142-meter) spire and dramatic red facade sculpted from Vosges sandstone.

The Château d’Amboise isn’t the only castle worth exploring in Amboise. Though smaller, the nearby Château du Clos Lucé enjoys an outsize reputation, thanks to its famous former resident: Leonardo da Vinci lived his last years here before his death in 1519. Today, the castle showcases exhibitions dedicated to the artist and inventor.

Few Roman monuments are as striking as Pont du Gard, a 3-tiered bridge that has spanned the Gardon since the first century. It was once part of a 31-mile (50-kilometer) Roman aqueduct network that carried water to the city of Nimes. Today, visitors come to this UNESCO World Heritage Site to admire its extraordinary engineering while exploring an on-site museum, scenic walking trails, river beaches, and spectacular viewpoints.

Built in 1687 by famed architect Mansart, the serene, pink-colonnaded Grand Trianon, was created for Louis XIV as a tranquil getaway from the pressures of court life. While the Grand Trianon is open to the public, it is also an official residence of the French President.

The Aiguille du Midi peak sits at a dizzying 12,391 feet (3,777 meters), and it’s the closest point to the Mont Blanc summit that everyday sightseers can reach. It’s accessible via the 2-stage cable car ride, which takes around 20 minutes to whisk you to the peak, where viewing platforms, photo attractions, and a gondola to Italy await. Serious skiers also use the cable car to reach the start point for the off-piste Vallée Blanche descent.

From its position on the Western Front, the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial commemorates the thousands of Newfoundland soldiers who died in World War I. Near the site of the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel—where more than 700 of the 800-man battalion were killed or wounded—it’s a powerful place of remembrance.

Marie Antoinette made a bigger impact on Versailles than any other French queen—so much so that she had her own estate on the property. This area comprises the Petit Trianon, her personal palace away from her husband, and the Queen’s Hamlet, landscaped gardens set around a village of cottages on an artificial lake.

Overview Built in the 18th century, Bordeaux’s Grand Theatre is a well-known symbol of French culture. The ornate neoclassical building is used for theatrical and operatic performances and has also served as the location of the French parliament during times of war.

The only remaining mine crater from World War I that is open to the public, the massive Lochnagar Crater was created by a British underground detonation at precisely 7:28am on July 1st, 1916—kicking off the now-infamous Battle of the Somme. Visit this immense hole to get a feel for the scale of the destruction during this bloody battle.

With its cobblestone streets and rows of elegant townhouses flanking a central tree-lined park, Place Dauphine is the epitome of a Parisian square—albeit a triangular-shaped one. Come here on a sunny afternoon and you’ll find terrace cafés spilling out onto the triangular plaza and locals gathering to sip coffee, share a bottle of wine, and play a game of pétanque (boules) on the shaded lawn.

At the western end of the Tuileries Garden (Jardin des Tuileries), looking out across Place de la Concorde and the Seine River, the Musée de l’Orangerie has one of Paris’ most magnificent panoramas right on its doorstep. Brimming with impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces, it is best known for housing eight of Monet’s famous Water Lilies paintings.

Just along the coast from St. Tropez, Port Grimaud is a chic village purpose-built in the 1960s by architect François Spoerry. The town was designed to resemble a mini Venice with its network of canals and brightly painted buildings, and today it is a popular destination for visitors to the Côte d’Azur.

The most prestigious and largest cemetery in Paris, the Père Lachaise Cemetery (Cimetière du Père Lachaise) was founded in 1804. Today it’s the site of more than 70,000 ornate tombs, including those of some of France’s most important public figures, from writer Honoré de Balzac to actress Sarah Bernhardt. It’s also the final resting place of international luminaries, including Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde.

The French National Library started as the private collection of the royal court. After the French Revolution, revolutionaries claimed the vast library as the property of the French nation. The complex expanded in the 19th century. Today, it occupies several buildings and locations, forming one of the largest libraries in the world. The French National Library also contains a museum.

Stroll the cobblestoned streets of Old Town Lyon (Vieux Lyon) and Place St-Jean to discover the Lyon Cathedral (Cathédrale St-Jean). Among the draws of the 12th-century cathedral are stained-glass windows and a 16th-century astronomical clock. A top Lyon attraction, Cathédrale St-Jean is a must-see for Old Town visitors.

On the banks of the Bidasoa river, sheltered by Mount Rhune’s austere peak, Hondarribia is one of the most picturesque towns on the Basque coast. Close to the French border, just east of San Sebastián, this lovely walled fishing village is enjoying a gastronomical moment, with an explosion of noteworthy restaurants.