France attractions

The jagged shorelines between Marseilles and La Ciotat are home to calanques, a coastline of thin teal fjords flanked by craggy limestone cliffs. While many countries have rugged, beautiful beaches, few are more scenic than those at Calanques National Park. As such, the region attracts thousands of visitors each summer who seek out sun-bleached pebble coves, boat around remote bays, and hike amid green vegetation on the inland trails.

The largest Commonwealth memorial to the missing in the world, Thiepval commemorates the 72,195 missing or unidentified British and South African men who died in the Battles of the Somme between 1915 and 1918. This soaring memorial arch, among the most important World War I sites in the Somme, is a must-see for enthusiasts of WWI history.

Eclectic and edgy Montparnasse is one of Paris’ most interesting districts, home to museums, monuments, and the city’s only skyscraper. Located in the 14th arrondissement on the Left Bank, it was famously the stomping grounds of artists and intellectuals in the early 20th century, many of whom now rest in Montparnasse Cemetery.

Built in 1653 by Cardinal de Richelieu, the impressive La Sorbonne building in Paris’ Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin) houses classrooms for several universities, including the University of Paris. In addition to a historical library, the Sorbonne campus—the intellectual heart of the student-filled district—features a chapel and an airy courtyard. Though the complex is not open to the public, you can admire the exterior of this famed scholarly hub.

The Pont de l’Alma crosses over the River Seine in the center of Paris, connecting the Champs-Élysées area to the Les Invalides monument, where Napoleon Bonaparte is buried. Although it was built to commemorate the Battle of Alma in the Crimean War, the bridge is better known these days as the site where Princess Diana died in a car crash.

La Madeleine, located in the heart of Paris, is a striking neoclassical Catholic church that was designed as a tribute to Napoleon’s army and its victories. With its impressive grand columns and Greek temple–style design, it’s a big draw for architecture lovers, history buffs, and photographers alike. Parisians attend regular services here, as well as weddings, high-profile funerals, and concerts.

Originally built for the 1937 Universal Exhibition, the Palais de Chaillot houses an array of Paris’ top cultural attractions, including a national theater, multiple museums, and even an aquarium. The landmark building, renowned for its art deco design, stands directly across the River Seine from the Eiffel Tower, and its terrace is a popular photo spot. Admire the building from the outside or go inside to explore its institutions.

The Rodin Museum (Musée Rodin) opened in 1919, thanks to sculptor Auguste Rodin, who donated his life’s work to the state of France on the condition that it be displayed in his picturesque Parisian home, Hôtel Biron. Dozens of the artist’s best-known drawings and sculptures—including The Kiss and The Thinker—are displayed throughout the rococo mansion’s 18 rooms and flower-filled garden.

Connecting the left and right bank of the city since 1819, Pont de Pierre was the first bridge to cross the mighty Garonne River. Its construction was challenging as the river’s current is extremely strong, and it took more than 4,000 workers to construct. Pont de Pierre was the only bridge to connect the two banks for nearly 150 years.

The site of some of the bloodiest fighting in World War I’s Somme Offensive, the small French village of Pozières is haunted by the tremendous loss of life experienced here in 1916 and 1918, particularly by Australian troops. Today, the village has been rebuilt and is home to a number of monuments and memorials, including the Pozières Memorial and British Cemetery.

Located in the elegant 2nd arrondissement, the Galerie Vivienne is one of the most iconic covered shopping arcades in Paris. The gallery had a lengthy heyday after it was built in 1823, but its most prestigious shops later moved elsewhere. It was revived in the 1960s and is now home to a diverse array of luxury boutiques. Its design features a soaring glass roof, decorative terrazzo floors, paintings and sculptures depicting trade-related scenes, and a rotunda with images of goddesses and nymphs.

Paris’ wine-making history dates back to Roman times, but only one small vineyard remains in the French capital: Clos Montmartre. Perched on a hillside plot in the Montmartre neighborhood, just a short walk from the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur and surrounded by residential buildings, the urban vineyard produces pinot noir and Gamay grapes and a selection of small-batch wines.

Place Garibaldi is a large public square in Nice Old Town. With bars and cafes lining the square it’s a popular place for people to gather for lunch, dinner, or drinks.

A 20-minute ferry ride across the waters of the Mediterranean Sea transports travelers from the high-class commotion of Cannes to the tranquil Île Sainte-Marguerite, a small island with more pine trees than people. Bring your walking shoes and your love for the great outdoors for the perfect day trip away from it all.

As important to French culture as Paris and paté, the art of perfume is on display at the Fragonard perfumery in Grasse, one of the oldest-running perfumeries in France. Dating to 1926 and featuring plenty of artifacts from the original distillery, the historic factory functions as a modern artisanal perfume factory deeply rooted in tradition.

Located in the very center of Place des Quinconces in Bordeaux, the Girondins Monument (Monument aux Girondins was elevated in the late 1800s to commemorate the Girondists, a republican political faction that was one of the first group to openly denounce Louis XVI’s reign and the monarchy in general.

Utah Beach was the westernmost landing point on D-Day. The main attraction at the site of the landing is the Utah Beach D-Day Museum (Musée du Débarquement), which focuses on the extraordinary battle. The museum also holds exhibits that offer a deep dive into French life under German occupation.

One of Marseille’s key religious landmarks, the city’s cathedral (known locally as the Cathédrale La Major stands just steps from the water’s edge. Built in the 19th century, the neo-Byzantine church is distinctive for its striped facade and vibrant interior; it’s not to be confused with the hilltop Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde.

Lyon’s major hub and one of the largest public squares in France, the Bellecour Square is located in the heart of the city on the Presqu'île peninsula. Spanning 15 acres (six hectares), the pedestrianized square is a popular meeting place—as well as part of an UNESCO World Heritage Site that encompasses several key Lyon districts.

Located on Île de la Cité, one of the two remaining natural islands in the River Seine, the Palais de Justice preserves what remains of the former Royal Palace. Situated between the Gothic royal Sainte-Chapelle chapel and the former Conciergerie prison, the Palais de Justice is infamous for its role as a public execution site during the French Revolution.

Located a short drive from the D-Day Landing Beaches, the Caen Memorial Museum (Mémorial de Caen) puts one of the most significant battles of World War II into historical context. The museum gardens serve as a poignant tribute to the international soldiers that lost their lives on Norman soil.

The Grand Canal, a highlight of the 2,000-acre (800-hectare) Park at the Palace of Versailles, leads the eye to the farthest perimeter of the grounds. Designed by Andre Le Norte, the canal extends for nearly a mile and is the largest body of water on the palace grounds.

One of the Champagne region’s largest and most influential producers, Champagne Pommery is best known for pioneering the dry, brut-style sparkling wine. Today, Pommery is renowned for its sprawling network of chalk caves and its colorful, Elizabethan-style headquarters.

Bordeaux has long been one of the world’s top wine destinations but when Cité du Vin opened in 2016, it finally got a museum to match its reputation. Housed in a modernist building that resembles a wine decanter, the center comprises exhibition spaces, cultural events, a Belvedere with a beautiful view of Bordeaux, an auditorium, and more.

The Mémorial de la Shoah (Shoah Memorial), Paris’ official Holocaust museum, was opened in 2005 on the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Located in the Marais district—the city’s historical Jewish quarter—on the site of the Memorial to the Unknown Jewish Martyr, the museum features both permanent and temporary exhibitions, the commemorative Wall of Names, and other moving monuments and tributes.

The oldest covered market in Paris, the Marché des Enfants Rouges has been in business since the early 17th century and remains a buzzing spot for both local and traveling foodies who flock here to buy fresh produce and dine on meals that reflect Paris’ multicultural population, from Japanese bento boxes to Moroccan couscous and mint tea.

The 12th-century Sénanque Abbey outside of Gordes is run by a small community of Cistercian monks who fastidiously grow, harvest and process lavender from the surrounding fields. Come June, thongs of visitors arrive to lay witness to the enormously beautiful and fragrant landscapes and the abbey’s impressive botanical production.

With its vibrant purple fields, sunflower-filled valleys, and charming hilltop villages, the Valensole Plateau is one of Provence's most defining landscapes. In the summer, the countryside bursts into color, drawing travelers to the lavender farms, the panoramic viewpoints, and the village of Valensole, with boutiques selling locally made soaps, honey, and other regional specialties.

The Juno Beach Centre (Centre Juno Beach) is a museum dedicated to the heroism of Canadian troops in the D-Day landings and the entirety of the Second World War. Located in Normandy, the center draws visitors from Canada and across the world wanting to remember their fallen patriots and learn more about France’s role in the Allied victory.

Picture a fairytale castle surrounded by forests and lakes, and Château de Chantilly is pretty close to what you’re imagining. Thought to be the inspiration behind Versailles, this 19th-century moated structure offers French-style gardens, stables, and ornate rooms filled with art and antiques. Just north of Paris, the château is an easy day trip, and it’s also home to Musée Condé—considered one of the country’s most important art collections.