France attractions

History buffs gravitate to the Provençal city of Arles, which is packed with six UNESCO World Heritage Sites among its Roman ruins and Romanesque monuments. The Arles Museum of Antiquity is an important addition to any history tour because it presents the region’s most notable archaeological collection, including a priceless collection of Roman artifacts.

Home to one of France’s most significant modern and contemporary art collections, Lille Métropole Museum of Modern, Contemporary and Outsider Art was established in 1983. Wander the museum’s expansive gallery spaces and collection and view highlights that include works by Picasso, Modigliani, Miró, and other modernist luminaries.

With seven locations across Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, and Arras and a wide range of course options, L'Atelier des Chefs Cooking School lets you bring the flavors of France home with you. Each location offers a unique environment and experience, but all have modern, airy kitchens where you can learn to craft classic French dishes while celebrating the tradition of the country’s famous cafés, bistros, and brasseries.

Peacocks stroll among flourishing plants at the Paris Floral Park (Parc Floral de Paris), an 86-acre (35-hectare) botanical garden within the Bois de Vincennes—the city’s largest green space. Add play areas, Paris’ only ropes course, mini golf, ping pong, and traditional marionette shows for a family-friendly getaway within city limits. Come summer, the park hosts a series of festivals showcasing theater to jazz.

The aquarium on the lower floor of the 20th-century Palais de la Porte Dorée makes a great rainy-day stop for families and anyone with a keen interest in marine life. Hundreds of species of colorful fish, coral, and reptiles—including rare albino alligators—call the exhibition hall home, while temporary exhibits take on weighty subjects such as global warming and ocean conservation.

During the Second World War, 68 members of the French Resistance were executed by Nazi firing squad at the Fort of Bondues. Today, the ruins of this defensive fort are home to the Museum of the Resistance. The permanent exhibition explores the makeup and background of the Resistance of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region from 1940-1944, and honors the Resistance fighters.

From gravity-defying waterslides to palm-lined swimming pools and a relaxing spa pool, Atlantic Park has everything you would expect from one of the region’s top water parks. Less than an hour from Biarritz, the park has something for all ages, from adults and thrill-seeking teens to babies and toddlers.

Join the untold number of travelers who have passed through the Lombrives Cave (Grotte de Lombrives), used by humans as far back as the Neolithic era. The cave system, located near the Spanish border in the Pyrenees, is among the largest in Western Europe and is known for its caverns, rock formations, and crystals.

One of Europe’s largest and grandest theaters, with a screen as wide as an Olympic swimming pool, Le Grand Rex Cinema is among Paris’ top venues. In addition to new releases and other film screenings, the cinema hosts concerts, comedy shows, theatrical events, and glittering movie premieres attended by some of the world’s top celebrities.

The Musée Edith Piaf, housed in the former apartment of the iconic Parisian singer, is one of Paris’ most unusual museums. Squarely aimed at Piaf fans, this petite, private venue brims with personal mementos, including photographs, accessories, records, and boxing gloves owned by Piaf’s lover Marcel Cerdan, considered to be France’s greatest boxer. Her famous black dresses are a highlight of the museum’s compact but meaningful collection.

Around 500 species of animals are spread across this 50-acre (20-hectare) site, which is situated within an ideal day-trip distance from Paris. Dotted with leafy oak trees and ponds, Attilly Wood Zoo feels more like a forest park than an amusement park, making it a great pick for families who prefer to see wild animals in nature-based settings. Highlights include the after-lunchtime feeding sessions when you can help feed hippos, giraffes, wolves, and other animals.

One of France’s oldest museums, Lille's Natural History Museum (Musée d'Histoire Naturelle de Lille) has been open since 1822. Not only has it weathered two world wars, but this small zoological and geological museum now boasts more than 200,000 specimens. Highlights include taxidermied models of now-extinct species such as the Passenger Pigeon and the Tasmanian Tiger.

Founded in 1984 and located 45 minutes from Nantes, the Zoo de la Boissière du Doré is home to over 800 animals and 70 different species, from giraffes to panthers to blue poison dart frogs. A popular destination for families, this conservation center and zoo gives visitors the chance to learn about wildlife from around the world.

The Jean-Lurçat and Contemporary Tapestry Museum (Musée Jean-Lurçat) in Angers, France, is an explosion of color housed in a former hospital building dating to the 12th century. Inside the Gothic building complex lies a collection that includes paintings, ceramics, and—most notably—tapestries by Jean Lurçat, an artist often credited as instrumental in the revival of contemporary tapestry.

Built back in 1913, this elegant theater in the 9th arrondissement is still going strong over a century later. It got its start showing movies in Kinemacolor, the first technology able to colorize films. Many stars graced its stage over the decades that followed, from acclaimed French actor Robert Lamoureux to none other than Orson Welles, who had a 2-month run here. Today, the theater still keeps Parisians entertained with its plays and performances.

The Montpellier Zoo (Zoo de Montpellier) covers 80 hectares (198 acres) just north of the city center. Opened in 1964, the zoo has the look and feel of a safari park with open enclosures where most of the wild animals roam free. With 120 species and 1,104 animals, the zoo covers a lot of ground, from zebra and lions to lizards and birds.

Théâtre le Ranelagh offers a rare chance for English-speaking theater lovers to experience the French theater scene with the help of translated subtitles. One of the few Parisian theaters to offer subtitled shows, this historic playhouse makes classic French plays such as Cyrano de Bergerac more accessible to an international audience. Although the building is rather unremarkable on the outside, inside, you’ll see its connections to Louis XV.

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.

When cocktail o’clock rolls around after a busy day of sightseeing in Paris, Bar Hemingway is a stylish place to grab a drink. For starters, it’s inside the Ritz, but it also comes with a large serving of literary cachet: it was a favorite nightspot of author Ernest Hemingway in the 1920s, hence its name.

One of France’s largest and most popular zoos, La Barben Zoo (Zoo de la Barben), located in Provence, has been a popular attraction for families since it opened in the early 1970s. Learn about the more than 650 animals who live at the zoo, from the lions, rhinos, elephants, and giraffes to hundreds of rare species.

Grands Montets Ski Area (Les Grands Montets) is the biggest and most popular ski area in Chamomix, boasting some of the largest vertical drops in the world at more than 6,561 feet (2,000 meters). Huge areas of the mountain are left ungroomed, making it a mecca for off-piste enthusiasts. The snow is exceptional here both early and late in the season.

Carved into a hillside on the French Riviera, the Château Saint-Martin & Spa’s first life was as a 12th-century Knights Templar fortress. Now a five-star hotel, this spectacular 34-acre property revels in offering its guests high-class serenity, from its chateau guestrooms and Provencal-style villas to caviar massages and honey-lavender spa treatments to the surrounding olive groves and landscaped terraces built for wandering.

In startling contrast to the frills and thrills of the French Riviera, the Massif des Maures—a small mountain range running parallel to the coast for 36 miles (60 kilometers)—feels wild and quiet. Casual and avid hikers will find plenty of adventures here on the orchid-lined slopes; those seeking natural serenity will find that in spades, too.

While Bayeux’s once-thriving lacemaking industry has gone, its traditions live on at the city’s Lace Conservatory (the Conservatoire de la Dentelle de Bayeux) in the town center. Here, you can glimpse artisans using bobbins and pins to create delicate pieces of lace by hand—just as lacemakers did centuries ago.

In the land of historic Burgundy wineries, Domaine Debray is the new kid on the block. This young wine estate was established in 2006, yet has made a name for itself as a quality producer of whites and reds. The winery prides itself on its traditional wine-production methods, such as grape collection by hand and vinification in French oak barrels.

Visitors of all ages will find plenty of ways to spend a fun-filled day at Walibi Rhône-Alpes. Thrill seekers can head straight for the roller coasters, while others might prefer the bumper cars, water rides, and petting zoo. Or, check out one of Walibi’s circus-style shows.

Founded by a New Zealander in Paris with a passion for languages, this niche museum showcases everything you could want to know about communication and the structure of languages. Well-curated quizzes, interactive exhibitions, and historical finds, such as a replica of the Rosetta Stone and an early version of an Enigma coding machine, await to intrigue culture-curious kids and adults alike.

This family-friendly theme park dedicated to the history and science of volcanoes is set in the heart of Auvergne’s Chaîne des Puys, a UNESCO-listed chain of dormant volcanoes in central France. Visit Vulcania to learn how volcanoes are formed, erupt, and eventually go extinct via interactive and multimedia exhibits and activities.

The largest water park on the southern coast of the Aquitaine, Aquatic Landes—located in Labenne, just a quick trip from Bayonne and Biarritz—offers thrills and refreshment for visitors of all ages. Home to pools, waterslides, play areas, and lawns perfect for sunbathing, this park is an ideal place to relax and beat the heat.

Housed in the medieval castle of William the Conquerer, the contemporary Musée des Beaux-Arts is home to one of the finest art collections in France covering five centuries. Spanning four centuries, the artworks show a remarkable range including an array of European painters starting in the 16th century, a cabinet of prints and an impressive sculpture park.