Places To See In France

Paris can be visited by metro and on foot, and visitors will find an abundance of points of interest. Notable museums include the Centre Pompidou, the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay. Notre Dame Cathedral is well worth visiting. There are a number of ways to experience the river Seine, the lifeline that runs through France’s capital and has defined its character for centuries. There is enough in Paris to spend an entire vacation in that city alone… but it would be a shame not to see more of France!

The Mont Saint Michel—an island abbey on the border between Normandy and Brittany—is a spectacular sight. It is basically a tiny city built upwards on an island capped by the spire of a beautiful abbey. As the tide ebbs and flows, everything around the island (except the roadway leading to it) is periodically submerged. In Normandy one can visit the D-day beaches where allied troops began their liberation of France and defeat of the Nazis. Brittany, France’s north-westernmost region is greatly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel. One point of interest there is Saint Malo, a fortified port-city. Although most of it was destroyed by and reconstructed after WWII, it retains the charm of a proud city from long ago.

Anyone who’s ever enjoyed a glass of champagne will want to visit the city of Epernay in the Champagne region, where Dom Perignon perfected the beverage into the one we prize today.

The Loire Valley is an excellent destination to see many of the castles for which France is famous—from the fortresses of the middle Ages to the palaces of the Renaissance. The vibrant city of Lyon has outstanding museums, an active cultural life and is one of France’s gastronomic capitals.

The French Alps offer world-class skiing in winter and hiking and warm weather sports in summer.

Along France’s Atlantic coast one will find beaches, dunes, forests and marshes, historic and picturesque towns as well as cities such as Bordeaux. Closer to Spain along the Atlantic, in Basque Country, are the culture-oriented city of Bayonne and its coastal resort-town neighbor, Biarritz.

The Pyrenees, a mountain range forming France’s border with Spain, offers spectacular rugged mountain scenery in the protected Parc National des Pyrenees.

Toulouse is a fast-growing city with a large student population and the accompanying university-town lifestyle: cafes, bookshops and a vibrant nightlife.

In the Languedoc region in the south is the Pont du Gard, a remarkably well-preserved aqueduct built by the Romans in 19 B.C. Montpellier is the capital of this region; the oldest part of the city is closed to cars so visitors can explore its charming narrow streets on foot.

Provence and Côte d’Azur in southeastern France are the regions to visit for those who want to experience the Mediterranean lifestyle. This part of France basks in sunshine most of the year and has picturesque cities built on limestone cliffs overlooking the beautiful blue Mediterranean. Visit the bustling city of Marseilles or the walled city of Avignon. You can also visit roman arenas in Arles, or watch flocks of nesting flamingos in the Camargue wetlands.

Some of France’s most glamorous beachfront resort towns—Nice, Cannes, Saint Tropez and Monte Carlo (in the Principality of Monaco)—are located along the Côte d’Azur, also called the French Riviera. While these cities are definitely playgrounds for the rich, they do offer accommodations and attractions most travelers can afford, such as hostels, excellent museums, and inviting beaches (though some are private).

Corsica is a beautiful island that is part of France although it is south of Italy. Its beauty is due to its dramatic and varied geography… with the Mediterranean as a backdrop.