15 x Best Places to Visit in France
Last Updated On June 22, 2023
Because of its distinctive six-sided design, the French affectionately refer to their cherished motherland as "l'Hexagone." The rugged and outdoorsy French Alps; sun-drenched and slow-paced Provence; the luxurious and magnificent Côte d'Azur coastline; and idyllic Alsace, a pastoral region where storybook hamlets are tucked away in the vine-covered rolling hills, each have their own distinct personality.
Photo by Paul Gaudriault on Unsplash
Paris and Versailles are must-see sites for everyone visiting France for the first time. Other famous tourism destinations include stylish coastal resorts, fairy-tale castles, and magnificent Gothic cathedrals.
Off-the-beaten-path experiences can be found in the countryside, including farmhouses in Burgundy, fishing villages in Brittany, and tiny communities in the Pyrenees Mountains' forests.
France has an abundance of tourism attractions, ranging from historic towns to beautiful natural areas. With this list of the finest locations to visit in France, you can explore this interesting and diverse country.
1. Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a well-known landmark in Paris and one of the world's most visited tourist attractions. Gustave Eiffel, a French engineer, designed the Eiffel Tower. He was born in 1832 and attended Paris' elite École Polytechnique.
The tower was created as a temporary building for the World's Fair in 1889, but it proved so famous that it was retained and is today a famous Parisian landmark. Visitors can ride an elevator to the top of the tower for spectacular city views. Your journey to France will be complete without a visit to the breathtaking Eiffel Tower.
2. Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is an abundant structure and former residence of the royal monarchy located outside of Paris. The Palace of Versailles is around 10 kilometers from the center of Paris. The structure has strong ties to Paris' political history because it recollects an era in the history of France's growth as an international power and fashion center.
3. The Châteaux of the Loire Valley
4. Cirque de Gavarnie in the Pyrenees Mountains
5. Island of Corsica
6. The Charming Countryside of Provence
7. The Côte d’Azur
8. Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a city near the Spanish border on France's western coast. The area has numerous castles, forts, and other historical landmarks, including 350 national heritage sites inside or around the city. The city's most unique historic structures include the Grand Theatre de Bordeaux, Place de la Bourse, and Les Allees de Touny.
The wine industry is the most important in the Bordeaux region. Several large vineyards surround the city, and it is frequently referred to as the world's wine capital.
9. Joan of Arc Monuments in Chinon, Rouen & Orléans
10. Sénanque
The abbey of Notre-Dame de Sénanque is located near Gordes, which has been named one of France's most beautiful villages. On the same day, you will see the Abbey Notre-Dame de Sénanque, the hamlet of Gordes, and its famous 'gories.'
Cistercian monks continue to live in the Abbey. The monks of Sénanque offer rooms for tourists who want to meet in peace so that you can experience a spiritual retreat at the Abbey.
11. Rocamadour: A Medieval Pilgrimage Destination
12. Lourdes: France’s Biggest Catholic Pilgrimage Site
13. The Camargue
14. Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy
There are many picturesque villages in France. Few, though, are as beautiful and magical as Mont Saint-Michel and its magnificent abbey. The impressive medieval monastery perched high on the rocky island of Mont Saint-Michel, 600 meters off the coast of Normandy, appears like something directly out of a children's fantasy. The small, twisted streets and attractive timbered-framed cottages that lead up to it add to the magic.