Beautiful Places to Visit in France

Looking for places to visit in France? Some are well-known and receive millions of tourists every year. Others are France's little secret, left for you to discover. While this list is far from comprehensive, you will hopefully be able to find some great ideas here.

Brittany

Brittany has some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in France. From towering cliffs to charming little bays and sandy beaches, you'll be spoilt for choice. Inland the landscape is equally diverse, with gentle countryside dotted with quaint little villages and forests steeped in mythical legend.

Normandy

From the charming old port in Honfleur to the celebrated abbey of Mont St. Michel, this region is a must-see. Normandy is well known for being a place of relaxation, with rolling green pastures and picture-book villages. Visit Monet's studio and gardens at Giverny, or the fascinating Tapestry in Bayeux, recounting Williams' conquest of England in 1066. The Battle of Normandy has left its mark in the region, and there are many monuments, memorials, and museums to see here.

Paris

Paris is the world capital of art, food, wine, and romance. Some of the absolute musts are of course the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, Sacre Coeur at Montmartre and the Louvre Museum. If you can, explore some of the lesser known but no less wonderful sights, such as the Rodin Museum, the Conciergerie (where Marie-Antoinette was imprisoned) and the exquisite Ste-Chapelle.

Provence

The glorious weather and colourful intensity of the landscape make Provence a hugely popular holiday destination. Highlights include the elegant city of Aix en Provence, Avignon with its famous bridge and papal palace, and Arles, boasting significant roman and medieval monuments.

Don't forget to explore the smaller towns of Provence and surrounding countryside. The fortified village of Les Baux is spectacular; spending the day in St-Remy, sipping rosé wine in an outdoor café, is a blissful way to spend an afternoon.

Dordogne/Perigord

The Dordogne, in southwest France, is known for having some of the best prehistoric art in the world. Not only that, you'll find plenty of hilltop castles and medieval towns to explore, as well as rivers to canoe or relax on a houseboat.

There are so many places to visit in France that you might feel a bit overwhelmed. But don't despair if you can't fit everything in (it's just an excuse for you to keep coming back!).