What are the most beautiful places in France?

Question

Volker Eichener · Answer

1. Paris. It is obvious, isn’t it?
2. Lyon - a very beautiful city with two rivers, Gallo-Roman archeology, a unique medieval neighbourhood, a Belle-Epoque Old Town, monuments, museums and great food (Lyon, not Paris, is the culinary capital of France).
3. Côte d’Azur. We love the most scenic part, the Côte de l’Esterel, but also the art museums, the mild climate, the vegetation, the scenic drives, the mountaintop villages, the stately promenades, the ports.
4. Provence. Roman architecture everywhere, beautiful scenery: the Alpilles mountain chain, the Luberon, the marshes of Camargue. Also medieval towns like Avignon, Aigues-Mortes, Arles.
5. Alsace, with vineyards, mountains and lakes, picturesque villages, historic cities like Colmar, Rouffach, Strasbourg and history everywhere. Just lovely.
6. Brittany. Dramatic coastline, sometimes with rugged granite rocks, sometimes with wide sandy beaches. Celtic culture, sturdy architecture (the churches). Prehistoric dolmen and menhirs everywhere.
7. Côte d’Argent - the silver coast. The Atlantic coast in the southwest is spectacular, with impressive dunes like the one in Pyla, with the bay of Arcachon, confit des canard, foie gras and Bordeaux wines.
8. Burgundy. Somewhat similar to Alsace, with vineyards and villages. Beaune is our favourite town in Burgundy, with the great medieval hospital which has been turned into a museum and wine tastings in ancient cellars and abandoned churches. Also Auxerre, a historic town in northern Burgundy, Chablis region.
9. Loire. A lazy river with dozens of spectacular castles around.
10. Languedoc-Roussilion. Perhaps the most beautiful ancient port, Sète, and the most spectacular medieval walled city, Carcassonne.
These are regions. But there are many other places which we like

* Etretat - chalk cliffs.
 * Honfleur - another picturesque port town.
 * Rouen - beautiful historic city.
 * Amiens - a spectacular cathedral.
 * Champagne - mildly scenic, but visit the underground wine cellars!
 * Cèze, Gard, Ardeche - beautiful rivers.
 * Ile de France, with fantastic castles like Chantilly or Fontainebleau.
 * Dordogne, a romantic river with historical Sarlat.

Vincent Pascaud · Answer

Having lived in Toulouse from my birth to 17, living in Paris since (3 years now), and having visited many beautiful places in France, I can give you my personal opinion.

1- Gorges du Verdon and its surroundings

Located in the Côte d’Azur’s backcountry, it is the place that amazed me the most. You can rent a canoe to visit the Gorges on the pristine water, surrounded by 500+ meters high beautiful cliffs. Just next to the them is the Sainte Croix Lake, with clear blue water. Below are some pictures to give you an idea of how unique is this place.

2- Mediterranean coast form Marseille to Menton

This area is mostly composed of the Côte d’Azur (French Riviera), with a few kilometers more. It starts at the Calanques of Marseille, a beautiful park filled with many small creeks. It goes through famous Saint-Tropez and Monaco (not officially in France), and it ends at the Italian frontier. You will have your eyes wide open from the beginning to the end.

3- Paris (worst period possible is during winter, not during the festivities)

This is an obvious answer that does not need further argumentation since everyone knows it. However, I could add that I personally find summer the best time to visit it, with pleasant weather, and less people everywhere, and November, January the worst with cold, rainy weather and many people on the road.

4- Lac d’Oô, in the Pyrenees

This small mountain lake is the fist of the three lakes located along the trail to go see them. All three are different, at different altitudes, and it is possible to see them in a day, or even an afternoon if you walk fast.

5- The Alps

It is a vague answer since it is huge, but there are too many beautiful places in this mountain range that I could not list them all. I leave you the pleasure of discovering them based on your preferences.

6- Saint Malo and its surroundings

This walled city is unique in France. It is not the only walled city (hello Carcassonne), but it is the only one next to the ocean, with views on it from the fortifications. It is also known to be the place where the best kouign-amann (a pastry made of butter and sugar, from Brittany) are made. East of the city is a beautiful rugged coastline, west of it are where the best French oysters are made (Cancale) and, a little bit further, is the world famous Mont Saint-Michel.

7- Etretat cliffs

These giants located in Northern France dive directly into the ocean, and it is truly impressive. You can go on top of them, or take a swim at their feet (only in summer, otherwise you will freeze instantly)

8- Landes coastline and Biarritz

In the southwest you will find this pretty area. It was once only marches, and is now mostly a huge pine tree forest on a flat land bordering the ocean. It is the perfect place to do biking in family. The beaches there are infinite, and it is nicknamed the « French California », although it has a lot more rain. At the south end of it is the beautiful and rich city of Biarritz, well know for its main beach and its constant vacation atmosphere.

This ranking is very subjective and personal, based on my own preferences. There are many beautiful and amazing places in France that I haven’t mentioned. I just gave you a glimpse of what you could see that is worth the visit. If you don’t want to waste your time in uninteresting places, my advice is to avoid flat lands with fields everywhere. Unfortunately, we have many of that here, and you will probably go through them. However, if well-planned, your trip to France could stand as one of the best you have ever done.

Enjoy!

Romel Rahman · Answer

In my opinion, here are some beautiful places in France:

* Senanque Abbey, Provence
The seemingly endless stretches of lavender make Provence one of the prettiest (and best-smelling) places in France. One of the most scenic spots to enjoy the flower fields is Senanque Abbey, a 12th-century church near the village of Gordes. The gentle heather-gray color of the abbey looks custom-made for its surroundings, particularly in June and July when the acres around it bloom into a sea of purple.

* The Camargue, Provence
The Camargue is a marshy delta between the Mediterranean and the two branches of the Rhone that feels like another continent. Visitors can take Jeep tours deep into the Wilderness punctuated with briny ponds, red salt flats, and wind-whipped reeds and grasses. You’ll also see the Camargue’s tradermark free-roaming white horses and some of its 400 bird species, including herons. If you’re luckly, you might even spot flamingos.

* Lac D’Annecy, Haute-Savoie
Fed by alpine streams and a deep water spring near the town of Annecy, Lac D’Annecy—roughly 30 miles from the Swiss city of Geneva—is among Europe’s most pristine secret lakes. The site is ideal for hiking and swimming, even though the water barely pushes the 75 degree mark at the height of summer. Just one more excuse to warm up with a traditional French Alpine mealcome dinnertime.

* Paris
Yep, the whole darn city. There’s a reason the word flaner can’t be translated perfectly into English—the idea of a long, aimless stroll taken simply to soak up the scenery seems utterly French. And in Paris, there’s always something to stroll past. Walk the Promenade Plantee, considered the world’s first elevated park, stock up on cheese and wine for a picnic in Luxembourg Gardens, and end the day watching the sun set behind the Eiffel Tower.

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Thanks for reading!

Anonymous · Answer

* Le palais idéal du facteur Cheval (the postman Cheval ideal palace). A naive art  [ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Na%C3%AFve_art ]monument built by a single autistic man over decades, picking up pebbles and stones as he worked. He was inspired by faraway lands pictured on the postcards he delivered.

* La demeure du chaos (the abode of chaos), a somewhat anarchist and landfill-esque endeavour turned into a free contemporary art gallery [ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abode_of_Chaos ]. Oddly, what some neighboors consider as a punk slum that should be destroyed is also the headquarter of Artprice [ https://www.artprice.com/ ], a world leader on art information listed on the Euronext stock market.

* Kourou Space Center, aka Centre Spatial Guyanais, aka “Europe's Spaceport" . If you're fond of sciences and learned to read with astronomy books like I did, there's nothing more beautiful than that [ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guiana_Space_Centre ]. Except the ISS, but the International Space Station isn't in France. Yet. It could crash any moment now.

You probably realized I was digging for the unexpected, here. Following my inspiration. So why not a WW2 Axis submarine base [ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BETASOM ]?

* Bordeaux submarine base was deemed too costly to destroy after the war, and had several lives aftewards. From a rave parties spot to a… okay, a contemporary art museum. Again. What the baguette, France!?

* L'ère du Tchier de Borée. Or “Borée's Menhirs". They look like your regular megalithic site, right? The ancient aliens left those literally everywhere from Stonehenge to Morocco. Except that one was crafted by contemporary humans! That's what happens when you leave unsupervised hippies roam the coutryside, I guess.

* The Eiffel tower. No, not that one. The comically tiny one in Lyon: la tour Eiffel de Fourvière [ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallic_tower_of_Fourvi%C3%A8re ].

* Guédélon castle. A genuine “13th Century style" castle under construction right as we speak [ https://www.guedelon.fr/en ]. Using only medieval techniques and tools under the supervision of expert crafters, specialists, historians. As for every other sites showcased in this answer, you can visit it and even learn a medieval trade yourself

Okay, right, it is mandatory to mention Paris, isn't it? There you go: the unexpected beauty of Paris, hiding in plain sight. Look how curious and affectionate they are. My own favorite parisians. Certainly the most beautiful, well-behaved, and hygienic ones (they spend half their life cleaning themselves, after all).

The most beautiful place can be everywhere, because it is in the eyes of the beholder. If you visit France, no doubts you'll find your own

ChatGPT · Answer

France is renowned for its stunning landscapes, historic architecture, and charming villages. Here are some of the most beautiful places to visit:
1. Paris: The capital city is famous for its iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre Museum. The Seine River and its bridges add to the city's romantic charm.
2. Mont Saint-Michel: This UNESCO World Heritage site features a medieval abbey perched on a rocky island, surrounded by tidal waters. The views from the island are breathtaking.
3. Provence: Known for its lavender fields, vineyards, and picturesque villages, Provence offers stunning countryside views, especially in the summer months.
4. The French Riviera (Côte d'Azur): This glamorous coastal region includes cities like Nice, Cannes, and Saint-Tropez, known for their beautiful beaches, azure waters, and vibrant nightlife.
5. Château de Chambord: Located in the Loire Valley, this Renaissance castle is famous for its distinctive architecture and expansive grounds.
6. Gorges du Verdon: Often referred to as the "Grand Canyon of Europe," this stunning river canyon is perfect for hiking, kayaking, and enjoying breathtaking views.
7. Annecy: This charming town, often called the "Venice of the Alps," features canals, a beautiful lake, and a backdrop of mountains.
8. Colmar: A picturesque town in Alsace, known for its colorful half-timbered houses, canals, and cobblestone streets.
9. Chamonix-Mont-Blanc: A famous alpine resort town, it offers stunning views of Mont Blanc and is a popular destination for skiing, hiking, and mountaineering.
10. Saint-Émilion: A UNESCO World Heritage site, this medieval village is surrounded by vineyards and is known for its excellent wines and charming streets.
These locations showcase the diverse beauty of France, from urban elegance to natural splendor.

Anonymous · Answer

Wow, where to begin?
France is one of the largest countries in Europe and the #1 touristic country in the world, bar none! The main reason is its central location but another one is the extremely diversified geographies one can find in France: you could describe it as a concentrate of every piece of Europe. 
Another important fact is the rich combination of history, culture and nature you can find in France. Finally, it's been said that the food isn't that bad and the wine drinkable...
(Notice how I did not mention the French people... ;)

Here is my idea for this answer: a Tour de France of some of the nicest spots, this is a non-exhaustive list and sometimes a spot is given as an example for a larger area which is great to visit. At Andy Cheung [ https://www.quora.com/profile/Andy-Cheung-2 ]'s suggestion, each place is numbered and can be found back on my Google Map below.

1. Paris
2. Les Falaises d'Etretat
3. Le Mont Saint Michel
4. La Forêt de Brocéliande
5. L'Ile de Bréhat - Brittany
6. L'Ile d'Ouessant
7. La Pointe du Raz
8. Concarneau
9. Belle-Ile-En-Mer
10. Le Marais Poitevin
11. Les Chateaux de la Loire
12. Cathedrale de Reims
13. "Route des Vins"- Alsace
14. Lac de Lispach - Vosges
15. Cascades du Hérisson - Jura
16. "Route des Vins" - Bourgogne
17. Lac d'Annecy - The Alps
18. Le Massif des Ecrins - The Alps
19. Les Gorges du Verdon - The Alps
20. La Vallee des Merveilles - The Alps
21. Cap Corse - Corsica
22. The cliffs of Bonifacio - Corsica
23. Massif de l'Esterel - Provence
24. Cassis and the Calanques - Provence
25. Le Lubéron - Provence
26. La Camargue - Languedoc
27. Les Arenes de Nimes - Languedoc
28. Gorges de l'Ardeche- Languedoc
29. Les Cevennes - Languedoc
30. Les Gorges du Tarn - Languedoc
31. Le Canal du Midi- Languedoc
32. Carcassone - Languedoc
33. Pic du Midi de Bigorre - Pyrenees
34. Cirque de Gavarnie - Pyrenees
35. Lac d'Estaing - Pyrenees
36. The Basque Coast 
37. La Dune du Pyla
38. "Routes des Vins" - Bordeaux
39. Dordogne and Perigord Noir
40. Le Puy de Dome

And here is a Google Map of all the spots: http://g.co/maps/4gqk5

Do not hesitate to ask me more detailed questions about each place.

Vive la France!

Anonymous · Answer

There hundreds (if not thousands) of sites. You should set a reasonable goal (south, west...).

For a bicycle visit, let's say 15 days, I would start by Perigord and maybe a bit south (Arles, Toulouse, Cevennes...).

You'll get so many sites to see: castles, rivers, gorges... Incredible.

But you can also choose the alps, the south (quite crowded in summer), the atlantic...

It really depends on what you want to do/see, but you can't do all ("the most beautiful" places) in one single trip.

Paris itself is worth a week trip.

Sophia Goh · Answer

There are many places that you can visit in France and one such most popular place is Eiffel Tower which is in Paris. You can also explore other places in France during your visit as follow:

Eiffel Tower

Louvre Museum

Palace of Versailles

Côte d'Azur

Mont Saint-Michel

Shelton McBride · Answer

Sacre Couer sitting on a hill looking across Paris.

Eiffel Tower lighted at night for all of Paris to see.

Eze sitting at summit looking out to the Mediterranean.

Carcassonne walls gleaming in the sunlight perched on high ground.

Driving through the vineyards of St Emillion .

Looking back across the water to Nice from the Rothschild Estate.

Taking a boat ride around Strasbourg.

I could keep going for a long time.

Cynthia Colby · Answer

“Graceful” is a lovely word and not usually used to describe a place, but I do think it appropriate for the region of France in which I live part of the year— the beautiful Dordogne, in the southwest. I find it to be timeless, peaceful, gentle in both climate and landscape, filled with gorgeous, well preserved villages, castles, prehistoric sites, soft green hills and fields, undulating rivers, dramatically changing skies and stunning gardens. Most people I encounter are polite and gracious. Time honored village traditions seem to still be cherished and preserved. Tranquility is abundant. Is that graceful? I think it is.

Cécile Parker · Answer

Here's an alternative answer: Aix-en-Provence.

Aix-en-Provence is a lovely medieval city in the South of France. It is very animated, with a lot of universities, shops, galleries, restaurants and cafés.

Here are a few reasons why I love Aix:

Tile roofs:

Outdoor markets:

Epic fountains:

Cours Mirabeau:

Phallic ironworks:

Summer terraces:

Fashion & Designers' boutiques:

Creepy statues:

Lions:

Epic fountains with lions:

Calissons & local sweets:

Regal indoors (Villa Gallici):

Paved Streets & Plazas:

Churches & Cathedrals (Saint Sauveur):

Political Science school:

Political Science students:

Nightlife:

Red Poppies:

Roman relics (Roquefavour aqueduc):

Mont Sainte Victoire:

Paul Cézanne's paintings of Mont Sainte Victoire:

Leyla · Answer

* the Luberon, stunning hilltop villages
 * Lyon and Bordeaux, two beautiful, sophisticated cities
 * Arles, for its Roman ruins
 * the Camargue, beaches without end, flamingoes, wild horses
 * the coasts of Brittany and Normandy - oh sorry, that’s more like 1000 places
 * the Ardèche, wild and beautiful
 * the less explored Jura Mountains
 * the Alps, of course
 * the Riviera, its famous towns, coastal paths, and picturesque villages
 * the Cathar castles…
 * and I could list hundreds more!
Taken partly from

https://www.offbeatfrance.com/the-most-beautiful-cities-in-france.html

Ron Leavitt · Answer

Certainly do not miss Paris.  If you can allocate a few days for sight-seeing.
I took the TGV to Nice and missed most (all) of southern France and the wine country.  If you're doing a bicycle tour, you'll probably spend most of your time in this region.
 
I did not find Nice attractive, though I would have liked to drive the French and Italian Riviera.
 
Instead I took the train from Nice to Chamonix and a cog railway through the French and Italian Alps to Geneva.
I highly recommend Chamonix, visiting Mt Blanc, and the very romantic train ride through the alps.  You might be able to take your bicycle on the train, the terrain getting to Chamonix is challenging.
 
Hope this helps.

Aishwarya Ashok · Answer

Everyone has mentioned most of the places. For me, it has to be Musée du Louvre.

It’s such an architectural beauty as both the interiors and exteriors are marvellous. It houses the masterpieces of many artists and is surely a visual treat for any aesthete. The famous Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo da Vinci is housed there.

Here are few pictures:

Images sourced using Google Images.

Thank you!

Joel Postman · Answer

Four less-talked-about Parisian destinations:
 
 * The Paris Flea Market. The world's best (and I have been to flea markets in Taiwan, Holland, Italy, Belgium, Mexico City, and the U.S.). Not a flea market in the American sense of the word. Hundreds of amazing stalls, more like first-rate antique shops, like a medical antiques vendor, a shop with paintings from well known artists, a seller of mid-century modern and a costume shop with actual theatrical costumes dating back to the late 18th century. One shop was devoted to fabric pattern samples and original fabric pattern art from the 30s through the 70s.
 * The Paris Sewer System and Museum. The Paris Sewer System was an engineering marvel in its day, and is still in use. When I was a child, we took the sewer tour in which tourists sat in a wooden boat pulled by sewer workers on both sides of the tunnel. It was a pungent yet fascinating journey. I don't know if these tours are still available. (So much of our childhood wonder has been obliterated by corporate interests), but there is a fine museum. http://www.viamagazine.com/destinations/paris-underground
 * The Tomb of Napoléon I at the Hôtel National des Invalides. One of the most amazing mausoleums completely fitting the emperor's self-image. http://www.invalides.org/pages/anglais/dome_a.html

* Also at Les Invalides is the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, "with its unique collection of historic relief-map models. Explore over two centuries of military history, from 1668 to the last quarter of the 19th century." The dioramas in this museum are amazing, and there are over 100 of them. The detailed model of Cherbourg alone is 160 square metres in size! http://plans-reliefs.monuments-nationaux.fr/en/

Paul Kobane · Answer

I'd say the Pyrénées for landscapes and nature, then les chateaux de la Loire for history and architecture, and finally small typical villages located in the south where you can feel the real habits and heritage of old France.
I could add the Mediterranean coast (Cassis for example) for the sea life and the beauty of coasts.

Anonymous · Answer

I confess, we’ve pretty much stuck to Paris for our France visits. In Paris, our favorites are: Eiffel Tower, Saint-Germain (and its cafés), Musée D’Orsay, L’Orangerie, Louvre, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Musée Pompidou, Opéra Guarnier (tour), and the fabulous, ancient Sainte-Chappelle (inside the Palais de la Cité).

One day I stumbled on the Arènes de Lutèce, an ancient Roman theater. It’s another interesting attraction, and I believe they have shows there. I find it fascinating in that only part of it was restored, as some residences were built on top if it.

Thank you for the upvotes.

Gerard Julien · Answer

one of my favorite places : PERIGORD. WHY ? the pictures speak for themselves :

Volker Eichener · Answer

You have tourists in practically every city in France - many of them are domestic visitors. But you find hardly a city in France which is touristified in the sense that it hardly has a life of its own, like resort towns on the sea in other countries.

What you probably mean are cities which are not on the beaten path of tour operators. And, of course, I have some recommendations.

Lyon is, in my view, the most beautiful city in France, but strangely neglected by many tourists. Lyon is strikingly beautiful, with its two stately rivers (means four riverbanks), two Old Towns (one from medieval times, the other one from the Belle Epoque) and almost 3,000 years of history.

Lyon was the capital city of the Gaules whose meeting place can be still visited. The Romans left two theatres and lots of other archeological evidence. The main cathedral of France is located here, not in Paris. The medieval Old Town is very picturesque and unique. Lyon (not Paris) is France’s culinary capital… so much to see and to do here.

Joseph Ancion · Answer

Honestly, apart from Paris and Versailles, just go to the south of France, get lost on the small road, and find a small ton. ANY small town. They’re all sickeningly beautiful. Really. Or just locate one randomly on a map, drive up to it, and just walk around. Stunningly beautiful.