What cities in france should i visit

This picture-perfect city, crisscrossed by canals, is located by Lake Annecy, and more precisely where Lake Annecy feeds into the Thiou River. Here, we are not far from the Alps, the Montblanc, and the border with Switzerland. Annecy is a great city for a relaxing weekend getaway. With 2 days in Annecy , you have time to explore the Old Town and dedicate a full day to one of the endless outdoor activities in or around the lake. With the arrival of the beautiful days, the city moves to the lake, the perfect spot for a picnic, a hike, or a bike ride.

Tours is a historic city, capital of the kingdom of France even if for a short time, and with a rich heritage. It is also a student city, with a lively city center populated by many restaurants and bars that pop up their terraces outside as soon as the beautiful days arrive.

With such an interesting past and its perfect location in the heart of the Loire Valley , this beautiful city in France is the perfect base for exploring some of the best Loire Valley castles.

Two days in Tours is a good amount of time to explore the city. Wander around its historic neighborhoods with its pretty architecture of half-timbered houses and visit Saint-Gatien Cathedral. On sunny days, be sure to check out the famous Tours-sur-Loire Guinguette, where the beach extends the city limits to the banks of the Loire River. Avignon is one of the best French cities to visit in the south of France.

The former city of Popes and cardinals, once the center of intrigues and passions, is one of the most fascinating destinations in France, with an interesting past and a rich heritage. Avignon is small and you could easily squeeze the main sights in one day in Avignon.

But why rush? You are in Provence , where people like to take their time to enjoy the small pleasures of life. Avignon is a great destination for sightseeing. The city is also an excellent base to explore some of the most beautiful towns in Provence and also the lavender fields of Provence , from mid-June to the end of August. If you are looking for the most beautiful French cities to visit close to Paris, then Dijon in eastern France is a good option.

Dijon is a great destination for a cultural weekend or a gastronomic weekend. Other top attractions in Nice include an abundance of art museums and gardens. Beginning in the s and through the 20th century, artists have been drawn to the natural beauty of Nice. Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, and Raoul Dufy, among others, were inspired by the sublime seaside scenery. Nestled along the banks of two rivers, Lyon has plenty of attractions but is most famous for its food. Lyon is considered France's capital of gastronomy.

Culinary enthusiasts flock to this historic city for a taste of authentic French cuisine. As one of the largest cities in France, Lyon has a buzzing urban ambience. Because of its rich cultural heritage and commercial importance, Lyon is often called France's "second city. Bordeaux Cathedral. This elegant city has over classified monuments, with a majestic twin-towered cathedral at its heart.

A port town since the ancient Roman era, Bordeaux reached its zenith during the Age of Enlightenment of the 18th century. During that prosperous period, urban planning flourished, with an abundance of Neoclassical buildings, which gives the city a cohesive look.

Designed by architect Victor Louis and inaugurated in , this marvelous colonnaded building is considered one of the most sumptuous 18th-century theaters in the world.

The lavish interior features glittering chandeliers and a staircase modeled after the one at the Palais Garnier. Tourists may visit the auditorium of the theater year-round outside of performance hours, in the afternoon except during the summer season. Culture hounds will also appreciate the free music concerts at the Place Pey-Berland and the Bordeaux International Organ Festival held at the cathedral during the summertime.

For those interested in bargain hunting and shopping for vintage finds, the place to visit is Les Puces de Saint-Michel flea market on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at the Place Saint-Michel. Vieux Port in Marseille. Travelers visit Marseille to soak up the vibrant energy and exotic ambience of this authentic working seaport. Steeped in history, Marseille also spelled Marseilles is the oldest city in France, with a heritage that dates back 2, years.

In terms of population, Marseille is the second largest French metropolis. Marseille is an important cruise port, thanks to its wide harbor and prime situation on the Mediterranean. The waterfront best reveals the city's cosmopolitan vibes. Many restaurants at the Vieux Port Old Port serve excellent seafood dishes, including the local specialty of bouillabaisse , made with ingredients from the local fish market. The Vieux Port also affords spectacular views of the sea and the hilltop Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde , the most iconic landmark in Marseille.

This historic quarter features steep narrow streets, quiet squares, and the pastel-painted shuttered houses typical of southern France. Tourists will enjoy wandering around to admire the Old Town's beauty and atmosphere. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Marseilles. Grand Place in Lille. This charming city in northern France is the historic capital of Flanders and is still the most important urban metropolis of the French Flanders region.

This area of France shares a cultural heritage with neighboring Belgium. The city's architecture and hearty cuisine reveal the Flemish influence. Also not-to-be-missed is the Palais Beaux-Arts , an exceptional fine arts collection housed in a beautiful 19th-century building. Today, Brittany is strongly Catholic. Locals celebrate ancient religious customs called "pardons," special festivals when townspeople wear old-fashioned regional costumes.

The local cuisine features delicious specialties such as fresh seafood and savory buckwheat crepes. Brittany also has a famous regional pastry, the " kouign-amann ," a buttery pastry made with croissant dough that is layered with sprinkles of sugar, has a moist cake-like center, and a crispy caramelized exterior.

Accommodation: Where to Stay in Brittany. Biarritz Beach. A blend of Parisian-style elegance and the untamed natural beauty of the Atlantic coast, Biarritz is an upscale seaside resort with fabulous beaches. Next to the hotel property is the Grande Plage , a sandy beach that has attracted sunbathers since the Belle Epoque. Another of the top beaches in Biarritz is the Plage du Miramar.

A picturesque scene of colorful, striped cabanas and parasols during summertime, this sheltered beach has the delightful ambience of an old-fashioned seaside resort. Just a half-hour drive 15 kilometers from Biarritz is the historic fishing port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz , a popular summertime destination with family-friendly beaches. Traveling inland 25 kilometers from Biarritz is the traditional Basque village of Espelette.

This small village boasts typical half-timbered, red-shuttered Basque houses decorated with rows of dried red peppers called Piment d'Espelette prized for use in Basque cuisine. In Spain's Basque country, 50 kilometers by bus, car, or train from Biarritz, the lively seaside city of San Sebastian delights visitors with its elegant architecture, sandy beaches, and gourmet tapas.

Accommodation: Where to Stay in Biarritz. France's national heroine, Joan of Arc led the country to victory during the Hundred Years' War when she was only seventeen years old. Her divinely ordained mission, instructed by heavenly voices, is still an inspiration to the faithful.

At the tree-lined Place Jeanne d'Arc stands a monumental bronze equestrian statue of Joan of Arc depicted as a heroic military leader. The cathedral's 19th-century stained-glass windows recount the history of Joan of Arc. In a 15th-century half-timbered house, the Maison de Jeanne d'Arc presents exhibits about Joan of Arc, who is now recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church. Eglise Jeanne d'Arc in Rouen. Tourists can learn more about Joan of Arc's life story at several of the top sights in Rouen.

Since this infamous trial in and martyrdom, Joan of Arc has been elevated to a saint. Built on the site in Rouen where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, the Eglise Jeanne d'Arc pays tribute to the saint's legacy.

This modern church features an upwards-swooping roof designed to resemble flames. This museum delves into Joan of Arc's epic story and explains how she changed the course of French history. Evocative multimedia exhibits and videos bring the events to life in a thrilling way.

Tiny Hamlet of Hunawihr in the Alsace Region. The historic cities of Strasbourg and Colmar, along with the hundreds of Alsatian villages, have a special old-world charm that is completely distinct from the rest of France. The architecture and ambience of Alsace has been influenced over the centuries by neighboring Germany, as seen in the brightly painted, half-timbered buildings and venerable Gothic churches. Quaint and cultured, Strasbourg enchants visitors with its narrow cobblestone streets, scenic canals, and ornate cathedral.

Colmar is the quintessential Alsatian town, full of interesting old churches and traditional houses with flower-bedecked balconies. Outside these two cities is an unspoiled landscape of vine-covered foothills. Nestled in the valleys and along the Rhine River are tiny storybook hamlets and picturesque villages. The Alsace Villages route is a delightful way to explore the region. Many villages are listed as the Plus Beaux Villages de France Most Beautiful Villages of France , and some are designated as Villages Fleuris Flowering Villages because of the vibrant potted flowers that adorn the homes and streets.

Accommodation: Where to Stay in Alsace. The French Alps. The French Alps boast some of the most awe-inspiring natural scenery in the world. The majestic Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in Europe, an iconic snowcapped peak that soars to 4, meters. At this altitude, the air is fresh and the landscape is sublime, with crystal-clear lakes, dramatic rushing waterfalls, peaceful valleys, and refreshing pine forests.

During summertime, visitors flock to the Alps to go hiking, cycling, and mountain climbing. In the winter, the French Alps draws many tourists for Alpine skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing. The area has many of France's top-rated ski resorts. To help you plan your trip, here are the country's highlights.

More than six million people visit the Eiffel Tower annually, and a visit is magical, whether you come for an evening ascent amid twinkling lights over a flute of Champagne or a lazy lunch in one of its restaurants. You'll discover lesser-known sights, from laid-back parks and hidden squares to vibrant street art and cute bars and brasseries, with plenty of surprises along the way.

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter. The dramatic play of tides on this abbey-island in Normandy is magical and mysterious. The rich history and legends of Mont St-Michel can be keenly felt as you make your way across the bridge — or barefoot across rippled sand — to its stunning architectural ensemble. Celtic mythology marks this spot as a tomb for the souls of the dead, and subsequent Christian residents topped the island with soaring abbey spires.

When the tide is out, you can walk all the way around Mont St-Michel, a distance of about 0. Mountains loom large almost everywhere you look in Chamonix , the birthplace of mountaineering and a famous winter playground to the rich, famous and not-so-famous.

At this iconic French Alps ski resort, snow-sports fiends fly down slopes on skis or boards, surrounded by breathtaking views of Mont Blanc and surrounding mountains. In the summer months, enjoy hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails. A trip to the thought-provoking D-Day Beaches is one of France's most emotional journeys. From the coastal port of Le Havre, you can follow the shoreline past broad stretches of fine sand and breeze-blown bluffs that echoed with a cacophony of gunfire and explosions during WWII.

The Normandy landings were the largest seaborne invasion in history — and one of the most tragic. Dozens of villages near the landing beaches also have museums focusing on local events.

To properly savor this fairy-tale walled city, linger at dusk after the crowds have left, when the old town belongs to its or so inhabitants and the few visitors staying at the handful of lovely hotels within its ramparts. Don't forget to look back when you leave to view the old city, beautifully illuminated, glowing in the warm night.