Gastronomy, fashion, monuments, regions, there are many elements not to be missed when you come to France. France has above all places to visit at all costs, between land and sea, nature and city, all tastes are found there. As traveling all over France could be quite long (but never boring!), we offer you a tour of France in 10 places not to be missed.
1. Paris – Ile-de-France
This list begins, of course, with the capital, because what would a stay in France be without visiting Paris?
You could stay there two weeks, a month or live there, this city has so many secrets and hidden or unknown places that you will not go in circles.
Among the unmissable places you will find the Eiffel Tower , the Arc de Triomphe, the Sacré-Coeur or the Louvre Museum .
If this is not your first visit, head instead to the less touristy places: the Marais, the Place de la Nation, Denfert-Rochereau and not far away, the Luxembourg Gardens.
For connoisseurs of Paris, getting off the beaten track (by tourists) seems to be the best option, in particular by moving away from the center. The cities at the gates of Paris are less popular and yet are very popular and accessible by transport.
Vincennes has many green spaces with its Bois and its Château. The city of Montreuil sometimes looks like a small village, only bigger and with a great mix (more than 90 nationalities).
And finally, take a short trip to Neuilly-Sur-Seine, this town is quite rich and dotted with pretty little houses.
Neuilly is a green city with parks and in particular the Jardin d’Acclimatation .
2. Versailles – Ile-de-France
The palace, the gardens, the royal atmosphere, the Palace of Versailles makes young and old dream.
Built from 1623, to accommodate the King of France and his court. Kings Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI succeeded each other between 1682 and 1723.
It then served as a Consulate, underwent restorations and is today classified as a historical monument and considered a Museum of the History of France focused on the monarchical period.
You can visit the apartments of the King, of Ladies, the galleries, the Royal Opera, the Trianons, the orangery, the stables, the park and many others.
But in Versailles there is not only the Palace.
This very posh city also has the Place du Marché Notre-Dame, the Church of Notre-Dame de Versailles and the Town Hall.
3. Mont Saint-Michel – Lower Normandy
Mont Saint-Michel is indeed in Normandy and makes the inhabitants of the region proud. It is the most visited tourist site in Normandy and one of the ten most frequented sites in France.
Located on a rocky islet in the English Channel, Mont Saint-Michel is accessible on foot or by bus (better not to try swimming).
The abbey church, the highest point of the mountain, has been listed as a historical monument since 1862.
You will also find small shops and restaurants to buy souvenirs and taste the specialties of the region (the restaurant La Mère Poulard).
Mont Saint-Michel also has about forty inhabitants who live mainly from tourism and never tire of seeing their island visited.
Because of its abbey, the Mount is a real place of pilgrimage for Catholics and some can even make a retreat there among the community of Jerusalem monks.
Between the local gastronomy, the landscape and the spiritual side, so many reasons to visit this little piece of rock.
Known for the stars who have stayed there, the films that have been shot there, Saint-Tropez is one of the most famous cities on the Côte d’Azur.
French chic can be found there right down to the beach so as not to lose the charm that has made it famous.
As for the essentials, you cannot miss the beach of Pampelonne, the port of Saint-Tropez, the lighthouse of Camarat but also the Citadel.
All these places are very popular with tourists but also, for some, with locals because they live or work there.
To get away from the tourist hustle and bustle, it is advisable to set Saint Tropez time.
Get up early to take a dip on the still deserted beach (Ponche beach), do your shopping at the Place des Lices market before 11am.
Enjoy a long lunch break in the shade of a café in the heights of the city and go visit the La Ponche district in the late afternoon.
For the evening, the town of Sainte-Maxime is not very far and as good as Saint-Tropez. Less expensive, less hectic, you will find the beauty of Saint-Tropez with the calm as a bonus.
Etretat became a seaside town in the 19th century and has lived, since then, mainly from tourism.
Many castles, mansions and villas have been built on the heights as well as a casino, which strongly contributes to the mass tourism that Etretat is experiencing today.
It is advisable to leave your car at the entrance to the city, the streets are very small and the inhabitants do not like to see big cars blocking all the streets