The 39 most beautiful places in France
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From the lavender fields of Provence to the art nouveau buildings of Paris, the most beautiful places in France are as diverse as they are alluring. The country has its fair share of cosmopolitan cities and charming small towns, of course – some of which date as far back as the 9th century – but it also has white-sand beaches, mighty canyons, and snow-capped mountains galore.
Whether you’re drawn to the azure waters of the French Riviera, the dramatic cliffs of Normandy, or the enchanting châteaux of the Loire Valley, this list of the most beautiful places in France is sure to inspire your next storybook adventure.
Robin GAILLOT-DREVON/UnsplashLake Annecy
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 meal come dinnertime.
StockByM/GettyLyon
Located about an hour west of Geneva, the third-largest city in France should move up a few notches on your list. Lyon is known for its innovative restaurants (try La Bijouterie for French dim sum) as well as its beautiful, UNESCO-listed neighbourhoods and Old Town – filled with boutique hotels, riverside markets, and hilltop cathedrals.
Jerome GallandHôtel Le Coucou Méribel
This family-friendly hotel in the Alps puts a playful spin on the traditional ski chalet concept – think polka-dot carpets, furniture legs shaped like ski poles, and frescoed ceilings depicting owls in the treetops. Throw in an exceptionally good ski-in ski-out location in the Trois-Vallées estate, and you have yourself one of the coolest accommodations in France.
221A/GettyBiarritz
A renowned summer getaway for royals and celebrities alike (you might remember it from Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises), the beaches of Biarritz, in Basque country along the Bay of Biscay, are not only gorgeous – they’re also hugely popular with surfers thanks to their mellow, safe-for-beginners waves.
BarbAnna/GettyThe Camargue
The Camargue, a marshy delta between the Mediterranean and the two branches of the Rhône, 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 trademark free-roaming white horses and some of its 400 bird species – if you’re lucky, you might even spot some flamingos.
DEA/ALBERT CEOLAN/GettyGardens of Marqueyssac
The famous Gardens of Marqueyssac make up one of the most stunning landscapes in France – and the world. The 150,000 bubbly boxwood trees and hedges wrap around a 17th-century chateau that overlooks the Dordogne Valley. The entire vista looks like an illustration from a Perrault fairytale.
Rafael K Streit/UnsplashParis
Yep, the whole darn city. There’s a reason the word flâneur 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 sunset behind the Eiffel Tower.
Hôtel du Cap-Eden-RocHôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc
Some hotels are so shrouded in legend that they are worth planning an entire trip around. Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc is one of those places. This Belle Époque landmark really needs no introduction, but we never pass up an opportunity to swoon over its seaside location, Dior spa, and bedside vases overfilled with roses from the garden.
Marco Bottigelli/GettyBurgundy
Burgundy is home to some of France’s loveliest landscapes, from rolling green vineyards to forested national parks. Take a road trip through the region to get nonstop views of the countryside – with plenty of winery pit stops along the way.
genekrebs/GettyGordes
Gordes is easily one of the most charming towns in France. Its elevated location makes it one of the best places in Provence to watch the sunset, and it is also an excellent home base for seeking out lavender fields during the summer months.
kinugraphik/GettyCanal du Midi
Canal du Midi is a tree-lined, 150-mile-long waterway running from the city of Toulouse down to the Mediterranean. While you can certainly admire the canal’s beauty from the shores, we recommend taking in the views from the polished teak deck of a river barge. You can’t do much better than Les Bateaux Belmond, a series of cruises exploring France’s waterways – complete with heated pools and king-sized beds.
Jonathan Gallegos/UnsplashMont Blanc
The roof of western Europe is the birthplace of alpinism and home to one of today’s most vibrant mountain sports communities, so it’s a given that Mont Blanc and its subsidiary peaks needn’t bow to any mountains, anywhere. Its needle-like, Gothically-drawn skyline is the kind that inspires poets and painters.
Aleh Varanishcha/GettyLes Calanques National Park, Marseilles
Les Calanques are long, rocky inlets that resemble Norwegian fjords and jut out into the ocean between Cassis and Marseille – and trust us when we say the water here is some of the bluest you’ll ever see. Take a motorboat tour to get some of the best views, but be sure you head back to the mainland in time for a perfect seafood lunch.
AXP Photography/UnsplashChâteau de Chenonceau
The entire Loire Valley is a treasure trove of beautiful castles, but Château de Chenonceau easily rises to the top of the pack – both in terms of beauty and popularity. The current château was built on top of an old mill starting in 1514, while the trademark bridge and gallery were added about 60 years later. Today, the river-spanning structure and surrounding gardens are one of the most-visited attractions in the entire country.
Matteo Colombo/GettyChampagne-Ardenne
As its name suggests, Champagne-Ardenne is the birthplace of bubbly and one of the most beautiful regions in France. The area is covered with idyllic valleys and vineyards, of course, but also ancient castles, chateaus, and abbeys. Make sure to visit the capital city of Troyes for splendid churches from the Middle Ages, and Reims for underground wine cellars and the masterpiece Cathédrale Notre-Dame.
Elena Rabkina/UnsplashPalace of Versailles
An enduring symbol of the pinnacle of luxury, Louis XIV’s 18th-century residence is one of the most impressive combined displays of art, architecture, interior design, and landscaping in the world. Don’t miss the queen’s bedchambers, a masterpiece of over-the-topness; the legendary Hall of Mirrors, still used by the French government today to receive heads of state; or the three square miles of perfectly manicured gardens.
Jui-Chi Chan/GettyChâteau de Fontainebleau
This sprawling château was reportedly the preferred residence of Napoleon, and honestly? We get it. With its whopping 1,900 rooms and sprawling gardens – not to mention its stately facade – Château de Fontainebleau is easily one of the most beautiful places in France. Best of all, it's within an hour's reach of Paris, making it perfect for a day trip.
Héloïse Delbos/UnsplashCliffs of Étretat, Normandy
Located along France’s Alabaster Coast, the pebble beach of Étretat is popular among sailors and surfers. But most visitors come to this stretch of coast in Upper Normandy for one reason: the famous chalk cliffs and arched rock formations. At various points along Étretat’s 80-mile stretch, you’ll find natural sculptures that have inspired travellers and artists (most notably Claude Monet) for ages.
Mlenny/GettySénanque Abbey
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 Sénanque Abbey, a 12th-century church near the village of Gordes. The abbey's gentle heather-grey colour looks custom-made for its surroundings, particularly in June and July when the acres around it bloom into a sea of purple.
Grafissimo/GettyStrasbourg Cathedral
Strasbourg’s Gothic cathedral is sometimes known as “The Pink Cathedral” for its trademark colour, which comes from the reddish sandstone used to build it. Although the original plans called for a pair of spires on top of the church, only one was built, giving the building a unique, somewhat mysterious look.
Illia Panasenko/UnsplashColmar
Walt Disney would surely approve of Colmar, with its timber-framed houses, colourful facades, and flower-lined canal. The commune is a delight to take in, whether it’s strolling the cobblestoned streets or taking a canoe trip down the water. Along with Kayersberg and Strasbourg, this provincial town is a trademark of the beautiful and charming Alsace region, located in northeastern France near Germany and Switzerland.
bluejayphoto/GettyMont Saint-Michel
Rising up from vast sandbanks and powerful tides, the rocky island of Mont Saint-Michel gives off an otherworldly appearance in its position off France’s northwestern coast in Normandy. A small medieval village, complete with winding streets and tiny houses, sits on the island, but the crown jewel is undoubtedly the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel. The incredible structure was built in 708AD and was the inspiration behind the castle in Disney's Tangled.
Jens Peter Olesen/UnsplashGorges du Verdon
Gorge du Verdon is often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of France.” And although it might be smaller than its American counterpart, it certainly doesn’t fall short in terms of beauty. The 2,300-foot-deep valley was formed by the Alpine Verdon River, a dazzling turquoise stream that flows into the artificial Lac de Sainte-Croix. Hiking and horseback riding trails weave throughout the vertical limestone cliffs, connecting tiny villages and offering once-in-a-lifetime views.
Whatafoto/GettyMenton
The town of Menton has all the beauty of the Côte d’Azur’s better-known coastal cities (see: Marseille, Nice), but a fraction of the crowds. With over 316 days of sunshine a year, exceptional gardens, boutique-filled alleyways, and quality Italian cuisine due to its position on the Franco-Italian border, it’s an ideal spot for a day trip.
DEA/GettyGiverny
Giverny is a small village on the border of Normandy most famous for being the site of Claude Monet’s cherished riverside house and garden, both of which are open to the public today. The pastel pink house is as pretty as a picture, with spring green shutters and ivy crawling up every surface. The gardens are like an impressionist painting come to life, with water lilies, weeping willows, wisterias, and the famous green Japanese bridge.
Nicolas Peyrol/UnsplashAuvergne Volcanoes
One of Europe’s largest regional parks (it’s roughly the size of Rhode Island), the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Park consists of a cluster of around 80 dormant volcanoes. Take the cable car up to Puy de Sancy, the highest mountain in the park, for an easy (but still breathtaking) 2.5-mile ridge hike.
Getty ImagesPlateau de Valensole, Provence
When it comes to lavender, timing is everything: to experience the full sniff-and-swoon effect of a glorious field of purple stalks, visit in June and July, when the flowers are abuzz with bees. Explore lesser-known spots such as Sault or Forcalquier and keep an eye out for roadside farmers’ stands, which are the real deal for honey and fragrant lavender by-products. Try a stress-busting lavender-oil-based massage at the L’Occitane spa at boutique hotel Le Couvent des Minimes, set in an elegantly restored 17th-century convent.
Getty ImagesGrands Crus Wine Trail
This bucolic 170km stretch takes you past rolling vineyards and through more than 100 storybook villages with brightly coloured Alsatian half-timber houses and scores of ancient wine-tasting cellars where you can sniff and swirl aromatic Pinot Blanc and chat with the local vignerons. If you don’t fancy learning about Sylvaner, Riesling or Gewürztraminer grapes, the dreamy countryside will conquer the heart of even the most jaded teetotaller. Don’t miss a stop in Eguisheim, a hamlet near Colmar with cobblestone lanes and gingerbread houses, where storks nest on rooftops and flowers hang over every carved window frame. Best bet: the family-run Maison Emile Beyer excels in luscious rare grands crus.
Getty ImagesSaint-Jean-de-Luz, Basque Country
There’s nothing trendy about this seawater spa town, where the simple pleasures range from detoxing with algae wrap to body surfing in the waves, just six miles from the Spanish border. Order a steaming bowl of homemade fish soup at the harbour lined with red and white half-timbered houses, then explore the pedestrianised backstreets and stock up on local espadrilles and pastel-striped linens. The town’s must-see showstopper: Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, the stained-glass 14th-century church where Louis XIV married Marie-Thérèse of Austria in 1660. Stay at the splendid Grand Hôtel Thalasso & Spa, a pink and white Belle Epoque confection overlooking the Atlantic.
Getty ImagesCassis, Provence
It’s no mystery why Dufy, Derain and even Churchill felt compelled to paint Cassis’ miniature port – a curve of pink, yellow ochre and eggshell-blue houses and wooden fishing boats. But the allure of this unique gentrification-resistant village doesn’t stop there. Aside from the pure joy of slurping down fresh sea urchins with local wine at the harbourside restaurants, you can stroll along the dazzling coastal limestone cliffs – les Calanques – that lead to turquoise water or unfurl your towel on the pebbly Plage du Bestouan. Stay at on-the-water Les Roches Blanches, a gem facing the glinting gold Cap Canaille.
Getty ImagesRamatuelle, Le Var
Only a few kilometres from the sandy stretch of Pampelonne beaches and verdant vineyards, this discreet fortified hilltop village – a former Saracen stronghold of tiny flower-lined alleyways and pastel-shuttered façades – is the bling-free flip side of Saint-Tropez. In high season, expect a linen-clad second-home crowd strolling around the snail-shaped circular maze of boutiques or sipping espresso at the family-run Café de l’Ormeau in the leafy square. On Thursday and Sunday mornings, the Provençal market takes over with an array of goat’s cheeses, olives, fragrant soaps and local crafts. Hop down to beachside haunt Chez Camille for the real deal in bouillabaisse.
Getty ImagesParc naturel régional des Volcans d'Auvergne
If you’re a hang-gliding enthusiast, floating over Auvergne’s Chaîne des Puys, Europe's largest chain of extinct volcanoes, is one way to visit this spectacular park. But you can also glimpse a partial view of these 80 symmetrical cones by driving or hiking through the neighbouring countryside. Here, in the heart of France’s rural zone of undulating valleys, verdant forests and grassy pastures dotted with grazing cows, there are few distractions, save the farmers’ markets – a cornucopia of home-cured sausages and regional cheeses. For hearty local comfort food, head to the Hôtel Bel Horizon in Vic-sur-Cère and order pounti, a prune and bacon terrine, and truffade, a potato pancake cooked in duck fat and topped with fresh Cantal.
Getty ImagesCap Corse, Corsica
Less than an hour’s drive away from the bustling seaport of Bastia, this wild peninsula of tiny fishing villages, Genoese towers and dunes of soft sand is a small miracle of seaside splendour that continues to avoid over-development. Head to the tip of the finger at Macinaggio and take the coastal footpath that winds around the cliffs. Sheep and cows graze in a grassy meadow just behind the inlets of emerald and aquamarine sea; the rolling maquis-covered hillsides are a fragrant fête of wildflowers, rosemary, myrtle and thyme. Stay at the recently opened Misincu in Porticciolo, Cap Corse’s first smart eco-friendly retreat.
Getty ImagesBordeaux
With more than 350 UNESCO-listed monuments – a mix of medieval, Renaissance and 18th-century treasures – Bordeaux exults in its status as the world’s largest urban World Heritage Site, but there’s far more to the city than alluring classic architecture. Stroll through the recently revitalised Bassins à Flot district – a long stretch of docklands transformed into tree-shaded walkways lined with riverside restaurants, then visit the city’s contemporary Wine and Trade Museum, a stunning showcase for the region’s exceptional grapes. On the landmark Place de la Comédie, grab a bite at the Quatrième Mur, a buzzing old-world-style brasserie flush with the Opera House, helmed by celebrity chef Philippe Etchebest, serving tasty regional specialities from black truffles to duck and mashed potato pie.
Getty ImagesÎles d'Or
Less than a dozen kilometres by boat from the Riviera mainland near Hyères, these two government-protected slabs of rock – a mini-paradise of craggy cliffs, clear shallows, powdery beaches and eucalyptus-shaded paths – will quickly strip you of your ordinary routine. Among the endless recreational pleasures of island life (everything from hike-or-bike paths through vineyards and underwater parks teeming with rare marine life), visit the recently opened Carmignac Foundation, a contemporary art museum on a wine estate lost in the pines.
Getty ImagesArles, Provence
Whether you’re wandering on the banks of the Rhone or through the medieval historic centre past the colossal Roman arena, there’s a certain village-like douceur de vivre about Arles that makes it unique. Ancient history and lots of nods to Van Gogh’s time painting here intermingle with a recent upsurge of contemporary artistic effervescence, starting with the ambitious Luma arts complex, featuring the city’s future cultural hub – the Gehry-designed steel-panelled tower shimmering against a blue sky, slated to open in 2021. Just beyond are the wetlands and pink salt flats of the Camargue, a bird-filled sanctuary where wild white horses also roam.
Getty ImagesMegève, The Alps
Once a sleepy agricultural tannery town, this exclusive sunlit resort, launched by Baroness Noémie de Rothschild to rival Saint Moritz a century ago, still draws an affluent crowd who come for a fix of old-fashioned charm. Surrounded by majestic peaks and views of Mont Blanc, Megève’s storybook atmosphere – snow-covered pines, jingling horse-drawn carriages, an illuminated cobblestone main square – is also a joy in summer when the hiking trails are dotted with wildflowers. Book a stay at Les Fermes de Marie, the town’s uber-stylish 70-room hamlet of Alpine farmhouses, and get slathered with edelweiss-derived beauty products at its Pure Altitude Spa.
Getty ImagesMenton, Côte d'Azur
Sheltered by a circle of mountains, this tranquil town flush with the Italian border still conjures a Dolce Vita vintage postcard – the gentle curve of beach, sorbet-coloured stacked houses and the baroque bell-tower church set in the cobblestoned backstreets are just the beginning. On the palm-fringed café-lined seafront, black-vested waiters dodge traffic, balancing trays of Aperol Spritz; at the end of the promenade, the curvy Ricciotti-designed Jean Cocteau Museum glitters in the sun like a white diamond. After a wander through the city’s subtropical gardens and emblematic lemon groves, book lunch at three-Michelin-star Mirazur, where chef Mauro Colagreco dishes up pure poetry on a plate.
Getty ImagesSaint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Wedged between Nice and Monaco, this secluded 2.48-square-kilometre finger of privileged land is much more than a luxurious enclave of security-gated mansions. In this quiet, wind-sheltered village where just about anything will grow, there’s a splendid rocky footpath along the shimmering sea to explore, plus a national museum in the extravagant turn-of-the-century gardens at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, ablaze with exotic blooms. No wonder the likes of Somerset Maugham, Matisse, Chagall and Cocteau set up house here; for a taste of that timeless splendour, book a sun lounger at the Olympic-sized pool of Le Club Dauphin at the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat Four Seasons.
Some of the content in this article was first published on Condé Nast Traveler.