Things to Do in France

Lying between the Camargue and Luberon in western Provence, the Alpilles is the newest of France’s 49 natural parks and covers an area of marshland, forest, vineyards and olive groves backed by the limestone crags of the Luberon Mountains. Alpilles is also known for its rich flora and fauna, with nearly 1,000 plant varieties, several species of protected bats and more than 90 species of bird including Bonelli’s eagles and rare vultures.

At the heart of the natural park lies the charming village of Saint-Rémy de Provence, made famous by tortured Expressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh in the late 19th century. He stayed at the Monastère St Paul-de-Mausole in 1889 when recovering from mental illness and painted many famous scenes around the village. In 2016 a new visitor center will open in the village that covers the whole of the park (until then the current HQ is at 10-12, avenue Notre Dame du Château, Saint-Etienne-du-Grès). Among the 15 other towns in the Alpilles pregion is Les Baux-de-Provence, whose medieval houses, squares and cobbled streets huddle together under the photogenic ruins of a château perched among bizarre rock formations. 

Paris is made up of 20 arrondissements or neighborhoods, which are arranged in a clockwise spiral of ascending numbers from the 1st arrondissement in the center. Southeast of the city center along the left bank of the River Seine, the 13th arrondissement is best known as the home of Paris’s booming Asian Quarter or Quartier Asiatique. 

Less touristy than other parts of Paris, the 13th arrondissement has a rich Chinese, Cambodian, and Vietnamese community and is a great place to find Asian restaurants and shops as well as one of the largest Chinese New Year Celebrations in Europe. The 13th district has also become something of an open-air museum, with dozens of massive works of street art, and several walking tours of the district highlight these urban pieces.   

The 13th arrondissement is easily accessible by public transportation. Metro lines 6, 7, and 14 make numerous stops throughout the neighborhood. Not far from the Latin Quarter, it’s a nice walk from central Paris along the River Seine to the 13th arrondissement.

The less-visited 13th arrondissement is wonderful to explore any time of year. The neighborhood is particularly lively during the Chinese New Year, in January or February, when the streets fill with brightly lit lanterns and colorful costume parades. The festival features plenty of children’s activities, traditional music performances, and authentic food. 

The 13th arrondissement is also home to the massive French National Library. Comprised of four 25-story glass towers, the library houses one of the largest collections of books in the world with well over 10 million titles. The library also contains numerous historical texts including thousands of ancient Greek manuscripts, as well as antique ceramics, coins, sculptures, and King Louis XIV’s globes. 

In the Petite Camargue region in southern France, the best way to see the medieval town of Aigues-Mortes is from its medieval ramparts. On a wander atop the city walls, you can see right across the ancient town, once filled with knights and crusaders during the 12th-century reign of Louis IX. Saint Louis ordered the ramparts so that his French kingdom could have a Mediterranean marina that would give them passage to the Middle East. Make sure to check out the famous Constance Tower while you’re in town. Built under the orders of Louis in 1242, it’s the most impressive of the 20 imposing towers dotted around the city walls.

Down at street level, a stroll along Aigues-Mortes' lively medieval streets is a popular pastime. While you’re here, try the local Fougasse pastry, which can be savory or sweetened with sugar and orange blossom. If you walk 15 minutes away from town, you'll run into the local salt works, a major part of the town's history, and their pink salt lakes.

The Basilique Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile d'Albi, commonly known in English as the Albi Cathedral, looks quite a bit different than most of the churches in France. First, it is made from clay brick instead of stone, giving it a pinkish hue rather than grey. Second and more noticeable still is the bell tower, which looks more like a fortress lookout than the usual intricately carved spires that visitors may be used to. 

There's a reason for its fortified presence–it was built after the Church vanquished the Cathars, whose desire to create a new church was considered heretical. Although the site had housed other religious sites (including one that burned down in the year 666!), it is this one that has remained since its construction in the 13th century. Included on the grounds is the Berbie Palace, where bishops once lived and where the Toulouse-Latrec Museum sits today.

Abbaye Saint Victor in Marseille may not be at the top of everyone's to-see list, especially when the nearby, picturesque Notre Dame Basilica and its bird's-eye view are such a big draw. But there are two reasons this abbey should be added: First, it's a convenient stop on the way to Notre Dame, and secondly, it is commonly considered the oldest church in France–which is quite a claim, considering that thousand-year-old churches seem to be a dime a dozen here.

In fact, the abbey's history dates back to the fifth century, was in ruins by the ninth century and by the 13th century, when other world-famous churches were first being built, Abbaye Saint Victor was being renovated. Martyrs died here, the library was dismantled simply to please a de Medici family member, and in the late 18th century, the site was stripped of all of its finery. In short, it's had quite a history.

The 7th arrondissement of Paris is home to some of the city’s most famous attractions, including the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d’Orsay, and Napoleon’s tomb. Situated on the left bank of the River Seine, the 7th arrondissement is a charming mix of narrow cobblestone streets, bustling street markets, quaint cafés, and local shops. 

For first-time visitors, the 7th arrondissement is the perfect place to begin an exploration of Paris. Take a sightseeing tour to see the district’s highlights and enjoy a great introduction to Paris culture, history, and architecture. You’ll admire views of the Eiffel Tower, wander the Musée Rodin Sculpture Garden, discover quaint cobbled side streets, and sample traditional French foods. 

It is easy to get to the 7th arrondissement using public transportation from anywhere in Paris. Metro lines 6, 8, 10, 12, and 13 service the arrondissement with stops including Bir-Hakeim (for the Eiffel Tower), Musée d'Orsay, and Varenne (for Les Invalides and Musée Rodin). 

The 7th arrondissement is worth exploring any time of year. If visiting during the summer months, consider booking tours and museum admission tickets ahead of time to avoid long lines. If you’re on a budget, you’ll find the best deals visiting November through February and also enjoy less tourist crowds, though with fewer services. 

The 7th arrondissement boasts a vast array of shops, from small speciality stores and consignment shops to high-end boutiques and large department stores. Fashion enthusiasts must visit Le Bon Marché, Paris’s oldest and most prestigious department store. Showcasing the finest designer brands and gorgeous window displays, Le Bon Marché is like an art gallery for fashion lovers.  

Soaring up the rocky peak of Aiguille du Midi at 12,605 feet (3,842 meters), the Aiguille du Midi Cable Car is one of the highest in Europe. Setting out from Chamonix, the cable car has two stages, culminating in an elevator ride to the summit with spectacular views over Mont Blanc and the surrounding French and Swiss Alps.

 

Visitors to Chamonix usually opt for the popular cable car ride. Tickets include access to the 360-degree summit viewing station and Step into the Void observation deck, a glass cage teetering over the cliff edge.

 

Many visitors arrive on a day trip from Geneva, just over the Swiss border. Full-day tours often combine Aiguille du Midi cable car skip-the-line tickets with a ride on Montenvers Railway, an open-top bus tour of Chamonix, or free time to explore the resort town.

 

 

Aiguille du Midi is in the Mont Blanc massif in the French Alps, close to the Swiss border. Cable cars set out from the Aiguille du Midi station on Place de l'Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix—easily reached on foot from the village center. At the top, take an elevator to the highest observation point.

The cable car runs year-round, except November (annual closure). The busiest time is in July and August, when queues can be long. Visit in the early morning to avoid crowds.

Ski, rock climb, and paraglide at Plan de l'Aiguille mid-station, depending on the season. Or, hike to Montenvers Train Station and look out over Mer de Glace glacier, before riding the train back to Chamonix. At the top station, brave the Step into the Void observation platform, before walking through The Pipe to encircle the entire summit, or ride the Mont Blanc Gondola to the peak of France’s Helbronner.

For many, the 6th Arrondissement is the quintessential Parisian neighborhood, complete with cafes, wine shops, patisseries, small art museums and shops lining its streets. Situated on the left bank of the Seine, the walkable neighborhood is home to the Latin Quarter, Saint-Germain-des-Pres, Medici Fountain and the beautifully manicured Luxembourg Gardens.

Saint-Germain-des-Pres has long served as the literary and intellectual heart of the city, and some of Paris’s most iconic cafes are here, including Les Deux Magots, Cafe de Flore, Brasserie Lipp and Le Precope. Each make for a perfect people watching perch.

Sixteenth-century ramparts and winding cobbled streets on the French Riviera—welcome to Antibes! A Mediterranean city with quite the history, Antibes was originally known as Antipolis, founded by the Ancient Greeks in 5 B.C. Then came the Romans, who renamed the city Antiboul and erected a theater big enough for 10,000 people. Barbarians and disrepair came next, until the area’s famous ramparts were ordered by Louis XIV, safeguarding Antibes from raiders and pirates who trawled the Mediterranean Sea. 

 

The first tourists arrived to Cap d’Antibes in the 1880s, and the city and its adjacent resort town of Juan les Pins quickly became a summer playground for Europe’s elite, beloved by Golden Age stars like Hemingway and Fitzgerald. Picasso also spent six months living and painting in Antibes, and today you can see his works from that period at Antibes’ Picasso Museum in the Chateau Grimaldi. 

 

Now a town of 80,000, Antibes stretches deep into the hills. It’s home to the largest marina in the Mediterranean and is a city of superyachts and their owners, who relax in the shaded mansions of Cap d’Antibes. Famous for its restaurants and surrounding beaches, Antibes’ Old Town also makes for a beautiful wander. Every morning, there’s a market by the marina where locals and tourists seek out fresh food from the region. 

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial may very well be the most visited American military cemetery in the world after Arlington, and with good reason: It is an emotional experience that stays with visitors long after they've returned home from their travels, even if they've never given much thought to World War II battle history.

There are four distinct features to the memorial, located in Colleville-sur-Mer, about half an hour from Bayeux and three hours from Paris. First, there is the cemetery itself, the final resting place of more than 9,000 soldiers. The vast majority of them lost their lives fighting the D-Day battles of Normandy, but there are other World War II heroes buried here as well. The rigid lines of so many thousands of graves are an astonishing sight, and the sense of loss is overwhelming. You'll see small stones placed upon the headstones in the shape of the Star of David for Jewish soldiers; this is a common Jewish custom and they should not be removed.

The next feature is the memorial, which includes a reflecting pool, a chapel and inlaid maps detailing the events of D-Day. The American flag flies here, as France conceded the land to the Americans and it is considered U.S. soil. The memorial and cemetery give way to the next feature, which is the view from from the site's vantage point above the famous Omaha Beach. From news reports and cinematic depictions we've come to recognize the beach from the point of view of the soldiers coming in from the English Channel; to see it from above, though, is to see just how precarious their circumstances were and how incredible it was that victory belonged to the Allies that day.

The final feature of the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is its brilliant visitor center, which puts everything into context. Far from jingoistic chest-thumping, the center instead stands in humble awe of the men who gave their lives on D-Day and pays every ounce of due respect to the enormity of the operation. Inside are items the soldiers carried with them, from ammunition to good luck charms, as well as first-hand accounts recorded by veterans. Learn about the French involvement in the region and the small details that could have made or broken the operation.

The Abbaye aux Dames in Caen is also known as the Abbey of Sainte-Trinité, or the Holy Trinity Abbey. As one could guess, “Abbaye aux Dames” translates to Women's Abbey, and that's just what it was – a Benedictine convent. It's almost a thousand years old, and one of the must-see sites for any visitor to Caen.

If the facade of the abbey looks a little worse for wear, it's because of its history; it was the site of a battle during the Hundred Years War, during which it lost its original spires. The larger convent today is home to the Regional offices for Lower Normandy, but the abbey, restored in 1983, is open to visitors. William the Conqueror's wife Matilda is buried there, and its interior is a treasure trove of architectural details.

The hallowed history of the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy draws thousands of visitors a year to this beautiful region of France. Along its now-calm coastline are tours, memorials, cemeteries, museums and stark reminders of the events of June 6, 1944. As you look out over the beaches and aided by the news reels from the time as well as modern-day recreations for the silver screen, it can be almost too easy to feel as though you can see exactly what happened, right in front of you.

But not everyone who fought that day arrived by boat. In the wee hours that morning – in fact, just after midnight - American paratroopers started descending into the region. Through a series of unfortunate events the paratroopers were not able to rally in order to provide organized support for the coming attack, but their scattered arrival sent the Germans running in all directions to defend their hold, a move which ultimately was one of the many factors in the Allies' victory. 

Most of the action from this event, code-named Operation Neptune, centered on the small village of Sainte-Mère-Église, which today is the site of one of the most fascinating WWII sites in Normandy: The Airborne Museum. Here visitors can relive the harrowing story of the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions and see a Douglas C-47 as well as a Waco Glider.  The exhibits, presentations, and items housed in this parachute-shaped museum fill in many of the missing pieces to just how the Allied forces battled their way to victory.

While in the village of Sainte-Mère-Église, don't forget to look for what appears to be a parachute wrapped around one of the spires of the church. This is a memorial to John Steele, who remained stranded up there because of his caught parachute, and who escaped eventual German arrest to go on and help his division retake the town for the Allies.

Chef Alain Soulard serves up French cuisine on the first level of the Eiffel Tower at 58 Tour Eiffel, a name that references the height in meters of the restaurant's kitchen range from the ground. The2-story eatery features a modern interior design and is surrounded by glass windows so you can take in views of Paris and the tower's intricate metal architecture while you dine.

Eating at 58 Tour Eiffel is one of the best ways to escape the tower's crowds and get more out of your visit. You can sit down and relax before or after heading up to the Eiffel Tower's second level or summit for the requisite look down on the city (which may require an additional ticket purchase). Make your lunch or dinner reservation directly with 58 Tour Eiffel, or take a tour that combines your meal with other Parisian experiences such as a Seine River cruise, a city tour, a show at the Moulin Rouge, or a trip to Versailles.

Walking, taxi, and public transit are the best ways to reach the Eiffel Tower, located in the 7th arrondissement on the banks of the Seine. By public transport, head to the Bir-Hakeim, Trocadéro, or Ecole Militaire metro station or the Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel RER station. Upon arrival, if you have a booking, go to the restaurant welcome desk on the esplanade to receive a priority-access ticket for the elevator.

The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner. You may want to select one or the other based on the environment you're looking for—lunch is more casual and kid-friendly with light meals served in a picnic-style basket, known as a chic picnic, while dinner features a more sophisticated atmosphere and dishes.

It may seem that visiting the Eiffel Tower consists simply of riding up to the viewing platforms, taking photos, and heading back down. But this is far from the truth. In addition to 58 Tour Eiffel, on the first level is an immersive show and interactive exhibits. The second level features shops and Le Jules Verne by Alain Ducasse, and the summit is home to Gustave Eiffel's restored office and the Champagne Bar. Perhaps most interesting is the backstage tour, during which you can get a look at the 1889 machinery used to operate the tower’s lifts.

Pont de l’Alma is a Parisian bridge built in 1854 in commemoration of the Franco-British alliance’s victory over the Russian army during the Crimean War. The bridge underwent complete rebuilding in the 1970s in order to accommodate the rapidly increasing road and river traffic – only the statues were retained from the original structure. The arch bridge is now 42 meters large and 153 meters long, and links the right and left banks of the Seine River.

Pont de l’Alma offers splendid views of the Eiffel Tower and is often the go-to location for photographers wanting to capture Paris.  What made the bridge a household name worldwide, however, is the role it played in Lady Diana’s death; indeed, she perished in a car crash at the entrance of the bridge’s tunnel in 1997. The Flame of Liberty at the bridge's north end has become an unofficial memorial to her memory.

Provence’s oldest abbey was founded in the 10th century by Benedictine monks and built on what was then a swampy island in the middle of the River Rhône north-east of the UNESCO-listed city of Arles.

The monks of Montmajour enjoyed several centuries of wealth, with the abbey thriving thanks to pilgrims who visited to see a fragment of the True Cross displayed in the Chapel of the Holy Cross. By the end of the 14th century, plague and the Hundred Years War affected the fortunes of the monastery; a defensive watchtower and fortified walls were added but it fell into disrepute. In 1639 its fortunes were briefly revived by an influx of new monks but the French Revolution in the 1790s saw Montmajour abandoned and derelict.  

Today the restored ruins include the medieval monastery and its neo-classical counterpart, built in the 17th century; art exhibitions are occasionally held in the enormous, barn-like church. St Peter’s Chapel is flanked by the monk’s cemetery, where medieval graves were carved directly into the rock. The 12th-century Chapel of the Holy Cross stands in a field just outside the monastery walls and there are panoramic views across the rolling Provençal countryside from the top of the defence tower; at 30 m (98.5 ft) high, it is possible to see the foothills of the Alps – sometime Arles resident Vincent van Gogh visited Montmajour often to enjoy this view.

The oldest Roman theater in France, Lyon’s Ancient Theatre of Fourvière was built under the orders of Augustus and expanded in Hadrian’s time. Completed in 17 B.C. with space for 10,000 people, today the Grand Theatre is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lyon. 

Restored in the 20th century, the ancient theater is now used to stage popular cultural events such as the summertime Nuits de Fourvière festival, where dance, opera and circus performers play alongside international music acts like Franz Ferdinand.

Situated on Fourvière Hill near the Notre Dame Basilica, from the theater you can also see the grand remains of the Odeon of Lyon, with its beautiful inlaid floor of marble and porphyry. Forming a pair with the main theater, the Odeon was built early in the second century with space for 3,000 people. Behind the Ancient Theatre of Fourvière, you can also visit the remains of an ancient Roman temple, dedicated in 160 A.D. to goddess Cybele.

The 8th arrondissement (neighborhood), one of Paris’ 20 districts, is probably best known for the famous boulevard Champs-Élysées. With sidewalks lined by trees, high-end shops, and fashion boutiques, the boulevard is also home to the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde, as well as the Élysée Palace (the official residence of the President of France). On one end of the Champs-Élysées is the Arc de Triomphe, which offers sweeping views of the city from its top. On the other end of the Champs-Élysées is the Grand Palais, an historic building dedicated “to the glory of French art.” The Grand Palais is now a museum and an exhibition hall that is home to an impressive art collection. The 8th arrondissement is probably best known as a retail district, where posh shoppers come to sip a beverage at one of the area’s numerous cafes or restaurants, then browse name-brand boutiques like Chanel, Christian Dior, and Louis Vuitton.

The 9th Arrondissement is located on the Right Bank in Paris and is home to a number of places of cultural, historical and architectural interest. It also boasts more hotels than any other arrondissement in Paris, so it can be a great area to base yourself to explore the city. Here you will find the Palais Garnier, which is home to the Paris Opera, as well as the Musee Grevin, a waxwork museum featuring more than 500 characters from French history. As you walk around the arrondissement, look for commemorative plaques outside of homes indicating notable landmarks. Be sure to check out the covered passageways near Boulevard Haussmann and rue Vivienne. Dating to the 19th century, these were precursors to the modern shopping mall.

The 9th Arrondissement is also home to several major department stores, including Printemps and Galeries Lafayette, both of which offer good skyline views of the city. In the young and vibrant South of Pigalle district, you can find a variety of restaurants, bars and cafes, and in Little Tokyo you can discover some of the best Japanese food in Paris.

The largest marina in Europe, with over 100 berths, Antibes’ ritzy Port Vauban is one of the most popular spots for yachts on the French Riviera. Originally a natural port run by everyone from the ancient Greeks to the Romans and the Barbarians, it wasn’t until the 15th century that the site was given adequate protection from raiders, when Louis XIV ordered military engineer Seigneur de Vauban to fortify the marina. 

 

Port Vauban is home to the Yacht Club d’Antibes and has its own private heli-pad for all those superyacht owners like Roman Abramovich. Berths at Port Vauban don’t come cheap—each 

spot costs between 1 and 4 million euros. Each spring, the marina hosts the Antibes Yacht Show, which attracts more than 15,000 visitors every year. 

 

Just behind the archway to Antibes’ Old Town on the western edge of the marina is a lively market that is open every day except Monday. After checking out all the glittering yachts, the market serves as a great place to order all kinds of Provençal cheeses and fruits, and to stop and enjoy a drink at one of the many bars and restaurants. 

The Abbaye de Saint Étienne (Saint Stephen's Abbey) in Caen is also known as the Abbaye aux Hommes (Men's Abbey), to distinguish it from the Women's Abbey close by. If it looks a bit like an English cathedral, you're on the right track – this stunning example of Norman Romanesque architecture indeed served as the inspiration for so many churches on the other side of the Channel. (Although keen-eyed visitors will notice the Gothic apse, a sign of the church's architectural evolution.)

There are two highlights of the Men's Abbey; the first is the tomb of William the Conqueror, whose mark on Normandy has never been forgotten. The second is a bit of a hidden gem – the cloistered gardens, accessible by going through the town hall. It's another world inside there, and a favorite with photographers.