France Attractions

France is the most popular sightseeing destination in the world. With millions of visitors every year, and just about as many things to see and do, this beautiful and historic country is a must for every traveller and tourist. Its buildings can be treasures - such as the magnificent Notre-Dame, stately Arc de Triomphe and the palace of Versailles - or containers of treasures, such as the unrivalled collections of the Louvre (home to Mona Lisa) and Museé d'Orsay with its globally respected portfolio of Impressionist art.

As one might expect, the tourist infrastructure is excellent with diverse offerings for every type of traveller. An organised tour is a good option if you have only a week, but for those with longer to indulge, car rental or train travel is the best way to get around. Wherever you go, France reveals its many faces and charms: the busy weekly markets in small towns, the rolling vineyards of the wine country, the sage-scented Mistral winds of Provence, and the luxuriant high life of the Cote d'Azure all form their own enduring impressions in the visitor's mind.

France is a year-round destination, although be sure to book ahead if planning a trip around Christmas or New Year, and during the major US holidays, when trans-Atlantic bookings are especially high.

Albi

While Toulouse is known as the 'pink city' for its facebrick buildings, Albi is often called the 'red city' due to the…

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Arc de Triomphe

The world's largest triumphal arch, the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile is set at the centre of a star-shaped configuration…

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Cassis

Cassis is a beautiful resort town just west of Marseille. Hemmed in by high white cliffs, its modern development has…

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Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a medieval village on the side of a hill, dominated by the ruins of an ancient château…

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Eiffel Tower

Gustave Eiffel, the architect of the Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) could never have guessed that it would become Paris'…

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Epernay

Epernay, along with Reims, is one of the great centres of champagne production; dug into the chalk beneath the town are…

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Louvre

One of the world's great art museums, this vast edifice houses an extraordinary collection of paintings, sculptures and…

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Mont Saint-Michel Abbey

One of France's best-known attractions, the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey is situated on a rocky island just off the coast…

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Mus�e d'Orsay

This great museum is fairly new by Paris standards. It is situated in a railway station by the Seine and houses a vast…

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Notre-Dame

Notre-Dame looms large over the Place de Paris, on the Isle de la Cité, and as the most enduring symbol of Paris…

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Pompidou Centre

Built in the 1970s and named after former French president Georges Pompidou, the futuristic Pompidou Centre is now considered…

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Pont d'Avignon

Behind the Petit Palais is the much photographed Pont d'Avignon, also known as the Pont Saint-Bénezet, and fondly…

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Versailles

The Château de Versailles stands 15 miles (24km) southwest of Paris and is one of France's most noted attractions.…

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