Discover the Top 8 Most Stunning Places in France Beyond Paris
France is definitely not only Paris but much more places that differ greatly from one another. We have here beautiful landscapes, majestic fortress, and awesome cities. Below you will find my list of 8 most beautiful places in France.
I must say that it's my own and personal list, so if you don't agree with it or have other interesting places in France, feel free to leave me some information in the comments section. And now let's get to the point, in my opinion, the most interesting places in France. You will find them below.
1. Côte d’Azur (French Riviera) and Monaco
The French Riviera (called also Côte d'Azur) is a beautiful Mediterranean coast placed in the southeastern part of France. You can find here a French micro state Monaco, which is one of the most magnificent cities in whole France.
If you prefer visiting beach resorts, you can find here very famous and glamorous Cannes or Saint-Tropez. There are also a lot of different coastal villages and towns here or other holiday resorts, so it's the best place to visit during the summer.
2. Mont Saint-Michel and Normandy
Mont-Saint-Michel in a magical island topped by a gravity-defying medieval monastery placed in Normandy in France. The monastery is for sure one of the most unforgettable sights you will ever see. If you like medieval cities with a huge history, this place is just perfect. It's placed about 4 hours drive west from Paris.
I wrote more information about this place in the separate article, which can be found here: Monastery and Abbey in Mont Saint-Michel.
3. Château de Chambord
Château de Chambord is one of the most beautiful and for sure one of the most recognizable Châteaux in France or maybe in the whole world. It has very distinct French Renaissance architecture, traditional French medieval forms and classical structures.
It was built by King Francis I of France to serve as a hunting lodge, but the interesting fact is that it was never completed.
4. Annecy, the Little Venice
The Annecy city is an alpine town placed in the south-eastern part of France, near Lake Annecy and Thiou River. This city has an awesome old town (called Vieille Ville), where a lot of water canals are or small streets. This part of Annecy is very beautiful and that's why people used to call it the Little Venice.
The old medieval church you can see in the attached image is called Palais de l'Isle. It was a 12-century island prison and it's now turned into a museum. Another interesting place to visit is an old restored medieval castle Château d'Annecy, where you can find art exhibitions. It's also worth to visit lake Annecy itself.
5. The Palace of Versailles
I think that I don't need to introduce this building to anybody, but if you somehow haven't heard about the Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles, or just Versailles), it was the seat of political power in the Kingdom of France, when King Louis XIV built it in 1682 near the Paris.
Château de Versailles is one of the most popular French tourist attractions and one of the biggest and most majestic palaces in the World.
6. Provence
Have you ever seen photos filled with Lavender fields and beautiful views? They were probably made in the Provence, which is a province that can be found on the southeastern part of France.
I think that no other Europe's regions (even Tuscany) have so nourished our dreams and sensual demands. While being in Provence you should definitely visit such cities as Arles, Avignon, and Aix. And of course don't forget to visit vineyards, they are awesome and the wine is so good.
7. Lyon
Lyon is the capital of region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and it can be found in the southeastern part of France. The city is placed at the junction of the rivers Saône and Rhône.
The Lyon city has so huge history, that it's just impossible to describe it in a few sentences. You can find here 2,000 years old Roman Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules, medieval castles and Renaissance architecture, mostly in the old town. The city is very beautiful and it's a must-see for all travelers.
8. Citadel of Carcassonne
One of the biggest and the most majestic medieval citadels I've ever seen. Citadel of Carcassonne is a definite must-see for all travelers who like history.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this travel article. France is a country full of great places to visit. This is my private own list of the 8 most beautiful French cities, buildings, and landscapes. If you have your ideas what else can I put here or just have some questions, you can write it in the comments sections below.
