The 26 Most Beautiful Places in France
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.
This article was originally published in 2016. It has been updated with new information.
Robin GAILLOT-DREVON/UnsplashLac D’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 neighborhoods 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 all of France. The elevated location makes it one of the best places in Provence to watch the sunset, and it also happens to be 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-top-ness; 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. (Bonus: It’s less than an hour away from Paris by train.)
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 travelers 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 gentle heather-gray color of the abbey 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 color, 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, colorful 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 708 A.D. 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 pretty as a picture, with spring green shutters and ivy crawling up every surface. And 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.
