France

France serves to delight the romantically inclined with fairy-tale castles, picture-perfect villages, soaring cathedrals, and still, the country manages to impress realists together with its progressive and yet contemporary styling.

Whilst perusing the streets of Paris, be sure to take in the delights of the Eiffel Tower, which represents the modernized emblem of France. Then, venture to the Louvre Museum and witness famous masterpieces aplenty. Enjoy a day at the most elegant Palace of Versailles. Be sure to save some time for traditional French gastronomic delights and leisurely gourmet meals.

Nevertheless, it’s not merely about Paris. Each individual region in France comes with its own distinctive culture and cuisines. From the quaintest of fishing villages in Brittany that specialize in seafood and crêpes, to the cozy chalets dotted around within the French Alps, where hearty cheese-based fondues and charcuterie is the indulgence of every day. Savor it all, and take gratification from the irresistible charms that France has to offer. Let’s have a look at the best things to do in France!

1. Paris: Musee de Louvre

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The Louvre, Paris

Even the main entrance way to the Musee de Louvre is an artistic dream, as is befitting to the world’s most visited museum. But there’s not much time to linger gazing up at the glassy pyramid. For inside awaits the fantasy of the most ethereal collection of art the world has seen, with everything from the Code of Hammurabi, to Egyptian mummies, to Leonardo’s Mona Lisa, and the Venus de Milo.

The museum has endured the centuries-old political and social transformations of France, while still maintaining the vastness and beauty of the human mind under a single roof, and thereby becoming a potent symbolization of French finesse and sensitivity.

2. Paris: Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel)

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Eiffel Tower

As a way to commemorate the French Revolution’s centennial celebration, the Eiffel Tower, which is the world’s most visited paid monument, was constructed in 1889 by a company owned by Gustave Eiffel the acclaimed bridge builder.

If you’re out on the Champs de Mars during the evening, you’ll see the tower twinkle with its millions of multicolored lights, at which point you’ll realize exactly why it’s such a popular spot for marriage proposals. Irrespective of the time of day, however, it represents a very strong symbol to the French peoples, serving to not only commemorate but to unite and stir strong emotions. Also check out these tips on Paris.

3. Versailles: Versailles Palace (Chateau de Versailles)

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Palace Of Versailles

When Louis XIV relocated to the court of Versailles back in 1682, he certainly made a good choice. These days, the amazing Hall of Mirrors, the gilded royal apartments, the glittering enfilade throughout the bedrooms, and the intimacy of the works on the furnishings, are all masterpieces fit for a king.
Not to mention the meticulously manicured lawns and quintessential landscaping which is keenly suited to a world of fairy-tales. It all comes together as a symbol of unconditional monarchy, while simultaneously functioning as one of the foremost tourist attractions in France.

4. Chartres: Cathedrale de Chartres

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Cathedrale De Chartres

The beautiful soaring spires, the porches which are elaborately adorned with detailed sculpture works, and the stained-glass windows from the 12th and 13th centuries, conjure up the realization that the Cathedrale de Chatres symbolizes the front runner of the echelon in French Gothic art.
Although in 1134 much of the town of Chartres was destroyed by fire, the cathedral miraculously survived and became a major pilgrimage destination as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. It truly is a masterpiece of French architecture.

5. Mont Saint-Michelle: Abbaye du Mont Saint-Michel

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Mont Saint-Michel

On the border between Brittany and Normandy lies the Abbaye du Mont Saint-Michel, a legendary abbey that brings the artistry of medieval architecture and the forces of nature together. Sitting atop a tidal island, the abbey was given the accolade of a UNESCO World Heritage listing in 1979, and marks the symbol of French heroic resistance to the English during the Hundred Years’ War.
The fortified walls encompass a picturesque Middle Ages village which flourished from the 11th century on. Its unique position of being only 600 meters from land made it easily accessible to pilgrims during low tide. More latterly, during the reign of Louis XI, the Mont was converted into a prison, though now it has been revitalized into one of France’s most visited tourist attractions.

6. Paris: Notre Dame Cathedral (Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris)

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Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris became ever-more popular on the publication of Victor Hugo’s novel in 1831, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Nevertheless, the church reflects the capital city’s prestige all too well with its sizable lofty archways, ornate spires, rose-colored stained glass windows, flying buttresses, ribbed vaults, and not least, the indispensable Gargoyles, all of which emanate the essence of Gothicism at its finest. Notre Dame de Paris certainly deserves a place in the itinerary of every visitor to the capital city of France.

7. The Loire Valley (Le Val de Loire)

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Chateau De Saumur, Loire Valley

The River Loire twists and turns as it makes its way throughout the rolling hills of the valley, offering a naturally soothing spectacle, and setting the stage for something akin to heaven on Earth. This beautiful area of blooming flowers and grandiose vineyards is dotted on both sides with over 1,000 charmingly elaborate chateaus.

Follow the 174 mile (280 km) river from Sully-sur-Loire in Loiret to Chalonnes-sure-Loire in Anjou, and you’ll certainly agree that the valley truly deserves its UNESCO recognition.

8. Paris: Musee d’Orsay

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Musée D’Orsay, Paris

Though the Louvre is considered to be the most impressive museum in France, the Musee d’Orsay, also located in Paris, is a very close second. Situated on the left bank of the Seine, and housed in a bygone railway station, the museum plays host to paintings and sculptures that belong to a host of French artists.
Nevertheless, the museum is famed for its considerable assortment of masterpieces from impressionists and post-impressionists. There is no place on Earth that you can witness such an extensive collection of artworks from Monet, Cezanne, Degas, and Renoir. Really, it doesn’t take any level of fine arts expertise to fall in love with the Musee d’Orsay.

9. Nîmes: Arenes de Nîmes

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Arenes De Nîmes

Arguably the best preserved Roman amphitheater there is to be seen, this arena has been a dominant factor in the city of Nîmes for almost 2,000 years.

Due to the degree of perfection of Roman engineering, still today, we can witness and revel in events staged in the amphitheater, including popular musical and theatrical concerts, bullfights, and more, and all in such a venerable setting. The establishment is in close proximity to the Principality of Orange and the Ponte du Gard, making the entire area a haven of antiquity.

10. Reims: Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Reims

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Cathedrale Notre-Dame De Reims

Although acting as a runner-up to the Cathedral in Chartres in terms of sculpting and ornamentation, Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Reims still represents a wonderful display or architectural artistry and royal history. Here you will witness the synthesis of Gothic elements in harmony, unity, and remarkable balance.

Although the subtle contrast between formal classicism and realism may not be so noticeable to the layperson, the overall grandness of the cathedral will no doubt make a lasting impression. It comes as no surprise that Reims Cathedral was drawn on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1991.

11. Paris: Arc de Triomphe

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Arc De Triomphe

Today, the Arc de Triomphe, which is the largest monument of this kind in the world, links both old and new Paris together, thereby forming a spectacular backdrop for the urban ensemble. It was Napoleon I who commissioned Jean Chalgrin to conceptualize and design the triumphal archway, which was then dedicated to the imperialism and glory of his armies.

French artistic sensitivity is epitomized through the adornment of impressive sculptural reliefs which grace the pillars on either side. All Napoleon’s major victories and some 660 names of army generals who served during the First French Empire and throughout the French Revolution are engraved within the arch as a way to symbolize the French pride towards their military history. Below the arch is the tomb of France’s Unknown Soldier, while the terrace way at the top offers panoramic views of Paris. It perpetuates as one of France’s most visited sites.

12. Lourdes: Pèlerinage de Lourdes (The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes)

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Pèlerinage De Lourdes

Year on year, millions of Christians ensemble in the sanctuary – Pèlerinage de Lourdes – where the most sacred site is that of the Cave of Apparitions. Irrespective you are devout or otherwise, you will likely be moved as you witness people absorbed in reverence, and then immersing themselves in one of the grotto’s 17 pools, where the waters are said to be healing and righteous.

Originally a tranquil market town in the foothills of the Pyrenees, Lourdes emerged as a major pilgrimage destination upon the news that Our Lady of Lourdes had appeared several times in front of one of the regular parishioners. Thus, it is now said to have more hotels in France than any other city besides Paris.

13. Paris: Centre George Pompidou

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Centre Georges Pompidou

Given its name after a former President of France, Centre George Pompidou, which was completed in 1977, represents a rather unusual construction, with its skeletal high-tech architecture of tubes, boxes, and cables, all in various shapes and colors.

The artistic composition provides a rather distinctive home for a public library, or bibliothèque publique d’information, as well as the Musée National d’Art Moderne, and it serves as a center for acoustic and musical research, otherwise known as IRCAM. But the main purpose of the Centre George Pompidou is to offer a space for ordinary people whereby they can feel liberated within the heart of France’s vibrantly exuberant art and culture scene.

14. Paris: Moulin Rouge

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Moulin Rouge

Just like the movie, Moulin Rouge in Paris, which has its locale in the vicinity of Montmartre within the red light district of Pigalle, offers its patrons regular evening performances of cancan. The music, which is lively and seductive, represents a pageant of sexy lingerie, slender legs, whirling costumes, together with outstanding technique.

It’s true that you’ll have to loosen up on those purse strings in order to witness the show, but it’s still not much to ask in order to be thoroughly entertained by this turn-of-the-century French extravaganza in all its unbridled romance.

15. Languedoc-Roussillon: Pont du Gard

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Pont Du Gard

Over 2,000 years ago, Pont du Gard, which is an amazing compilation anthology of stones weighing as much as 6 tons, was constructed over a period of more than 5 years. The structure makes up a sizable part of an aqueduct which is almost 31 miles (50 km) in length, manufactured to convey water from the Gardon River valley over to Nemausus in Nîmes.

Nevertheless, from the 4th century onwards, maintenance was neglected, and despite the structure falling into complete oblivion, people now flock by the thousands in order to witness an exceptional piece of Roman legacy. There’s plenty to do in the area, and the site represents a highlight for anyone who wishes to visit France.

16. Chamonix, Mont-Blanc: La Valle de Chamonix (Chamonix Valley)

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La Valle De Chamonix

With its backdrop being the monumental wall of Mt. Blanc, you’ll understand exactly why La Valle de Chamonix is a year-round paradise for outdoor sports enthusiasts as well as anyone who marvels at heart-melting vistas.

Visitors are transported to the heart of the massif via lifts, while endless trails divulge incredible panoramas, mountain torrents, and cozy hotels. Furthermore, with the addition of a continual calendar of events within the downtown area, you have here a packed holiday experience in the most comprehensive manner.

17. Carcassonne: Carcassonne Medieval City

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Carcassonne

There are in fact two Carcassonnes: One is the famed walled city, and the other being the adjacent town which spreads out at its base (ville basse). A stopover to the fortified settlement makes for a real step back in time. The medieval buildings, narrow cobbled streets, and little squares which are packed with atmospheric restaurants, provide for an altogether unique experience for everyone.

Throughout the day, tourists descend in the hundreds, though in the late evening, the designation becomes quietly enchanting. Well worthy of a nighttime stay, though perhaps not an option for those on a tightly reigned budget.

18. Montignac: Lascaux II

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Lascaux Cave, Montignac

During 1940, around the time the Germans invaded France, in a little forest to the south of Montignac, four boys attempted to rescue their dog from a cave. As they ventured into the darkness, little did they realize they were about to make a breathtaking discovery.

The discovery was nothing less than a system of Paleolithic caves, together with over 1,500 well-preserved engravings and paintings of wild animals. Believed to be dated at over 17,000 years, the findings were to shed light upon the beginnings of European art, in addition to presenting information on the early Homo Erectus. Although the caves have been closed to the general public, in 1980, a detailed replica was established, which is known as Lascaux II.

19. Limoges: Old Town of Oradour-sur-Glane

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Limoges

Oradour-sur-Glane, an idyllic village at the time, was razed to the ground in June 1944 in retaliation towards the French Resistance for sabotage attacks on the marauding German forces. In the post-war era, a new settlement was established, though the ruins of the martyred village were preserved as by way of commemorating the dead and serving as a stark reminder of the barbarity inflicted by the Waffen-SS.

Every entranceway to the ruin bears a sign that says “Remember”, which serves to commemorate the atrocities that occurred during WWII in the old town of Oradour-sur-Glane and well beyond.

20. Champagne-Ardenne: Champagne Route (Route Touristique du Champagne)

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Champagne, France

The Champagne region in France although celebrated globally for their sparkling wines, has more to offer than merely the fizzy beverage. It is an oasis of pristine beauty, tranquility, and offers a fine historical heritage that encompasses five wine producing districts together with its commercial centers in the towns of Épernay and Reims.

The Champagne Route takes its meandering path throughout the region’s adorable villages, diverse vineyards, and elegant champagne houses, where the owners patiently await the visitor to share in their passion. You may find on your travels that the obligatory glass of champagne is then followed swiftly by a rather romantically inclined cellar-based candlelit dinner… and then, yet another glass of champagne.

21. Orange: Theatre Antique d’Orange

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Theatre Antique D’Orange

Although Orange is a significant town in the Vaucluse department, it is a rather ordinary place that is almost entirely devoid of the touristy luster you’d perhaps expect to find there. Nevertheless, the town is the home of a Romanesque theater – one of the best (if not the best) preserved and most complete in the world.

Built early on in the first century AD, the theater demonstrates such distinctive features that you’d be forgiven for thinking that this was a particularly well-staged contemporary perplexity. For travelers in the area, the Theatre Antique d’Orange is not one to be missed, especially so during the summer months when it transforms into the venue for the Chorégies d’Orange – the annual opera festival.

22. Alpes-de-Haute-Provence: Gorge du Verdon

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Gorge Du Verdon

For those with a predisposition towards the world of water sports, the Gorge du Verdon in south eastern France ought to be on your list of venues to visit. The canyon, which stretches some 15 miles (25 km) in length, rises up in spectacular fashion from the Verdon River situated some 2,300 ft. (700 m) below.

The river, which takes its name after the beautiful green emerald hue of the waters, is among the Gorge du Verdon’s most attractive features. Included in the water sports on offer are sailing, kayaking, rafting, and water skiing. Certainly not a holiday locale for the feint-of-heart.

23. Alsace: Route des vins d’Alsace

Source: Jean-Luc SCHMITT

Route Des Vins D’Alsace

Extending from Marlenheim to Thann, the Alsace Wine Route is an experience not to be missed. As it winds its way seemingly endlessly through flower-decked villages, passing vineyard after vineyard and a plethora of medieval castles, the wine route may not be situated in such spotlight regions as Burgundy or Bordeaux. But nevertheless, it still boasts of two millennia of vinification history, and serves to continually enchant its visitors with both the wonderful setting in which it resides as well as the sheer quality of the flag product.

Even for those who rarely indulge in alcoholic beverages, a tour along the Route de vins d’Alsace is well and truly worthy of the effort.

24. Marne-la-Vallée, Paris: Disneyland Resort

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Disneyland, Paris

Though every Disneyland Resort represents a paradise for the kids, it also provides the opportunity for adults to make a return to those bygone years. As you and the family make an entrance to the “Happiest Place on Earth”, there’s an immediate sense of being possessed with the kind of magic you’ve likely never experienced since your younger years.

Chant your favorite Disney songs while you shuttle your way between Sleeping Beauty’s Castle and Captain Hook’s Private Ship. Together with a retail park, entertainment area, and dining district, two theme parks, and no less than seven Disney-owned hotels, you’ll be in for so much fun that even the die-hard grouches will be laughing continuously while their hearts melt with pleasure.

25. Saint-Tropez: St. Tropez Beaches

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Pampelonne Beach Near Saint Tropez

Famed for the clumsy gendarme and, not least, for the actress Brigitte Bardot, this shimmering pearl of the Cote d’Azur will cast a spell on everyone from cinema aficionados to history buffs. Nevertheless, it’s the beach bums and the crème de la crème of the red carpet that will truly have the time of their lives.

The choice of locations in St. Tropez ranges from the Plage de la Briande, a rather secluded affair, to the family-orientated La Boullbaisse. If it’s a relatively trendy locale you’re looking for, try Plage e Pampelonne. The Plage de Tahiti is where you will find the celebrities, while Les Salins is kitted out for the naturists. No matter what it is you are intent on finding, the glittering coast of St. Tropez offers a perfect sun-kissed niche.

Nice’s unofficial anthem is Nissa La Bella, and you can’t help but agree with this sentiment when you visit the French Riviera’s largest city. Nice’s beauty comes from the 19th-century mansions on its promenades and boulevards, from the city’s Italianate old quarter and the rugged natural terrain that provides countless wondrous vantage points.

Artists have always cherished this scenery, rendered even more beautiful by the unique light. So Nice is now also one of the best places to go in Europe for art galleries, with museums dedicated to Chagall and Matisse. Add great cuisine, a perfect climate and more than a dash of Riviera glamour, you’ve got a very special place.

Lets explore the best things to do in Nice:

1. Promenade des Anglais

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Promenade des Anglais

There are seaside walks, and then there’s the Promenade des Anglais, which is more than just a grand walkway next to the Mediterranean: It’s been an integral part of Nice city life (something the recent attack won’t change) since this embankment was built in the 1820s.

Parades for the ebullient Nice Carnival come by in February, while the rest of the year joggers, couples skateboarders and families pass all day long.

The promenade bends for seven kilometres, and on the eastern side is skirted by regal 19th-century palaces.

You can take a seat on the benches and find shade beneath pergolas and palm trees.

2. Vieille Ville

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Vieille Ville

The oldest part of the city is a change from Nice’s broad boulevards and expansive squares like Place Masséna.

It’s a mesh of alleys with local shops and restaurants, darkened by tall ochre-painted apartment buildings and dominated by the Colline du Château to the east.

Glaciers, crêperies and cafes all flow onto the squares, which are often lively until the early hours.

There’s a strong Italian feel  about the architecture and setting, which is no coincidence as Nice wasn’t French until the Treaty of Turin in 1860.

Check out the recommended hotels in Nice, France

3. Parc de la Colline du Château

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Parc de la Colline du Château

In the park at the top of this steep hill on the east side of the city you’ll be presented with some of the French Riviera’s great panoramas.

You can look back over Nice and the azure sea in the Baie des Anges, and it’s a sight you’ll want to pause over for as long as possible.

You can pick out all the landmarks, like Hotel Negresco and the port to the east.

If you’re feeling fit you might reach the top on foot from the Vieille Ville, but there’s also a free elevator, which is recommended in the summer.

4. Musée Marc Chagall

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Musée Marc Chagall

Chagall was so involved in the design of this museum that he decided where each of his works would be placed, configured the layout of the gardens and designed the stained-glass windows in the concert hall.

So in many ways the museum is a coherent work of art by itself.

But the reason it was created was to house Chagall’s series of 17 paintings with biblical themes, divided in to the New and Old Testament.

Among these is the famous Resistance, Resurrection, Liberation triptych, painted before, during and after the Second World War.

5. Nice Cathedral

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Nice Cathedral

Located in the Vieille Ville, the exterior of this landmark is rather unprepossessing, apart from its patterned dome.

A casual visitor to the square in front might not even realise that this is the city’s cathedral.

Inside it’s a different story, and the building takes on new domensions once you step through its doors.

It was built in the 17th century with a lavish baroque design, composed of ten highly ornate chapels with sculptures, paintings and gilding.

Once again, it’s the kind of building you’d expect to find in Italy or Spain.

6. Cours Saleya Market

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Cours Saleya Market

Also in Nice’s old quarter is this lovely flower and fresh produce market, which sets up every day except Monday when it’s replaced by a flea market.

If you’re holidaying in an apartment in Nice then this market is a godsend, selling fresh produce, regional delicacies like socca made on site and flowers sourced from the Provence and Alpes-Maritimes countryside.

Many sellers will tempt you with free samples, which is an effective way of getting your business! The flower stalls stay open the longest, remaining until 17:30, long after the food sellers have packed up.

Beat the tourist rush and get there as early as possible.

7. Musée Masséna

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Musée Masséna

This 19th-century villa on the Promenade des Anglais  was donated to the city by the Duke of Rivoli in 1919 on the condition that it should be opened to the public as a museum of local history.

You have to go to see what it’s like inside one of these Belle Époque mansions, and it has gardens that were designed by Édouard André, also responsible for those at the Monte Carlo Casino.

There’s an intriguing miscellany of curiosities inside, like Napoleon’s death mask and a tiara belonging to his wife, Empress Joséphine, as well as a collection of 19th-century French art on the second floor.

8. Dining

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Salade Niçoise

This one city has contributed a lot to French cuisine, and there are a handful of local dishes you can’t leave Nice without trying.

Salade Niçoise is an obvious one to start with: It’s hard-boiled egg, green beans, anchovies, tomatoes and calletier olives, and goes superbly with Bandol’s rosé wines or whites from Bellet.

A more casual street-food is Socca, a kind of cross between flatbread and pancake, made with chickpea flower and sold by vendors in the old quarter.

Ratatouille also comes from this part of the world, and this famous vegetable stew is made with courgettes, aubergine, peppers and tomato.

There’s also fougasse bread, onion tart and Daube Niçoise, a braised beef stew, with bacon, tomatoes and red wine.

9. Parc Phoenix

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Parc Phoenix

There’s a three Euro fee to get in to this park, but it’s money well-spent considering how much there is crammed into these seven hectares on the western end of the Promenade des Anglais.

Kids go free and, it’s one of the few attractions in Nice that they’re guaranteed to enjoy.

There are 20 themed zones, with 2,500 plant species growing around ponds, in a modern greenhouse (one of Europe’s largest) and in a variety of gardens.

There are also animal enclosures and terrariums, with turtles, otters and tropical spiders, while mandarin ducks, Chilean flamingos and iguanas roam freely in the greenhouse.

10. Beaches

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Beaches

Nice’s beaches are pebbly, and while they’re beautiful to wander past, they may not be to everyone’s taste for sunbathing.

There are private sections providing the comfort of sun loungers, and occasionally even laying sand.

Everywhere else you can still pass a relaxing afternoon in the sun, but the currents might be a bit strong for little ones and the beach shelves quite steeply too.

One beach guaranteed to delight the kids is on the other side of Mont Boron at Villefranche-sur-Mer, where the waters are shallower and screened from the open sea by the headlands at Cap de Nice and Cap-Ferrat.

11. Monastère de Cimiez

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Monastère de Cimiez

This monastery on a rise, north of the centre was established by the Benedictines in the 800s.

You get there along the Boulevard de Cimiez, one of Nice’s most impressive thoroughfares, with extraordinary 19th-century hotels and mansions.

The gothic monastery buildings are from the 14th and 15th centuries, with delicate frescoes from the 1500s.

But most visitors make the climb for one purpose: To see the exquisite gardens, with flower beds, topiaries, geometric lawns, pergolas and a terrace with an unbelievable view of the city.

These gardens are the oldest on the Côte d’Azur, plotted in 1546 and a potager for the monks.

12. More Art Museums!

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The Matisse Museum

With the Riviera Pass you can get into the Chagall Museum and a host of other attractions on one ticket over a 48-hour or seven-day period.

Here’s a quick overview; The Matisse Museum has one of the world’s biggest collections of this revered impressionist’s works, but perhaps more exciting for fans is that it builds a picture of the artist’s influences and process (with heaps of sketches to see). On Promenade des Anglais there’s the Museum of Asian Art, right behind the Phoenix Park, with a pavilion where you can attend an authentic Japanese tea ceremony.

Then there’s the contemporary art museum, MAMAC, with pieces by Warhol, Lichtenstein and Yves Klein.

Check out the recommended hotels in Nice, France

13. Cap-Ferrat

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Cap-Ferrat

A byword for Riviera luxury and old money, Cap-Ferrat is 20 minutes east of Nice, on the panoramic Boulevard Napoléon III. Come to be dazzled by the sensational turn-of-the-century mansions.

One, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, is open to visitors and loaded with precious paintings, sculptures and furniture.

Like the renowned path at Cap d’Antibes, Cap-Ferrat is also bordered by a coastal trail with supreme photo opportunities of the Riviera’s mythic rugged coastline and the Massif de l’Esterel.

The path is also the easiest way to get to some to the cosy beaches on the east side.

14. OGC Nice

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OGC Nice

From August to May, if you want a break from the cerebral and epicurean attractions of Nice and the French Riviera you could always watch some live football at the new Allianz Riviera stadium, a few minutes west of the city.

OGC Nice enjoyed their best season for many years in 2016, and are managed by the Swiss coach Lucien Favre, respected for his attractive style of football.

Their capacious new 35,000 capacity home is worth the admission too, and was built for EURO 2016. The club is also now owned a wealthy overseas consortium, so might be set for big things in coming years.

15. Mont Boron

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Fort du Mont Alban

Between Nice’s port and Cap-Ferrat is a peak that rises steeply from the water, reaching a height of almost 200 metres.

It’s a rare piece of open terrain left to olive, carob and pine groves.

You can walk to the southwest side where Nice rolls out into the distance next to the Baie des Anges, and even the Colline du Château looks small.

On the other side is a comprehensive view of Cap-Ferrat, while you walk along the ridge back to the Fort du Mont Alban.

This bastion was constructed in the mid-16th century is open to visitors in the summer.

Like many port around the world, Marseille long had a reputation for seediness and crime. And there’s still a scruffiness about the city today, which is no bad thing. It lends Marseille a rakish character and gives it an intoxicating dynamism and colour.

You can see it all in neighbourhoods like Le Panier, Noailles and La Paine and their shops, markets and cafes. The Old Port has been in use since 600BC, and if you’re inspired by the great age of France’s oldest city there’s a wonderful choice of museums that will send you back in time.

Lets explore the best things to do in Marseille:

1. Old Port

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Old Port

Marseille’s massive rectangular port has been trading for 2,600 years, and is more of a whole district than a single sight.

On three sides are quays with broad promenades enclosed mostly 18th-century former warehouses.

It seems like almost every one of these has a cafe, fish restaurant or bar on its ground floor, with outdoor seating so you can see life in this enchanting city unfold as you nurse a pastis.

Industry has long moved to the modern docks to the docks to the north, and most of the boats in the old port are for pleasure.

But at the innermost Quai des Belges the latest catch is still brought ashore to be sold at the fish market by the water every morning.

2. Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde

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Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde

It’s hard to miss this monument rising above the skyline to the south of the Old Port.

It’s a 19th-century neo-Byzantine church 150 metres above the water, with a large golden statue of the Virgin and Child at the top of its tower to watch over Marseille’s maritime communities.

There had been religious sanctuaries and watch towers on La Garde for many centuries, and the basilica incorporates the lower levels of a renaissance fort that also included a chapel.

The climb isn’t to be taken lightly in the summer, but there’s a tourist train departing regularly from the Old Port.

Needless to say the scenery from up here is jaw-dropping.

Check out the recommended hotels in Marseille, France

3. Calanques National Park

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Calanques National Park

Marseille’s southern and eastern suburbs brush up against an area of exceptional natural beauty.

The Calanques are craggy white limestone cliffs and creeks reaching gargantuan heights and descending sharply to the sea.

You can experience these rocky wonders by land or sea.

If you’re going to hike it then you’ll need an intrepid spirit, as the GR 98 from Marseille to Cassis takes around 11 hours and leads you into some tough country.

Of course, the scenery makes up for the exertion.

There are also mini-cruises departing from the Old Port, as well as guided kayaking adventures.

If you can, try to reach the indescribably beautiful cove at Calanque d’En Vau.

Available tour: Catamaran Cruise & Lunch in the Calanques National Park

4. Musée d’Histoire de Marseille

Source: flickr

Musée d’Histoire de Marseille

It can be difficult to get your head around Marseille’s 26 centuries of history, but this first-rate museum near the Old Port will help.

Because of the huge time-span that the attraction deals with it’s the largest urban history museum in France.

For history geeks it means half a day spent inspecting amphorae, ceramics, architectural fragments, the remains of ancient ships, mosaics, sarcophagi and much more.

As well as this heap of artefacts from the Ancient Greeks up to the 20th century there are maps and models illustrating Marseille in all phases of its history, and the building joins onto a set of archaeological site containing ramparts, port buildings and a necropolis.

5. La Corniche

Source: flickr

La Corniche

Weaving down the coast for several kilometres from the Old Port, La Corniche is one long balcony next to the Mediterranean, going past beaches and quirky little neighbourhoods.

You can drive it, but it’s just as rewarding to walk for the sea air and outstanding vistas of the Frioul Archipelago and the towers of the Château d’If in the bay.

One of the most striking sights is the Vallon des Auffes, a traditional fishing harbour on a steep inlet, ringed with ramshackle old huts and accessed from the sea beneath the arches that support the road.

6. Le Panier

Source: flickr

Le Panier

This part of Marseille, just north of the Old Port, has been inhabited since 600 BC and was the site of the Greek colony of Massalia.

A the city evolved it became the place where Marseille’s waves of immigrants settled, and even today there’s a large Maghreb and Corsican population.

It’s a district with ochre-coloured walls, stone stairways and long, corridor-like streets emerging on sun-drenched squares.

Until recently it had always been one of the poorest parts of Marseille, as demonstrated by the La Vieille Charité, a 17th-centruy baroque almshouse with three tiers of arcaded galleries around a chapel.

Now it’s an increasingly trendy district with independent boutiques and craft shops, cafes and plenty of imaginative street art.

7. MuCEM

Source: flickr

MuCEM

Inaugurated in 2013, MuCEM is a cutting edge museum that regenerated a portion of Marseille’s waterfront next to the 17th-century Fort de Saint-Jean.

The architecture is breathtaking, but what’s inside is actually quite difficult to sum up: It’s a kind of overview of Mediterranean culture an civilisation, incorporating art, photography exhibitions and historic artefacts.

Most people who visit agree that the exhibitions aren’t the most consistent, capriciously jumping from period to period and theme to theme, but they’re so diverse that there are galleries to capture everyone’s attention.

Entry to the fort, built by Louis XIV,  is included in the ticket, and this structure is connected to the museum by two bridges.

8. La Plaine and Noailles

Source: flickr

Noailles

Directly east of the Old Port are two neighbourhoods that will give you a sense of day-to-day life in Marseille.

Noailles is another area in which generations of Africans settled, particularly after Algeria became a French territory in 1830. The scruffy and chaotic market here runs from Monday to Saturday, with sights and scents that could be from a souk in North Africa or the Middle East, with flatbreads baking and kebabs sizzling.

La Plaine, around Place Jean Jaurès, a few streets further east is one of the trendier parts of the city.

Here there are stylish boutiques and bars, as well as a market on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturday mornings with a jumble of stalls selling everything from fresh produce to perfumes.

9. Stade Vélodrome

Source: flickr

Stade Vélodrome

Even before a marvellous refurbishment in the build up to Euro 2016, Olympique de Marseille’s home stadium was one of the world’s football cathedrals.

Now it’s the largest club football stadium in the country, with a capacity of 67,000, and is finally protected from the merciless Mistral wind by a spectacular undulating roof.

Despite being an icon, the Stade Vélodrome hasn’t always been appreciated by the city or OM’s fans, and you’ll learn all you need to know about this history on an hour-long tour, while visiting the dressing rooms, the highest point of the terraces and going pitch-side.

10. Boulevard Longchamp

Source: flickr

Palais Longchamp

One of Marseille’s most edifying walks can be taken along the handsome Boulevard Longchamp with its upmarket 19th-century houses and twin row of plane trees.

The best way to do it is to head from Canebière station up towards Palais Longchamp, and the crescent-shaped colonnade and fountain of this imposing 19th-century complex will slowly come in to view.

Palais Longchamp and the park and attractions around it were built to celebrate the completion of the Canal de Marseille, which linked with the Durance River and ended centuries of water supply problems for the city.

The city’s Natural Museum and Museum of Fine Arts are set here too.

Check out the recommended hotels in Marseille, France

11. Cité Radieuse

Source: flickr

Cité Radieuse

Built between 1947 and 1952 this apartment building made from concrete was the Swiss architect Le Corbusier’s first Unité d’Habitation, a design that would be repeated across Europe in the post-war period.

The idea was to transfer the homes, streets and amenities of a city into an 18-floor concrete block.

More than a thousand people still live here, but there’s a tour taking you into one of the restored original apartments, and up to the rooftop terrace where you can gaze out over the city.

Like all of Le Corbusier’s buildings it’s now protected as a UNESCO site.

12. L’Estaque

Source: flickr

L’Estaque

Now a north-western suburb of Marseille, L’Estaque is a fishing village that inspired Cézanne, Braque and an array of other late-19th-century painters.

Cézanne in particular spent a lot of time in L’Estaque, painting scenes of the village and sea in different seasons.

If you’re familiar with his work you may get thrills when you survey these seascapes with your own eyes.

The Marseille artist Adolphe Monticelli was another painter linked to the village in this period, and there’s a museum in L’Estaque with the largest single collection of his work in the world.

On a wander, go by the old port where stalls sell panisses (chips made with chickpea flour) and chichis fregis (donuts).

13. Musée des Docks Romains

Source: musee-france

Musée des Docks Romains

Marseille’s ancient history is so rich that one museum isn’t enough to show you all there is to see.

The Musée des Docks Romains is a couple of streets in from the north side of the Old Port and covers the site of one of the world’s few known Roman commercial warehouses.

They were uncovered after the war, during the which a number of streets had been dynamited by the Germans.

What will blow you away here are the dolia, massive ceramic jugs as tall as full-grown adults and able to store 2,000 litres of wine or olive oil.

14. Beaches

Source: flickr

Beaches

Despite being on the Mediterranean and having 42 kilometres of coast, Marseille has never been thought of as a beach destination.

In the mid-70s though the Prado seaside park was created, reclaiming 40 hectares of sea and laying it with shingle and sand.

What really makes it is the view of the gnarled white rocks at the start of the Calanques to the southeast.

Your other option for seaside relaxation are the beaches of Corbière in the north, just past L’Estaque.

These are also man-made, and like Prado are protected from erosion by breakwaters.

15. Cuisine

Source: travel.prwave

Bouillabaisse

Bouillabaisse is a Marseille dish that is cooked all over the world.

It’s a fish and seafood stew normally made with lean fish that have little market value and are better when cooked down, like scorpionfish, conger and sea robins.

These are stewed with wine, olive oil and saffron, although the remainder of the recipe varies from restaurant to restaurant.

Part of the ritual is rustic bread smothered with rouille, a kind of piquant mayonnaise, and dropped into the soup.

It all goes best with white wines from the Rhône Valley or Languedoc-Roussillon.

On the sweet side you can pick up navettes, cute boat-shaped biscuits in a variety of flavours, from anis to chocolate.

Tip – Get the Marseille City Pass for free access to several museums, a guided tour and free access to public transport

World-beating wine and UNESCO-listed Roman ruins are on the menu in the small city of Orange in Vaucluse.

The Theatre is one of Europe’s most spectacular Roman monuments, and you’ll be amazed by how much of this building is still in situ.

There’s an informative little museum next door, and a short walk from the centre of the town is a Triumphal Arch, noted for its three-arched design.

If you love wine you’ll have the pleasure of discovering the many domaines, caves and wineries of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region, one of the strictest and most revered labels in the world.

Avignon, the Luberon and yet more Roman monuments are also within your grasp in Orange.

Lets explore the best things to do in Orange:

1. Roman Theatre

Roman Theatre

Orange’s Roman Theatre is one the great ancient sites in Europe.

There isn’t a better-preserved Roman theatre in France, or possibly the rest of the continent, and is rare because it retains its scaenae frons – the 37-metre-high stone backdrop to the stage, with niches, columns and a statue of Augustus.

The exterior facade is stunning too, an imposing stone wall with corbels at the top, and three wooden doors leading to the stage.

To this day the theatre can seat 9,000 spectators and has an expansive stage, 61 metres across.

Even now it is the atmospheric venue for the Chorégies d’Orange, an opera festival held every August since the theatre was restored in 1969.

2. Triumphal Arch

Source: flickr Triumphal Arch

About half a kilometre north of the theatre, on the N7, is Orange’s other fabulous piece of Roman heritage, dating to the rule of Augustus in the 1st century.

It is dedicated to the members of the Gaulish Legion that founded Orange and was later updated to include the military successes of Germanicus and Tiberius over the German tribes.

One of the things that makes it so noteworthy is that it has three arches, and is the oldest one with this design still intact.

Spend  a few minutes inspecting the arch’s reliefs, which have stood the test of time, despite the arch being a gateway in Orange’s medieval fortifications.

3. Le Musée d’Art et d’Histoire d’Orange

Source: 52we >Le Musée d’Art et d’Histoire d’Orange

Right opposite the theatre is an attraction where you can get your head around Orange’s ancient and medieval history.

Entry is included with your ticket for the theatre.

The museum is in a 17th-century “hôtel particulier” built for a Dutch nobleman.

The Gallo-Roman section is the most enthralling, with three Roman cadastres engraved in large marble slabs, dating to 77AD when Emperor Vespasian conducted a review of land ownership.

There are also reliefs and sculptures found during excavations at the theatre, and a marvellous 3rd-century mosaic, titled “Aux Amphorettes”.

4. Orange Cathedral

Source: wikipedia Orange Cathedral

The Diocese of Orange was suppressed after the Revolution, so for more than two hundred years Orange Cathedral hasn’t strictly been a cathedral.

That detail does nothing to detract from the subtle beauty of this 12th-century romanesque building, which has a few neo-classical updates on the facade.

The church has had a difficult history, having suffered damage during the French Wars of Religion, and for a time during the conflict it was a Huguenot protestant church.

Inside there’s a painting commemorating Orange’s 32 nuns who were martyred during the Reign of Terror in 1794. The bell-tower is from the 1300s and has four bells, the oldest of which dates to 1338, while the newest, cast in 1871, weighs more than a ton.

5. Colline Saint-Eutrope

Source: flickr Colline Saint-Eutrope

The highest point in Orange is the 105-metre hill into which Orange’s Roman theatre is built.

The hill has an intriguing history of its own, as it was the site of the Château of the Princes of Nassau, a massive fortress with 11 bastions, claimed to have been one of the most beautiful in Europe.

Up to 1672 the city had been a fiefdom of the Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and so was protestant: This ended following a siege by the Count of Grignan under Louis XIV, during which gunpowder was used to demolish the walls.

There isn’t much left but you can still see evocative pieces of the fortifications, while the hill also has four panoramic lookouts with views of the city, Mont Ventoux and the Rhône.

6. Wine

Source: flickr >Wine

There are 21 estates and châteaux to visit in the Orange area alone! Orange falls within two of the world of wine’s preeminent AOCs.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape came about in the 1300s when the Avignon Pope John XXII developed this vineyard, and the name had been fiercely protected long before appellations were introduced in the 1930s.

Even now the grapes have to be hand-picked and sorted for a wine to qualify.

The soil in the terroir is recognised by its large round pebbles on red clay, which radiate the day’s heat overnight and so allow the grapes like Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault to reach an exceptional degree of maturity.

Orange is also in the much larger Côtes-du-Rhône AOC, with vineyards that mostly grow Grenache because of the Mediterranean climate.

7. Musée de la BA 115

Source: wikiwand Musée de la BA 115

The French air force has had a base five kilometres east of Orange since 1939 and is Orange’s main employer, providing business for some 200 companies.

The base’s museum is open only on Tuesdays and has several rooms relating the general history of the French Air Force as well as the specific background of this base and the part it played in the Second World War, the War in  Algeria, the Cold War and in conflict today.

You can see vintage uniforms and photography, medals and official documents from the base’s archives.

8. Musée Aéronautique d’ Orange

Source: flickr Musée Aéronautique d’ Orange

After your visit to the base you may be itching to see some hardware, and this museum obliges, with a big set of fighters, bombers, helicopters and other aircraft a short way south of the base.

It is run by “Les Amis de la 5eme Escadre”, an association for former members and patrons of a former fighter unit that lasted from 1945 to 1995. It’s a bit of a wonderland for fans of 20th-century jets, with a large collection of French-made Dassault Mirages and Mystères.

There are also foreign aircraft such as de Havilland Vampires and Hawker Hunters, as well as interesting navy planes like the Breguet Alizé and F-8 Crusader with “variable incidence” wings.

9. Orange Market

Source: flickr Orange Market

Every Thursday 300 regular stall holders take over the streets and squares in the centre of the city, for one of Provence’s favourite outdoor markets.

Flowers and other plants, local delicacies, handicrafts and all sorts of fresh produce are sold here.

One of the most rewarding things is to browse the stalls offering regional fruit and vegetables: Depending on the time of year you can get hold of superb grapes, aubergine, green beans and apricots, all fresh from the nearby countryside.

To take home, Orange’s olive oil belongs to the “huile d’Olive de Provence AOC”, or you get a bottle of Orange’s famed sweet muscat wine.

10. Bike Rides

Source: flickr Dentelles de Montmirail

The terrain around Orange is dream bike-riding country, with landscapes that show Provence at its most idyllic.

There are vineyards, the banks of the Rhône, sunflower fields, orchards and farms growing wheat.

The routes are all marked, so there’s little danger of getting lost.

You could try the 15.7-kilometre circular trip from Orange to Carderousse and back, with views of Mont Ventoux to keep you company.

A longer looped trail ” De la Pierre aux Galets” meanders through the Orange and Châteauneuf du Pape vineyards and to the east you’ll be able to make out the limestone cliffs of the Dentelles de Montmirail.

11. Châteauneuf du Pape

winerist Châteauneuf du Pape

At the top of this world-renowned wine village are the shard-like ruins of the Château des Papes.

The castle was built in the 1300s for Pope John XXII, who also founded the vineyards, as a summer residence.

Perhaps the structure has seen better days, with only two walls from the Donjon still standing, but you can see bits of the gothic vaulting and it’s an interesting fragment of the Avignon Papacy.

What brings most visitors though are the village’s caves, vineyards and châteaux, where they can savour one of France’s most beloved wine labels.

For more background, the Musée du vin Brotte has a display of presses and old farming tools going all the way back to the 1300s.

12. Avignon

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The local history is so entwined with the Avignon Papacy that there’s no reason not to make the half-hour trip to the city.

In the 14th-century this was the seat of Western Christianity, and Palace of the Popes where they ruled and lived is a landmark of bewildering scale and beauty.

It’s the largest gothic building in the world and there’s a wealth of things to see inside, like the gorgeous frescoes in Clément VI’s private study and the Saint-Martial chapel.

The older part of the city is loaded with renaissance architecture as a reflection of the city’s standing in the 15th and 16th century.

And you can’t miss out Pont Saint-Bénézet, Avignon’s feted 12th-century bridge, a staggering piece of medieval design wrecked by the Rhône in the 17th century.

13. Luberon

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If the sight of mountains to the distant east of Orange captures your imagination then you won’t have far to travel.

Orange is only around 35 kilometres from the edge of the Luberon Regional Park, which is known the world over for its cute medieval villages, rugged limestone hills, ochre-tinted rocks, fields of lavender and olive groves.

For itinerary ideas you could just drive from one picturesque hilltop village to another: Bonnieux, Gordes, Roussillon and Isle-sur-Sorgue could all be done in a single day.

14. Uzès

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There isn’t a large monument to pick out in this city, but you won’t regret making the undemanding drive west from Orange just to experience its old streets.

They’re brimming with history because Uzès was a bishopric up to the 18th century so has an ordinate amount of listed buildings for such a small place (40 in total). This classes Uzès as a French “ville d’art et d’histoire”: Amble along the serpentine cobblestone streets armed with a map from the tourism office to point out the renaissance and 17th-century mansions.

Don’t leave without getting an eyeful of the Le Duché, where the Dukes of Uzès lived in renaissance luxury.

15. Regional Roman Heritage

wikipedia

Orange’s Roman monuments may have tickled your fancy for Gallo-Roman history, and if so you’ll be pleased that there’s much more to see in Arles and Nîmes, both achievable inside an hour.

In Nîmes is a marvellous amphitheatre, wonderfully preserved and still in use for bullfights and concerts.

The Maison Carrée here is a temple dedicated to Lucius Caesar and Gaius Caesar; but for some weathering on its columns, it looks like it could have built decades ago.

In Arles there’s another supreme amphitheatre, so large that it was actually converted into an entire town with more than 200 houses in medieval times.

Finally, and one of the best, is the storied Pont du Gard, a stunning 48-metre-high stretch of the Nîmes aqueduct where it crosses the steep valley of the Gardon River.