Top 13 Travel Attractions in France according to Lonely Planet
13. Carcassonne at Dusk
The Cité de Carcassonne, a medieval fortress settlement with a history that exceeds two and a half thousand years. Picturesque fortifications (over 3 km of walls with 52 towers, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves was partly shot here) were reconstructed by Viollet-le-Duc in 19th century.
12. Carnac Megaliths
The Carnac stones are an exceptionally dense collection of megalithic sites around the French village of Carnac, in Brittany, consisting of alignments, dolmens, tumuli and single menhirs. More than 3,000 prehistoric standing stones were hewn from local rock and erected by the pre-Celtic people of Brittany.
11. Provençal Markets
Expect to see everything from wonderfully local breads to meats and cheeses, fresh seafood as well as herbs, citrus fruits, olives and figs, not to mention artisan crafts and the ubiquitous lavender. As in much of France, locals are fiercely proud of their region’s produce, and with such a diverse repertoire, you can hardly blame themǃ
10. D-Day Beaches
The D-Day beaches are the historic site of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of western Europe during World War II. An excellent time to visit is on the June 6th anniversary when there are numerous memorial ceremonies to mark the occasion.
9. Alsatian Wine Route
Alsatian wine is produced in the Alsace region in France and is primarily white. Because of its Germanic influence, it is the only Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée region in France to produce mostly varietally labelled wines, typically from similar grape varieties to those used in German wine.
8. Three Corniches, Nice
It’s impossible to drive this dramatic trio of coastal roads, each one higher and with more hairpin bends than the next, without conjuring up cinematic images of Grace Kelly, Hitchcock, the glitz of Monaco high life, and the glamour of the royal family — all while absorbing big view after big view of sweeping blue sea fringing Europe’s most mythical coastline.
7. Pont du Gard
A massive Roman aqueduct that was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981. It was originally part of a 50km canal supplying fresh water to the Roman city of Nimes. The museum by the main car park explains beautifully how the Romans built the 50km canal, including the aqueduct, and how they used the water.
6. Dune du Pilat
The Dune of Pilat is the tallest sand dune in Europe. It is located in La Teste-de-Buch in the Arcachon Bay area, France, 60 km from Bordeaux. The dune is considered a foredune, meaning a dune that runs parallel to a shoreline, behind the high tide line of a beach.
5. Adrenalin Kick, Chamonix
Chamonix is a famous resort in the French Alps at the foot of Mont Blanc. Also it is credited with hosting the First Winter Olympic games in 1924. Situated near the massive peaks of the Aiguilles Rouges and most notably the Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix is one of the oldest ski resorts in France and is known as the “gateway to the European Cascades.”
4. Loire Valley Châteaux
The Châteaux of the Loire Valley are part of the architectural heritage of the historic towns of Amboise, Angers, Blois, Chinon, Nantes, Orléans, Saumur, and Tours along the Loire River in France. They illustrate the ideals of the Renaissance and the Age of the Enlightenment on French thought and design in the Loire Valley.
3. Champagne
Much of Champagne’s best liquid gold is made by almost 5000 small-scale vignerons in 320-odd villages. Dozens of Champagne maisons welcome visitors for a taste, tipple and shopping at producer prices, rendering the region’s scenic driving routes the best way to taste fine bubbly amid rolling vineyards and gorgeous villages.
2. Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower was named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. Erected in 1889 as the entrance arch to the 1889 World’s Fair, it was initially criticised by some of France’s leading artists and intellectuals for its design, but has become both a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world.
1. Mont St-Michel
Mont Saint-Michel is a small UNESCO World Heritage site located on an island just off the coast of the region of Lower Normandy in northern France. The island is best known as the site of the spectacular and well-preserved Norman Benedictine Abbey of St Michel at the peak of the rocky island, surrounded by the winding streets and convoluted architecture of the medieval town.
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