France is undoubtedly one of the top destinations for any travel enthusiast! Adventurers come from all over the world to sample France’s sophisticated culture, amazing cuisine, delicious wines, and stunning countryside.
Now, most tourists flock to Paris, and with good reason. The Eiffel Tower is truly a sight to behold. But, France’s many wonders aren’t contained to the city of Paris.
Today, we’ll be listing 5 amazing towns you should visit on your next trip to France!
Gordes, Provence
Gordes, Provence is a hilltop stunner and easily one of the most lovely towns in France. Its elevated position offers an amazing view of the sunset and sports quite a few lavender fields during the summer.
The town is also a mere 10-minute drive from Sénanque Abbey, a 12th-century chapel known for its apparently unending expanses of purple blossoms.
If you’d like to enjoy the delights of Gordes, we recommend staying at the Airelles Gordes, La Bastide. The hotel offers delicious cuisine, atmosphere, and services that make it a clear stand out in comparison to the other small hotels in Gordes.
Gordes is one of many lovely small towns in France. If you’d like a personalized tour or want to avoid any tourist traps, we recommend checking out Band of Brothers Tours for your next trip!
Marseille
Marseille is one of Europe’s oldest cities and a major Mediterranean seaport located off the southeast coast of France. It is also the second-largest city in the country. Marseille is home to multiple colleges and enterprises and has a beautiful climate, Roman remains, medieval architecture, and prominent cultural institutions.
The Calanques are a series of little inlets with stunning blue water and impressive limestone cliffs and are one of Marseille’s outstanding natural attractions.
The city is a major regional arts and cultural hub, home to various museums, art galleries, and historic structures such as La Vieille Charite and the Basilique Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde. The city also has a great number of opera houses and theaters, such as the Theatre Toursky.
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, why not check out the Calanques National Park: This park is located just outside Marseille and is known for its beautiful cliffs, crystal-clear waters, and diverse wildlife. The park is the perfect place to go kayaking, take a quick swim, or enjoy nature on a hike.
The French Riviera
The French Riviera, also known as the Côte d’Azur, is a beautiful region in the south of France. It is known for its stunning beaches, picturesque towns, and rich history. The Riviera is famous for the international, critically acclaimed Cannes Film Festival.
However, if you’re willing to explore, we suggest checking out less well-known destinations like the villages of Eze and Saint-Paul de Vence.
The Riviera has inspired several well-known painters, including Pablo Picasso, and many of their works are on exhibit at local museums and art galleries.
If you’re interested in art, we recommend you check out the Musée Matisse. This museum is in Nice, France, and is dedicated to the works of Henri Matisse. It hosts a ton of gorgeous sculptures, paintings, and artwork. It’s the perfect spot for a family vacation.
Despite being one of the Mediterranean’s most northerly shores, the location has a great mild to warm temperature all year.
Bonifacio, Corsica
Bonifacio is a beautiful town on the southern tip of Corsica. Known for its stunning cliffs, crystal-clear waters, and rich history. There are a few significant communes on the island, but they are different from Bonifacio, which is on the island’s southern shore and overlooks the Mediterranean Sea.
Much of the town is built on white limestone cliffs worn by the sea—from some angles, the houses appear to be hung in the air by some mysterious power.
The town is renowned for the Bonifacio Citadel, a gorgeous structure on a limestone cliff. It provides spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea and the town below. There are also the Araguina-Sennola caverns, near Bonifacio. These prehistoric caverns are recognized for their distinctive rock formations and old artwork.
If you’re looking to purchase one-of-a-kind mementos to take home, we recommend you visit Strada di l’Artigiani. This street is lined with artisan stores that sell handcrafted items like ceramics, jewelry, and textiles.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux, the capital of the Gironde department in the Aquitaine area of southern France, is widely regarded as one of the world’s major wine-growing regions, producing more than 800 million bottles of notable wine brands each year.
Built on the Garonne River approximately half an hour inland from the Atlantic Ocean, is a large port city brimming with great architecture, historic landmarks, and a world-class arts and cultural scene, all topped off with a laid-back vibe.
Bordeaux’s Pedestrian Zone contains around 350 historic monuments and sites, including medieval cathedrals, a Roman amphitheater, and attractive ancient bridges like the Ponte de Pierre. The city also has many lovely plazas, the most impressive of which is the Place de la Bourse, which has a mirror-like appearance.
So, if you’re a history enthusiast you’ll definitely enjoy the sites of Bordeaux.
