France is a famous tourist destination all over the world. It is not just Paris but a lot of other places and exciting things around the country that are of significance. There is indeed something magical about the evenings of Paris.
If that is your first impression of France then it will rightly set the tone of your trip to France. The country is one of the finest locations in Western Europe and has excellent connectivity routes with the remaining Europe. You may choose to travel in and out of France by air, train, car, and ferry, especially if you are coming from England through the English channel.
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Best Things to Do in France
France is a place of touristy opportunities for everybody including people of all ages and both genders. If you happen to visit this country and time is not an issue then it is advised to spend at least 15 days in the country. This will allow you the time to visit all the top attractions of the country. We will help you find out more about those places and activities in detail below.
#1, Eiffel Tower
The Eifel Tower in Paris depicts the modernized emblem of the country. This iconic structure is a way for commemorating the centennial celebration of the French revolution. The landmark is the most visited monument in France. It was constructed by the company of Gustave Eiffel, who was one of the most recognized bridge builders in those days.
Its construction was done in 1889. The best distant view of the monument can be seen from the Champs de Mars, in the evening. The tower twinkles beautifully with its countless multicolored lights. This is the point when you will realize that why Eiffel Tower is so popular. It is also regarded as a symbol of love as many couples are seen here proposing to each other.
This monument is a very crucial symbol to the people of France. It serves to them not just to commemorate but also to stir and unite some really strong emotions, irrespective of the time of the day. This place will be your automatic choice to visit once you are in Paris. It could be seen from different corners of the city as well and the experience will be quite tempting.
#2, Arc de Triomphe
This is another landmark monument in Paris. Visiting this place will be a surreal experience and worth capturing in your camera. You must have seen many French postcards with this monument on them.
You will experience this just as you stand right in the center of swirling traffic all around and subsequently anchor the gaze on one of the most loved architectural pieces in the country. The history of this monument dates back to 1806 when it was commissioned by Napoleon. In 1836, the construction of the Arc de Triomphe got completed It was inaugurated by King Louis-Philippe in a vibrant ceremony.
Visitors to this place love to get into the tunnels below it. They also do visit the marker which is the place where the Unknown Soldier is buried. Hope is revived here at a specific time in the evening when it gets lit with the flame of remembrance. That is the loveliest moment of the day here as it very gently illuminates the panoramic views of the city right from this monument.
#3, The Louvre Museum
The Louver Museum is the largest art museum in the world. It is also a historic monument in Paris. The place is quite conveniently located and it is very much a central landmark of Paris. It is mainly known for being the place where the iconic painting of the Mona Lisa is placed.
Other than Mona Lisa, the museum had more than 38,000 objects from prehistory times to the 21st century. It covers an area of 72,735 sq. meters. In 2019, this museum was visited by 9.6 million tourists from all around the world. The visitor count dropped to 2.7 million in 2020 which was mostly due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Louvre Museum is situated within the Louvre Palace which itself is a beautiful building. It was constructed sometime in the late 12th century under the rule of Philip II. The structure saw many ups and downs in its history and it was finally inaugurated as a museum in 1793 when an exhibition of 537 paintings was organized here. The museum got to its best under the rule of Napoleon when it got quite several items on display.
#4, Bordeaux
Bordeaux is one of the finest cities in France that you really cannot afford to miss out on. It is a place that you will love to visit on a repeat. It is also known as the wine capital of France. If you are a food and wine lover with some good evenings in the charm of the city then this place is highly recommended.
The place has gourmet dining and wining, historical monuments and a good range of markets where something is there for everyone. You must visit Place de la Bourse. It is where you could see the Water Mirror and the Grand Theater is also there. You may spend some nice leisure time in the beautiful Jardin Public.
You may think about climbing right up to the picturesque Tour Pey-Berland from where you could experience some fascinating views of the city. After that, if you have some time then don’t forget to check out the vineyards that you will find all around Bordeaux. Some epic wines could be tasted on spots at many local shops there.
#5, Dordogne Valley
This valley is located in the southwest France region. It balances between the Pyrenees Mountains and the Loire Valley. It is a beautiful place where one aspect of its fame is the prehistoric cave paintings. But this place has got a lot more than that.
This place is home to the grand Cathedrale St-Front along with its five domes. The Vesunna Museum is also a must-visit place which is built around the Roman ruins. Sarlat-la-Caneda, a medieval town is in the center of Cathedrale St. Sacerdos and Rue de la Republique.
This river valley of France requires five days if you want to explore this gorgeous place fully. The incredible town of Issigeac is wonderful too along with the medieval town of Martel. The place has got so much to offer and you must not miss it at all. It will all be worth your time and money. The experience will be memorable and you will be surely returning here even if you have visited all the places of significance in the valley.
#6, Notre Dame Cathedral
This beautiful cathedral in Paris rose to fame when Victor Hugo published his new novel in 1831 which was titled The Hunchback of Notre Dame. People just love this place and the history it has. It stands today as one of the most recognized Gothic cathedrals that belong to the Middle Ages.
It is loved for its antiquity, ages, and architectural style. The church was built over the ruins of two other churches. This church reflects the prestige of the capital city with so much charm and elegance along with its ornate spires, and glass windows of rose color.
The flying buttresses and the ribbed vaults further add to the beauty of the place. Not to forget the indispensable Gargoyles and all of this emanate the Gothicism essence at its very best. You must reserve a good few hours in the day to capture the true essence of this magnificent church. It will be an unforgettable experience for all the tourists. This is a place that certainly deserves to be on your to-do list when you are in France as a tourist.
#7, Carcassonne Medieval City
There are two Carcassonne. The first one is the famed wall city and the other is just adjacent to the town. It spreads out at its base. That is known as the Ville base which provides visitors with a stopover to the excellent fortified structures that will take you a good bog step back in time.
The narrow cobbled streets of the medieval buildings and the little squares of the place have some top atmospheric restaurants. You can try the best French cuisine here and you will be having so many opportunities that you will hardly like to repeat anything delicious that you have just tried.
This place and the food here will be a unique and different experience for all the visitors to this special place. Guaranteed. Tourists come here in huge numbers. Rush hour is mostly during the daytime while the numbers get lower by the evening. But, the evenings here have their charm and not to be missed at all. You may stay here overnight but it will not be a good option if you are on a budget.
#8, Lascaux II
if you have an interest in prehistoric art then nothing could impress you more than the beautiful and classy Lascaux II. It is regarded as a popular structure of the Stone Age cave site all around the world.
After the structure received some considerable damage with more than a thousand visitors per day, a replica of the same was created and that is known as Lascaux II. The visitors still get amazed to visit this incredible site which is a treat for all those into prehistoric art.
The replica is just 200 meters apart from the original cave where the original one got closed for a public visit in 1963. This history in itself attracts more tourists to come and see the elegant Lascaux II cave. The original cave was discovered by four teenagers in 1940 while they were searching for a lost dog there. This prompted the archeologist to quickly realize the significance of this amazing site. The replica provides visitors with the prime sections of the cave. The visitors could also see the painted panels of Lascaux.
#9, Arenes de Nimes
It is arguably the best-preserved structure of the Roman amphitheater that you could visit in France. This arena has been a very considerable place in the city of Nimes for as long as 2000 years. It is due to the perfection of the great Roman engineering that we could witness the events in the amphitheater.
It includes some theatrical concerts, musical shows, bullfights, and a lot more. You will get to see such great types of entertainment in such a historic building from the Roman Empire. It is recommended to come well prepared in advance for this venue so that you may catch your favorite event happening here as well.
Make sure that the musical concerts and other stage shows here of different types do come with a cost. You need to pay for them but the experience will be worth the price for sure. This place is quite close to the Principality of Orange which makes this place a great haven of antiquity.
#10, Disneyland
if you are visiting France with your family and kids then your tour will be incomplete without visiting Disneyland. The place was earlier known as Euro Disney Resort. It is a very exciting entertainment resort which is situated in Chessy, France.
The place is just 32 kilometers east of central Paris. The place comes with two huge theme parks, a range of resort hotels for accommodation, shopping malls, restaurants, a golf course, and an entertainment complex. Disneyland celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2017 and this place has come a long way in all those years. In its 25 years of history, more than 320 million visitors came to Disneyland.
These numbers make it a well-visited theme park all over Europe. There are many attractions in this place for all types of visitors including kids where everything is hard to mention. Nonetheless, this place is suitable for family groups and individuals alike.
Conclusion
France is a very romantic place where couples love to visit for having a very splendid time. It offers recreational opportunities to individuals and groups of people as well.
You may experience some incredible fairytales-like castles, soaring cathedrals, picturesque villages, and vibrant city life as well. The Eiffel Tower is the most iconic structure in France and then you will find the Louvre Museum with utmost significance as well.
It is a country that offers something for every type of tourist. French cuisine is something very special all around the world as well and you will find the best of them not only in the big cities of the country but in the small towns and villages as well.
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