10. Chartres Cathedral
Also known as Cathedral of our lady of Chartres, Chartres Cathedral is a about 80 kilometers southwest of Paris. It is a medieval Catholic Latin Church. It is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site for its excellent French Gothic architectural design. The Cathedral has been highly preserved. Since its creation, it has been one of the major France tourist attractions. The architecture could easily increase the window size significantly for the dominance of heavy flying buttresses in the building’s exterior.
It is one of the best places to visit in France for the religious enthusiastic as well as the architecture aficionado. The main attraction of the cathedral is Sancta Camisa. It is believed to be the tunic worn by the Virgin Mary at the time of the Christ’s birth. The cathedral has a great influence on later arts and architectures.
9. Dune of Pyla
The Dune of Pyla is one of the best places to visit in France. It is the tallest sand dune in Europe, situated in the Arcachon Bay area. The great dune is constituted with fine sand. It is an exceptional playground for both the adults and children. It is one of the best tourist attractions in France with more than one million visitors per year.
The sand dune creates a magical beauty in this place. Along with the Atlantic coast and the inlet of the bay on one side and a large pine forest on another, the place allures the nature lovers. The sand dune was slightly damaged during a storm in 2009.
8. Palais des Papes
The Palais des Papes is one of the most important places to visit in France. It was built in 1309, when Pope Clement V abandoned Rome and settled in Avignon. It is one of the largest and most important Gothic buildings in the world. The Palais is actually made up of two buildings: the old Palais of Benedict XII and the new Palais of Clement VI.
A papal library is housed in the Palais which is one of the largest in Europe. But it lost its importance when the papacy found it necessary to return to Rome. It is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Palais des Papes regularly hosts art exhibitions which began in 1947. It is an exclusive exhibition of Matisse, Picasso, Braque and Mondrian.
7. Chateau de Chambord
The Chateau de Chambord is another unique example of French Renaissance architecture and one of the most targeted places to visit in France. It is one of the most recognizable châteaux in the world. It is special for the architectural blend of traditional French medieval forms with classical Renaissance structures. It was built for the king François so that he could hunt nearby forest.
Being abandoned for a long time, the château is now open to the public. Around 7 million tourist visit this place every year. It has a wonderful double helix staircase in the centerpiece The Chateau is a very influential architecture that dominates the later architectural work. It is one of the most important tourist attractions in France.
6. Gorge du Verdon
The Gorge du Verdon is considered to be one the most beautiful places in Europe. So it is undoubtedly one of the most important places to visit in France. It is a 25 kilometer (15 miles) long canyon and rises a spectacular 700 meters (2,300 feet) from the Verdon River below. The gorge came into light in the early 19th century. Several hundred meters high limestone walls attract the rock climbers.
Tourists mainly come here in the summer period. The river has a striking turquoise color that will just dazzle your eyes. Rafting, kayaking, sailing and water skiing is very popular sports in this place. This French attraction has some scenic hiking areas. It is also a favored destination for the fishermen.
5. Mont Saint-Michel
Mont Saint-Michel is one of the most recognizable and important places to visit in France. It is a small tidal island located just off the coast of Normand. The town is called Mont Tombe before the construction of the first monastic establishment in the 8th century. Since the 8th century, it has been the seat of the monastery.
For its unique position with spectacular and well-preserved Norman Benedictine Abbey of St Michel from which it got its name, is enlisted as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. More than 3 million people visit here annually for its cultural, historical and architectural significance, it is one of the major tourist attractions in France.
4. Palace of Versailles
The palace of Versailles, locally known as Château de Versailles, is a manor house in Versailles. It is one of the best tourist attractions in France. It was built in 1624 and remained the official residence of the kings of France until October 1789. The royal family was forced to return in the capital during the French Revolution.
So it has a symbolic importance for the French rather than the architectural beauty. The building is currently promoted as a museum and now one of the important places in France. It is very familiar in popular culture for its historical connection with French Revolution. It is definitely one of the best places to visit in France for the
3. Chamonix
Located near the massive peaks of the Aiguilles Rouges and the Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, more commonly known as Chamonix, is one of the best places to visit in France. It is one of the oldest ski resorts in France. It is famously known as “gateway to the European Cascades. Chamonix, with an area of 245 km2, is the fourth largest commune in mainland France.
From the late 19th century, it has become one of the important tourist places in France. It was the site of the first Winter Olympic Games which was held on 1924. It is the paradise for the skiers and boarders. It is also an important places to visit in France for the mountaineers and mountain bikers. About 5 million people visit Chamonix every year.
2. St Tropez
Quite unfamiliar before the last century, Saint Tropez came into limelight for its seaside resorts, arrival of the artists of the French New wave in cinema and the Yé-yé movement in music. Later it becomes playground of the jetset, fashion models, and millionaires. It is one of the best places to visit in France for the wealthy tourists. It is located on the French Riviera. The town got its name from semi- legendary martyrs named Saint Tropez. According the legend, he was beheaded at Pisa during the reign of Nero and the body placed in a rotten boat.
The boat was landed in this area. The town is one of the major tourist attractions in France. Modern art is indebted to St Tropez. French Neo-Impressionist artist Paul Signac discovers this light-filled place that inspired some great artists to come St Tropez. It also allures writers and filmmakers for its picturesque look. This bucolic French attractions is a must places to visit in France for the nature lovers.
1. Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is one of the architectures that dominated the previous century. People utter the name “Eiffel Tower” with awe and surprise. This is one of the places to visit in France that we don’t even have to tell you. It is the symbol of Paris and one of the major tourist attractions in France. It is an iron lattice tower, built in 1889 and named after the engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel whose company designed and built it.
Although it’s incredible fame, it was initially criticized for its design. The tower is 324 meters high and hold the title of the tallest man made structure in the world for 41 years. It is one of the most visited tourist places in France. Since its construction, it has been visited by more than 250 million people. This incredible France attractions has been featured in many movies, literature and Medias.
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