1175 Best Sights in France

A must for military-history buffs, the National Museum of the Legion of Honor is dedicated to French and foreign military leaders. Housed in an elegant mansion just across from the Musée d'Orsay, it features a broad collection of military decorations dating from as early as the First Crusade in the 11th century, themed paintings, and video tributes to various luminaries—including U.S. general Dwight Eisenhower, a Légion member who led the Allied liberation of France in 1944. The palatial complex was completed in 1788 and acquired by the Legion of Honor in 1804.

Part of a network of marine museums around France, this branch, lodged in the graceful 18th-century section of the Toulon arsenal, is particularly fascinating. The rich maritime history in this part of the Mediterranean comes alive via model ships, paintings, mastheads, and a pictorial account of the city's role in World War II.

To truly enhance your understanding of the paintings at Lascaux and other caves in the Dordogne, visit the Musée National de Préhistoire. Its renowned collection of prehistoric artifacts—including primitive sculpture, furniture, and tools—attracts large crowds. You can also get ideas at the museum about which excavation sites to visit in the region.

Fernand Léger was a French painter, sculptor, and filmmaker thought of as a forerunner of the pop-art movement. He was known for his bold, colorful, and geometric style that blended Cubism with modern subject matter. On a visit to this museum, English-language audio guides can help you learn more about the man and his work. Alternatively, use a QR code to listen on your mobile phone with headphones. 

Visiting the quirky town house and studio of painter Gustave Moreau (1826–98) is well worth your time. With an eye on his legacy, Moreau—a high priest of the Symbolist movement—created an enchanting gallery to showcase his dark paintings, drawings, and sculpture. The first-floor rooms trace Moreau’s “sentimental journey”; their walls are festooned with family portraits and works offered by close friends and allies like Chassériau, Fromentin, and Degas. The two light-flooded top floors house Moreau’s vast workshops, where hundreds of paintings, watercolors, and more than 4,000 drawings give a broad overview of his techniques and subjects. Some of the pieces appear unfinished, such as Unicorns (No. 213), inspired by the medieval tapestries in the Musée de Cluny: Moreau refused to work on it further, spurning the wishes of a wealthy would-be patron. His interpretations of Biblical scenes and Greek mythology combine flights of fantasy with a keen use of color, shadow, and tracings influenced by Persian and Indian miniatures. There are wax sculptures and cupboards with sliding vertical doors containing small-format paintings. The Symbolists loved objects, and Moreau was no different. His cramped private apartment on the second floor is jam-packed with bric-a-brac, and artworks cover every inch of the walls.

French artist Jean-Jacques Henner (1829–1905) was a star in his day, and although his luminous nudes and clear-eyed portraits are largely forgotten now, the handsomely renovated 19th-century mansion-cum-museum stocked with his works is an interesting stop for art enthusiasts. Henner painted more than 400 portraits, including a substantial number sold in America, with a Realist's eye, yet there is much beauty here as well: witness Lady with Umbrella, a portrait of a fur-clad aristocrat with glistening blue eyes. Many of his soft-featured nudes betray other influences. Don't miss them in the light-filled atelier on the museum's third floor, where they share space with a series of religious paintings, notably the haunting Saint Sebastian and a stark portrayal of a lifeless Christ, whose luminescent white skin is offset by a shock of flaming red hair. There is some information in English.

Inaugurated in 1973, this museum has one of the finest permanent collections of Chagall's (1887–1985) late works. Superbly displayed, 17 vast canvases depict biblical themes, each in emphatic, joyous colors. Chamber music and classical concert series also take place here, though extra admission fees may apply. Bus stops outside.

In the late 1940s, Picasso settled here in a simple stone house, "le château de Vallauris"—the former priory of the Abbaye de Lérins and one of the rare Renaissance buildings in the region—creating pottery art from the malleable local clay with a single-minded passion. But he returned to painting in 1952 to create one of his masterworks in the château's Romanesque chapel: the vast multipanel oil-on-wood composition called La Guerre et la Paix (War and Peace). Today the chapel is part of the Musée National Picasso, where several of Picasso's ceramic pieces are displayed.

This museum, dedicated to medieval applied arts, is housed in the Hôtel Pierre Besson, a 17th-century mansion.

Below the abbey, one of the luxurious, 14th-century cardinals' manors contains a notable collection of art, including the spectacularly colorful and richly detailed Couronnement de la Vierge (Coronation of the Virgin), an altarpiece painted in 1453 by Enguerrand Quarton. One of the greatest paintings of the 15th century, it shows rows and rows of Avignonnais hieratically sitting around the figures of God the Father and God the Son. Depicted by Quarton—the leading painter of the Avignon School—as identical twins, they bless Mary and hover over a surreal landscape that places Montagne St-Victoire in between Heaven and Hell.

Three rooms of this museum, housed in a Knights of Malta priory dating from the 15th century, are dedicated to local painter Jacques Réattu. But the standouts are works by Dufy, Gauguin, and 57 drawings (and two paintings) done by Picasso in 1971—including one delightfully tongue-in-cheek depiction of noted muse and writer Lee Miller in full Arles dress. They were donated to Arles by Picasso himself, to thank the town for amusing him with bullfights.

This beautifully renovated 1948 architectural gem by Fernand Pouillon was once Marseille's station sanitaire, where every immigrant entering France was systematically "disinfected" to guard against epidemic. An absorbing 45-minute film (in English) and the intact machinery tell a fascinating story of Marseille as "gateway to the East." The light-filled second floor has spaces dedicated to the museum's permanent collection of 18th- to 20th-century paintings depicting Provence and the Mediterranean Sea, as well as to temporary exhibitions of works by contemporary painters. There's also a lovely boutique.  The museum café (open until 7) has some of the best views of the redeveloped port and is a great place for a gourmet lunch, a light snack on the terrace, or a restorative beverage.

After staying in various places up and down the coast, Auguste Renoir (1841–1919) settled into a house in Les Collettes, just east of the vieille ville, which is now the Musée Renoir. He passed the last 12 years of his life here, painting the landscape around him; working in bronze; and rolling his wheelchair through the luxuriant garden tiered with roses, citrus groves, and spectacular olive trees. Today, you can view this sweet and melancholic villa, preserved by Renoir's children, and admire 15 of his last paintings and 30 sculptures. Although up a steep hill, Les Collettes is just a 10-minute walk from Place du Général-du-Gaulle in central Cagnes-Ville. Alternatively, you can take the free No. 45 shuttle in July and August. Speaking of summer, there are guided tours in English (€3) Wednesday through Sunday.

Don't bother to rush to this eccentric little natural history museum, but since it's next door to the Institut Calvet museum (and free) you might want to stop in and check out the petrified palm trunks, the dinosaur skeleton, the handful of local beetles and mammals, and the careful and evocative texts (French only) that accompany them. The museum is named for a local naturalist and functions as an entrance to the massive library of natural history upstairs.

Bernadette’s life story is chronicled through mementos and more at the museum that bears her name; information about the construction of the nearby sanctuaries is also provided.

Lyon's long history as a center for the silk industry is well charted at several Lyon arts centers, but this jewel of a museum, set inside the Grand Hôtel-Dieu complex, gives you a close look at the industry through the work of a single family. For 130 years, the Brochiers manufactured the finest silks, imported worldwide and favored by France's great couturiers, including Paul Poiret—the father of haute couture—Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Christian Lacroix, and many more. Many of these elegant creations are on exhibit here. You'll also see rare works on silk by the likes of artists Raoul Dufy, Miró, Calder, and Jean Cocteau. Afterward, stock up on chic silk scarves and accessories at the irresistible museum boutique.

Souleiado’s famous cotton prints, produced in France since 1806, harken back to the 16th-century when colorful fabrics imported from India were all the rage in France. Trace the history of this emblematic French brand through a collection of artworks, textiles, and fashions by designers such as Chantal Thomas, Christian Lacroix, and Gucci. The Souleiado cotton-printing workshop is also on-site, as is the factory store, where you can buy fabric and ready-to-wear clothing a steep discount.

The city's archaeological museum, next to the Basilica of St-Sernin, has an extensive collection of imperial Roman busts, as well as ancient coins, vases, and jewelry. It's second only to the Louvre in the richness of its sculptures and Gallo-Roman vestiges.

Prepare to get wet—preferably equipped with snorkel, flippers, and some goggles—at France's only underwater museum. Exhibits, which are 109 yards off Catalans beach at a depth of 15 feet, consist of 11 submerged sculptures that highlight marine diversity and the human capacity to both destroy or save what remains of this fragile and beautiful ecosystem.

Across from the medieval Manoir de la Touche, this mansion was built by arts connoisseur Thomas Dobrée in the 19th century. On the mock-Romanesque facade he had chiseled the old Breton saying, "Ann dianaf a rog ac'hanoun" (The Unknown devours me), and his vast collection offers proof, as it ranges from Old Master paintings and tapestries to medieval manuscripts and Gothic goldwork—including the coffret reliquary containing the heart of Anne de Bretagne. Anne, the last independent ruler of Brittany, married the region away to King Charles VIII of France in 1491, and Bretons have never quite recovered from the shock. There's also a boutique, a luminous café with an outdoor terrace, and botanic gardens.

The Hôtel de Porcelet, which dates from the 16th century, contains this museum with works by the local 20th-century artist Yves Brayer. Figurative and accessible to the point of näiveté, his paintings highlight Italy, Spain, and even Asia, but demonstrate, most of all, his love of Provence. His grave is in the château cemetery. The house at No. 4 on Place de l'Église is also decorated with frescoes by the artist.

As elegant and stylish as the master couturier's groundbreaking designs, this museum is housed in the very mansion where Yves Saint Laurent did his work and entertained celebrity clients. More than 50 prototypes—including such landmarks as the Mondrian dress, the original pantsuit, and the woman's tuxedo—are on display at any one time, as are dozens of design drawings and a glittering array of jewelry. Thanks to its huge windows, the light-bathed upstairs atelier, stuffed with books and fabrics, offers an intimate glimpse into YSL's world. Be sure not to miss the touching short film detailing the relationship between Saint Laurent and his longtime partner Pierre Bergé. All of the exhibits have detailed English labeling, and a free English guide is available at reception.

The roof of the 13th-century Palais Synodal, alongside Sens's cathedral, is notable for its yellow, green, and red diamond-tile motif—incongruously added in the mid-19th century by monument restorer Viollet-le-Duc. Six grand windows and the vaulted Synodal Hall are other outstanding architectural features; the building now functions as an exhibition space. Annexed to the Palais is an ensemble of Renaissance buildings with a courtyard offering a fine view of the cathedral's Flamboyant Gothic south transept, constructed by master stonemason Martin Chambiges at the start of the 16th century (rose windows were his specialty, as you can appreciate here). Inside is a museum with archaeological finds from the Gallo-Roman period. The cathedral treasury, now on the museum's first floor, is one of the richest in France, comparable to that of Conques. It contains a collection of miters, ivories, the shrouds of St-Sivard and St-Loup, and sumptuous reliquaries. But the star of the collection is Thomas à Becket's restored brown-and-silver-edged linen robe which is displayed alongside his chasuble, stole, and sandals.

These two museums are housed in the city's largest ensemble of Renaissance buildings, the Hôtel de Gadagne, built between the 14th and 16th century. The Musée d'Histoire de Lyon traces the city's history from its pre-Roman days onward, displaying sculpture, furniture, pottery, paintings, and engravings. The Musée des Marionnettes du Monde focuses on the history of puppets, beginning with Guignol and Madelon—Lyon's Punch and Judy—created by Laurent Mourguet in 1795. It includes two hanging gardens, a café, and a shop.

Founded at the end of the 19th century by the Occitan writer and lexicographer Frédéric Mistral, this museum was a favorite before its 15-year-long restoration and reinvention and is a must-see now. It tells the story of Provençal life from the 18th century to the present in a setting that showcases architectural history—including the beautifully restored 17th-century Jesuit chapel, now an exhibition space—from the Roman era to today. The eye-catching scenography, displays of artwork and everyday objects, and state-of-the-art interactive features reflect the creative talents of top architects and designer Christian Lacroix, an Arles native.

The natural history museum in the Pavillon de L'Arquebuse focuses on current issues such as sustainable development. It is part of an impressive botanical garden, the Jardin de l'Arquebuse, which showcases local and exotic plant life. Strolling among the wide variety of trees and tropical flowers provides a pleasant break from sightseeing.

Housed in an ultramodern building designed by architect Norman Foster, the collection here dates back to when Narbonne was a major Roman port and capital of the Roman province of Gaul. Its centerpiece is a giant modular wall with 760 fragments of funerary blocks. Other highlights include sculptures, murals, and mosaic floors. Interactive 3D screens bring the exhibits to life. You can also check out the nearby Horreum, an underground warehouse dating back to the 1st century BC.

Built in 1407 and reputed to be the oldest stone house in Paris (though other buildings also claim that title), this abode has a mystical history. Harry Potter fans should take note: this was the real-life residence of Nicolas Flamel, the alchemist whose sorcerer's stone is the source of immortality in the popular book series. It's not all fanciful: a wealthy scribe, merchant, and dabbler in the mystical arts, Flamel willed his home to the city as a dormitory for the poor—on the condition that boarders pray daily for his soul. Today, the only way to gain entry to the building is to dine in the Michelin-starred restaurant residing on its beamed first floor.

Off the Route des Plages is this most notorious of all the beach clubs, famous for A-list debauches and a regular clientele of movie megastars and wannabes. But Nikki Beach isn't actually on the beach; rather it's steps from the shore with a pool and restaurant. If you want to mingle with the famous, rent a seaside Opium bed (€150 for maximum three people, drinks not included) or a VIP Bed Ponton by the Sea for up to four people; it's typically €150 (minimum spend may also apply), but this is St-Tropez, so the price may vary depending on the DJ. Just be sure to avoid renting a bed poolside, where the Champagne showers spare no one. Those under age 18 aren't permitted at the pool. Note that there's a free parking lot here, but attendants might, for a variety of reasons, direct you to another lot where you have to pay for parking. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee and no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: partiers.