1176 Best Sights in France

This lively square in the heart of the Notre-Dame neighborhood is home to the largest market in the region, far outstripping anything in Paris. Outdoors, stalls offer a veritable cornucopia of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices; meanwhile, the four historic halls (dating to the reign of Louis XV and rebuilt in 1841) brim with every gourmet delight—foie gras, fine wines, seafood, game, prepared delicacies, cheese from every corner of France—providing a sensory experience that will overwhelm even the most jaded foodie. The open-air market runs three half days a week (Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday 7–2), but the covered food halls are open every day except Monday, from early morning until 7:30 pm (closing is at 2 on Sunday). If you're in the mood for more shopping, the town's marvelous antiques district begins at the northwest corner of the market square and extends along the cobbled streets to the charming Passage de la Geôle.

A few blocks southeast of Place de la Bourse, Place du Parlement is also ringed by elegant 18th-century structures and packed with lively outdoor cafés.

Sarlat's Cité Médiévale has many beautiful photo ops. Of particular note is Rue de la Liberté, which leads to Place du Peyrou, anchored on one corner by the steep-gabled Renaissance house where writer-orator Étienne de la Boétie (1530–63) was born.

Artists have peddled their wares in this square for centuries. Busloads of tourists have changed the atmosphere, but if you come off-season—when the air is chilly and the streets are bare—you can almost feel what it was like when up-and-coming Picassos lived in the houses that today are given over to souvenir shops and cafés.

Rue de l'Hôtel de Ville, two streets west of the Maison Natale, leads past the Mairie (City Hall), with its hanging globes of flowers, to Albi's main square, Place du Vigan. Take a break in the main cafés, Le Pontié.

Surrounded by grand vaulted arcades stuccoed in rich yellow, this square could have been airlifted out of Turin. In the center, the shrinelike fountain sculpture of Garibaldi seems to be surveying you as you stroll under the very attractive arcades and lounge in the surrounding cafés. Les Artisanales, the market for local crafts (jewelry, ceramics, leather goods, clothes, accessories) sets up the first Sunday of the month (9–7), and an antiques market takes place on the third Saturday of every month (7–5). Behind Place Garibaldi is the so-called Antique Quarter, with important antiques stores and emporiums like the Puces de Nice along the streets Antoine-Gautier, Emmanuel-Philibert, Catherine-Ségurane, Martin-Seytour, and Foresta.

Stand on the site of Van Gogh's residence in Arles—the famous Maison Jaune (Yellow House), which was destroyed by bombs in 1944. The artist may have set up his easel on the Quais du Rhône, just off Place Lamartine, to capture the view that he transformed into his legendary Starry Night. This and nine other sites featured in one Van Gogh canvas or another are marked on the city's Van Gogh Circuit.

Tree-lined Place Louis-XIV, alongside the Hôtel de Ville, with its dainty statue of Louis XIV on horseback, is the hub of the town. In summer, concerts are offered on the square, which also hosts the famous \"Toro de Fuego\" festival honoring the bull with a parade and a papier-mâché beast.

Surrounded by a row of stately palm trees, Place Maréchal-Foch is easily recognizable by its fountain of four Corsican granite lions encircling a commanding statue of Napoléon, the work of sculptor Jérôme Maglioli. Popular as a spot to people-watch on a sunny day, this triangle is surrounded by cafés and opens up to the Ajaccio port.

As Cours Saleya is the heart of the Vieille Ville, so this impressive and broad square is the heart of the entire city. It's framed by early-17th-century, Italian-style arcaded buildings, their facades stuccoed in rich red ocher. The lively and boisterous space hosts an event—from Carnaval to the Christmas market—at least once a month, and Promenade du Paillon runs through it. Nespresso has a boutique here if you need a free coffee to perk you up.

Not far from the Commune quarter, the Old Town invites you to explore its streets lined by a mix of shops, galleries, restaurants, and bakeries. Aim to wind up on Place Nationale, the site of the Roman forum. It's a pleasant place for a drink under the hackberry trees, which allow for the right amount of shade in summer and sunshine in winter.

A 19th-century statue of the father of the fleur-de-lis reigns under shady pollards on this square with a mellow village feel, a welcome retreat from the clutter of souvenir shops on surrounding lanes. The pretty, bare-bones Église Notre-Dame des Sablons, on one corner of the square, has a timeless air (the church dates from the 13th century, but the stained glass is modern), and the spectacular Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs and Chapelle des Pénitents Gris are Baroque-era marvels.

On its western side, this medieval square is lined by rows of old town houses in yellow Jaumont stone, underpinned by elegant, curvaceous arcades. The square was once occupied by moneychangers, and its design was inspired by the Italian Republics they traded with. Today, the arcades are filled with bars and restaurants.

This square was named for Gabriel Davioud's grandiose 1860 fountain sculpture of St. Michael vanquishing Satan—a loaded political gesture from Napoléon III's go-to guy, Baron Haussmann, who hoped St-Michel would quell the Revolutionary fervor of the neighborhood. The fountain is often used as a meeting point for both local students and young tourists.

During Biarritz’s original heyday, the elite often retired to the terraced restaurants of festive Place Ste-Eugénie, still considered the social center of town.

An ensemble of 18th-century Italianate buildings frames this popular center of activity, bounded by Quai Neuve, Rue Fortia, Rue de la Paix Marcel-Paul, and Cours d'Estienne d'Orves, where one sidewalk café spills into another, and every kind of bouillabaisse is yours for the asking. At night, the neighborhood is a fashionable hangout for young professionals on their way to and from the theaters and clubs on Quai de Rive Neuve.

Jules-Hardouin Mansart, an architect of Versailles, designed this perfectly proportioned octagonal plaza near the Tuileries in 1702. To maintain a uniform appearance, he gave the surrounding hôtels particuliers (private mansions) identical facades. It was originally called Place des Conquêtes to extoll the military conquests of Louis XIV, whose statue on horseback graced the center until Revolutionaries destroyed it in 1792. Later, Napoléon ordered his likeness erected atop a 144-foot column modestly modeled after Trajan's Column in Rome. But that, too, was toppled in 1871 by painter Gustave Courbet and his band of radicals. The Third Republic raised a new column and sent Courbet the bill, though he died in exile before paying it. Chopin lived and died at No. 12, which is also where Napoléon III enjoyed trysts with his mistress; since 1902 it has been home to the high-end jeweler Chaumet.

Across from Cours Saleya, the Riviera's largest private beach (it's closed November through March, though its restaurant remains open for lunch year-round) is one of Nice's nicest; you can gain access by renting a pricey lounger for the day via phone. The beach itself is stony, so wear water shoes. If there are jellyfish sightings, you'll see a written warning of "méduse" on a beach board; ditto for strong winds. Steps from Beau Rivage on the Prom is Nice's own Statue of Liberty (look carefully, as she's only 4½ feet tall). Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; swimming.

This sandy beach west of Juan-les-Pins is popular thanks to its size and is thus also known as La Grande Plage. It offers a mix of public and private sections. The private areas provide amenities such as sun loungers, chairs, and umbrellas, typically available for daily rental fees. The beach is family-friendly, with gentle slopes into the Mediterranean Sea, making it suitable for swimmers of all levels. The surrounding area features a variety of cafés, restaurants, and shops. Amenities: showers; toilets. Best for: swimming.

This family-friendly haven with a 2 km (1¼-mile) sandy beach is in the 333-acre Base Nature François Léotard and is backed by nature reserve lands rather than by a main road, though there is parking nearby. In addition to picnic, play, and fitness areas there are accessible pathways (including those good for cycling), showers, and restrooms equipped for those with disabilities. Areas for swimming and those reserved for watersports are sign posted. Amenities: lifeguards (in summer); parking (fee in summer); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking; windsurfing.

Nestled in the village of Agay, a 15-minute drive northeast of Saint-Raphaël, this tranquil sandy stretch is popular with locals and has stunning views of Cap Dramont. Less crowded than city beaches and more sheltered from the wind, it's an ideal spot for a peaceful swim. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking; sunset.

This sandy public beach at the edge of town has lifeguards (mid-June–mid-September), as well as free showers and toilets. You can rent loungers nearby. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming.

Thanks to its perfect oval bay, the finest, softest sand on the Riviera, magnificent views that stretch out to Antibes, and relatively calm waters, this northeast-facing beach is a real jewel—and the first in the country to impose a "No Selfie" zone (albeit for only a season). Getting the Gucci-clad spillover from the Hôtel du Cap–Eden Roc, the high-end private beach clubs here open onto the sand. Quieter folk stick to the public section at the other end. There are also two snack bars. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming.

Sandy shores and free parking make this public beach popular with families and, when the east wind blows, with windsurfers, too. It was a key site in the 1944 Allied landings of World War II. An M4 Sherman DD tank, unearthed in 2011, stands at the entrance to the car park as a poignant reminder of its wartime past. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (in summer); parking (free); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking; windsurfing.

This picturesque sandy beach is divided into four distinct zones. The family-friendly area, closest to the St-Aygulf parking lot, features three small bays sheltered by dams. The naturist zone lies close to the heart of the protected Villepey Ponds natural area. For pet owners, the dog-friendly section is toward the Argens River. At the Fréjus end, swimming is prohibited in the dedicated kitesurfing zone. Amenities: parking (fee in summer); toilets; showers; water sports. Best for: swimming; nudists; windsurfing.

At the southern base of the Citadelle and past the cemetery, the closest public beach to the town of St-Tropez is easily accessible on foot (it's part of the coastal walkway, or sentier du littoral) and the most family-friendly. At the east end, you can rent loungers (€30 plus extra for an umbrella) from the restaurant Les Graniers. There are no public toilets or showers, but if you are a client of the restaurant you can use its facilities. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: swimming.

This small, popular public beach—on the west coast of Cap d'Antibes, north of Port de l'Olivette—offers stunning views of the Esterel mountains and the Îles de Lérins, with a picturesque tower in the shallows that attracts the Instagram crowd for that all important sunset shot. It's best accessed by bus or on foot from Juan-les-Pins as there is limited paid parking. Amenities: toilets; showers. Best for: swimming; sunset.

Situated between Cap des Salins and Point du Capon, this 600-meter public white-sand beach is the gateway to a stretch of Pampelonne Beach and its beach clubs, although it's more exposed to the wind and the sea can quickly become rough. It's lined by huge umbrella-pine trees, and you can rent loungers from the beach's private section. To the left, by the coastal path, is a quieter cove. Amenities: parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming.

Named after the Allied landings that took place in the area in August 1944, this is a sand-on-top-of-red-stone beach has great views of the Île d'Or, a private island. From town, head northeast toward Agay until you reach Le Dramont, where you'll see signs for the beach. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: swimming.