1176 Best Sights in France

Warm natural springs first discovered under the leadership of Sextius, the Thermes now house the glass walls of an ultramodern health spa. The small fountain in the interior marks the warm spring of the original 18th-century establishment. Today, the facility's offerings include a great gym, pressure showers, mud treatments, and underwater massages.

For a superb view of town, climb to the top of this medieval tower.

Fragments of the town's medieval ramparts include the 15th-century Tour de la Bridole, five blocks up from Vitré's castle.

Parts of the town ramparts and the much-restored Tour des Fromages (Cheese Tower, now home to the tourist office) also remain intact. You can ascend the 11th-century defensive tower to take in stellar views.

Built in 1495 between the citadel and the harbor entrance, the imposing stone Salt Tower and Caponier once served a dual purpose both as a defensive bastion and a salt store. Today the historic interior hosts temporary exhibitions.

The stout walls and ramparts of this Gothic fortress, once a state-of-the-art marvel, are astonishingly well preserved. The tower is particularly impressive, as are the vistas of the surrounding Camargue. Temporary exhibitions are held along the ramparts in summer; there's also a permanent exhibit on the history of Protestantism in the region.

This fascinating little tower is the only remnant of a sprawling complex built on the edge of the original city walls in 1369. It is named for Jean Sans Peur (John the Fearless), the duke of Burgundy, who gained power in 1407 after ordering the assassination of his rival, the king's brother. In 1409, as civil war raged, he had the tower erected and put his bedroom on a high floor with a bird's-eye view of approaching enemies. Carved into the vaulted second-floor ceiling—a masterwork of medieval architecture—is an ornate sculpture of an oak tree entwined with plants representing the duke's family. Children (and curious adults) will enjoy the climb up to see the restored red-velvet-lined latrine, a state-of-the-art comfort in its time. Kitschy costumed mannequins and medieval-themed exhibits covering subjects from food to furniture to hygiene lend the tower added kid appeal. Be sure to ask for English information at the entry. Note that it's open in the afternoon only.

At the far end of the Jardins de la Fontaine are the remains of a tower the emperor Augustus had built on Gallic foundations; it was probably used as a lookout post. Despite losing 30 feet in height over the course of time, the tower still provides fine views of Nîmes for anyone energetic enough to climb the 140 steps.

Paris's least regarded architectural eyesore had been scheduled to undergo a major overhaul, which has since been postponed indefinitely. Someday it will have a sparkling new facade with planted terraces and a renovated, ground-level shopping center, but in the meantime, a quick elevator ride still whisks visitors to the top of one of continental Europe's tallest skyscrapers, where you can take in panoramic vistas of Paris from the glass-enclosed observation deck on the 56th floor. On a clear day, you can see for 40 km (25 miles). Built in 1973, the 680-foot building also sports a rooftop restaurant that offers some of the best views of Paris and beyond. The open-air rooftop is accessible for those who can walk up three extra flights to floor 59 (where there's no elevator access).

Carnac also has smaller-scale dolmen ensembles and three tumuli (mounds or barrows), including the 390-foot-long, 38-foot-high Tumulus de St-Michel, topped by a small chapel with views of the rock-strewn countryside.

Head east on D67 from Ste-Mère to Utah Beach, which, being sheltered from the Atlantic winds by the Cotentin Peninsula and surveyed by lowly sand dunes rather than rocky cliffs, proved easier to attack than Omaha. Allied troops stormed the beach at dawn, and just a few hours later had managed to conquer the German defenses, heading inland to join up with the airborne troops.

Smaller and more picturesque than Beaumes, with stone houses scattered along its gentle slopes, Vacqueyras gives its name to a robust, tannic red wine worthy of its more famous neighbors Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas. Wine domaines beckon from the outskirts of town, and the center is dotted with plane trees, adorned with cascading wisteria, and punctuated by discreet tasting shops. Thanks to its consistently rising quality, Vacqueyras is one of the latest of the Côtes du Rhônes to earn its own appellation—that is, the right to put its village name on the bottle instead of the less prestigious, more generic Côtes du Rhône label.

One of the joys of Val d'Isère is that the easy slopes aren't concentrated at the bottom of the mountains. Beginners can take the gondola to the top and ski for hours at the upper altitudes. Val d'Isère and neighboring Tinges form the Espace Killy, a massive ski area with 154 runs of various ski levels extending for a total of 300 km (186 miles).

Wish the ski season didn't have to end? Val d'Isère's Pissaillas Glacier and Tignes's Grand Motte Glacier both offer summertime skiing. And there are plenty of other activities in both resorts during warmer weather.

This garden is particularly delightful in the fall, when the hibiscus and brugmansias are in bloom. Planted by Maybud Campbell in the 1910s and cherished by connoisseurs, it bursts with rare ornamentals and subtropical plants and is adorned with water-lily pools and fountains. The tourist office can also give you directions to other gorgeous gardens around Menton, including the Fontana Rosa, the Villa Maria Serena, and the Villa Les Colombières.

Europe's highest ski resort, Val Thorens has such a lofty position that you see nothing but snow-covered mountains in every direction. The landscape is so iconic that the three adjoining peaks that grace every bottle of Evian are found here. The season here lasts longer than at resorts down the mountain, often from mid-November to early May.

High-speed lifts of all types transport you up to 68 runs of various ski levels. More than 50 are best suited for intermediate-level skiers, but there is also a handful for beginners or experts. Val Thorens is connected to the Trois Vallées ski area, so you have access to more than 600 km (373 miles) of slopes in nearby Les Menuires and elsewhere.

It was first built in the 1970s, so Val Thorens isn't the loveliest resort in the French Alps. But it buzzes with energy day and night, thanks to a clientele of couples enjoying romantic getaways and groups of friends challenging the slopes and taking advantage of a wild après-ski scene.

The Roman origins of Périgueux are laid out here within a soaring glass box (designed by star French architect Jean Nouvel) housing the archeological remains of a Gallo-Roman residence, the Domus de Vésone. Models of the grounds and house help visitors imagine what Roman life was like during the 1st to the 3rd centuries AD when Romans dominated the area. The collection is completed with vestiges found in and around Périgueux; the Vésone Tower in the park outside is the last remains of a Gallo-Roman temple.

This long-established producer of Saumur wines offers guided tours of its production facilities and cellars, followed by a wine-tasting session.

Since before medieval times, the Bastille area has been Paris’s historic center for artisans’ ateliers. Continuing that tradition, more than 40 craftspeople, designers, and gourmets work and sell their handicrafts to the public in the elegant voutes (vaulting) underpinning the Coulée Verte René-Dumont promenade. From the wares of goldsmiths and silversmiths, brewers and distillers, clothing designers, and perfumers to such items as handmade musical instruments, bespoke shoes, and artisanal chocolate and jams, a world of fine crafts awaits under the soaring ceilings of a place utterly unique in Paris.

This old town neighborhood, which you must cross to hike from one Roman monument to the other, carries on peacefully when there's not a blockbuster spectacle in the theater. Lining its broad squares, under heavy-leaved plane trees, are a handful of shops and a few sidewalk cafés.

Lille's finest efforts in architecture can be witnessed at the Old Stock Exchange in the heart of the old city. Built in the mid-17th century as the result of bankers' and traders' petitions for a more comfortable business environment than the previously open-air location, the building rose in grand fashion, adopting a Flemish Renaissance design laden with elaborate reliefs, cherubs, and garlands. Today, the central courtyard, wrapped by 24 houses and connecting arcades, is home to secondhand bookshops, florists, and chess competitions. In summer, tango dancers join the mix.

Within St-Rémy's fast-moving traffic loop, a labyrinth of narrow streets leads you away from the action and into the slow-moving inner sanctum of the vieille ville. Here trendy, high-end shops mingle pleasantly with local life, and the buildings, if gentrified, blend in unobtrusively.

Go down the steps to Rue Mirabeau and lose yourself in the dense labyrinth of the Vieille Ville, where steep, narrow streets, austere facades, discreet gardens, and random flights of stairs are thrown into shadow by shuttered houses five and six stories tall. 

Place Picasso is the heart of Old Céret, and the sardana dancers and castellers (human tower troops) who perform here are evidence of the pride locals take in their Catalan heritage. While in this pretty quarter, stroll around Place de la Fontaine des Neuf Jets (Nine Fountains Square). Drop into the church, wander out to the lovely fortified Porte de France gateway, then leave the historic town center and head toward the single-arched medieval Pont du Diable (the Devil's Bridge) on the perimeter of town, said to have been built by the Devil himself in a single night.

The picturesque Vieux Port, along Quai des Martyrs de la Libération, is dominated by the hilltop citadel. Take a stroll along the harbor, which is lined with excellent seafood restaurants. You can still find a few bright red-and-blue fishing boats with tangles of old nets and lines here, even if most of the space is now occupied by motor cruisers and yachts.

Bordered by Quai de l'Épi, Quai Bouchard, Quai Peri, Quai Suffren, and Quai Jean Jaurès, Vieux Port is a place for strolling and looking over the shoulders of artists painting their versions of the view on easels set up along the water's edge. Meanwhile, folding director's chairs at famous portside cafés like Sénéquier are well placed for observing the cast of St-Tropez's living theater play out their colorful roles. While here, be sure to take the time to enjoy a scoop of ice cream at Glacier Barvarac on Rue Général Allard.

At the foot of Le Suquet, this narrow, well-protected port harbors luxury yachts and slick little bateaux de plaisance (pleasure boats) that creak and bob beside weathered-blue fishing barques. From the east corner, off La Pantiéro at Quai Laubeuf (where a renovated sea wall has a panoramic promenade and heliport), you can catch a 20-minute ferry to the Îles de Lérins. The port and Quai St-Pierre, which runs alongside and has a plethora of restaurants, have emerged from their tattered and tired midlife crisis to become smartly dressed, more energized versions of their former selves. 

This museum headlines the work of Grasse's own Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732–1806), who was one of the great French "chocolate-box" artists—so called because they were known for their maudlin artwork of a type that was found on boxes of chocolate at the time. The lovely villa contains a collection of Fragonard's drawings, engravings, and paintings; also on display are works by his son, Alexandre-Evariste, and his grandson, Théophile.

Unique in the Dordogne, visitors to this perched prehistoric village, museum, and farm enjoy total immersion in the life of a cave dweller through the ages—the best way to learn about this integral part of the Dordogne. The visit, done by guided tour or audio guide, begins with stellar views of the valley and Vézere River and progresses through various living areas carved into the rock face. At the farm, you can wander through pretty botanic gardens, see how bread was made, pet farm animals, and take part in workshops, nature walks, and artisan demonstrations in all seasons for an altogether charming experience that's perfect for families. Located in Tursac, between Les Eyzies and Lascaux, it's a great place to explore on your way to other sights.