71 Best Sights in France

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.

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.

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.

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.

The area's famous vein of natural ocher, which runs for about 25 km (16 miles) along the foot of the Vaucluse Plateau, has been mined for centuries, beginning with the ancient Romans, who used ocher for their pottery. Visit this museum housed in a former factory to learn more about ocher's extraction and its modern uses. English-language guided tours (50 minutes) are available. If the landscapes of Provence that inspired so many great artists have also inspired you, head for the on-site gift shop to pick up some bottled pigments or a set of ocher and indigo watercolors to use in your own creative endeavors.

If your knowledge of Paris history is nul (nil), stop here for an entertaining free tutorial. Built in 1879 as a private museum, the Pavillon today is a restored structure of glass and iron that showcases the city's urban development through the ages. A giant model of Paris traces its evolution (with information in English). There are photos, maps, and videos, plus a giant digital interactive model detailing what Paris is predicted to look like in the future. Reconstruction plans—called Grand Paris—are vast and take into account the 2024 Olympics and beyond. The Pavillon also has a café-bookstore and hosts frequent architecture-theme temporary exhibits.

Off the road to Rethondes, the Wagon de l'Armistice is a replica of the one in which the World War I armistice was signed in 1918. In 1940 the Nazis turned the tables and made the French sign their own surrender in the same place, then tugged the original car off to Germany, where it was later destroyed. The replica is part of a small museum in a leafy clearing.