France really does have it all. Not one, but three stunning coastlines, two indomitable alpine ranges, valleys filled with rolling hills that contain fairytale-like castles, orchards and vineyards, the country fits almost every definition for romantic scenery possible. Its cities are lauded around the world for their status as leading cultural centres for art, gastronomy, architecture and fashion.
From Paris’s grand boulevards and landmarks, to the pink-tinted architecture of Toulouse, and Marseille’s vibrant seascapes, one could quite easily become rooted in a few choice locations, but miss out on so much of what this glorious country has to offer. Fortunately, for a country so vast and layered, it is possible to identify parts that deserve thorough exploration, outside the more over-touristed areas.
Aquitaine
One of France’s more geographically diverse regions, Aquitaine stretches from sandy Atlantic beaches and dunes to deep inland valleys via the Dordogne and Garonne rivers. The vast stretches of sand were historically unstable, prompting large-scale pine planting in the 19th century to anchor the land and inadvertently create Europe’s largest man-made forest, the Landes Forest (Foret de Lande). On top of this, Aquitaine has an impressive ancient heritage to boot, boasting cave systems such as Lascaux, which reveal some of the earliest known examples of human artwork via cave paintings.
Notable holiday spots such as Arcachon, with its Riviera aesthetic and pristine beaches, and the likes of Biarritz’s surfer’s paradise, are well established as some of the country’s most excellent seaside getaways on the Atlantic coast. The region’s capital, Bordeaux, is the epicentre of one of the world’s most lauded wine regions, providing ample opportunity for lovers of viticulture to explore the city’s many enigmatic wine cellars. Going one step further, a short train ride out of the city puts visitors firmly in wine country, with trips to the nearby UNESCO-listed village and prominent grape grower, Saint-Émilion, a must for lovers of medieval architecture and expansive vineyard views. For all of this, it’s impossible not to include the region in the best places to visit in France.
Côte d’Azur
This sheltered stretch of Mediterranean coastline has attracted travellers for over two centuries. The area blossomed during the Belle Époque into one of the most glamorous destinations in continental Europe, buoyed by the construction of promenades, hotels, villas and parks that became the retreat of royalty and the fabulously wealthy. Humble seaside towns were lifted up into some of the most desirable destinations, courtesy of the ballooning reputation of the French Riviera as one of the best places to visit for pleasure seekers.
Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez and Antibes are but a few of the more instantly recognisable names that spring to mind when one thinks of this part of the world’s glamorous locales. However, the appeal of the Côte d’Azur lies far beyond its beaches and coves. Inland, the terrain rises sharply into the Maritime Alps, creating a rare convergence of coastal and alpine environments. The Mercantour National Park preserves glacial valleys, alpine lakes and prehistoric rock engravings in the Vallée des Merveilles, providing an extensive playground for hikers and explorers wanting to embrace the outdoors. It’s one of the most prominent jewels in France’s crown for beautiful destinations.
Rhône Valley
Aquiring its name from the river that runs its length, from its Alpine source to its Mediterranean delta, the Rhône has functioned as one of Europe’s most important natural transport routes since hallowed antiquity. The lingering influence of the Roman Empire is particularly visible throughout many of the area’s settlements, particularly in Lyon, the region’s capital. Viticulture is one of the valley’s dominant characteristics. In the northern Rhône, vineyards cling to steep pre-alpine slopes, which required centuries of terracing and hard manual labour to cultivate their now world-renowned crops that produce the Côte du Rhône variety.
Further south, broader plains support some of the world’s most well-known wine estates, such as the much-loved Châteauneuf-du-Pape and its menagerie of cellars. Beyond wine, the Rhône Valley contains some of France’s most significant historic routes, including sections of the Via Agrippa, which connected Roman Gaul to the heartland of the Empire, and is a prominent destination for cyclists, hikers and skiers during the winter season. Aside from Lyon, the papal patronage of Avignon, Roman ruins at Orange and Vienne, and Montelimar’s famously delicious nougat, round out the charming locales to explore this rich and rewarding region of France.
Brittany
One of Europe’s most dramatic coastlines, offering a combination of granite, chalk, and limestone cliffs at various ends that have been cut or crumbled naturally into all sorts of captivating silhouettes. The Pink Granite Coast ( known as the Côtes d'Armor) stands as one of Brittany’s most distinctive natural features, where mineral-rich rock formations appear sculpted by hand, set against the stunning Ploumanac'h lighthouse overlooking the sea. Inland moors and forests replace the vineyards of some of France’s more romanticised regions, but Brittany’s charm and heritage hold significant appeal thanks to the preservation of Breton language, music and folklore, with its Celtic origins that are deeply distinct from the rest of France, harking back to pre-Roman era Gaul.
St.Malo, famous for its medieval walls, sandy beaches and wild waterfront when storms hit, is one of the most photogenic coastal towns in Brittany. Cancale, meanwhile, is a much-travelled destination thanks to its reputation as the Oyster capital of France. Rennes is the region’s capital and deeply romantic with its markets, brasseries and dozens of bars that line the rue Saint-Michel, the cornerstone of the city’s nightlife. Brittany offers a spectacular alternative to the crowded and more unforgiving heat of the South of France in summer, with stunning stretches of shore to enjoy under less severe sunshine and plenty of history and culture to immerse oneself in for good measure.
Champagne
Champagne’s landscape is defined as much by what lies beneath it as by what is visible above ground. Historically, the region benefited from proximity to royal courts and trade routes thanks to its bountiful landscape that produced an abundance of delicious grape varieties. The region’s villages and estates still reflect this prestige through stunning architecture and well-manicured hillsides that characterise Champagne as a destination for global travel. Thick chalk subsoils provide ideal drainage and temperature regulation for vines, as first discovered by the Romans more than 2000 years ago. Today, these underground networks, known as crayères, form one of the most extraordinary man-made environments in France. Stretching for kilometres beneath vineyards and villages, they maintain constant humidity and temperature, allowing long-term storage and ageing on a scale unmatched almost anywhere else in the world.
Above ground, cities and large towns such as Reims, Troyes, and Epernay are the focal points for visitors in the region, thanks to their legacy as home of the world’s most prominent champagne houses. Filled with history, wonderful Belle Époque architecture and delicious gastronomy, they remain ideal bases to explore the fruits of the cellars of Champagne. However, the countryside of this part of France should not be discounted. Dozens of charming little hamlets dot the hills and valleys of the region, all easily accessible by car, train, or bike. Champagne bakes during the heat of summer and cools considerably in the winter, offering a varied climate with great options to explore the heritage of one of the best places to visit in France, outside high season.
Auvergne
Rounded peaks, extinct lava plateaus and crater lakes dominate the region of Auvergne, offering clear insight into the volcanic history of France rarely appreciated otherwise. The Chaîne des Puys forms a coherent system of extinct volcanoes with lakes such as Pavin, formed in collapsed craters, and reveals dramatic contrasts of colour and depth to their water bodies and surrounding flora, enriched by the volcanic-enhanced soil. It’s a walker’s paradise, offering sweltering heat in summer, and winter provides multiple avenues for skiing, and snowshoeing.
Whilst far more sparse in terms of towns and villages, thanks to its expansive national parkland, Auvergne has no shortage of wonderful bases to explore the region from. The region's capital, Clermont-Ferrand, perfectly encapsulates the area’s heritage with its black volcanic stone cathedral at its centre. Spa towns like Vichy, famous for its Belle Époque architecture, examples including its signature Opera House and thermal baths, offer unbridled opportunity to relax and enjoy the fruits of the geothermal landscape in a less arduous way. Auvergne may be a region less frequently travelled for many visitors to France, but it offers unique opportunities for adventure and experiences that no other part of the country can match.
