France is one of the largest countries in Europe with lots interesting historical sights to see, some beautiful nature and of course culture. We have visited in multiple times including in 2011 when we did a large loop through most of the country. Each region, if not every town, has something special to see and the problem is not finding something to see or do but to fit all you want to see in the limited amount of time you can to allocate. The one major region we didn’t yet visit is Normandy and we plan to do that in the future.
Driving in France outside major cities was easy and we avoided driving in Paris by renting from the airport when departing from the capital and using public transportation otherwise. Small towns might be difficult to get through due to narrow streets and one way roads. Attractions were usually well marked and we felt safe in most of the country excluding when waiting for the shuttle to the airport on our last day in Paris in 2011. Food was exceptional and varied, which is as expected as the French cuisine is world renowned. Climate depends on when you visit but in autumn it was great in most of the country.
Map of Travels
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Trips
- Picasso in Vallauris
The last place we visit before our relatives leave is Vallauris to see a chapel painted by Picasso and the many ceramics he created while living here - Fontmerle Marsh
On the last day with our relatives we start with a visit to the Fontmerle Marsh while trying to avoid the rain clouds all around us - Up onto Castle Hill
During our visit to Nice we spend a couple hours visiting Castle Hill the site of the former fortress protecting Nice - Downtown Nice, an Unesco Heritage Site
Today we finally are able to visit downtown Nice and explore the Unesco World Heritage old town for a few hours while ending with a nice dinner - Plage du Midi and Villa Rothschild
Today we explore the beach and the sea at Cannes before a short stroll through the grounds of Villa Rothschild - Cannes, a famous film festival location
Famous for its film festival Cannes also has a pretty historical center and an elevated church and fortress that can be explored if in town - Staying in and exploring Mougins
For most of our time on Cote d’Azur we stay in Mougins a city with a beautiful old center but our AirBnB is further away and we have to drive to see the downtown - Villa Kerylos, a special place
On the way to Cannes we visit the beautiful and very ornate Kerylos Villa built by a German businessman to emulate a historic Greek Villa - Our second visit to busy Eze
As we leave for Nice we stop in Eze for the second time and this time it is quite busier and less interesting as it is difficult to explore without encountering huge groups - Saorge, the Tibetan look-alike perched village
We end the day in Saorge, the beautiful Tibetan look-alike village perched to the mountainside and explore the narrow and winding alleys while looking for dinner - The historic village of La Brigue
La Brigue is a touristy town with narrow lanes, scenic plazas, a ruined castle and an interesting curved bridge - Fort Saint Roch, part of the Maginot line
Our first stop today is Fort Saint Roch formerly part of the Maginot Line which allows us to explore extensive underground tunnels and chambers that protected from Italian attacks - L’Escarene, our base for the Alps and Monaco
We stay for three nights in L’Escarene a historic village in the foothills of the Alps and spend one unexpected morning exploring the beautiful downtown - Starting with the Trophy of Augustus and La Turbie
First stop on the trip is historic La Turbie and the impressive Trophy of Augustus as well as lunch before making our way to the AirBnB - Arriving into Nice
After a long flight with a few unexpected issues and then standing for almost an hour in line for the rental car we are ready for the France part of our trip - Last evening in France and Paris
In the afternoon we walk from the Catacombs area towards the Seine passing imposing buildings and green gardens like Luxembourg Garden - The unsettling and worthwhile Catacombs of Paris
The major stop for the day for us is the Catacombs of Paris a really worthwhile stop even though difficult to get into - Arc de Triomphe to Eiffel Tower
In the morning we start with a walk from the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tour on Champs Elysees sightseeing along the way - Medieval Avallon, last stop outside Paris
Last stop for the day is Avallon a small historic town with some interesting sights - The famous Fontenay Abbey
The second stop of the day is at famous Fontenay Abbey an Unesco WHS and the oldest preserved Cistercian Abbey in the world - Beaune, a historical town
We spend the morning visiting the major attraction in Beaune the Hospices de Beaune a beautiful hospital founded in 1443 - Chambery, the historical capital of Savoy
We end our day in Chambery the historical capital of Savoy where we spend an hour exploring before making our way to Beaune for the night - Through the Alps towards Chambery
From Briancon it is a long and windy drive through the Alps to Chambery passing through mountain passes and tunnels along the way - Briançon, the Vauban fortified city
We spend the morning exploring Briançon the highest city in France and an area fortified by Vauban against Austrian attack - On the highest through road in Europe over Col de la Bonette
We spend the afternoon in the high alpine Alps passing through Col de la Bonette on the highest through road in Europe - In the mountains around Saint-Martin-Vésubie
In the morning we hike and explore the area around Saint-Martin-Vésubie part of the Mercantour National Park - The Enchanting Village of Eze
We arrive late in Eze and have less than one hour to explore the enchanting village and wander around the beautiful alleys - Hiking and sightseeing the Verdon Gorge
Today it is time to turn east passing through the beautiful Verdon Gorge where we hike and sightsee on the way to Monaco - Roquefavour aqueduct, are we seeing double?
Last stop in France is at Roquefavour aqueduct inspired by the ancient Pont du Gard that we have seen the previous day - Historic Cabries
We start the day with an exploration of Cabries a small historic village near our accomodation - Pont du Gard, a magnificent aqueduct
Last stop for today is at Pont du Gard the tallest of all Roman aqueduct bridges and one of the best preserved - Arles, the former major Roman town
Out of the Camargue we stop in Arles a Unesco WHS given its extensive Roman ruins and importance - In Camargue looking for flamingoes and horses
Next we explore the Camargue and extensive protected area looking for flamingoes and the famous Camargue horses - The dead waters of Aigues Mortes
We start our day with Aigues Mortes the previously important city that history seemingly forgot - Beautiful Saint Cirq Lapopie
Last stop of the day is Saint Cirq Lapopie a famous village considered to be the most beautiful in France - Grotte du Grand Roc and other closed caves
We explore the cave region of Dordogne for a few more hours but with everything closed we decide to move on - Font de Gaume cave after a night at Domaine de la Rhonie
Leaving picturesque Domaine de la Rhonie we are almost the first in line at Font de Gaume snatching some highly coveted tickets to visit the prehistoric cave - Chenonceau Castle, the water castle
Last of the Loire castles we visit is Chenonceau castle a beautiful castle built to span over the Le Cher river - Amboise, home of Clos Luce Castle
Amboise is home to both the Amboise Castle and Clos Luce a castle that hosted Da Vinci until his death - Blois, a short stop in the evening to see the castle
In the evening we make a short stop in Blois to see the castle and also buy some provisions for the next day - Chambord Castle, a dreamy “hunting lodge”
Chambord Castle is the largest and probably the most recognizable in the Loire Valley and is the first we stop at during our trip - Chartres Cathedral, an imposing building
We start our first day outside of Paris with a vist to Chartres Cathedral, an Unesco WHS - Half day in Paris to start our trip
Half day in Paris exploring the area near Ile de France before starting on our tour