Natural wonders in France

France is not all about museums, art galleries and castles. There are also the great outdoors with many spectacular natural wonders to visit on private tours of France. Stunning mountain ranges, dramatic gorges, caves, cliffs and dunes, - the list of things au naturel is endless. Here are just a few to whet your appetite.

Cliffs of Étretat

Cliffs of Étretat

Arching above the water, the dramatic white cliffs of Étretat in Normandy inspired painters Monet, Boudin and Courbet. One of the picturesque arches resemble an elephant with its trunk in the sea. There are three arches, the Manneporte, Porte d'Aval and Porte d'Amont, and a pointed needle rising from the water. You can go to the beach to see the cliffs close up in their full splendour or admire them from a distance from the lovely town of Étretat.

Dune du Pilat

Dune du Pilat

Europe’s highest, the Dune du Pilat in it is almost three kilometres long and 500 metres wide. The sand dune attracts one million visitors per year. Here you can try paragliding, walking through the deep sand or simply sunbathing and enjoying the sea breeze.

Gorges du Verdon

Gorges du Verdon

Carved by the turquoise waters of the Verdon River over centuries, the canyon is one of the most beautiful in Europe. It runs for 25 kilometres and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Adrenaline junkies come here to climb the gorge’s steep limestone walls, kayak down the river or hike along the rocky outcrops. Less adventurous visitors admire spectacular drives near the canyon and have relaxing picnics while enjoying the views.

Camargue salt flats

The Camargue 

The Camargue delta of the Rhone River in Languedoc covers an area of over 900 square kilometres filled with surreal looking red salt lagoons, marshlands and rice paddies. Flocks of pink flamingos and herds of white Camargue horses make the landscape irresistibly beautiful. 

Photos via Flickr by: Michel Marie, Francois Pouzet, Miguel Virkkunen Carvalho, Jeroen Komen.

Arles, the city of van Gogh, Picasso and Roman ruins

The beautiful city of Arles in south-eastern France is steeped in history and rich with architectural gems. Its origins can be traced back to the 7th century BC when it was a Greek settlement. During Roman times, Arles was an important centre and many well-preserved ruins remind of those glorious days. The city’s ancient amphitheatre, Roman theater, remains of the Roman circus, the Baths of Constantine and the necropolis attract many visitors today.

Roman Amphitheatre in Arles

Arles also has many buildings dating back to medieval times. On Place de la Republique you can see the Church of Saint Trophime famous for its ornate carved doorway depicting the Final Judgement and the 13^th century cloisters. From the roof gallery you can admire views over the city.

Art lovers enjoy the Arles’ connection with Vincent Van Gogh. The famous artist was attracted to the city because of its exceptional light and, although, he only spent 15 months in Arles, he painted more than 300 masterpieces. Many visitors enjoy following the Van Gogh Trail to see the scenes of the artist's famous paintings that he created during his stay in the city. 

Place du Forum

Another artist who spent some time in Arles was Pablo Picasso, who came here because of the city’s Van Gogh connection and the famous bullfights in the Camargue area. In 1971, Picasso donated 57 of his paintings to the the Musée Réattu housed in a beautiful Renaissance building where they can be admired today along with a fine collection of contemporary art as well as works by Provençal artists from the 18th-19th centuries.

Fête du Costume

The relaxed Provençal atmosphere of Arles with its leafy squares and outdoor cafés is a big draw in itself. There are many great restaurants in the city serving delicious local dishes. During spring and summer Arles hosts many interesting festivals. From Easter to September “Feria Corridas” takes place with bullfighting and bloodless “course camarguaise” bull spectacles organised in the Roman arena. In July, during the festival “Fête du Costume” hundreds of locals dress up in historic costumes and children parade through the old centre with torchlights. 

Photos via Flickr by: Ming-yen Hsu, Jacqueline Poggi, Max Guitare.

The best festivals to visit in France

French festivals are known for their vibrancy and great atmosphere. No matter what time of year you decide to visit France, there is always a festival going on somewhere in the country celebrating local food, wine, historic event or cultural traditions. Here is our pick of the best festivals to get a taste of French culture.

Nice Carnival

Nice Carnival

One of the largest carnivals in the world, Nice Carnival is celebrated for 15 days and nights with parades, dances, music and fireworks. A theme is chosen every year for the main parade of colourful gigantic floats and figurines. One of the highlights is the Flower Parade during which 100,000 flowers are thrown into the crowd. The event attracts almost one million visitors to Nice every February.

The Festival of Lights, Lyon

On December 8, the residents of Lyon celebrate the Virgin Mary, whose statue overlooks the city from the Fourvière hill. Since the 19th century, they have been putting candles and lamps on their windows and balconies creating a mesmerising display of lights. In the last few decades, La Fête des Lumières has also become a celebration of light show design with international artists putting on spectacular performances that last for four days.

Pentecost Feria in Nimes

Pentecost Feria, Nîmes

Held on the fifth weekend after Easter, Feria de Pentecôte starts with a huge costumed parade and runs for five days. Apart from bull fights in the ancient Roman amphitheatre and bull runs along the city streets, expect to see stunning fireworks displays, open-air concerts and street parties. It is one of the biggest events in South France attracting almost a million visitors annually.

Chorégies d'Orange

Chorégies d’Orange

One of the oldest music festivals in France, Chorégies d’Orange takes place every July in the historic town of Orange. Live opera and classic music performances are staged in the atmospheric Roman theatre that sits 9,000 spectators and has magnificent natural acoustics. Some of the biggest international names in opera perform here, so tickets sell out very fast.

Photos by: Alessandro Baffa/Flickr, Office de Tourisme de Nîmes/Facebook, Chorégies d’Orange/Facebook.

Marseille: cafes, ancient churches and souks

The cosmopolitan city of Marseille is France's oldest and the second largest after Paris, however, it is often ignored by foreign tourists. Travellers looking for a more authentic corner of France find Marseille’s rich history and cultural diversity stunning coastal setting exciting.

Marseille

The Old Port (Vieux Port) is the heart of Marseille. Founded as a Greek port in 600 BC, the vibrant harbour is a great place to spend a few hours wondering around and sample the excellent bouillabaisse fish stew, a local specialty in one of the port’s restaurants. Check out the old fish market on the east side of the harbour that is open every morning. From the port you can take a ferry to the majestic Château d'If and the dramatic Calanques cliffs.

Marseille has several splendid churches that are worth a visit. The 19th century Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde with a gilded Madonna on the top of the belfry is famous for its opulent décor with marble arches, colourful mosaic magnificent views over the city. The Basilique Saint-Victor’s foundation dates back to early Christianity and is one of the oldest buildings in Marseille.

Notre-Dame de la Garde

Often called the Champs-Élysées of Marseille, the city’s main avenue La Canebière reminds of Marseille’s great colonial trading past when local merchants built spacious Haussmannian town houses showing off their wealth. Here you will find many shops and inexpensive restaurants that are always full with locals.

Vieux Port

Le Panier city district is believed to be the oldest urban quartier in France. Explore charming narrow streets, tiny artisan shops and picturesque little squares with atmospheric cafes. Here you can pop in to the splendid arcaded 17th-century La Vieille Charité that once was the city’s poorhouse. Today it houses an excellent museum of African, Oceanic and Amerindian Arts.

To soak up the city’s multi-cultural heritage head to the Capucin district where you will find North African style souks and open-fronted shops selling ethnic food, clothes and other colourful paraphernalia. 

Photos via Flickr by: Thibault Houspic, Selden Vestrit, Jopa Elleul.

The most beautiful villages in France

Many stunning villages are scattered across France but if you are trying to find crème de la crème of the French countryside check out the villages that are part of the Plus Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages in France) association, which includes 153 locations across the country and two in Corsica. Here is our pick of just a few of them to give you a flavour of rural France’s beauty.

Castelnaud-La-Chapelle

Castelnaud-La-Chapelle, Dordogne

Home to the magnificent Chateau de Castelnaud, the village is full of meticulously preserved stone arches, half-timber houses and medieval towers combined with spectacular views of the Dordogne countryside. Visit the castle and, afterwards, sit in the charming village’s café to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and watch the locals unhurriedly going on their daily business. 

Pradelles, Auvergne 

Perched on high on a hill, the old fortified village of Pradelles boasts spectacular views of the Upper Allier valley. There is a beautiful 17th-century church, Chapelle Notre-Dame de Pradelles, the Chapel des Penitents, an ancient watchtower (Tour de Rochely) and two medieval gateways into the historic centre. 

Locronan

Locronan, Brittany

Going back almost 2000 years ago when the village was a sacred Celts’ site, Locronan is steeped in history. In the village’s old centre, you can admire traditional well-preserved stone houses, beautiful medieval squares, 15th-century Church of Saint Ronan with a tall bell tower, the stunning ancient Chapelle Notre Dame de Bonne Nouvelle, which has a picturesque pond. There is an interesting Museum of Art and History of Locronan and several charming cafes, restaurants and artisan boutiques.

Church of Saint Hilaire in Semur-en-Brionnais

Semur-en-Brionnais, Burgundy

Despite its size, the village has many architectural treasures: the stunning town hall, Saint-Hugues Priory, an ancient public washhouse (lavoir), many grand townhouses dating back to the 16th-18th centuries. Many visitors come to Semur-en-Brionnais to see the famous 12th century roman-style Church of Saint Hilaire, the remains of the 11th century Chateau de Saint-Hugues and soak up the laid-back atmosphere of this charming village.

Photos via Flickr by: Marc Lacoste, Claude Valette, Holly Hayes.

The International Cheese and Wine Fair in Coulommiers

The French take cheese seriously and organize many festivals in its honour throughout the country. The International Cheese and Wine Fair that takes place every March in the small town of Coulommiers, an hour drive from Paris, is one the most interesting. The event attracts over 60,000 visitors who come to Coulommiers to sample some of the best cheeses from the area sold by 350 farmers and artisan producers.

Coulommiers cheese

Coulommiers cheese is similar to the more famous French classic Brie that is also made in the area. Produced with raw cow’s milk, Coulommiers cheese is matured for 4-8 weeks and has a rich nutty flavour with creamy supple texture. When it is made with pasteurized using industrial method, its taste is more simple and generic, so it is always better to try artisan varieties.

Coulommiers is abuzz during the International Cheese and Wine Fair. You can go to local product tastings, visit a big exhibition of livestock, see various competitions such brie contest or the farm fresh dairy produce contest. One of the most popular events is where the visitors have to guess how much the cow Marguerite weighs, which is open to the public. Contestants submit their guesses and the closest guess wins a prize. 

Coulommiers

The historic town itself is a delightful little gem with medieval buildings, charming cobbled streets decorated with bright flowerpots and romantic tiny cafes. In the Parc des Capucins, you can see ruins of once spectacular château de Gonzagues et de Clèves. The Capucins Museum of Coulommiers tells the town’s history and has a fascinating collection of artefacts from the past. At the top of the town, stands the majestic 12^th-century Commandery of the Knights Templar, one of the best preserved ones of the Ile-de-France region, which takes visitors through the history of the soldier monks.

Photos via Flickr by: Frédéric Bisson, Daniel Marinaud.

Blois: the royal castle and magic Houdin

Take a short train ride from Paris to reach the beautiful town of Blois to admire the famous castle and stunning views of the Loire Valley.

Clustered around the Chateau, Blois is one of the best preserved historic towns in France. As you stroll along the beautiful old streets towards the medieval centre, you can see the stunning noble palaces and churches, charming cafes, tiny artisan shops and restaurants. 

Blois

Once home to a succession of seven kings and ten queens, the magnificent Chateau de Blois is open to the public. The opulent apartments will take you through 400 years of royal life and daily life of the Court. The castle also houses a national museum of fine arts with a collection of sculptures, French and Flemish tapestries and paintings from the 16th – 19th centuries. In summer, the chateau hosts special exhibitions, concerts and events.

Chateau de Blois

Near the castle is another famous attraction - The House of Magic (Maison de la Magie) devoted to the French magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin who is often called the father of modern magic. Born in Blois in 1805, Houdin was famous for his bullet catching trick, the levitation and electromagnetic light and heavy chest illusions. In the museum you can see some of the equipment he used and enjoy daily magic shows in the summer season.

Maison de la Magie

There are many other historic buildings around the castle but make sure to check the Puits Chatel district with its stunning Renaissance town houses, the western part of the city near the Church of Saint Nicolas where once an old abbey stood, the Cathedral of Saint-Louis, Town Hall with its beautiful gardens and Halle aux Grains, where an old market used to be. Walk across the river to admire spectacular views of Blois and the castle and see the lovely Saint-Saturnin Church, once an important pilgrimage site.

On Rue du Commerce you will find some delightful shops selling local delicacies. Blois has a long chocolate making tradition, so make sure to sample at Patissier-chocolatier Stephan Buret or Eric Saguez.

Photos via Flickr by: Niko Kaptur, Jean-Claude MOUTON, Emilio del Prado.