Choose from 490 Fun Things to Do in France
Grand Place
The center of Lille, the Grand Place (or, as it's officially called, the Place du Général de Gaulle) is a magnet for tourists and a meeting point for locals. Celebrations, ceremonies, Christmas markets - it all happens here.
The plaza is surrounded by grand buildings in the Belgian style, including the La Vieille Bourse (once the stock exchange, now a peaceful enclave for booksellers and chess players) with its riotous fruit and flower ornamentation.
The focal point of the square is a monument depicting Deesse, the goddess particularly associated with Lille. Her statue commemorates the siege of the city by Austrian troops in the 18th century, and the bravery of the Lillois in refusing to yield their town to the invaders.
The Grand Place is smack in the heart of the old town.
Champagne Pommery
Visitors can tour the network of chalk pits that sits beneath the city of Reims, where more than 20 million bottles of champagne are stored in a natural temperature-controlled environment. Guided tours include a trip around the grounds, a visit to the cellars and a detailed explanation of how this favorite beverage is produced, bottled and distributed.
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Cathedrale Notre Dame de la Treille
The Cathedrale Notre Dame de la Treille takes its name from a 12th-century figure of the Virgin that has been long revered in the city. The cathedral was built by wealthy inhabitants of the city, starting in the late 19th century; building didn't finish until the 1990s! Sadly, the Virgin is no longer inhabiting the cathedral - she was stolen in 1959, and her church now gets by with a replica.
The cathedral features eight chapels in the neo-Gothic style featuring scenes from the lives of Christ, the Virgin and the saints. There's also a towering organ and, unusually, a great deal of 20th-century stained glass, including an asymmetric rose window.
The cathedral is in the northwest of Lille; it's most easily reached by train.
Centre de la Vieille Charite
Designed by Marseillais architect Pierre Puget and constructed between 1671 and 1749, the 3-storey, arcaded courtyard of the Centre de la Vieille Charité wraps around Provence's most imposing Baroque church. Initially built as a charity shelter for the town's poor but it was more like a prison: 17th century France was tough. Chasse-gueux (beggar-hunters) were paid to round up the poor and put them into almshouses which were effectively workhouses. In 1736, the Centre housed 850, by 1760 it was 1059 but by 1781 it was less acceptable to imprison people just for being poor and the number dropped to 250.
Spared during the French Revolution and used as an asylum, the Centre then became a barracks, a soldiers' rest home and, later, low-cost housing for people who lost their homes during WWII, the stunning arched pink-stone courtyard of the Centre de la Vieille Charite now houses Marseille's beautiful Musee d'Archeologie Mediterraneenne and Musee d'Arts Africains, Oceaniens & Amerindiens. The latter houses a diverse and often striking collection, including masks from the Americas, Africa and the Pacific.
Catch the underground train to Joliette.
Bayeux Cathedral (Cathedrale Notre Dame de Bayeux)
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Eglise Notre-Dame des Sablons
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Bay of Arcachon
- The best swimming beaches are those facing the Arcachon Basin, which are known for their calmer waters.
- The big waves of the Atlantic Coast beaches are great for surfing.
- Most towns around the Arcachon Bay follow standard French opening hours. Expect shops to be closed from noon to 2pm and restaurants to be open from noon to 2.30pm for lunch, and from 7pm to 10pm for dinner.
Grand Theatre
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Bayeux Tapestry
- Entry to the Tapestry Museum is by paid ticket.
- Discounts are available for students and seniors.
- Audio guides can be rented at the reception desk.
- The museum is wheelchair accessible.
- Visitors can buy a combined ticket to see other museums in Bayeux.
Grand Trianon
The pink-colonnaded Grand Trianon was built in 1687 by the famous architect Mansart, as a tranquil getaway from court life for Louis XIV.
Setting the benchmark for Italianate garden conservatory design, the elegantly long and low palace of pink marble and porphyry features geometrically ordered rows of columns and windows, topped by a balustrade roof.
The original furnishings were plundered during the Revolution. Today, the palace is furnished in Empire style, reflecting the decoration installed by Napoleon, who was particularly enamored of the building. Surrounding the palace is a lovely flower garden.
While the Grand Trianon is open to the public, it is also an official residence of the French President.
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The Grand Trianon is around 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) northwest of the palace. It’s an easy stroll along Avenue de Trianon from the Bassin de Neptune fountain.
Gourdon
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Eglise St-Trophime
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Beauvais-Till e Airport (BVA)
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Chagall Museum (Mus ee National Marc Chagall)
The main hall contains 12 huge interpretations (1954 - 67) of stories from Genesis and Exodus. In an antechamber, an unusual mosaic of Elijah in his fiery chariot, surrounded by signs of the zodiac, is viewed through a plate-glass window and reflected in a small pond. Five paintings based on the Song of Songs (1960s) form the most startling series, an explosion of passionate red (in contrast to the sea greens, deep purples and blues of the main room) dedicated to his wife Vava.
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Centre Pompidou
- Entry to the Pompidou Centre is by paid ticket.
- Skip the line with a Paris multi-attraction pass.
- Arrange a private tour for more in-depth information about the Pompidou and its collection.
- Entry is free every first Sunday of the month.
- Wheelchairs are available for loan from the visitor’s cloakroom.
- Two of the movie screens are fitted with audio induction loops for those using hearing aids.
Grand Palais
- Avoid bringing luggage or large bags during your visit, as they are prohibited by the venue, even in the cloakroom area.
- The Grand Palais has several main entrances; visitors with reduced mobility should use the entrances at the Avenue du Général Eisenhower or at the Avenue Winston-Churchill.
- The Grand Palais is set to close for extensive renovations from 2020–2024, during which time a temporary venue will open on the Champ de Mars.
Cathedral of Notre Dame
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Baux de Provence
Les Baux-de-Provence is a charming town in the Provence region, and whose name refers to its location: in Provençal, a baou is a rocky spur. Baux-de-Provence has a fantastic position amidst the Alpilles mountains, and is considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in France.
The stunning location is set atop a rocky formation complete with a ruined vast fortress. Baux-de-Provence has a rich history: in the middle ages, Cardinal Richelieu ordered the demolition of the castle because the village housed protestant rebels. The village is also the site where the aluminium ore Bauxite which was first discovered in 1821 by geologist Pierre Berthier, and as such the ore bears its name.
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Nowadays, Baux-de-Provence is mostly a tourist town. However, do not let that detract you from paying the village a visit. It truly is one of the most picturesque locations in Europe. Located about 48 kilometers (30 miles) south of Avignon, this is a-40 minute car trip.
Eiffel Tower
The Basics
The Eiffel Tower's first floor features exhibits, kid-friendly experiences, and the 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant; the second deck includes the Jules Verne Restaurant; and the third-floor summit, accessible via a glass lift, features Gustave Eiffel's private apartments and a Champagne bar. Of course, all levels offer striking 360-degree views of the City of Light.
- Plan your visit in advance and book skip-the-line tickets to avoid long wait times.
- If you purchase an admission ticket for Eiffel Tower summit access, you'll head straight to the top before stopping at the lower levels on your downward journey.
- There are ATMs and souvenir shops on the ground floor.
- The tower's first two levels are wheelchair accessible, but the summit is not.
- You'll be required to undergo a security screening before entering the tower.
Take metro line 6 to stop Bir Hakeim or RER line C to the Champ de Mars station. For better views, take metro line 6 or 9 to stop Trocadero across from the River Seine.
When to Get There
There's no bad time to visit the Eiffel Tower, but summer and the holiday months are especially atmospheric, and night tours afford luminescent panorama views. For a unique experience, coincide your visit with Bastille Day and see the tower illuminated by fireworks.
Unique Eiffel Tower Experiences