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France is the third-largest country in Europe; it occupies a central place in the Western hemisphere that has helped shape geopolitics, culture, and history for many centuries. Therefore, it is little surprise that France is the most visited country in the world for multiple years in a row with over 90 million tourists visiting the country every single year, with this figure constantly rising.
In this article, we are going to be telling you about the most popular attractions in France that are worth considering if you are going to be visiting this beautiful and diverse country. France has so many great landmarks to visit, just make sure to read up on some travel Itineraries before you depart.
Promenade des Anglais.
If you happen to embark on a trip to Nice then we recommend that you visit the Promenade des Anglais. This popular tourist destination is a pedestrian path by the Mediterranean Sea that stretches for a total of 7 kilometers from the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport and the United States Quay as it is known in English.
It is an iconic feature of the city of Nice, which was built in the 18th century following a suggestion by English aristocrats about a walkway by the beach. The promenade is the prime location for visitors and locals of the city to relax and enjoy the lovely panoramic view, additionally, if you ever get hot the beach is just a one-minute walk away allowing you to cool off with ease.
Eiffel Tower.
The Eiffel Tower is one of the symbols of France; it will be one of the first things that people equate with the country. The structure was a feat of human ingenuity when it was completed in 1889, with the Eiffel Tower being one of the tallest buildings in the world for close to half a century.
The 324-meter tall structure is open to the public to visit and get all the way to the top using an elevator. Once you get to the very top, you are able to view large swaths of Paris from the very top of the viewing deck.
Moreover, there are multiple places to eat on the Eiffel Tower, including a one-star Michelin restaurant, a buffet restaurant as well as a champagne bar.
Louvre Museum.
Art is something that everyone can enjoy and appreciate, and there is no better place to do this than the Louvre Museum which is the world’s largest art museum. The museum exhibits art from all the different periods of history from prehistoric to contemporary.
The museum is located inside of the Louvre Palace that was originally constructed in the 13th century. Since 1793, the palace was designated as a museum following the French Revolution that deposed the French monarchy. One of the best-known features of the museum is the glass period known as the Louvre Pyramid which was completed much later in 1989.
Arc de Triomphe.
Furthermore, there is the Arc de Triomphe which is located in Paris and is one of France’s most famous monuments. It was completed in 1836 following a total construction period of 30 years. The monument was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in order to celebrate the victory of the Battle of Austerlitz.
For over one hundred years, it was the tallest victory arch in the world until 1938 when the triumphant arch in Mexico City was finished. To this day it remains the second-largest triumphant arch in the world.
It is a popular tourist attraction thanks to its place in history during a period of time when France dominated the world which is illustrated well by the pure grandeur of this victory monument.
Palace of Versailles.
Moreover, you have the Palace of Versailles which was the official residence of the French monarchy from 1662 to 1789 when the monarch was overthrown during the French Revolution. The palace is a great example of the lavish luxury that the House of Bourbon enjoyed throughout their rule.
Today the palace can be explored by everyday people for just a small fee. It is truly a once in a lifetime experience to see for yourself how one of the world’s richest and most powerful families at the time lived in one of Europe’s biggest palaces that was built to impress and show off the power of the rulers.
The French Alps.
Another one of the most popular attractions in France is the French Alps which is the portion of the Alps that is located within French territory. The tallest peak of the French Alps is Mont Blanc which stands at 4,808 meters making it the highest mountain in all of the Alps as well as Western Europe.
The French Alps are home to a large number of ski resorts that allow you to relax as well as have some fun by getting involved in sporty activities such as skiing and snowboarding. One of the largest of these ski resorts Les Trois Vallées which attracts hundreds of thousands of people at a time and is home to a large number of state-of-the-art infrastructure including 183 ski lifts.
Old Port of Marseille.
A great place for history buffs to visit is the Old Port of Marseille. According to historians and archaeologists, the port was first constructed in 600 BC by Greek settlers who during that period of time were founding colonies all over the Mediterranean.
Since that time the old port has been a major center of sea commerce that has been controlled by many nations such as the Romans, the Visigoths, and the County of Provence. At the Old Port of Marseille, you can explore the different architecture that has been left behind by the different cultures that occupied that part of the city of Marseille.
Cathedrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg.
The Cathedrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg, also known simply as the Strasbourg Cathedral is one of France’s largest places of worship. It was built in 1015 and finally completed in 1439 in a Romanesque and also Gothic architectural style.
For over 227 years from 1647 to 1874, it was the tallest building in the world, and to this day the cathedral is the sixth tallest cathedral in the world and the second tallest in France.
A major attraction in the cathedral is the astronomical clock that was in working operation in 1843, the clock includes figures such as angels and saints that move automatically during the day. It is one of the largest astronomical clocks in the entire world. The cathedral has a long history of hosting a clock; in fact, the first clock was installed in the Strasbourg Cathedral during 1352 and 1354 AD.
Dune of Pilat.
A natural wonder located in France that few people know about is the Dune of Pilat which is the largest sand dune in all of Europe. Located in the department of Gironde in the Southwest of France on the Atlantic Ocean. The Dune of Pilat runs parallel to the ocean which makes it a popular location to climb up in order to be able to view the beauty of surrounding horizons such as the sea and the forest that hugs the dune.
Thanks to this it is also a popular destination for paragliders who launch off the top of the dune and gracefully glide down to the bottom and back again. It is estimated that one million people visit the Dune of Pilat every single year.
Lascaux.
Finally, in this article about the most popular attractions in France we are going to tell you about what is known as the Lascaux. The Lascaux is a system of caves that are covered in prehistoric art of animals and people. There are believed to be over 600 cave paintings, the oldest of which are over 17,000 years old.
Since 1979, Lascaux has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its importance in the world as a place of history and an example of early human creativity. The paintings are well-preserved thanks to the cool environment in the cave that protects the art from the elements.
Guided tours are available throughout the year, however, only a limited number of people are allowed per day in order to limit moisture and prevent the growth of mold on the cave walls which can damage the priceless art. This helps to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy this prehistoric art to the fullest.
