Pont du Gard

France

　　The extraordinary three-tiered Pont du Gard was once part of a 50km-long system of channels built around 19 BC to transport water from Uzès to Nîmes. The scale is huge: the bridge is 48.8m high, 275m long and graced with 52 precision-built arches. It was the highest in the Roman...

Hôtel des Invalides

France

　　Flanked by the 500m-long Esplanade des Invalides lawns, Hôtel des Invalides was built in the 1670s by Louis XIV to house 4000 invalides (disabled war veterans). On 14 July 1789, a mob broke into the building and seized 32,000 rifles before heading on to the prison at Bastille and the...

Musée Lumière

France

　　Cinema's glorious beginnings are showcased at the art nouveau home of Antoine Lumière, who moved to Lyon with sons Auguste and Louis in 1870. The brothers shot the first reels of the world's first motion picture, La Sortie des Usines Lumières (Exit of the Lumières Factories) here on 19 March...

Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque

France

　　If you're searching for that classic postcard shot of the medieval abbey surrounded by a sea of purple lavender, look no further. This sublime Cistercian abbey provides one of the most iconic shots of the Luberon, and it's equally popular these days for selfies. The best displays are usually in...

Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges

France

　　Head away from the crowds and into the serene Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges, 3000 sq km of pristine greenery in the western Vosges. In summer, hang-gliders take to the skies, cyclists roll through pristine countryside and walkers can pick from 10,000km of marked paths, including GRs (grandes...

Carnac Alignments

France

　　Predating Stonehenge by around 100 years, the Carnac (Garnag in Breton) area is the world's greatest concentration of megalithic sites, with no fewer than 3000 of these upright stones, erected between 5000 and 3500 BC. One km north of Carnac-Ville a vast array of monoliths form several distinct alignments, all...

Musée de la Lavande

France

　　To get to grips with Provence’s most prestigious crop, this excellent eco-museum makes an ideal first stop. An audioguide and video (in English) explain the lavender harvest, and giant copper stills reveal extraction methods. Afterwards you can take a guided tour of the fields (1pm and 5pm daily May to...

Abbaye du Mont St-Michel

France

　　Mont St-Michel's one main street, the Grande Rue, leads up the slope – past souvenir shops, eateries and a forest of elbows – to the star attraction of a visit here, a stunning ensemble crowning the top: the abbey. 　　HistoryBishop Aubert of Avranches is said to have built a devotional...

Maison des Mégalithes

France

　　The main information point for the Carnac alignments is the Maison des Mégalithes, 1km north of Carnac-Ville, which explores the history of the megalithic sites and has a rooftop viewpoint overlooking the alignements. Sign up for a one-hour guided visit; times vary considerably depending on the time of year but...

Château de Chambord

France

　　If you only have time to visit one château in the Loire, you might as well make it the grandest – and Chambord is the most lavish of them all, and the most visited. It’s a showpiece of Renaissance architecture, from the double-helix staircase up to the turret-covered rooftop. With...

Château de Chenonceau

France

　　Spanning the languid Cher River atop a graceful arched bridge, Chenonceau is one of France's most elegant châteaux. It's hard not to be moved and exhilarated by the glorious setting, the formal gardens, the magic of the architecture and the château's fascinating history, shaped by a series of powerful women....

Cité de l’Espace

France

　　While Toulouse’s deep association with aviation (and Airbus in particular) is well known, this city’s interests go beyond the stratosphere. Since 1997, Cité de l'Espace has brought the wonders of the universe to Toulouse through spectacular full-size models and prototypes, alongside some fascinating exhibitions and interactive exhibits. 　　Though the 52m-high...

Citadel

The Northwest Coast

　　Constructed on the rocky headland during the 16th century, the imposing military fortress that adjoins old Ajaccio still belongs to the army. It has been vacant for years, but remains off limits to visitors, so you can only admire its stout walls and deep grassy moat from outside. ...

Chapelle Impériale

The Northwest Coast

　　The crypt of the imperial chapel, across the courtyard from the Palais Fesch, holds the tombs of Napoléon's parents and several other relatives. Don't expect to find the man himself, though – he’s buried in Les Invalides in Paris. The chapel is open in summer only; to visit, buy a...

Cathédrale Ste-Marie

The Northwest Coast

　　Surprisingly small but in a commanding position facing out to sea, Ajaccio’s ochre-coloured cathedral dates from the 16th century. As well as a depiction of the Virgin of the Sacred Heart by Eugène Delacroix (1798–1863), it claims to contain Napoléon’s baptismal font, though some historians dispute that he was baptised...

Plage de Porticcio

The Northwest Coast

　　Dedicated beach bums generally prefer the sands of Porticcio to Ajaccio's busy city beaches. It’s 15km by road around the bay from Ajaccio, or 6km straight across the water, a route served by a 20-minute ferry six to nine times daily. ...

Palais Fesch – Musée des Beaux-Arts

The Northwest Coast

　　Established by Napoléon’s uncle, cardinal Joseph Fesch (1763–1839), Ajaccio’s superb art museum holds the largest French collection of Italian paintings outside the Louvre. Masterpieces by Titian, Fra Bartolomeo, Veronese, Bellini and Botticelli – look out for his Vierge à l’Enfant Soutenu par un Ange (Mother and Child Supported by an...

Maison Bonaparte

The Northwest Coast

　　Unremarkable from the outside, the old-town house where Napoléon was born and spent his first nine years was ransacked by Corsican nationalists in 1793, requisitioned by English troops from 1794 to 1796, and eventually rebuilt by his mother. It’s now preserved as a museum, filled with interesting displays and memorabilia...

Pagode de Chanteloup

Touraine

　　Three kilometres south of Amboise, this seven-storey, vaguely Asian 'pagoda' (44m) was built between 1775 and 1778, when blending classical French architecture and Chinese motifs was all the rage. Clamber to the top for glorious views. From May to September, picnic baskets (adult/child €12.50/7) are available, and you can rent...

Château Royal d’Amboise

Touraine

　　Perched atop a rocky escarpment above town, Amboise's castle was a favoured retreat for all of France's Valois and Bourbon kings. Only a few of the château's original structures survive, but you can still visit the furnished Logis (Lodge) – Gothic except for the top half of one wing, which...

Le Clos Lucé

Touraine

　　It was at the invitation of François I that Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), aged 64, took up residence in this grand manor house, built in 1471. An admirer of the Italian Renaissance, the French monarch named Da Vinci 'first painter, engineer and king's architect', and the Italian spent his time...

Château Gaillard

Touraine

　　The most exciting Loire château to open to visitors in years, Gaillard is the earliest expression of the Italian Renaissance in France. Begun in 1496, the château was inspired by the refined living that Charles VIII fell in love with during his Italian campaign. The harmonious, Renaissance-style gardens were laid...

Joan of Arc Statue

Orléanais

　　Depicting St Joan atop a prancing steed, this huge bronze statue (1855) by Denis Foyatier is in the centre of place du Martroi. ...

Maison de Jeanne d’Arc

Orléanais

　　An excellent 15-minute film (in French or English) tracing Joan of Arc's origins, accomplishments and historical impact is the main attraction at the Maison de Jeanne d'Arc, a 1960s reconstruction of the 15th-century house that hosted her between April and May 1429 (the original was destroyed by German bombing in...

Place du Martroi

Orléanais

　　In the centre of Orléans' main square, a bronze statue (1855) depicts Joan of Arc atop a prancing steed; nearby there's a carousel (merry-go-round). A food market sets up here on Friday evening from about 4pm to 10pm. ...

Musée d'Histoire et d'Archéologie

Orléanais

　　The centrepiece of this history museum, in the Renaissance-style Hôtel Cabu, is an extraordinary collection of Celtic and Gallo-Roman bronzes, recovered from the Loire’s sandy bottom. Our favourites: an almost-life-size horse and wild boar. Another room is dedicated to rare Orléans-made porcelain from the 18th and 19th centuries. Plasticised sheets...

Hôtel Groslot

Orléanais

　　The Renaissance-style Hôtel Groslot was built between 1530 and 1550 as a private mansion for lawyer and bailiff Jacques Groslot; it became Orléans’ city hall during the Revolution. The neo-Renaissance interior decor (1850s) is extravagant, especially the ornate bedroom – now used for weddings – in which 17-year-old François II...

CERCIL – Musée-Mémorial des Enfants du Vel d'Hiv

Orléanais

　　Between 1941 and 1943, more than 16,000 Jews were interned in two camps about 50km northeast of Orléans, Beaune-la-Rolande and Pithiviers. The adults were deported first, and only after authorisation had arrived from Berlin were 4400 parent-less, terrified children loaded onto trains and sent to Auschwitz and Sobibor; only 26,...

Musée des Beaux-Arts

Orléanais

　　Orléans’ five-level fine-arts museum is a treat, with an excellent collection of Italian, Flemish and Dutch paintings (including works by Correggio, Velázquez and Bruegel) as well as a huge collection of work by French artists such as Léon Cogniet (1794–1880), Orléans-born Alexandre Antigna (1817–78) and Paul Gauguin (1848–1903), who spent...

Cathédrale Ste-Croix

Orléanais

　　In a country of jaw-dropping churches, Gothic-style Cathédrale Ste-Croix still raises a gasp. Originally built in the 13th century, it underwent tinkering by successive monarchs after being partly destroyed by Protestants in 1568. Joan of Arc prayed here on 8 May 1429 and was greeted with a procession of thanks...

Tour Blondeau

Côte d'Or

　　Dating to 1465, this tower is a prominent landmark along Beaune's eastern ramparts. ...

Grosse Tour

Côte d'Or

　　This massive early-16th-century tower is a prominent landmark along Beaune's southern ramparts. ...

Basilique Collégiale Notre Dame

Côte d'Or

　　Built in Romanesque and Gothic styles from the 11th to 15th centuries, this church was once affiliated with the monastery of Cluny. It's notable for its extra-large porch and the five 15th-century tapestries displayed inside, accessible by a €3 guided tour between April and mid-November (schedules available at tourist office)....

Moutarderie Fallot

Côte d'Or

　　In business since 1840, Burgundy's last family-run stone-ground-mustard company offers guided tours through its mustard museum, focusing on mustard's history, folklore and traditional production techniques, with kid-friendly opportunities for hand-milling mustard seeds. Another tour focuses on Fallot's modern mustard-production facility. Reserve tours ahead at Beaune's tourist office. Drop-ins can sample...

Maison des Climats

Côte d'Or

　　Opened in 2017 to celebrate the two-year anniversary of Unesco's recognition of Burgundy's vineyards as a World Heritage Site, this free interpretive centre adjacent to the tourist office is a must-see for anyone interested in French wine. Exhibits include a 25-minute film, a wealth of bilingual educational displays focused on...

Hôtel-Dieu des Hospices de Beaune

Côte d'Or

　　Built in 1443, this magnificent Gothic hospital (until 1971) is famously topped by stunning turrets and pitched rooftops covered in multicoloured tiles. Interior highlights include the barrel-vaulted Grande Salle (look for the dragons and peasant heads up on the roof beams); the mural-covered St-Hughes Room; an 18th-century pharmacy lined with...

Hôtel de Ville

Besançon

　　Dating in its earliest parts from the late 14th century and later decorated with Italian Renaissance-style flourishes, Besançon's town hall was gutted by fire after an arson attack in 2015. Restoration work was due to be completed in July 2018; ask about visits at the tourist office. ...

Cathédrale St-Jean

Besançon

　　The earliest parts of Besançon's cathedral date to 1127. Though heavily modified in ensuing centuries, following a 13th-century fire and the collapse of its bell tower in 1724, Romanesque capitals still sit atop its interior columns. On the wall hangs La Vierge aux Saints (1512), painted by Italian Renaissance virtuoso...

Maison Natale de Victor Hugo

Besançon

　　This spiffy museum gives an engaging account of the life and works of Besançon's best-known literary son, Victor Hugo, famous for masterpieces such as Les Misérables and Notre-Dame de Paris (The Hunchback of Notre Dame). 　　Hugo was born in this building in 1802. Today its three floors are filled with...

Porte Noire

Besançon

　　Erected in AD 175 in honour of Marcus Aurelius, this 16.5m-high Roman triumphal arch stands very near where the columns of a Roman theatre and the vestiges of an aqueduct (all still visible) were discovered in the late 19th-century. 　　The site, which attests to the importance of Besançon as a...

Horloge Astronomique

Besançon

　　The base of 18th-century Cathédrale St-Jean's bell tower houses an incredible astronomical clock, powered by 11 weights, that has run the church's bells since its installation in 1860. The ornate gadget has 30,000 moving parts and 57 clock faces and, among other things, tells the time in 16 places around...

Musée des Beaux-Arts et d’Archéologie

Besançon

　　France's oldest public museum, founded in 1694, is famous for its stellar collection of local Gallo-Roman archaeology; its Cabinet des Dessins, with some 6000 drawings from the 15th to 20th centuries, including masterpieces by Dürer, Delacroix and Rodin; and its 14th- to 20th-century paintings, with standouts by Titian, Rubens, Goya...

Musée du Temps

Besançon

　　Literal and figurative interpretations of time are woven together at the Musée du Temps, which places allegorical paintings about the passage of time next to 18th-century wall clocks and early astronomical equipment. The result is beautifully thought-provoking, and the philosophical questions it raises are best pondered while gazing out from...

Citadelle de Besançon

Besançon

　　Dominating the city from Mt St-Etienne, more than 100 vertical metres above the old town, the 17th-century Citadelle de Besançon – designed by Vauban for Louis XIV – commands sweeping views of the city and the serpentine Doubs River. Along with 11 other similarly impressive military architectural sites, the 12-hectare...

Église St-Pierre-aux-Nonnains

Metz

　　Originally built around AD380 as part of a Gallo-Roman spa complex, Église St-Pierre-aux-Nonnains is a fine example of a pre-medieval basilica, tracing almost 2000 years of history. Now a cultural centre, it can only be admired from the outside. ...