Sénanque Abbey, Provence
The seemingly endless stretches of lavender make Provence one of the prettiest (and best-smelling) places in France. One of the most scenic spots to enjoy the flower fields is Sénanque Abbey, a 12th-century church near the village of Gordes. The gentle heather-gray color of the abbey looks custom-made for its surroundings, particularly in June and July when the acres around it bloom into a sea of purple.
Lac D’Annecy, Haute-Savoie
Fed by alpine streams and a deep water spring near the town of Annecy, Lac D’Annecy—roughly 30 miles from the Swiss city of Geneva- is among Europe’s most pristine secret lakes. The site is ideal for hiking and swimming, even though the water barely pushes the 25 degrees C mark at the height of summer.
Gardens of Marqueyssac, Dordogne
The famous Gardens of Marqueyssac make up one of the most stunning landscapes in France—and the world. The 150,000 bubbly boxwood trees and hedges wrap around a 17th-century chateau that overlooks the Dordogne Valley. The entire vista looks like an illustration from a Perrault fairytale.
Château de Chambord, Loire Valley
While it’s not one of the best-known French palaces, Château de Chambord is certainly one of the loveliest. Located inside a wooded park in the Loire Valley, the majestic building brings plenty of drama to the landscape—and that’s before you have a chance to see the swirled staircase, intricate ceilings, and 17th- and 18th-century furnishings on the inside.
Cliffs of Étretat, Normandy
Located along France’s Alabaster Coast, the pebble beach of Étretat is popular among sailors and surfers. But most visitors come to this stretch of coast in Upper Normandy for one reason: The famous chalk cliffs and arched rock formations. At various points along Étretat’s 80-mile stretch, you’ll find natural sculptures that have inspired travelers and artists (most notably Claude Monet) for ages.
Paris
Yep, the whole darn city. the idea of a long, aimless stroll taken simply to soak up the scenery seems utterly French. And in Paris, there’s always something to stroll past. Walk the Promenade Plantee, considered the World’s First Elevated Park, stock up on cheese and wine for a picnic in Luxembourg Gardens, and end the day watching the sunset behind the Eiffel Tower.
Champagne-Ardenne
As its name suggests, Champagne-Ardenne is the birthplace of bubbly and one of the most beautiful regions in France. The area is covered with idyllic valleys and vineyards, of course, but also ancient castles, chateaus, and abbeys. Make sure to visit the capital city of Troyes for splendid churches from the Middle Ages, and Reims for underground wine cellars and the masterpiece Cathedrale Notre-Dame.
Strasbourg Cathedral, Alsace
Strasbourg’s Gothic cathedral is sometimes known as “The Pink Cathedral” for its trademark color, which comes from the reddish sandstone used to build it. Although the original plans called for a pair of spires on top of the church, only one was built, giving the building a unique, somewhat mysterious look.
Côte de Granit Rose, Brittany
Perhaps nowhere in north-western Brittany is quite as breathtaking as the Côte de Granit Rose (or the Pink Granite Coast), a coastline dotted with spectacular granite rock formations. The geology ranges from massive rose gold boulders to eroded pink sand, all contrasting beautifully against the grey foam of the sea.
Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy
Rising up from vast sandbanks and powerful tides, the rocky island of Mont Saint-Michel gives off an otherworldly appearance in its position off France’s northwestern coast in Normandy. A small medieval village, complete with winding streets and tiny houses, sits on the island, but the crown jewel is undoubtedly the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel. The incredible abbey was built in 708 A.D. and was the inspiration behind the castle in Disney’s Tangled.
Colmar, Alsace
Walt Disney would surely approve of Colmar, with its timber-framed houses, colorful facades, and flower-lined canal. The commune is a delight to take in, whether it’s strolling the cobblestoned streets or taking a canoe trip down the water. Along with Kayersberg and Strasbourg, this provincial town is a trademark of the beautiful and charming Alsace region, located in northeastern France near Germany and Switzerland.
Gorges du Verdon
Gorge du Verdon is often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of France.” And although it might be smaller than its American counterpart, it certainly doesn’t fall short in terms of beauty. The 2,300-feet-deep valley was formed by the Alpine Verdon River, a dazzling turquoise stream that flows into the artificial Lac de Sainte-Croix. Hiking and horseback riding trails weave throughout the vertical limestone cliffs, connecting tiny villages and offering once-in-a-lifetime views.
Rocamadour, Dordogne
We’re big fans of hilltop towns in general, but Rocamadour stands out with its spectacular views over the Alzou canyon. The one-street town (pop. 626) is known for its cliffside collection of religious buildings, including Chapelle Notre Dame with its famous Black Madonna statue.
Palace of Versailles
An enduring symbol of the pinnacle of luxury, Louis XIV’s 18th-century residence is one of the more impressive combined displays of art, architecture, interior design, and landscaping in the world. It houses a sumptuously decorated chapel and a full opera house. Don’t miss the queen’s bedchambers, a masterpiece of over-the-top-ness; the legendary Hall of Mirrors, still used by the French government today to receive heads of state; or the three square miles of gardens.
Menton, French Riviera
The town of Menton has all the beauty of the Cote d’Azur ‘s better-known coastal cities (see: Marseille, Nice), but a fraction of the crowds. With over 316 days of sunshine a year, exceptional gardens, boutique-filled alleyways, and quality Italian cuisine due to its position on the Franco-Italian border, it’s an ideal spot for a day trip.
Corsica
Located between France and Italy, the island of Corsica feels like it belongs in two nations at once. Although it’s best known as Napoleon’s birthplace, the island is worth visiting for its stunning protected nature areas. At Porto-Vecchio, on the southern coast facing Italy and the Tyrrhenian Sea, visit Palombaggia Beach for clear water, pink-tinted sand, and gentle afternoon breezes.
Château de Chenonceau, Loire Valley
The entire Loire Valley is a treasure trove of beautiful castles, but Château de Chenonceau easily rises to the top of the pack—both in terms of beauty and popularity. The current château was built on top of an old mill starting in 1514, while the trademark bridge and gallery were added about 60 years later. Today, the river-spanning structure and surrounding gardens are one of the most-visited attractions in the entire country.
Canal du Midi, Occitanie
Canal du Midi is a tree-lined, 150-mile-long waterway running from the city of Toulouse down to the Mediterranean. While you can certainly admire the canal’s beauty from the shores, we recommend taking in the views from the polished teak deck of a river barge. You can’t do much better than Belmond Afloat in France, a series of seven boats available for charter—complete with heated pools and king-sized beds.
Mont Blanc, Chamonix
The roof of Western Europe is the birthplace of alpinism and home to one of today’s most vibrant mountain sports communities, so it’s a given that Mont Blanc and it’s subsidiary peaks needn’t bow to any mountains, anywhere. It’s needle-like, Gothically-drawn skyline is the kind that inspires poets and painters.
Giverny
Giverny is a small village on the border of Normandy most famous for being the site of Claude Monet’s cherished riverside house and garden, both of which are open to the public today. The pastel pink house is pretty as a picture, with spring green shutters and ivy crawling up every surface. And the gardens are like an impressionist painting come to life, with water lilies, weeping willows, wisterias, and the famous green Japanese bridge.
Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Park
One of Europe’s largest regional parks, the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Park consists of a cluster of around 80 dormant volcanoes. Take the cable car up to Puy de Sancy, the highest mountain in the park, for an easy (but still breathtaking) 2.5-mile ridge hike.
Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct), Occitanie
An ancient Roman aqueduct that crosses the Gardon River in southern France, Pont du Gard was built in the first century A.D. and named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. The structure carries water 31 miles to Nîmes and stands 160 feet high on three levels, making it a technical—as well as artistic—masterpiece.