France

France is the most visited country on earth, and its range explains why: Atlantic surf and Mediterranean calanques, Alpine and Pyrenean high country, Gothic cathedrals, Loire châteaux and prehistoric cave art. Paris anchors it, but the regions each keep their own kitchen, dialect and landscape. High-speed trains make even distant corners a half-day away.

Capital

Paris

Population

68M

Area

643,801 km²

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Language

French

Time zone

CET (UTC+1) / CEST (UTC+2)

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  01

  Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

  majestic mountains, lakes, cities

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  02

  Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

  wine, history, natural beauty

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  03

  Brittany

  rugged coast, Celtic charm

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  04

  Centre-Val de Loire

  châteaux, Loire River, history

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  05

  Corsica

  rugged island, beaches, mountains

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  06

  Grand Est

  wine, history, charming towns

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  07

  Hauts-de-France

  WWI history, charming cities

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  08

  Île-de-France

  iconic landmarks, culture, history

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  09

  Normandy

  D-Day history, picturesque coast

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  10

  Nouvelle-Aquitaine

  wine, beaches, prehistory

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  11

  Occitanie

  South, history, vibrant cities

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  12

  Pays de la Loire

  châteaux, Atlantic coast, gardens

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  13

  Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

  sunshine, coast, lavender fields

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  Nature

  9th arrondissement of Lyon

  The 9th arrondissement of Lyon is one of the nine arrondissements of the City of Lyon. It covers the northwestern quarters Vaise, Gorge de Loup, Saint-Rambert-l'Île-Barbe, La Duchère and part of Champvert.

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  Monastery

  Abbey of Saint-Pierre-les-Nonnains

  The Abbey of Saint-Pierre-les-Nonnains in Lyon, also known as the Abbey of the Dames de Saint-Pierre or simply Palais Saint-Pierre, is an ancient Catholic religious edifice that housed Benedictine nuns from the 10th century onwards, and was rebuilt in the 17th century. Closed during the French Revolution, the former ab

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  Museum

  Abode of Chaos

  The Abode of Chaos is a contemporary art museum located in Saint-Romain-au-Mont-d'Or, a small town in the vicinity of Lyon, France, with over 2,500 works from many different artists, including the owner Thierry Ehrmann. Ehrmann is the founder and CEO of Groupe Serveur and Artprice.com, both of which are headquartered a

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  Museum

  African Museum of Lyon

  The African Museum of Lyon is the oldest museum in France dedicated to Africa and African art, and one of the oldest museums in Lyon. The collections specialise in West African objects.

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  City

  Aiguilhe

  Aiguilhe is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France. Aiguilhe is close to Le Puy-en-Velay, and famous for the Saint Michel chapel.

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  Mountain

  Aiguille de Rochefort

  The Aiguille de Rochefort (4,001 m) is a mountain in the Mont Blanc massif in France and Italy. The peak lies on the Rochefort arête between the Dent du Géant and the Grandes Jorasses and is usually climbed during a traverse of the ridge.

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  Mountain

  Aiguille de Toule

  The Aiguille de Toule (3,534 metres (11,594 ft)) is a mountain peak in the Mont Blanc massif of the Alps. Its summit is one of a number which form part of the mountainous frontier ridge between France and Italy which descends eastwards from Mont Blanc and continues towards the Grandes Jorasses and Mont Dolent.

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  Mountain

  Aiguille du Belvédère

  Aiguille du Belvédère is a mountain of Haute-Savoie, France. It is the highest peak in the Aiguilles Rouges range of the French Prealps and has an altitude of 2,965 metres (9,728 ft) above sea level.

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  Mountain

  Aiguille du Dru

  The Aiguille du Dru (also the Dru or the Drus; French, Les Drus) is a mountain in the Mont Blanc massif in the French Alps. It is situated to the east of the village of Les Praz in the Chamonix valley.

• Paris

  The Louvre, the Seine, Haussmann boulevards and the Eiffel Tower.

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• Lyon

  Renaissance traboules and France's most serious food city.

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• Marseille

  Mediterranean port framed by the Calanques.

• Bordeaux

  Golden 18th-century riverfront amid the vineyards.

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• Strasbourg

  Half-timbered Petite France under a pink sandstone cathedral.

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• Nice

  Promenade des Anglais and the old town of the Côte d'Azur.

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• Écrins

  Glaciated high alpine park south of Grenoble.

• Vanoise

  France's first national park, ibex country beside Italy's Gran Paradiso.

• Mercantour

  Wolf territory and Bronze Age rock carvings above Nice.

• Pyrénées

  Cirque de Gavarnie and high border ridges.

• Calanques

  Limestone inlets between Marseille and Cassis.

• Cévennes

  Chestnut ridges and shepherds' trails in the Massif Central.

• Plage de Pampelonne, Saint-Tropez

  The Riviera's most famous 5 km of sand.

• Dune du Pilat

  Europe's tallest dune above the Atlantic near Arcachon.

• Étretat

  Chalk arches and needle rock on the Normandy coast.

• Plage de Palombaggia, Corsica

  Pines, red rocks and clear shallows.

• Biarritz

  Basque surf beaches below a belle-époque resort.

• Mont Blanc

  Western Europe's highest summit, 4,806 m, above Chamonix.

• Pyrenees

  The Spanish border range, from Atlantic green to arid east.

• Vosges

  Rounded forest ballons above the Alsace wine road.

• Puy de Dôme

  Volcanic cone at the heart of the Auvergne chain.

• Verdon Gorge

  Europe's deepest canyon, turquoise 700 m below the rim.

• Boeuf bourguignon

  Beef slow-braised in red wine with lardons and mushrooms.

• Bouillabaisse

  Marseille's saffron fish stew, served with rouille and croutons.

• Cassoulet

  Languedoc bean casserole with duck confit and sausage.

• Crêpes and galettes

  Breton wheat and buckwheat pancakes, sweet or savoury.

• Cheese course

  Over 1,000 varieties — Comté, Roquefort, Camembert, Reblochon.

• Tarte Tatin

  Upside-down caramelised apple tart from the Loire.

• 01

  TGV tickets are cheapest months ahead; Ouigo fares are the budget tier.

• 02

  Most restaurants serve lunch 12:00–14:00 and dinner from 19:30 — little in between.

• 03

  Museums are typically closed on Monday or Tuesday; check before you go.

• 04

  Service is included; rounding up is enough.

• 05

  August empties the cities and fills the coasts — plan around it.