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France

Destination · France

France

Travel guides, landmarks and museums in France: what to see and do.

Guides in France

the Arch of Germanicus at Saintes, Roman and double-bayed, on its square along the Charente

What to see in Saintes: a Roman arch that was moved twenty-eight metres

the two western towers of Jumièges Abbey, roofless, seen across the lawn with a bare tree in front

Monuments & landmarks

Jumièges Abbey: the ruin that survived because somebody bought it

the Pont du Gard seen from downstream, with its three tiers of arches and the dry bed of the Gardon in the foreground

Monuments & landmarks

Pont du Gard: the extraordinary thing is not the height, it is the gradient

the bay of Collioure at blue hour, with the lit seafront, the palm trees and Fort Saint-Elme on the ridge

What to see in Collioure, the port where Fauvism was born

the Maison Carrée in Nîmes seen at three quarters, with the Corinthian columns of the porch and the engaged half-columns along the flank

What to see in Nîmes in a day: a remarkable concentration of Roman monuments

the outer facade of the Arena of Nîmes with its two tiers of arches, seen from the street under the plane trees

Monuments & landmarks

Arena of Nîmes: the best preserved Roman amphitheatre

the towers of the count’s castle in Carcassonne seen from the lices, with their conical slate roofs and the square Tour Pinte behind

What to see in Carcassonne: the Cité, the stained glass of Saint-Nazaire and what you can visit for free

Mont-Saint-Michel seen from across the bay, with the abbey on top of the mount

What to see in France beyond Paris: 12 stops you can reach by train

the stained glass of the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris seen from below, with coloured light filling the upper chapel

Museums & masterpieces

Artworks in Paris: the 9 to really see, instead of the Mona Lisa from a distance

the Basilica of Saint-Denis, one of the churches to visit in Paris

Monuments & landmarks

7 churches to visit in Paris besides Notre-Dame (updated 2026)

The Vieux Bassin, the old harbour of Honfleur in Normandy

What to see in Honfleur in one day, for a tour of Normandy (updated 2026)

Louvre museum Paris France

Museums & masterpieces

How to skip the line at the Louvre and save time to visit Paris (updated 2026)

The abbey of Mont Saint-Michel seen from afar, on its bay in Normandy

Monuments & landmarks

Mont Saint-Michel: the complete guide to visit it in 8 points (updated 2026)

The church of Saint-Pierre in Caen, Normandy

Visit Caen: 7 things to do and see and my tips on where to eat (updated 2026)

notre-dame de paris during the 2019 fire

Monuments & landmarks

Notre-Dame de Paris: 8 things to know about the 2019 fire and the rebirth (updated 2026)

the Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris, avenues and funerary monuments

Monuments & landmarks

Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris: 5 tombs you absolutely must visit and practical info (updated 2026)

The rooftops of Paris seen from the top of Notre-Dame

6 reasons why living abroad is essential (updated 2026)

the eiffel tower in paris seen from below

Monuments & landmarks

The Eiffel Tower in Paris: 7 things to know to visit the symbol of Paris (updated 2026)

the Basilica of Saint-Denis in Paris, Gothic façade

Monuments & landmarks

Off the beaten track in Paris: the royal necropolis of Saint-Denis (updated 2026)

the Japanese garden of Paris, the garden of the Albert-Kahn museum

Monuments & landmarks

The Japanese Garden of Paris: the hidden message among the flowers of the Albert-Kahn museum (updated 2026)

cupid and psyche by canova at the louvre

Museums & masterpieces

Cupid and Psyche by Canova: the story, the myth and the secrets of a Neoclassical masterpiece (updated 2026)

the stained-glass windows of the sainte-chapelle in paris

Monuments & landmarks

Sainte-Chapelle in Paris: the magnificent stained glass of Saint Louis’s shrine (updated 2026)

The Gothic façade of the abbey of Saint-Jean-des-Vignes in Soissons

Monuments & landmarks

What to see outside Paris: the remains of Soissons Abbey (updated 2026)

The towers of Reims cathedral at the end of a city avenue on a winter day

What to see in Reims in one day: the cathedral of the kings of France and the champagne cellars (updated 2026)

a painting on display at the petit palais in paris

Museums & masterpieces

Petit Palais in Paris: the free fine arts museum for everyone (updated 2026)

A square with half-timbered houses in the medieval centre of Troyes

5 very important things to see in Troyes to discover northern France (updated 2026)

Place des Vosges in Paris, the arcades and red-brick pavilions

Monuments & landmarks

What you don’t know about Place des Vosges: one of the most beautiful squares in Paris (updated 2026)

The main square of the medieval town of Provins

5 things to see in Provins, to dive into the Middle Ages near Paris (updated 2026)

gallo-roman museum of lyon

Museums & masterpieces

5 things to see at the Roman Museum of Lyon that will leave you speechless (updated 2026)

Fougères Castle in Brittany with its towers and ramparts

Monuments & landmarks

Fougères Castle: the largest medieval fortress in Europe (updated 2026)

what to see in Montmartre, the Sacré-Cœur basilica on top of the hill

What to see in Montmartre: discovering bohemian Paris (updated 2026)

the Bagatelle rose garden in Paris in full bloom

Monuments & landmarks

The Bagatelle rose garden in Paris, an oasis of wonders and scents (updated 2026)

The canals of the Saint-Leu quarter in Amiens, France

Monuments & landmarks

What to see in Amiens in one day: the "Bible in stone" cathedral and Jules Verne’s city (updated 2026)

The walls and ramparts of Saint-Malo overlooking the ocean

Saint-Malo: what to see and how to reach the corsair city (updated 2026)

The statue of Joan of Arc and the centre of Orléans

What to see in Orléans, France: discovering Joan of Arc (updated 2026)

View of Rouen’s old town with the Gothic cathedral

Monuments & landmarks

What to see in Rouen in one day: cathedral, Joan of Arc and Flamboyant Gothic (updated 2026)

The colourful façades of Vieux Lyon along the Saône, with Saint-Georges church and Fourvière hill

What to do in Lyon: the traboules, Fourvière hill and the city where cinema was born (updated 2026)

tintoretto’s danaë at the museum of fine arts in lyon

Museums & masterpieces

5 works I loved most at the Museum of Fine Arts in Lyon (updated 2026)