Travelers in France are always drawn to the mainstream attractions like Nice, Avignon, and of course, Paris. However, France has a lot more to offer than just the Eiffel Tower, Le Louvre, and the beaches in Nice. While Paris deserves a must visit, many attractions in France are overshadowed by this most visited city in the world. Peaks, Massifs, Oceans, Lakes, Waterfalls, Islands, there are thousands of landscapes, each just as magnificent as the next, just waiting to be discovered. Thus, I decided to write this article to share some breathtaking places in France.
Passage du Gois : The Road That Disappears Twice A Day
This place is at the top of my to-go list for 2020 and I will visit it as soon as I have some information on renting a car or I find a friend who has one.
The Passage du Gois is a natural passage with a length of 4.3 km, located on the Atlantic coast of France connecting the mainland to the island of Noirmoutier. This passage is flooded twice a day by high tide. Take an inflatable boat to drive this 4.3 mile road because for some crazy reason you mix up the tide times, and then – like some vehicles in the past – you might disappear under the salt brine. Located on the Atlantic coast of France, the road is flooded twice a day with rising tides and as the tides go out, slippery seaweed is left everywhere.
Mont Saint Michel : The Real Life Hogwarts
Le Mont-Saint-Michel is a village in the Manche department in the Normandy region. Only inhabited by 30 Montois (2017), the town is known by the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel which rises on a rocky islet. The site has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979.
I visited Mont Saint Michel twice in 2019 and was mesmerized by its beauty. There are bunch of things to do such as trying the famous crepes, watching the 3d show about its history, an artifacts museum, seeing the houses that dates back to 1100s etc. One can a also book a hotel to stay for a few nights, it might be expensive though.
Chamonix – Mont Blanc : The Most Famous Ski Destination In Europe.
One of nature’s most spectacular sights, Mont-Blanc is the highest peak of the Alps. Mont Blanc reaches an altitude of 4,810 meters, so high that it is always covered in snow-explaining why it’s called the “White Mountain.”
There is so much to do and to see in Chamonix – Mont Blanc that even though I visited Chamonix in 2019, I only saw half of it.
Saint Malo and Dinard : The Highest Tides In Europe
Boasting a superb location in Brittany, on the border with Normandy and just a stone’s throw from Mont Saint-Michel, Saint-Malo is also the gateway to the Channel Islands and the south coast of England.
If sandy beaches are your thing, then you’ve come to the right place. Provided that the weather is good (it’s worth noting that it rains quite a bit in this part of France- there’s a reason those rolling hills are so green!), then spending the day exploring the golden beaches of Saint-Malo is an absolute must. In 2018, Saint Malo was named the nicest beach in France. Vive la bretagne vive les bretons! I just love this region of France.
Golfe Du Morbihan – Home To 42 Islands
The Gulf of Morbihan is home to 42 islands, Île aux Moines being the most well-known. To visit Morbihan is to discover another Brittany. Each Breton department is unique, I am always surprised by the diversity of the landscapes and characters of the region. Happiness for travelers, an endless source of joy. Morbihan has a multitude of places of interest, it is a destination that is sometimes gentle, sometimes tumultuous, with its coasts, its famous gulf, its islands, but also its towns and inland areas too often forgotten.
Impossible to spend a holiday in Morbihan without a historical break. If Stonehenge is undoubtedly the most famous, Carnac is the most concentrated megalithic sanctuary in the world! So, during your stay in Morbihan, do discover the alignments of Carnac.
St Tropez : The go-to destination for celebs
The very idea of Saint-Tropez is enough to make you dream. For many travelers, the dazzling city of St Tropez is synonymous with celebrities, glamour, exclusive clubs, yachts, etc. The city simply has it all. The city is still a go-to destination for celebrities and lovers of the sea, sand, history, art, and French heritage. Just like Brigitte Bardot, Pablo Picasso, Alain Delon, and countless other famous figures, discover the enchantments of this port city. Compared with other cities on the Cote d’Azur like Nice and Marseille, St Tropez is small but is located inside the shoreline. As such, it is a secluded destination any summer tourist will want to visit.
The city is famous for its beaches and it has a lot of them. The most well-known and loved is Pampelonne. In the 1950s, an unknown Brigitte Bardot arrived to film a movie with her then-husband, Roger Vadim. The film wasn’t a commercial or critical success but it brought her and the town to prominence and forever became associated with cool, arty, independent and hedonistic living. People also love Tahiti Beach (where clothing is “optional”) or Nikki beach (all in the same bay). I am still going to try Naturism in Cap D’agde, well that’s another story I’ll write as soon as I experience it.
