France is full of cities with excellent tourist attractions. Museums, impressive churches, charming neighborhoods, excellent restaurants, bustling cafes, interesting boutiques and beautiful gardens are just part of its attractions. These places to visit are so numerous that tourists have to dedicate many days to see them all. A week might be enough to visit Paris, Nice or Lyon, but there are also other cities that are worth seeing and exploring.
French cities stand out for their attractions and even for the culture that characterizes them, each exhibiting a different cultural heritage. Nice is a city where Italian influences have thrived, Strasbourg, in the east of France, is famous for its German-style cuisine, while Lille, in the north of France, has drawn inspiration from the Flemish architecture of its Belgian neighbours.
Paris
With over 45 million visitors a year, Paris is one of the busiest tourist destinations in the world. This city, also famous as the city of lovers, has gone through four revolutions, 18 reigns of Louis and two periods of foreign occupation.
Many Parisians are incredibly proud of their Parisianness. Perhaps surprisingly, approximately 2.2 million Parisian residents declare with great pride that they are Parisians. It may seem strange, but the Eiffel Tower is a movie star, starring in 65 films as a symbol of the French lifestyle.
About 20% of Paris’ inhabitants are immigrants from all over the world, making this city one of the largest multi-ethnic centers in Europe. The art, culture, music, fashion and even food in this city draws inspiration from different ethnicities. Each neighborhood in Paris has distinct traits resulting from the different cultures of its inhabitants. Zones 5, 6 and 7 of Paris are full of vitality and creativity, while zones 18, 19 and 20 are darker and more atmospheric.
A week, a month or even a year may not be enough to discover all the treasures of Paris. It may take years to fully appreciate all the wonders of Paris. In all historical, architectural and cultural fields, there is something in Paris that captures the attention. Paris is a city rich in history and love stories.
This city has a special charm that envelops you as you stroll along the river, through the medieval cobbled streets and along the beautiful tree-lined promenades. These attractions will be fascinating to even the most insensitive travellers. The Louvre with its astonishing collection of artistic masterpieces fascinates visitors, while the Eiffel Tower offers breathtaking views of the city of Paris.
The museums, palaces and historic churches of Paris are like hidden treasures throughout the city. Notre Dame Cathedral, Sacre Coeur Church, Pantheon, Saint Chapelle Church, Orsay Museum, Orangerie Museum, Fine Arts Museum, Palace of Versailles, Opera Garnier, Pont Royal and the Concierge castle are just some of the attractions of Paris.
Beautiful restaurants and trendy fashion shops can be found in every corner of the city, such as the Rue de Rivoli, the Montmartre district and the Latin Quarter of Paris. Ballrooms, opera and classical music performances make the trip much more refined.
You can sit on the benches of the beautiful parks and squares such as the Champs de Mars Park, the Tuileries Gardens, the Plant Gardens, the Luxembourg Gardens, the Place de la Concorde, the Place de la Bastille and the Place de la Repubblica and listen Street musicians on the bridge over the Seine river.
Nice
Nice is the fifth largest city in France. This city, like Paris, has extraordinary art collections and offers both sunshine and breathtaking views of the Riviera. Nice is a trendy, coastal city that has attracted tourists since the 1820s. Its location between the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea has helped make it a must-stop on travelers’ bucket list when visiting France.
The old city of Nice, with its ancient structure and narrow alleys, is one of the most charming and interesting destinations among French cities. Even today, you can find grocery stores, historic restaurants and boutiques in the streets and alleys of the old city of Nice. The oldest part of Nice’s old town, Cours Saleya, is crowded with tourists during the tourist season. The Nice Cathedral, the Chapelle de la Miséricorde and the Palais Lascaris Music Museum are located in this ancient area of the city of Nice.
At the Musée Matisse, you can admire hundreds of works by the acclaimed French artist Henri Matisse, while the Museum of Contemporary Art in Nice presents several works, such as American pop art, American minimalism and new European realism.
The Russian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, with its distinctive Russian style, adds a distinctive touch to the beauty of the city. The Notre-Dame de Nice Cathedral was also built in a neo-Gothic style with an external facade made of white stone and golden details.
The Parc Phoenix is one of the largest greenhouses in Europe in the city of Nice, home to a wide range of plants. The Albert I Garden is also considered one of the oldest public parks in Nice, with palm trees, various plants from around the world, a traditional windmill and a summer concert venue adding a special charm.
The English seafront of Nice, built in the 18th century, is a place of leisure for tourists who love seaside activities. Cimiez is also an ancient part of Nice, dating back two thousand years. The ruins of this site are a great way to discover the lifestyle of the Romans.