France: All destinations, advice & information for your holidays!
Romantics, sports fans, culture lovers, and bathing beauties find their paradise in France: The city of love, Paris, is worth a visit in any season, in Provence the scent of lavender accompanies you on hikes and bike tours. Alsace with its half-timbered buildings and the enchanting castles of the Loire Valley are also attractive holiday destinations.
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France - 8 most beautiful natural sights
Verdon Gorge
Near the town of Sestriere, the Verdon has carved a canyon over 20 km long into the limestone over millions of years. Cliffs up to 250 m high form the spectacular backdrop for recreational canoeists. You will also enjoy a more tranquil tour with a rowing boat on Lac de Sainte-Croix. Around the gorge, there are adventurous hiking trails with magnificent views of the surroundings. Cozy villages like Entrevaux and even Roman excavation sites invite visitors of all ages to historical discoveries. The Plateau of Valensole impresses with vast fields where wheat and lavender grow.
Mont Saint Michel
Mont-Saint-Michel is one of France's most famous landmarks. More than two million people are drawn to the mountain off the coast of Normandy each year. You can undertake a mudflat hike from the village of Genêts in the north of the bay to Mont-Saint-Michel. Alternatively, you can reach the legendary mountain on foot via a footbridge. Once on the island, you can climb the steep alleys to the summit or take a shuttle to the monastery. From the top, you can enjoy the magnificent view and also pause for a moment.
Camargue Regional Natural Park
Between the cities of Marseille and Cassis, the nearly 90-hectare national park invites you to take extensive hikes inland. The coastal region, in particular, enchants from the very first moment. Surrounded by distinctive rocks, there are numerous wild and romantic coves with the finest sand, ideal for swimming in the sea. The Calanques National Park is also famous for its unique flora and fauna. Many species of dolphins, turtles, and corals call this place home. On the mainland, with a bit of luck, you can marvel at the ocellated lizard and rare plant species. The hiking trails and climbing areas along the Mediterranean coast are a true paradise for nature lovers and active vacationers.
Cliffs of Étretat
Over the millennia, the sea and an underground river have hollowed out the chalk cliffs of the Normandy coast near the seaside resort of Étretat. Today, the approximately 75-meter-high steep cliffs are a tourist highlight. Great photo opportunities include the arches Porte d’Aval and Manneporte. The cliffs of Étretat are famous, with rocks extending about 100 meters into the English Channel and ending in a distinctive arch. Visitors can reach a cave, the Chambre des Demoiselles, via a path on the Aval cliff. About 50 meters away, the Aiguille d’Etretat rises from the sea.
Camargue Regional Natural Park
In the center of the reserve, the lake Ètang de Vaccarès attracts visitors with a variety of water birds for observation. Among them is the emblem of the nature park, the pink flamingo. Many migratory birds rest here. In the south, saltwater lagoons, sandy beaches, and reed areas shape the landscape. Salt is harvested in Salin-de-Giraud. An attraction is the Pont de Gau bird park in the southwest. Follow the 5 km long circular path and observe the many bird species in their busy activities, some of which even winter here. In the park museum, you can get more information about the nature reserve.
Dunes of Pilat
The Dune of Pilat with its fine and white sand has formed over the last millennia. It lies impressively between the Atlantic and the inland forest and promises perfect conditions for sunbathing and swimming in the sea. Climb to the summit and enjoy the panoramic view from there. On your exploration of the dune, you will also encounter colorfully painted bunkers of the Atlantic Wall, surrounded by sand or water. As the dune is constantly moving, some of the bunkers are even hidden at a depth of up to 25 meters.
Esterel Massif
The Esterel Massif is one of the most beautiful regions along the Côte d'Azur, but unlike many other areas in southern France, it is hardly developed and thus delights with natural charm. Here you will find many paths through untouched nature, inviting not only for long walks but also for bike tours. Along the Mediterranean coast by the mountain range, you will discover many small bathing bays that invite you to swim during the warm season. Near Agay, hobby divers will find reefs that are ideal for exploring the underwater world in clear water. There is also a castle nearby.
Pink Granite Coast
The unique rock formations guarantee iconic photo opportunities along the Atlantic coast. The facets of the Côte de Granit Rose with its reddish rocks are particularly impressive around the town of Perros-Guirec. In the nature reserve, fascinating birds such as cute puffins and cormorants also live. Excursions are possible year-round on foot, by bike, or by kayak, allowing you to discover the region's flora and fauna. Hike between the beaches Plage du Coz-Pors and Plage de Greve-Blanch, and enjoy a magnificent panorama of the coast and hinterland. In summer, bathing bays promise refreshment and relaxation.
France - Climate
The large country of France is divided into several climate zones, specifically four. In the south, the coastal resorts on the Mediterranean Sea have a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild, humid winters. With around 300 sunny days per year, it is one of the friendliest regions in France. On the Atlantic coast, you can expect precipitation in both summer and winter. In the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, where the most beautiful ski resorts in the country are located, snowfall often begins as early as November. On Mont Blanc, the snow cover in winter is up to three meters thick.
The following graph shows the average weather conditions for the country. Historical weather conditions may vary by region.
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France - All travel tips for your holidays
Best topics in France
France - Top regions
- Alps
- Aquitaine
- Ardèche
- Auvergne
- Basque Country
- Brittany
- Burgundy
- Camargue
- Charente-Maritime
- Corsica
- Cote d'Azur
- Côtes d'Armor
- Finistère
- Gard-Lozère
- Gironde
- Hérault-Aude
- Ille-et-Vilaine
- Languedoc-Roussillon
- Les Landes
- Loire-Atlantique
- Loire Valley
- Lot
- Lot-et-Garonne
- Luberon
- Morbihan
- Normandy
- Périgord
- Provence
- Pyrénées-Orientales
- Savoie - Haute Savoie
- Vendée