France is the most popular tourist destination in the world, with more than 81 million foreign tourists visiting in 2007. There’s something for everyone to do in France, whether it be wine tasting, bicycling through the beautiful countryside, touring ancient ruins and castles, tanning on the beach or visiting world famous art museums. 81 million people can’t be wrong. Why not visit France and find out for yourself?
One great way to see the country is to take a road trip, which gives you the freedom to travel throughout the country and the ability to see multiple cities instead of being restricted to just one region. If you’re looking for ideas for great road trips in France, consider incorporating one or more of the following cities into your road trip itinerary.
Paris
Many tourists head immediately to Paris, and for good reason. Paris, located in Northern France is the most popular tourist destination in the world, and the list of things to do there goes on and on. The most popular attractions in Paris include the iconic Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre and Palace of Versailles. At 1,063 feet tall, the Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in Paris, and visitors enjoy riding the elevator to the third level and taking in a breathtaking view of the city or having dinner at one of the restaurants located in the tower. The Palace of Versailles and the Notre Dame Cathedral are two places of breathtaking beauty with significant historical relevance. The Louvre is both the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument, most famously the home of DaVinci’s Mona Lisa.
Nice
Nice is a coastal city in Southern France that is believed to be the site of one of the oldest human settlements in Europe. Tourists can learn more about this at the Terra Amata archaeological site. Many people enjoy coming to Nice during the winter due to its pleasant climate and natural beauty. Popular tourist attractions include the Promenade des Anglais and the numerous art museums located in the city.
Marseilles
Also located on the coast in Southern France, Marseilles is part of Provence, a region known for producing wine. While in Marseilles, definitely take the opportunity to go wine-tasting. Other things to do in Marseilles include many religious and historical sites such as Vieux-Port, the main marina and harbor of the city; the Abbey of Saint-Victor, a very old place of Christian worship; and the Cathedrale de la Major, a French national monument.
Lyon
Located in east-central France, Lyon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the fact that the area has been continuously inhabited for more than two millennia and has continually been a commercially and strategically specific place for centuries. You can see some of Lyon’s historical past in its Roman ruins and Middle Age and Renaissance churches. Lyon has been known as the capital of gastronomy in France for several centuries, which means that there are many excellent restaurants to try out.