I lived in France for 5 months and it’s undoubtedly the country I know the best besides my own. That being said, there’s still a lot I’d like to see and do in France, so this list is nowhere near complete. However, I’ve compiled a list of beautiful French towns and small cities that are absolutely worth visiting on your trip to France.

Aix-en-Provence

Aix is one of the most charming and tranquil towns in Provence. Founded during the Roman times and becoming a hot spot with the impressionists, it today embodies the rustic charm of France’s south and is … Continue reading

Strasbourg is the largest city in Alsace, and the entire region is incredibly cute with old timber-frame buildings and splashes of colour – a marriage of French and German cultures. It’s a bit of a hidden gem in France but people who know about Alsace flock to Strasbourg for a visit. It’s a great day trip from Paris that’s only 1h45m away by train.

Strasbourg’s History

Strasbourg has been inhabited since prehistoric times and became a Roman settlement, like many modern-day French cities. In medieval times, it became part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was a “Free City” for … Continue reading

Rouen is such a charming city in Normandy with a fantastic history, and it makes an excellent day trip from Paris, so it’s definitely worth seeing if you have time to spend in France. I’ve been twice and have enjoyed both trips to this lovely Norman city.

The History of Rouen

Rouen has a very long and impressive history. The city of Rouen dates back to the Roman days and became a Viking city in 841. It was actually so important that it served as the capital of Normandy until about 1060, when William the Conquerer moved the capital … Continue reading

There’s so much to see in Paris and thanks to the country’s fantastic public transit system, many other cities can be seen while keeping base in the capital. Here’s a list of places that are easy to get to via train that will help you fulfill your French bucket list.

First: what qualifies as a day trip? A day trip here is defined as someplace you can get to from 1 train (or bus) ride that is 2-1/2 hours or shorter. There are many other day trips depending on how determined you are to get there, but I decided … Continue reading

Continuously inhabited since it was a Roman city, Avignon is a place that has experienced centuries of exciting history. A stone’s throw away from Marseilles, Avignon also played Seat of the Papacy from 1309 til 1377, the only other time the Seat was in a city other than Rome. If the extended history of this city in Provence isn’t enough to entice you, the charming town it is today most certainly will.

Avignon is such a great city because it beautifully incorporates different parts of its history into one. It still retains its medieval structures such as the city walls … Continue reading

If you’ve any interest in French history, you may have heard of the castles Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte. Both are located not in the Loire Valley but the Île-de-France region and have a lot of history behind them, as many French chateaux do. On my return to Paris, the urge to see such monuments brought me on a day trip.

Fontainebleau

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fontainebleau has a history that goes back almost one thousand years. A keep (castle tower) was built there in 1137 and a monastery hospital was built there a century later. King Philip IV of … Continue reading

France is one of the hottest tourist destinations in Europe and with good reason. The capital city of Paris is one of the most famous cities in the world, and the country boasts of magnificent and diverse architecture, history and of course, food. You may know where you’re going to go and what you’re going to see, but there’s a lot more to visiting a foreign country than may be anticipated. Here’s a practical guide to visiting France.

Paris

Especially if you’re going to France for the first time, Paris is probably the start of your trip. This unique city … Continue reading

When my mom came to visit me in France, I thought a great way to spend the day would be to take a day trip to the Loire Valley, known for its Renaissance castles. We booked a tour as my mother prefers planned tours and then we set off to three castles: Chenonceau, Cheverny and Chambord.

Château de Chenonceau

Chenonceau Castle is one of the most famous in France because of its location atop a small river. There’s no need to tell you that the architecture is absolutely stunning and definitely worthy of a visit. However the castle also has … Continue reading

Colmar is one of the well-known gems of Alsace, the region of France that borders Germany and combines the history and culture of the two. It’s rumoured to have inspired the setting for Beauty and the Beast but whether or not it was Colmar or another Alsacian village, Colmar is definitely a town out of a faerytale.

The History of Colmar

Colmar has been around for over 1,000 years but its history has been relatively quiet. The town of Colmar grew from the era of Charlemagne to 1226, when it was made an Imperial City. What I find most interesting … Continue reading

Brittany is one of the most well-known regions of France but also one of the most interesting. Not only was Brittany its own kingdom for a short time but it’s only been formally incorporated as part of France since 1532, and the area also has its own language called Breton. Sadly, not a lot is available online about Brittany and its towns (comparatively), so it was difficult deciding which town to go to in my limited amount of time. However, I chose the medieval city of Dinan and was absolutely amazed.

A Short History of Dinan

The city itself … Continue reading