Probably, God kissed this country and decreed that it would be impossible to know it completely. Castles of the Loire, Cote d’Azur … All known names – but how many still little known!

France has been this style icon for many countries and peoples for many decades. Like no other country. No matter how difficult and difficult it was for her, she makes our life more beautiful, in the best and most significant sense of the word.

Top the most interesting French cities for tourism

Paris, of course. “… Why, when people come to Paris – they have happy faces?” “… A foreigner feels himself in the space in which the dream of generations has been accumulating for centuries.” Mikhail German. What was Paris, what is it now? What is left in it from the old photos of Paris?

Strasbourg. German pedantry and neatness together with exquisite French lightness. Russians in France appreciate these places, and there is a whole local small diaspora of them. People come to Strasbourg to see the historic city center. The main attraction is the Cathedral with one tower. It is best to come to Strasbourg in the summer or before Christmas.

Annecy. “Venice of Savoy”, because numerous canals and streams run through the city. All of them originate in the waters of the local lake of the same name. A stay in Annecy is considered pointless if you do not take a photo, against which the Island Palace should be located.

Avignon. One of the largest and most beautiful cities in Provence. Once a papal residence, the city is rich in numerous treasures. But none of them can match the Palais des Papes, the largest Gothic palace in Europe. The beautiful and majestic old town and the arched bridge over the river are the symbol of Avignon.

Biarritz. At first glance, it doesn’t even look very much like a classic resort: rather, a place where people live while relaxing. Free. The ocean is everywhere here – even if it is not visible. It can be felt on city streets, in parks and in any other place: starting from the airport or train station. Ocean = space, so we can say that you are here – beyond space. The problems of the crowded Mediterranean beaches or the paths of the Loire Valley are not yet familiar. Space = freedom, and here you really feel much freer than in other resort places.

Aix-en-Provence. With a population of 140,000, Aix has about 40,000 students. This is a combination of young and cheerful residents, a wealthy place, Provence and ancient architecture. It is absolutely incredible: and this is beauty, of course. But not only. Aix’s beauty is very harmonious and natural. In some of his openness, he has an absolute sense of proportion and taste. Everything is balanced, history gets along with modernity, and canons – with experiments.

Nice. No one is indifferent to Nice. She is praised or scolded, talked about with warmth, admiration or disdain. Nice – a medal on the chest of the Cote d’Azur, and every medal, as you know, has two sides. But any opinion first of all means that they want to express it: there is a reason and something offends. If these opinions are different, you have to look for yourself.

La Rochelle. The Old Port is incredibly beautiful. Here it becomes clear that the sights of France are not castles and monuments. They are just parts of towns and villages. Amazing walking place. Especially in the morning and evening hours, when there are not many people on the embankment, and you can plunge headlong into the atmosphere of this place. In the evening there is a very beautiful lighting here. In general, the city has preserved a lot of its 1000 (thousand!) – year history. Nantes – France is neighboring, but in many ways different, although it is a rival for popularity in the region.

Montpellier. A unique example of thoughtful urbanism in Europe. At the same time – more than 70 private mansions of the XVII-XIX centuries. The 13th century Western Medicine University, the oldest in Europe, is still in operation. A number of small old shops, expensive boutiques and shops of large retail chains stretch along the medieval streets.

Dijon. The capital of the wine region, Burgundy has a long and eventful history. Dijon inherited beautiful architecture. Here is the second largest museum of fine arts (le Musée des Beaux Arts) after the Parisian Louvre. And – first-class gastronomy and a unique natural landscape. And even if someone has never heard of the famous Dijon mustard, then they definitely know one of the most popular residents of Dijon – Gustave Eiffel. Although – and many dishes and recipes of French cuisine originate here.

Rouen. Capital of Normandy. A city that perfectly combines the medieval flavor of bright half-timbered houses and narrow streets. Charming cozy cafes and the swiftness of the modern world. It is reflected in the windows of fashionable shops, in the neighborhood of 16th century buildings, in subway cars, in noisy colleges and schools. And flaming gothic!