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11 National Parks In France – Guide And Tips For First-Time Visitors

By: Author Christine Rogador

Posted on Published: January 30, 2020  - Last updated: August 8, 2022

When you say France, people automatically think of its historic yet cosmopolitan cities such as Paris , Lyon , and Bordeaux .

The country is also known for its wine regions or the go-to celebrity holiday destinations in the French Riviera .

The rest of France, however, boasts of varied landscapes that make them a haven for adventure types. These are national parks dedicated to preserving and protecting France’s natural wonders.

From remote mountainous areas to volcanic locales, to islands and French territories overseas – get to know all of the national parks of France that you should add to your French bucket list.

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11 National Parks In France – Guide And Tips For First-Time Visitors

1. vanoise national park – savoie, france (1963), 2. port-cros national park – var, france (1963), 3. pyrénées national park (1967), 4. the cévennes (1970), 5. ecrins national park – isère and hautes-alpes (1973), 6. mercantour national park – alpes-de-haute-provence and alpes-maritimes (1979), 7. guadeloupe (1989), 8. la réunion national park – reunion island (2007), 9. amazonian park of guiana (2007), 10. calanques national park (2012), travel tips and resources.

Vanoise National Park‬ is the oldest in France, established in 1963.  It spans much of the Tarentaise and Maurienne valleys and even reaches the Italian border. Its Italian counterpart is called Gran Paradiso National Park.

Located in the Rhone-Alps region, Vanoise is split into two zones – the central and the peripheral. The central zone is dedicated to the protection of the largest population of Alpine Ibex in France, including the rest of the area’s flora and fauna.

The peripheral zone meanwhile, is where you’ll find 28 idyllic mountain villages.

Port-Cros can be reached by boarding a ferry in Saint-Pierre Marina. Established in 1963, it is the only Mediterranean marine park in France.

Situated on the island of Port-Cros to the east of Toulon, it has a botanical and an underwater trail. The park is home to diverse landscapes, forests, sandy beaches , and ruins from Roman times.

Within the waters surrounding the park, you can also snorkel and see shipwrecks as well as their diverse marine life.

Located on the border to Spain, Pyrenees national park (Parc national des the Pyrenees) spans about 65 miles along the border with Spain.

Home to massive conservation areas, this national park has a unique natural environment, diverse wildlife, and a number of historical sites. Its forests are home to breech and poplar trees, as well as waterfalls .

An interesting place to visit in the park is the town of Lourdes . It was once an important religious pilgrimage center in Europe.

Cévennes was established as a national park in 1970 and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Located in southern France, this park is known as a biker’s heaven and has around 5000 km of marked trails. The park has facilities for various activities in every season – from kayaking to skiing.

Rock formations can also be found in the park, at the Chaos de Nimes-le-Vieux. Birches, beeches, oaks, and Scots pine cover comprise the forested areas.

Cévennes is also a haven for birdwatchers, with falcons, eagles, peregrines, and owls flying and nesting within the park.

Ecrins is the second largest national park in France, created in 1973 through the efforts of forest workers, mountaineers, and naturalists.

It is located in southeastern France and quite remote.

Regarded as one of the best natural parks in France, Ecrins is characterized by its varied landscape. There are glaciers, mountainous terrains, alpine pastures, scenic valleys lush woodlands.

Despite its remote location, the park has facilities for various outdoor activities, making it a haven for adventure seekers.

Situated on the border with Italy, Mercantour was declared as a National Park in 1979. It is also part of the Alpine region and is popular among hikers and mountaineers.

The park has about 600 kilometers of footpaths as well as watersports facilities on the many rivers and lakes.

Various sites are found within and around the park. There are ski resorts , a central uninhabited zone made up of valleys, and 28 villages within the park’s periphery.

While in Mercantour, be sure to check out the Vallée des Merveilles which has around 3,000-year-old rock carvings of people and animals .

Recognized as a national park in 1989, Guadeloupe boasts of biodiverse surroundings that seem to surprise at every turn.

It is located in the Caribbean, a French territory, and definitely worth a visit if you have the chance.

The tropical rainforest shelters a great variety of wildlife. A number of stunning waterfalls are also found in even the strangest parts of Guadeloupe.

Take for example the Carbet Falls on the slopes of La Soufriere volcano. This is a series of majestic waterfalls with dreamlike tropical foliage on either side.

This definitely makes for a memorable hike, where you’ll still hear the sounds of the rainforest even after you’ve left.

Another French National Park that’s located in an overseas territory is the idyllic La Religion. The national park is located in the Indian Ocean, in the La Religion territory. Its volcanic landscape shelters a variety of ecosystems.

It also has extensive routes and trails around the mountainous regions that are popular among hikers and mountaineers. This dreamlike paradise also has rainforests, waterfalls, and a variety of flora and fauna.

Meanwhile, the two volcanoes that make up the Piton des Neiges and  Piton de la Fournaise serve as amazing vantage points that offer unparalleled views over the surrounding area.

This remote national park in French Guiana can only be reached by plane or pirogue.

Untouched, undeveloped, and totally pristine, this is one of the largest national parks in the world.

It was established in 2007 to protect the Amazon rainforest located in French Guiana . It is home to a wide variety of animals and birds, as well as diverse plant species. Rivers and streams wind through the forest area, where you’ll also find the Gobaya Soula falls.

Amazonian Park of Guiana may not very accessible but an opportunity to visit is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

‪A calanque is defined as a narrow, steep creek that’s often formed from limestone. These are found along the Mediterranean coast and pretty much depicts the Calanques National Park. This park includes a coastline as well as several islands.

Calanques also has one of the Mediterranean’s most diverse underwater ecosystems.

It is the only national park on the list that has both a land and sea area. It is located close to the city of Marseille, as well as the coastal towns of Cassis and La Ciotat.‬

11. Parc de Forêts Champagne and Bourgogne (2019)

The eleventh and newest national park in France spans two regions of Burgundy .

It was established to help protect the forests, specifically the forest massifs of Châtillon, Arc-en-Barrois, and Auberive.

Most of the forests in this area have been around since the French Revolution. The park is also geared to be a European forest research center.

At present, a part of the park was designated as an open-air research center. The rest of the park is open to visitors, and there are plans to put up more facilities to attract more tourists.

Travel Insurance: I never leave home without travel insurance. My personal opinion is if you can afford to travel, you can afford to buy a travel insurance. All things can happen while on the road and you can never be too sure. And it's something that you'll be glad to have when you need it. For my preferred travel insurance, I use Safety Wing .

What To Wear: If you want some ideas on what to pack for France, check out this packing list guide for France .

Where To Stay: I personally use Booking.com for all my accommodations. Check out for their latest deals here .

Reading Resources: Check out our best reading resources here .

Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. A self-proclaimed Francophile, I love everything France.

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10 of the best national and regional parks in France

France’s green spaces provide the chance to see magnificent wildlife, explore mountain villages or just have a great hike or bike ride

Vanoise national park, Rhône-Alpes

The first (1963) and largest of France’s mainland national parks, the Vanoise is in the French Alps, becoming the Gran Paradiso national park once it’s over the Italian border. Hundreds of trails crisscross the mountainsides where semi-tame marmots come up for a sniff of your picnic and where edelweiss pokes out among the bluey trumpets of gentiana acaulis on the slopes. Lynx, wolves, chamois and ibex descend once the ice has melted in the spring. Surrounded by prestigious ski-resorts, Courchevel and Val-d’Isère the park offers a grand spectacle of glaciers and mountain lakes, perfect for mountain biking and trekking in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter. Stay Le Roc de la Pêche , a chalet-style wood-and-stone building with a hammam and spa; €62pp, €28-a-bed in a dorm vanoise-parcnational.fr

Pyrénées national park, Midi-Pyrénées

Imagine something the size of a pot of jam, covered in dark brown fur with webbed rear feet and a long nose. Unfortunately, the Pyrenean desman only come out at night to feed on river shellfish and insects, but there are other, easier to spot, rare animals in this national park. Pyrenean frogs, mink, even bears inhabit the landscape. Golden eagles and bearded vultures soar above the red and yellow Train d’Artouste , which travels a narrow-gauge, vertiginous 10 kilometres from La Sagette summit to Lake Artouste and provides amazing views of the massif and its valleys. Stay La Grange aux Marmottes , which has a restaurant, serving local specialities such as pork and vegetable soup garbure; doubles from €72

Landes de Gascogne natural regional park, Aquitaine

Freshwater from the river Leyre merges with seawater from the Arcachon basin in this picturesque nature park south of Bordeaux . The mix has produced a marshland habitat hosting caropsis, tiny carrots only seen growing in the Landes department, and unusually large dragonflies dipping in and out of the water. Eels, otters and terrapins swim in the lagoons surrounded by giant oaks and alders. The park has a huge pine forest and eco-museum , as well as the 110-hectare Le Teich , France’s premier bird park, with more than 320 species spotted migrating back and forth from Africa including greylag geese, spoonbills, godwits and pintails. Stay L’Airial guesthouse is a stone farmhouse set in its own large garden and is 10 minutes’ drive from the park; doubles from €75 parc-landes-de-gascogne.fr

Mercantour national park, Provence Alpes Côte-d’azur

Two of the highlights of the Mercantour are manmade: the bestiary-inspired frescoes of the local 15th-century chapels are only slightly less terrifying than the 36,000 prehistoric carvings in the park’s Vallée des Merveilles . Mercantour has a central, heavily protected core of 685 sq km where visitors are only allowed to walk and a bigger, peripheral area of 28 mountain villages, where it is possible to go biking and hang-gliding. Alpine rock formations and a Mediterranean climate have combined to produce impressive gorges as well as being home to wild boar, rock ptarmigans, nutcracker birds and the recently reintroduced bearded vulture , Europe’s largest bird of prey. Stay Hotel Chamois d’Or , which also has a restaurant and spa; doubles from €90 mercantour.eu

Écrins national park, Rhône-Alpes and Provence Alpes Côte-d’azur

Écrins occupies the triangle of mountains, lakes and glaciers between Gap, Briançon and Grenoble. It is so enormous it contains more than 100 summits, 60 lakes and seven maisons du parc (information centres) and is the perfect space for gazing at a seemingly endless landscape. Eagles and vultures stare down at the scampering snow hares and ermines in the rocks below. In winter, Les Deux Alpes is one of Europe’s most swanky ski resorts and in the summer, it often joins the Alpe d’Huez as one of the Tour de France’s most gruelling climbs. Visitors can drive into the park and spend the day hiking with the park’s new app, Rando Ecrins , which has guides along 700km of marked trails. Stay Alpe Lune chalet, from €57pppn ecrins-parcnational.fr

Le Perche natural regional park, Normandy

Two hours’ drive from Paris, the vast woodlands, wetlands and meadows of Le Perche are perfect for a day’s rambling. It also has some of the most beautiful oak forests in France and an array of flint-and-sand-coloured pigeon lofts, windmills, abbeys and manor houses built after the hundred years war. The 15th-century Courboyer Manor is open to the public (admission €2) and set in large grounds with cycle paths to explore. The shell of La Ferté-Vidame and Nogent-le-Rotrou chateaux look like they are straight out of fairytales. Rare black storks, herons and cranes balance in the park’s many lakes but Le Perche is best known for its horses, with more than 30 riding schools and stables offering jumping and pony treks through the 194,000-hectare park. Stay Country Garden B&B is a former granary in a hamlet in the park, muffins with jam served for afternoon tea; rooms from €99, +33 2 33 83 56 14 parc-naturel-perche.fr

Calanques national park, Provence Alpes Côte-d’azur

The Calanques, south-east of Marseille, only became a national park in 2012 and just a sixth of its total surface is on land, the majority being a protected marine area. The clifftop walks towards the calanques (coves) of Sormiou and Morgiou are exhilarating as long as you haven’t drunk too much pastis. Many of the calanques are only accessible by boat. Alternating limestone and sandstone give a strange cragginess to the coast which houses leaf-toed geckos, ocellated lizards and 13 species of bat. Out to sea, bottlenose dolphins, loggerhead sea turtles and fin whales can be seen in the waters off Cassis. Stay Villa d’Orient is a few metres from the sea in the Calanque de Saména; rooms from €75). Alternatively, there is a solar-powered, internet-free youth hostel at La Fontasse , an hour’s walk from Cassis; +33 4 42 01 02 72 (dorm beds €15 a night) calanques-parcnational.fr

Armorique natural regional park, Brittany

In the summer Brittany’s only regional natural park is a bustle of day-trippers, crabbers and seaweed gatherers. Moors, marshes, granite tors and three tiny islands are included in the park, where rocky outcrops, mudflats and reed beds provide excellent birdwatching. The islands are part of a Unesco biosphere reserve but can be reached by ferry in the intriguingly-named Baie du Stiff. The Crozon peninsula, looking like a dragon’s head thrusting into the sea, is perfect for a windy walk and has a spectacular megalithic site of standing stones at its end, the 87 menhirs of the Lagatjar alignment . Carnivorous sundew plants capture insects in the Armorican swamps and the dark forests, caves and low-lying fog add to the mystery of the place. Stay Hotel Vauban in Camaret-sur-mer; doubles from €45 pnr-armorique.fr

Auvergne des volcans natural regional park, Auvergne

A dramatic landscape of craters and conical peaks covered in what looks like green baize, the Auvergne des volcans natural regional park is a photographer’s paradise. A train chugs up to the top of the Puy-de-Dôme, the highest of 80 extinct volcanoes in the park but it’s a great hike too, if you are reasonably fit. Europe’s largest regional park is based around a 30km-long chain of volcanoes . It has four separate nature reserves, streams, pools, glaciers, the steep-sided Massif du Sancy and Cantal Massif. Apollo butterflies and rare damselflies join over 1,000 different animal species in the park; and for more thrills, there is Vulcania , a volcano-inspired theme park, which has vertical-drop rides as well as practical science demonstrations. Stay Le Chastel Montaigu , a restored 12th-century Templar castle; doubles from €145 (minimum two-night stay) parcdesvolcans.fr

Cévennes national park, Languedoc-Roussillon

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Pyrénées National Park stretches along France’s mountainous border with Spain.

Pyrénées National Park, France

Name: Pyrénées National Park Location: France Date Established: 1967 Size: 176 square miles (457 square kilometers)

Did You Know?

• Border Park Stretching along the mountainous border with Spain, Pyrénées National Park includes six distinct alpine valleys and elevations that soar from a low of 3,478 feet (1,060 meters) to 10,820 feet (3,298 meters) at the summit of Vignemale. Mont Perdu (10,990 feet/3,350 meters) anchors an enormous massif, which is marked by three major cirques on the French (northern) side.

• Pyrenean Desman The park's most intriguing inhabitant is a close relative of the mole called the Pyrenean desman. This patchwork creature has a mole-like body, trunk-like nose, and webbed feet. It lives in these mountains, and almost nowhere else, feeding on insect larvae and small shellfish along the banks of crystal streams.

• Little Train One Pyrénées attraction not to be missed is the unique “tiny” railway. This precipitous narrow-gauge journey, the start of which is reached by cable car, runs along what’s billed as Europe ’s highest track. The Petit Train d'Artouste was originally built to provide worker access during construction of massive hydroelectric dams during the 1920s. Today the train fills with tourists each summer and travels an unforgettable six-mile (ten-kilometer) stretch from the peak of La Sagette to Artouste Lake—all at a dizzying altitude of 6,562 feet (2,000 meters).

• Pastoral Partners While the park’s central area is largely uninhabited, an ancient, pastoral way of mountain life endures in a “partnership zone” where some 40,000 people live in 86 villages. Here shepherds and their charges frequent upland pastures and mountain hamlets perch comfortably between dizzying heights and farm fields. Such communities were once widespread in Europe’s mountain regions but are now found in relatively few places—the Pyrénées quite notable among them.

• High Life The mountainous slopes are forested with yews and firs up to 5,905 feet (1,800 meters). From that altitude to perhaps 7,874 feet (2,400 meters) mugho pine stands predominate, sprinkled with color from purple Pyrenean irises and rhododendrons. Above these heights the rocky peaks are largely bare and usually snowcapped.

• Plants and Animals Park wildlife includes golden eagles, griffon vultures, bears, and the Pyrenean chamois. There are about 2,500 plant species; 200 are endemic.

How to Get There

The famed pilgrimage site of Lourdes is only about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Pyrénées National Park, and the town is a stop on France’s TGV high speed railway. From Lourdes buses and private transportation are available to villages near the park itself.

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When to Visit

Pyrénées National Park is a place for all seasons. Summer is the height of tourist activity and a peak time for all sorts of outdoor activities—including the Tour de France. Fall brings harvest, spectacular foliage, and festivals. Winter encourages all types of adventurous snow-related pursuits. Spring, of course, is filled with flowers.

How to Visit

The mountain wall of Pyrénées National Park makes up the French/Spanish border and a scenic road trip through one of the alpine passes (when open) is a worthwhile journey in its own right. But everything is a bit different on the other side of the range, from the language to the climate, and some exploring on the Spanish side of the mountains is a worthwhile addition to any itinerary.

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The 8 Gorgeous National Parks Of France

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Small by comparison to the 63 National Parks in the U.S., France has only eight in the country. Still, the landscapes and terrains are quite varied, from the snow-covered Alps, to blue water coves surrounded by petrified stone cliffs near Marseilles, to an island park on the Mediterranean Sea, to a densely populated forest. 

Here’s a detailed list of the parks and the range of activities they offer. 

Calanques National Park 

A recent addition to the national park system of France is Calanques National Park which is 201 square miles and extends from just outside of the city of Marseilles to the lovely port village of Cassis in southern France. It’s the only national park in Europe that encompasses land, sea, and urban areas. 

The visually stunning calanques, or coves, have azure waters contrasted by tall, limestone cliffs. There are dozens of hiking trails in the park. One of the most popular is the Cassis Calanques trail which starts at Port Milou, winding through the spectacular calanques and ending at Port Pin, where you can relax at the delightful beach and take a swim in the warm Mediterranean. If you have the stamina, you can continue hiking up a steep incline to the lookout point of Calanque d’En Vau, one of the most breathtaking sites in the park. The entire hike takes 2.5 to 3 hours to complete. 

Pro Tip: There are small boat cruises that tour the calanques, leaving from the Cassis harbor.  

Forêts National Park 

The newest national park of France, however, is Parc National de Forêts , which opened in 2019. Located in northeastern France, the park covers an area of 220 square miles. The park is a thick forest of trees dating as far back as the French Revolution. The park has a population of animals and birds such as wild boar deer, black storks, and wild cats. 

There are over 1,200 miles of hiking trails and 435 miles of rivers for water activities such as canoeing and kayaking. There are also a number of food stands with local produce throughout the park. 

Also in the park is the Auberive Abbey, an ancient Cistercian abbey on the edge of the River Aube, founded in 1135 by St. Bernard, the Abbot of Clairvaux. Besides the 18th-century convent buildings and the Cistercian chancel in the church, the abbey is now a cultural and arts center with contemporary art exhibitions. The 16-acre grounds have pear trees, apple orchards, and a rose garden. 

Pro Tip: Parc National des Forêts is the closest national park to Paris, approximately 3 hours by car.

Écrins National Park

On the opposite spectrum of the Calanques National Park is Écrins National Park , which has high mountains measuring up to 13,500 feet in the Alps area in southeastern France, near the city of Grenoble. 

The park is an alpine wonderland of glacier fields and valleys, crisp mountain air, woodlands and forests, pastures, and pristine lakes. It’s rich with an extensive list of fauna and flora, and hares, marmots, foxes, chamois, and golden eagles are spotted frequently. 

Skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, and ice climbing are some of the winter activities available in the gorgeous snow-covered mountains. In summer, you can mountain bike your way through the small village towns, hike the many trails, rock climb, and if you are adventurous, you can paraglide. If you are up to the challenge, hike the GR54/Tour des Ecrins, a circular, 112-mile trek, one of the most arduous in Europe, and takes 7 to 12 days to complete. 

Cévennes National Park

Located in the lesser-traveled area of Cevennes near the Ardeche and Aveyron regions in mid-France, Cévennes National Park is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The vast park covers over 360 miles and extends over 55 counties. The wild terrain has rivers, streams, and torrents, and a big variation of flora and fauna. There are quaint country roads lined with pine, beech, chestnut tree, and oak groves. 

There’s also historical and cultural sites such as Cévennes Valley Museum and Cévennes Museum, dedicated to local arts and crafts, and the La Roque Silk Factory. 

A must-do is to sample the regional food products such as a special raw goat’s milk cheese, honey, and Bajana, an authentic chestnut soup. 

Pyrénées National Park

Partly located on the border of Spain, the Pyrénées National Park , the most visited in France, is highlighted by the almost 10,000-foot-high Pyrénées mountains, large tracts of forest, high altitude, placid lakes, mountain torrents, and waterfalls. There’s also the prodigious amount of over 45,000 flora and fauna species along with an animal population of animals and birds such as the almost extinct Pyrenean bears, genettes, lynxes, bearded vultures, peregrine falcons, and golden eagles. 

Fishing in the lakes and streams and hiking through the mountains are just two of the outstanding activities. 

Other attractions include the UNESCO Heritage site Cirque de Gavarnie, a valley formed by glacial erosion near the border of Spain with the Gavarnie Falls, a 1,400-foot-long waterfall, and Pont d’Espagne, an ancient stone bridge that connects France to Spain. 

The best way to approach the myriad of available attractions and activities is to visit the various park visitor offices in Saint-Lary, Luz-Saint-Sauveur, Gavarnie, Cauterets, and Arrens-Marsous. 

Mercantour National Park

Mercantour National Park is spread across two provinces, Alpes-Maritimes and the Alpes de Haute Provence and 265 square miles, in the south of France, less than an hour away from Nice, on the French Riviera. The park also borders Italy.

The park is filled with thousands of plant species, including 40 native to the park, and the Lac d’Allos, the biggest high mountain lake in Europe. 

Sospel is a medieval village nestled in the park at an altitude of 1,150 feet and has an ancient toll bridge from the 13th century, one of the last still standing in Europe. 

Other worthwhile attractions in the park include Lake Allos, the largest mountain lake in Europe; the Valley of Wonders, which has an astounding 40,000 cave etchings; and Saorge, a village on the edge of Italy, with medieval architectural treasures. 

Outdoor activities in the park include white water rafting and tubing, hiking, chamois (a goat/antelope species) watching, and donkey trekking. 

Port-Cros National Park

The only national park in France located on an island, Port-Cros National Park , established in 1963, is on the Mediterranean Sea near Toulouse, in southwestern France. Smaller than the other vast parks, the protected island is set on 6.5 square miles of land and 11 square miles of coastline. 

The island’s history goes back to Roman times, and the remains include 30 shipwrecks, 20 forts, aqueducts, and farm ruins. 

Walking and hiking on three trails is the main activity on the island, and there’s also snorkeling in the underwater Palud trail, plus glass-bottom boat excursions. 

Pro Tip: There are regularly scheduled daily ferries that leave from Saint-Pierre Marina in Hyères.

Vanoise National Park

Vanoise National Park is situated in the Savoie region, in a valley of the French Alps. The incredible mountain range has approximately 100 peaks that are close to 10,000 feet high. 

The park is a haven for avid bird watchers with more than 100 species in the protected areas, including Eurasian eagle owls, golden eagles, black woodpeckers, black grouses, wallcreepers, and bearded vultures. 

Chamois and alpine ibexes (a species of wild goats) are common, and other animals spotted in the park are Eurasian lynx, marmots, mountain hares, ermine, and badgers. 

In summer, walking, hiking, cycling, paragliding, horseback riding, and cycling are popular activities, and in winter, there’s skiing, ice skating, and tobogganing. 

Bordering the park are quaint, tiny towns such as Champagny-le-Haut, Friburge, Bramans, and Seez, and the world class ski resorts, Val d’Isere,Tignes, and Les Trois Vallees. 

Related Reading: 

• 7 Of The Most Beautiful National Parks In The UK
• 7 Fast Facts About Wales’s Stunning Snowdonia National Park
• Waterfalls Join 16 Natural Lakes In Croatia’s Breathtaking Plitvice Lakes National Park

Richard Nahem is an ex-New Yorker living in Paris since 2005. A travel writer and photographer, he’s been publishing his blog Eye Prefer Paris since 2006 and also writes for publications such as Travel Agent Central, Passport Magazine, The Guardian, Bonjour Paris, and Luxury Travel Advisor. He focuses mainly on luxury travel in Europe. Richard also leads private personalized tours of Paris for clients looking to explore the off the beaten path Paris they never usually see on their own.

12 Stunning National Parks and Regional Parks In France

While I love exploring aspects of urban spaces, my friends also know me as an avid hiker. Usually, when people think of France, I bet they are probably thinking of the Eiffel Tower, croissants, and the Louvre Museum. There’s plenty more to France than that, though! Yes, I’m talking about France’s lesser-known natural landscapes. Check my list of 12 stunning national parks and regional parks in France.

France is blessed with 10 incredible national parks within its borders and international territories. As you venture into the French countryside you will soon discover that national parks offer plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting, hiking, cycling and enjoying the country’s biodiversity.

1.  Mercantour National Park

Mercantour national park encompasses the south-east corner of France, approximately 425 square miles close to the border of Italy. It was created in 1979 in the area around Mount Gelas (Cime du Gelas) and Valley of Wonders (Vallee des Merveilles). Both are perfect destinations for walking, mountaineering, and hiking.

With over 150 miles of signposted hiking trails, the Mercantour national park is home to thousands of petroglyphs (ancient rock carvings from the Bronze Age). Most of them depict animals, weapons, and Bronze Age people. These cave paintings are just incredible and totally worth a visit at least once in a lifetime. There is also a Museum of Marvels in Tende.

Since 1987 Parks Alpi Marittime and Mercantour work together to protect nature, the landscapes, and the biological diversity of the region. One of their projects involves natural returning of wolves to the Southern Alps. While it already happened in 1992, and the wolves now live in the Parc Alpha. The park is absolutely beautiful. It offers an exciting opportunity to see the wolves, and it doesn’t make you feel like you’re visiting a zoo or safari park.

2.  Port-Cros National Park

Port Cros is a small island in an island group that is also known as the Îles d’Hyères. This splendid island has given shelter to a national park, a marine park and both are pretty unique. While Port Cros may only be explored on foot, it involves a lot of walking.

I had incredible two days on the island that smell like a mix of eucalyptus and pine needles. My first plan was to loop the island, but I ended up cutting Port Cros in two. Some of the paths I’ve hiked were really popular and brought me to Plage du Sud. This is one of the most popular and accessible beaches on Port Cros. So if you don’t feel like rubbing elbows with tourist you may want to go swimming anywhere else.

If you’re into hiking, decent walking shoes is a must. As I was walking around Port Cros, I’ve noticed people swimming and sunbathing not only in designated spots but also in some secluded places. Remember that while swimming is allowed in the National Park, is it advisable to swim only in areas where it is permitted to avoid fines. Oh, keep in mind that smoking is prohibited beyond the village. Port-Cros sits just south of the mainland and is quite easy to visit by ferry from Saint-Pierre Marina in Hyères’.

3.  Vanoise National Park

July 6, 1963, is the birthday of Vanoise national park . This essentially makes Vanoise the oldest national park in France. If you drive from Chaportmonix it only takes two hours to reach this national park. The Vanoise National Park stretches across much of the Tarentaise and Maurienne valleys until it finally reaches the Italian border, where it continues as Gran Paradiso National Park.

You can find Vanoise in the Savoie department in the Rhone-Alps region. The park is divided into two zones – the central one and the peripheral one. The central zone maintains maximum protection for the largest population of Alpine Ibex in France, as well as for a vast landscape of flora and fauna. The peripheral zone is home to 28 picturesque mountain villages.

The area around Vanoise is filled with popular ski-resorts like Courchevel, Les Arcs, and Val-d’Isère. While I haven’t visited these, I do enjoy a quick hike that took me to some incredible vistas and cascades. I’m not much of a skier, but the region and skiing are obviously very popular in the winter.

If you travel by car take either A43 or D902 highways that go through the Maurienne valley. Alternatively, take N90 or D915 highways through Moutiers. If you prefer to travel by train you can reach the town of Modane and start your trip from there by riding a bus. The closest airports to Vanoise are Chambery, Grenoble Isere, Lyon-Satolas, and Geneve.

4.  Ecrins National Park

When friends ask me whether they should pay a visit to Ecrins National Park , I usually say, yes, you should. Since 1973 Ecrins National Park is a paradise not just for experienced walkers looking for multi-day hikes, but also for outdoor enthusiasts challenging their daily walk.

The main reason to visit Ecrins is, of course, its amazing nature. With a staggering amount of lakes, narrow rocky valleys and glaciers between Gap, Briançon, and Grenoble, Barre des Écrins is the second-highest mountain in France after Mont Blanc. After gazing at the mountains, one may think he is in the Himalayan foothills than in the south of France.

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Romanche, Guisane and Drac valleys surround the national park and provide excellent opportunities for trekking and exploring the local culture. In Highlands, there are more than one hundred designated hiking trails ranging from relatively easy to strenuous.

Ecrins has a sprawling network of secluded and remote deep valleys and high mountains. This makes exploring this national park so thrilling and rewarding. In fact, I can’t imagine a better place for escaping the crowds than Ecrins. While most of the observation points are only accessible on foot, reaching them may involve some strenuous workout. But they are well worth the effort. Don’t miss the visitor centers in Le Bourg-d’Oisans or Domaine de Charance in Gap for the detailed information about the mountains.

5.  Queyras Regional Park

Queyras Regional Park (Parc Naturel regional du Queyras) may not be the largest nature reserve in France, but it is definitely one of the country’s most culturally rich regions. Here you can find a great variety of landscapes and natural environments. Located in the department of Hautes Alpes between Briancon and the Italian border, it is markedly different from the neighboring parks because of the unique mix of alpine nature and Mediterranean climate.

As you descend the mountains rocky wastelands, dense forests and green alpine meadows replace the vast thickets of evergreen shrubs. To visit Queyras means to explore this sprawling regional park on foot, on horseback or by bicycle. Herewith, access to all parts of the park is completely free.

With a number of tiny picturesque villages like Aiguilles, Arvieux, Ceillac, Château Ville Vieille, and Molines en Queyras, creating a hiking trail becomes much easier here. Oh, and don’t forget to try the regional specialties that include cheeses, honey, and génépi. Visiting Queyras is like stepping away from the tourist trail and exploring a true hidden gem.

6.  Pyrenees National Park

Pyrenees national park (Parc national des Pyrenees, est. 1967) stretches 65 miles along the border with Spain. It occupies nearly 285 sq miles (nearly half of the French Pyrenees) and forms massive conservation areas. The region is attractive not only for its unique natural environment and wildlife. It is easily accessible and has a great number of historical sites.

Dense beech and poplar forests, towering mountains and beautiful waterfalls are the main reason to visit Pyrenees national park. The French Pyrenees is home to the most amazing natural monuments in the region. Mount Vignemale (10820 feet), the famous Cirque de Gavarnie, about 200 lakes and one of the highest waterfalls in Europe – the Gavarnie Falls. The particularly interesting place to visit here is the town of Lourdes that once was an important center of religious pilgrimage in Western Europe, not to mention numerous castles and mountain villages.

Before you go you will want to check for information on trails and routes in one of the visitor centers in Tarbes, Etsaut, Saint-Lary, Luz-Saint-Sauveur, Gavarnie, Cauterets or Arrens-Marsous. You can reach the park by using Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport or the Pau-Pyrenees Airport. If you travel by train you can consider taking a train from Bayonne to Toulouse or a bus going through Tarbes. Renting a car is a convenient way to explore attractive regions in northern Spain and see remote mountainous areas.

7.  Cevennes National Park

I love Cevennes National Park. With the granite massif of Mount Lozère, Jonte gorge, and the famous Stevenson Trail (the Grande Randonnée 70), this UNESCO site in the southwest of France is stunningly impressive.

As you hike up the mountains, peatlands and rocky wastelands replace sub-alpine meadows. Steppes and meadows stretch along the western slopes. Rocky valleys of the southern slopes are rich in subtropical vegetation, beech, chestnut and oak forests. 143000 acres form the largest protected area of southern France.

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Cevennes is home to 33 out of 400 endangered species, not to mention almost a hundred of endemic plant species. This turns out to be quite surprising given the fact that nearly 25 percent of all slopes are utilized for livestock grazing.

The park is dotted with quaint hilltop villages that provide excellent accommodation options. Guesthouses, rural lodgings or B&B are available in case you want to spend some time with locals. With the highest concentration of hiking trails in the country, Cevennes is still is an area surprisingly untravelled.

Head to Florac for the park information center or visit local offices in the towns of Le Pont de Montvert, Genolhac, Valleraugue and Le Vigan. You can easily reach the Cevennes national park by driving two major highways (Paris – Nimes, or Beziers – Clermont-Ferrand) stretching the park from the East and West respectively. The core zone of the park is only available for off-road, horseback riding and hiking.

8.  Camargue Regional Park

It is one of the most famous nature parks in the country. It occupies the vast western part of the Rhone River delta. This region is unique for its salt and reed marshes, marine lagoons, hundreds of channels and sand islands. There is no way you can find similar relic prairies anywhere else on the mainland. Pink flamingos, egrets, and numerous waterfowl are still nesting in a total area of more than 930 sq miles. You can observe more than a hundred mammal species in a unique juniper forest and brackish water of the estuaries. The top reason to visit Camargue is its famous white horses because they won’t be found anywhere else in Europe.

10.  Haut-Languedoc Regional Park

Between Toulouse and Montpellier, there is a Haut-Languedoc regional park. The park was established on October 22, 1973. Due to its vastness, the park has seven unique environmental zones. Haut-Languedoc is well-known for a wide array of bird species. Around 247 species live here.

In several recent years, park workers have been restoring and maintaining mouflon livestock that was once totally exterminated in the mountainous area around. A wide range of climatic conditions and landscapes make this park a connecting link between the hot southern regions and cool northern lands. Haut-Languedoc regional park features all types of animal and plant species that are typical for Western Europe.

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Outdoor enthusiasts will find picturesque valleys, fairly low mountain ranges, forested mountains and stone placers of ancient volcanic fields. As well as numerous rivers and lakes. Head to Saint-Pons-de-Thomieres for the park’s main information center. Several surrounding towns of Tar and Herault departments also have additional offices. To reach the Haut-Languedoc park by car drive from Toulouse through Revel (when going from the West). Or from Montpellier through Clermont-l’Herault (when going from the South).

11.  Verdon regional park

You can find Verdon in the southeast corner of France in the Alpes de Haute Provence department. The park has the second largest gorge in the world with the size of half a mile deep and 15 miles long. Verdon Gorge is very popular with travelers and hikers alike. With a bunch of options available you can drive around its rim, rent kayaks or hike. Or try rock climbing on the limestone walls.

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If you want to see the most impressive part, head to the towns of Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Because of the fact that gorge slopes are of different inclination, the forest is stunningly beautiful. The rocky areas are popular with climbers. More than 1,500 trails are laid out with the elevation ranging from 65 to 1300 feet. Around a hundred hiking trails are available to enjoy astonishing views.

Due to proximity to the Côte d’Azur and the Luberon mountains, Verdon park is very popular with travelers. You can reach the park by using road D952 from Castellana to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie when going from the north. Or use the road D71, through Aiguines.

12.  Corse Regional Park

The Corse Regional Park covers about 40% of the total area on the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea. This nature reserve includes the unique mountain areas, volcanic landscapes, dozens of lakes and majestic mountain peaks, usually snow-covered. The park is home to more than a hundred mammal and bird species and about 1,140 species of mountain plants. The abundance of pristine mountain areas, lakes and picturesque villages attracts outdoor enthusiasts and culture lovers. Any point on the island is easily accessible by car.

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9 Beautiful National Parks In France To Visit

Yes, we all know about the gorgeous cities in France! There’s a whole heap of cities such as; Paris (with all its secret spots), Bordeaux (with its historic centre ) and Nimes (With its southern French charm) that always catch my eye – but France is so much more than just its cities. The whole landscape is awash with a vast network of totally stunning national parks in France that you just have to explore. Especially, if it’s your first time venturing into the French countryside.

It’s so easy for our minds to go straight to things like the Mona Lisa, the Eiffel Tower or all that amazing cheese (god, that amazing cheese always gets me 😍). In other words, those big-hitting spots and things that everyone knows as typically French mean that we sometimes bypass some of France’s lesser-known natural landscapes.

I promise you, there’s a huge array of stunning landscapes and national parks in France that you’ll totally fall in love with.

Take a look at 9 of the best national parks in France.

1.) See the petroglyphs at Mercantour National Park

Mercantour National Park is one of the national parks in France that you have to visit. Perched in the south-east of France, close to the border of Italy – it’s one of the more unique National parks that’s dominated by the natural landscape.

The park itself has over 600km of hiking trails that wind through tiny villages and over forested hills. Best of all, if you head to the summit of Mont Bégo you’ll even stumble across some petroglyphs (ancient rock carvings) from the Bronze Age.

There are literally thousands to see, depicting everything from animals, weapons and Bronze Age people. It’s so incredible to see.

Heading to the South of France? See these amazing spots, here

2.) Explore Vanoise National Park

Vanoise National Park is one of the very first National Parks in France and one spot that you shouldn’t miss.

The park itself is about a two-hour drive south of Chamonix and stretches across a vast landscape of flora and fauna filled the land.

The Park itself is actually part of a much larger project that actually extends into Italy, where the national park continues as Gran Paradiso National Park. Together, they make one of the largest alpine national parks in the world.

Oh, and don’t forget, Keep your eyes peeled for the resident wolves, lynx and native birds that hover around these woods.

Visiting the area? Make sure to visit Montgenèvre, too

3.) Hike at Ecrins National Park

Ecrins National Park is located in the south-east of France and is home to towering mountains, rolling meadows and rushing streams that make it one of the prettiest national parks in France.

The whole landscape is incredible for hiking in the summer months and, if you’re looking for a more ‘off-the-beaten-path’ adventure, then keep your eyes peeled for the impressive Barre des Écrins (which is the most southerly alpine mountain in all of Europe) and the Needles of Chabrières.

Visiting the South of France? Check out these gorgeous towns to visit

4.) See the waterfalls at Pyrenees National Park

Straddling the French and Spanish border the Pyrenees National Park boasts tumbling waterfalls, endless forests and sky-high mountains. If you’re a Mountain climber, you’ll love this spot so pack your carbineers (or, more realistically, sign up for a beginners’ climb in the park).

If you’re looking for something a little more gentile, pop over to the visitor Center in Etsaut which has a whole heap of time-specific information on trails and routes to see some of the prettiest falls, like; Cirque de Gavarnie.

Have you ever heard of Nimes? It’s a gorgeous place to visit

5.) Ramble through Calanques National Park

One of the youngest national parks in France, Calanques sits in the southern regions and was only very recently awarded National Park status – but that doesn’t mean it’s any less amazing than the others. Heck no!

The park covers a coastal stretch that includes limescale rocks and a marine area. The best thing about this park is that it’s only a short drive from the bustle of Marseille, meaning you can easily have a twin-centre trip of culture and nature.

Want to visit Bordeaux? See the best things to do in the city, here

6.) Explore the Mediterranean at Port-Cros National Park

Port-Cros is one of the national parks in France that’s pretty unique! Not only is it a national park, but it’s also a marine park which makes it so different from the other protected areas in France.

The national park itself sits on the Mediterranean island of Port-Cros, just south of the mainland and is quite easy to visit by boat from Saint-Pierre Marina in Hyères’. Costs vary for the boat but tend to be around €40-ish (you can check the schedule, here ).

Although swimming and beach time is allowed in the National Park, it’s strictly enforced and you can only bathe in a few designated spots – so make sure you listen when you arrive on the island. No one likes a fine!

Want to visit the city of Nice? Check out our guide, here

7.) Explore the UNESCO protected, Cevennes National Park

Cevennes sits in southern France, amidst rolling mountains and stunning landscapes that totally make this one of the national parks in France that you have to explore.

The park is dotted with small local villages (providing excellent lunch spots), excellent hiking trails and unspoiled river gorges that are totally picturesque. Best of all, the whole region is protected, not just by French law but also by UNESCO as a world heritage site.

This rugged terrain is gorgeous. Oh, and don’t forget about the picturesque limestone caves of Aven Armand and the gorgeous village of Sauve (which is about 800 meters away from the park).

Read more: Best things to do in Paris

9.) See the gorge at Verdon Natural Regional Park

Okay, I know, technically not one of the national parks in France, Verdon Natural Regional Park is still a protected spot that you have to see when searching for idyllic natural parks. I mean, the Verdon Gorge alone makes this regional park totally worth a visit.

Make sure to stop off at Notre Dame de Beauvoir, explore the Verdon Gorge and hike through this stunning landscape. I promise, that you won’t be disappointed!

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All You Need to Visit France

How To Visit the Camargue National Park, France

The Camargue is a region in the south of France renowned for its natural environment, covering an area of approximately 85,000 hectares.

Located about 20 kilometers south of the city of Arles , It is an open territory made up of marshes, salt marshes, rice fields, and all kinds of wild flora and fauna, such as bulls, white horses and pink flamingos. An authentic natural reserve of international value.

In the Camargue, the wild, the natural and the cultural combine harmoniously and create an absolutely unique landscape.

The branches of the Rhone River give rise to marshy territories saturated with salt water where rice, viticulture and livestock farming are practiced.

Its territory has the largest population of flamingos in Europe . In addition, as if that were not enough, some species (such as white horses or bulls) bear the name of the place as a denomination of origin.

Paradise of Provence and a reservoir for more than 300 species of birds that use the area as a breeding and resting place between migrations, the Camargue National Park holds in its interior and surroundings a series of treasures that you will love to explore.

• Read: Road Trip in Provence

What to see in Camargue National Park

1. aigues mortes.

The first point of interest that I can not fail to mention or much less visit is Aigues Mortes.

It is a medieval city founded in the 13th century by Saint-Louis that remains built almost as it was from its origins.

Designed as a point to develop port trade to Italy, Spain, and the Orient, Aigues Mortes is a fortress of more than 1600 meters, with twenty watchtowers, gates, and stone stairways that transport us to times of battles and sieges.

The name in Occitan is Aigas Mòrtas and, translated, means “Dead Waters,” but its meaning should not deceive us.

Although this name could describe the area of marshes and coastal plains in the thirteenth century, when the marshes were combined with a really sparse population, today it only remains as a denomination.

Currently, Aigues Mortes retains all its splendor of medieval fortress and combines its historical value, the air of an open-air museum, with the still shining remains of a city that invites you to stroll through its contemporary vitality of restaurants, stores and squares.

2. Pink flamingos

The Camargue National Park is known worldwide for its pink flamingos. Visiting the region and not seeing flamingos would be the equivalent of going to Paris for the first time and not seeing the Eiffel Tower.

So, here are some tips to see and appreciate them in all their beauty and splendor.

First of all, it is worth noting that due to the special characteristics of their territories, pink flamingos have chosen the Camargue for centuries as a breeding area , i.e., as a place to reproduce.

This means that we can come across flamingos anywhere in Camargue, OK. However, there are specific areas within the National Park where these birds are more frequent and easier to spot.

One of these areas deserves special mention: the Ornithological Park ( see below).

Another deserves mention here, along with the recommendation to bring binoculars to be able to observe the flamingos more effectively: the artificial island at the Étang du Fangassier.

This island, created around 1970, functions both as a conservator of the coastline and its unique features and as an established meeting place for pink flamingos that come there to reproduce.

How to get to the flamingo area

As for ways to get there, from Salin des Giraud, you can take the D36c out of town and get to the Chemin de Fangassier and the Route de Fangassier, where we can surely start spotting pink flamingos.

It is worth mentioning that the road is in accordance with the landscape and that, at some point, it is purely dirt, natural, so it is convenient to take into account this particularity and the climate to be able to adapt to the place (us and our vehicle).

Then, on the side of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, it is also possible to drive around the area’s lagoons.

A complementary option to everything we know is to consult the Tourist Office. There they will surely tell us the best routes and places to see the flamingos.

Finally, bicycles can be rented in Salin des Giraud or in guesthouses. The bicycle offers the undeniable advantage of melting into the landscape and immersing us in its sounds, smells and climates in a much more direct way than a car.

What time of the year do flamingos come to the Camargue?

Usually between April and September, more than 15,000 pairs of flamingos arrive in the Camargue. Breeding begins between April and June and, by September, they are abundant.

So, if the intention is to see flamingos (and, above all, to see them in numbers: in community), we recommend traveling during those months when the temperature and the routes and cycles of these birds make them massive inhabitants of the region.

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3. White horses

The Camargue’s white horses are part of its landscape, having inhabited it, it is said, for thousands of years. They ride through their territory of marshes and wetlands every day, usually in groups. Watching them is like becoming a wildlife documentarian.

This breed of horse combines a mostly white color with some grays, and easily traverses the swampy terrain of the area due to its strength and endurance.

They are technically wild animals, although they are generally docile and friendly, even curious.

In addition to seeing them, it is possible to ride them and tour the area on board. There are several companies that offer horseback riding on this breed of equine. If the walk is at sunset, ideal time, great postcard.

The white horses of the Camargue, because of their millenary history with the landscape of which they are inevitably a part, are also called Horses of the Sea. Undoubtedly, because of its way of walking in the peculiar landscape it inhabits.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that the Camargue white horses have been officially recognized as breeds since 1978 and are cared for and educated , in some cases, by the so-called Gardians (“guardians” after their origin: the plains of Le Gard).

Along with their Guardians, the Camargue Horses are used to herd cattle, for example, or to ride around the territory.

4. Birds in the Ornithological Park

We mentioned the pink flamingos of the Camargue earlier. It is true that they are among the main attractions of the Camargue, but they are by no means the only ones.

In fact, more than 300 species of birds gather in the Camargue to breed between migrations – a world!

This vastness of species, shapes and colors can be appreciated in the incredible Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau. Located about 4 kilometers from the city, this park offers about 60 hectares where you can appreciate flora and fauna of the territory in an ideal way.

The Park is located on the Route d’Arle, near Sainte Marie de la Mer. It is open all year round. You can generally enter between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and leave independently until sunset.

The park, although dedicated to birds as its leitmotiv, is a real mosaic of the attractions of the Camargue: lagoons, hiking trails, marshes, meadows and, of course, birds of all kinds and colors. Flamingos (always) but also storks, sparrows, herons and others.

Although one could spend a long time touring it, an hour and a half is estimated as the time needed to appreciate it in general.

Entrance tickets cost about 7.5 euros and guided tours cost 11 euros. Children under 13 years old pay 5 euros.

For additional information, it is worth mentioning that picnics are allowed but pets are not allowed. Also that its almost 3 kilometers of trails in the southern part of the park are accessible to people with reduced mobility.

5. Salt crystals in salt marshes.

The salt pans and salt marshes of the Camargue form a liquid-moving landscape of changing boundaries that contains real landmarks to contemplate within. The mixture of waters (fresh from the Rhone, salty from the Mediterranean) holds its treasures.

First of all, the salt marshes of the Camargue contain various shades, including pink, which is colored by the specificity of some microscopic algae that inhabit its waters and combine perfectly with the color of the region’s flamingos.

Secondly, the salt flats contain considerable mountains of salt (called camelles in French), which give the environment its characteristic natural and dreamlike tone.

In them, as well as on the shores of the salt pans, we can appreciate the salt crystals as small works of natural and ephemeral art.

It is also worth mentioning that from these crystals is extracted the so-called Flor de Sal, a highly appreciated product in gastronomy, considered the caviar of salt, which is as crunchy as it is beneficial to health (always, in its right measure).

As if it were the work of a painter, the pink and white colors mentioned above are joined in some parts by violet and blue, derived from the sea lavender that also grows in Camargue.

As they say, the landscape is a true painting, at once mundane and divine.

#6 Camargue Bullfighting Games

Just as there are Camargue horses and pink flamingos, there are also Camargue bulls.

This is a bovine breed whose male specimens are destined for particular bullfighting games, generally grouped under the name of bullfight camarguesa .

The particularity of these bullfighting games typical of this region is that, unlike traditional bullfighting, the animal is not killed. There are tournaments and competitions of corrida camarguaise, even in different municipalities outside Camargue.

These races basically consist of trying to catch those attributes or objects (cockades, tassels, ropes) placed on the horns or forehead of the Camargue bull.

It is, therefore, a bullfight with its typical elements, but without the aggressive end for the animal. In addition, its actors are usually extended to the trimmer (who collects the attributes) and the assistants of the trimmer. Both usually wear white suits.

7. The three Marys in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

In the Camargue area, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, in the district of Arles Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is one of the historical places par excellence to visit, especially if religious and ancient history is concerned .

The city’s origins go back centuries and its mentions have to do mainly with the fact that it is the place where Mary of Cleophas (or Iacobi), Mary Salome (or Altera Mary) and Mary Magdalene disembarked after their flight from Palestine.

Hence, the place is referred to as “The Three Marys” who, in their forced exile, escaped the persecution to which Christians were subjected in their land.

Before bearing its present name, the place where we now find the city was known as Notre-Dame-de-la-Barque (Our Lady of the Boat, in reference to the raft on which the three Marys would have arrived) and Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer (of the sea).

The importance of this founding event lies in the fact that, together with the landing of the three Marys, several Christians disembarked with them and spread Christianity in France.

Today, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer keeps its history and traditions in monuments, churches and combines them perfectly with the natural landscapes that surround its surroundings, starting with the Mediterranean beach that becomes a beautiful destination in summer.

The city allows you to take the opportunity to explore the history of Christianity in its church, of course, but also invites you to visit several of the points mentioned above, such as the corridas camarguesas, the Ornithological Park or natural environments.

It also has a very varied gastronomic offer, especially recommended in its Provencal specialties to be in tune with the region.

Where to stay in the Camargue

Accommodations in the Camargue and their prices vary according to the region and services, but in general we can say that they range from 50 euros to… Well, the limit is set by the one who chooses, as it really depends on many factors.

– Apartment

A good option is always is an apartment, whose prices in their smaller versions (studios) start at 45 euros.

The undeniable advantage of an apartment is that we will be able to move independently of schedules and we will have the autonomy to eat, have breakfast and sleep basically when and how we want.

– Hotels

For those who prefer hotels, these start at 50 euros. In general, they include breakfast and may offer parking spaces, depending on the establishment.

In addition, we will have the necessary advice and the peace of mind of residing in an establishment dedicated to tourist services, which can be a plus in case questions arise during our stay.

Can I visit Camargue by car?

Of course, it is! In fact, it is a highly recommended option given the proximity that links the various points of interest in the region and the particular pleasure that comes with touring its landscapes by car.

In addition to the points mentioned in this post, going in your own vehicle to Camargue can be the perfect excuse to visit other incredible nearby towns, such as Arles or Saint Rémy en Provence, ideal for lovers of Van Gogh and the south of France.

• Rent a car for your trip here

Travel Insurance

It is always advisable to carry travel insurance. Especially if our plans involve being in contact with nature and wild environments, which besides being beautiful and incredible, can also give rise to the unexpected.

We will always have peace of mind knowing that we are covered. Travel insurance that provides 24-hour attention will allow us to truly relax and enjoy the environment without worrying about eventualities that, if they arise, will be solvable.

Good travel coverage will allow us to focus on what really summons us: knowing the place, without worrying about “what if…”.

You can purchase your travel insurance with a 5% discount with this link.

Is the Camargue worth a visit?

The Camargue is definitely worth a visit. Both for its natural beauty, its unique landscapes and its original and original animals, as well as for its rich history, traditions and cultural variety.

In addition to all that the region itself has to offer, it is a platform for visiting other towns, cities and nearby areas due to its strategic location in the south of France.

So, if you had any doubts, we hope we have cleared them up along with the way to your next destination. Have a good trip!

Plan Your Trip to Provence

• Best time to travel to France
• How to plan a road trip to France
• The most beautiful villages of Provence
• Largest cities in Provence
• 10-day road trip through Provence
• Châteaux to stay in Provence

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Hi there! I’m Vero! I’ve always loved traveling! I have been living in France since 2018. And traveling around this awesome country. I love road trips and traveling by van, and also, some comfy getaways :) Check out: Touristear.com

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13 of the best places to visit in France

Nov 25, 2023 • 7 min read

Have you been to France if you haven't got a shot in the lavender fields of Provence? © iStock / Getty Images

France  consistently tops the list as the world’s most visited destination – and it doesn’t take much imagination to see why.

Its winning formula of captivating cities, awe-inspiring landscapes – including the  Alps and the  Pyrenees – an enviable coastline and some of the world’s best food and wine is hard to resist. Affordable public transportation and a sprawling network of motorways mean you can cover a lot of ground if you want to visit more than one region. But it’s just as tempting to stick to one place and enjoy the country's seductive lifestyle.

Wondering where to go in France? Have a look at these top destinations for some inspiration.

1. Paris has great urban vibes

Much as you’d like to tick the main sights of  Paris off your list – world-class art at the  Louvre and  Musée d’Orsay , the  Eiffel Tower ,  Sacré-Coeur – make time for some of its lesser-known attractions. Wander the atmospheric streets of the  Marais – popping into the free  Musée Carnavalet as well as  Musée Picasso – before checking out the vintage shops of the 10th arrondissement . Make your way over to buzzing Belleville and take in fabulous views of Paris from Parc de Belleville. For full-on greenery in the city, follow the footpaths around the elegant 19th-century  Parc des Buttes-Chaumont .

Local tip : For authentic local dining experiences, avoid restaurants that tout a menu touristique, or display a sample meal of plastic food on the pavement outside.

Read more: Where locals go on vacation in France

2. the loire valley's castles are best explored by bike.

At some point, you’ll want to be on two wheels as you explore the gently rolling landscapes of the  Loire Valley – especially as cycling is made so much easier thanks to the extensive Vélo Verte network of bike routes. Combine visiting vineyards with glimpses into lavish Renaissance life in the 42 sumptuous chateaux, particularly the fantastically elaborate  Chateau de Chenonceau and the more intimate and romantic  Chateau d’Azay-le-Rideau on its own island on the Indre tributary.

Local tip:  Don't leave your bicycle locked up outside on the street overnight if you want to see it (or at least most of its parts) again. Some hotels offer enclosed bicycle parking. 

3. Normandy’s coast is the place to learn about WWII history  

Normandy ’s long coastline is packed with historical landmarks, the D-Day beaches being the most striking. It’s impossible not to be moved by the many poignant memorials, including the  American cemetery at Omaha Beach and the  Juno Beach Centre at Courseulles-sur-Mer. Head further east, and you end up in a 19th-century time capsule in the alluring resorts of Cabourg, Deauville, Trouville and  Honfleur .

4. Strasbourg and Alsace’s wine routes are full of fairy-tale charm

Strasbourg is half-timbered heaven, with an outrageously picturesque old town set on its own island on the  River Ill . Wander round its imposing Cathédrale Notre-Dame before relaxing on one of the cafe terraces in little Place du Marché Gayot just behind. The city is an excellent starting point for a tour of the  Alsace Wine Route, the oldest in France. Beer drinkers aren’t left out: Alsace is the only region in France that makes wine and beer.

5. The Luberon in Provence has many lovely hilltop villages

Terracotta rooftops and honey-colored stone cottages tumble down pine-clad hills, while vineyards crisscross the valleys with olive groves and lavender fields. That’s when you know you’re in Provence, specifically the wonderfully mellow  Luberon . Wander from village to hilltop village and lose yourself in the medieval lanes of some of the most gorgeous places in France. Put Bonnieux, Gordes, Ménerbes, Roussillon and Saignon on your list just for starters.

Local tip : Buy a baguette from the boulangerie (bakery) and fill it with Camembert, pâté or charcuterie (cold meats). Finish sweet with macarons, buttery kouign amann (Breton butter cake) or cherries in summer. 

6. Mont-St-Michel is a top destination for medieval history buffs

The 10th-century Benedictine abbey at  Mont-St-Michel casts its spell even before you arrive. The walk to this tidal island takes at least 20 minutes, during which you have this magnificent abbey, monastery and snail-like spiral of village houses in your sights. You certainly won’t tire of that view. Once you’ve explored the gothic interiors, take your pick from one of the panoramic restaurants circling the island.

7. Dune du Pilat is France's most scenic place to camp

Soaring more than 100m (328ft) above sea level, the otherworldly Dune du Pilat is Europe’s tallest sand dune. Sheltered by the Arguin sandbank, its waters are much gentler than further up the Atlantic coast on the western side of Cap Ferret. It’s ringed with campsites, giving you not only one of the loveliest views but also utterly mesmerizing sunsets. When you’re not running up the mountain of sand, you’ll be transfixed by the antics of the paragliders who rarely leave this place.

Local tip : There is a large car park about 400 meters (437 yards) from the dune, which charges a small fee for parking. However, you cannot park here overnight without being fined €50. 

8. Lyon is a top food destination

Even Parisians have to admit that  Lyon is gastronomic royalty in France. Bring a big appetite to do justice to eating in Lyon’s trademark bouchons , intimate little bistros that specialize in hearty meat-heavy lyonnaise cuisine. Start your bouchon tour in the UNESCO-listed Renaissance lanes of Vieux Lyon, where you can also spot the old secret passageways known as traboules .

9. Bordeaux is the best place to go for wine lovers

Mixing easy elegance with liveliness, France’s wine capital hums with the sounds of people enjoying themselves in  Bordeaux ’s cafe-filled 18th-century lanes of Saint-Pierre and Place du Parlement. Take the pleasant, pedestrianized path along the River Garonne to  La Cité du Vin , whose audacious design holds a thoroughly enjoyable museum celebrating wine from Bordeaux and beyond.

Local tip : Dress up when dining out, even at mid-range restaurants, clubs and bars. Leave the jeans and sneakers in your suitcase (unless you're at the local village bar where a more casual style is fine).

10. Annecy has the best Alpine beauty

On the doorstep of the French Alps,  Annecy is another one of those sigh-inducing gorgeous cities that France does so well. Its medieval heart squeezes into gaps between the Thiou River and Canal, with tall pastel-colored townhouses towering over the quayside cafes. You can’t miss the  Vieille Ville ’s most distinctive landmark,  Palais de l’Île , a medieval castle and former prison that’s now a museum. Your wanderings will inevitably take you to the glorious shores of Lake Annecy, one of France’s most beautiful.

11. Biarritz and Basque Country is packed with boho chic

Royalty has been flocking to  Biarritz for more than two centuries since Napoleon III’s mother, Queen Hortense, fell in love with this fishing village on the Atlantic coast. Then the surfers joined in from the 1950s onward, bringing some laid-back cool to go with Biarritz’s superb beaches. Once you’ve had a swim in the  Grande Plage and  Plage de la Côte des Basques , check out the  Basque Country coastal towns of  Bayonne and  St-Jean-de-Luz before heading into the Pyrenees.

12. Nice is a vibrant taste of life on the Mediterranean

The sun-drenched capital of the Côte d’Azur is everything you want in a Mediterranean city, and then some. Explore the labyrinthine lanes of  Vieux Nice , with an obligatory trawl through the morning food market at  Cours Saleya  before taking in the views from the top of  Colline du Chateau . Chill out on one of  Nice ’s many beaches before getting a culture fix at the  Chagall and  Matisse museums. Hop on one of the most scenic train lines in Europe and pop into the attractive coastal villages of  Villefranche-sur-Mer and  Èze .

Planning tip: If you're heading to the Côte d’Azur in May, book time to get over to star-studded Cannes for Europe's biggest cinema extravaganza. Every evening from 9:30pm, the Cinéma de la Plage provides free open-air screenings on the beachfront.

13. Auvergne has a captivating natural landscape

The lush volcanic landscape of the  Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d’Auvergne is one of the most dramatic in France. Among its four volcanic massifs, the green-covered lava domes, cinder cones and craters of the Chaîne des Puys – more than 80 volcanoes – are a dream to explore on foot, on two wheels or from an exhilarating paraglide flight.

Local tip : If you're traveling with children, head to the surprisingly educative Vulcania theme park and learn about Auvergne's long-extinct volcanoes. 

This article was first published June 2012 and updated November 2023

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The 9 Best Theme Parks in France

France is best known for Disneyland Paris, of course. But the country has many other wonderful theme parks and amusement parks that are worth a visit. If you're planning a trip and want to check out the best parks the country has to offer, here's what needs to be on your list.

Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée

With nearly 10 million guests per year, Disneyland Park is one of the most popular theme parks in the world, the highest attended park in Europe, and the most visited destination in France. It follows the classic design of the original Disneyland Park in California and shares many of its lands and attractions, including “it’s a small world,” Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean , and Main Street U.S.A. It also features unique elements, such as the launched coaster, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, and its take on the Haunted Mansion , Phantom Manor. Fans consider Disneyland Paris to be the most beautiful of the Disneyland-style parks. Located about 20 miles from Paris, it’s easy to get to the Disney resort by train as well as by shuttle from the city’s airports.

Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée

The second park at the resort, Walt Disney Studios Park, is considerably smaller than Disneyland Park. Themed to movies and television, it includes attractions based on “Cars,” “Ratatouille,” and “Toy Story,” as well as it own version of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror . In 2022, a new Avengers Campus is set to open and will feature a Spider-Man Web Slingers ride along with an Iron Man makeover of the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster. It has some compelling reasons to visit, but, because of its size and number of things to see and do, Walt Disney Studios Park takes only about half of a day to experience (as opposed to the full-day needed to fully appreciate Disneyland Park).

Parc Astérix in Plailly

Compagnie des Alpes

With more than 2 million visitor annually, Parc Astérix is only behind the Disney parks in popularity in France and is among the top ten most attended parks in Europe. Themed to the the popular Astérix comic books, it includes plenty of their whimsy and humor, along with their characters. Parc Astérix does not offer any sophisticated dark rides like those found at Disneyland Paris, but adrenaline junkies can experience some wild roller coasters and other thrill rides. For example, the steel coaster, Toutatis, will climb 167 feet, include three inversions, and deliver loads of airtime when it opens in 2023. There are also rides geared to young children and families. Park Astérix is located 20 miles north of Paris and can be reached by shuttle bus from the city.

Puy du Fou in Vendée

Puy du Fou does not offer roller coasters or any other mechanical rides and is not an amusement park or a theme park in the traditional sense. Instead, the focus is on grand-scale, over-the-top shows filled with spectacle. One of the highlights,  "Le Signe du Triomphe" (Triumph's Sign), takes place in a replica of the Roman Coliseum and features gladiator fights, chariot races, wrestling with wildcats, and parades of exotic animals. There are also presentations based on the Renaissance, the Belle Epoque, the 17th century, medieval times, and the modern era. Visitors can explore period villages and gardens as well. Puy du Fou caps each evening with La Cinéscénie, a wildly ambitious production filled with synchronized fountains, digital projections, and over 2,500 actors. The park bills it as the world’s biggest nighttime show. Puy du Fou is about three hours from both Paris and Bordeaux.

Futuroscope in Chasseneuil-du-Poitou

Known for its modernist buildings, Futuroscope combines sophisticated, story-based, Disneyesque attractions with some high-thrill rides. Among the highlights are the flying theater presentation (like Disney’s Soarin’ ), The Extraordinary Journey; the coaster-based attraction, Destination Mars; and Arthur, the 4D Adventure (based on the animated character). The park presents a crowd-pleasing end-of-the-night show, The Key to Dreams, that features projected imagery on water screens and dancing lights. Futuroscope is just outside Poitiers in western France.

Le Jardin d'Acclimatation in Paris

The Jardin d'Acclimation

Dating back to 1860, the lovely Jardin d'Acclimatation has been a beloved Paris attraction for generations. Its stately, manicured gardens have always been at the heart of the park. In 2017, the Jardin began an ambitious refurbishment project to restore and enhance the property. The park also features a variety of rides and attractions, including four roller coasters. Built in 1900, its double-decker carousel is one of the most celebrated in the world. There are also a number of free play areas, shows, a display of honeybees, and restaurants to discover. The Jardin d'Acclimatation is in the Bois de Boulogne area of Paris and can be reached via the metro.

Parc Le Pal in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Besbre

As much a zoo as an amusement park, Le Pal has many animal exhibits, including lions, alligators, and chimps, as well as shows featuring sea lions and parrots. It doesn't skimp on the rides, however, and offers five roller coasters, including Yukon Quad, a launched model that hits 56 mph. Other attractions include two log flumes, a train ride, a Colorado River-themed raft ride, and an African safari jeep ride for children. There is also a 3D cinema. Located in the center of France, Le Pal is about two hours from both Lyon and Dijon.

Walibi Rhône-Alpes in Les Avenières

Walibi Rhône-Alpes is one of France’s biggest and most thrilling amusement parks. Among its five roller coasters is Mystic, which includes a vertical lift hill, climbs 102 feet, hits 53 mph, and offers three inversions. Walibi’s wooden coaster, Timber, delivers 11 airtime moments. Other highlights include the 50-meter-tall swing ride, Hurricane, the Gold River raft ride, and the Bambooz River log flume. A small water play area, Fermeture Aqualibi, offers slides and other ways to get wet. Located in the southeastern part of France, shuttle buses are available from Lyon, Chambéry, and other cities.

Parc Bagatelle in Merlimont

Parc Bagatelle

A popular, longstanding, seasonal amusement park, Bagatelle has been entertaining visitors since 1955. It offers a wide variety of rides and attractions, including five roller coasters. The most thrilling ride is Triops, a suspended looping coaster that includes three inversions and delivers 5Gs of force. There is also a log flume, a river raft ride, and a swinging boat ride. Bagatelle also offers spinning rides and other attractions for younger kids. The park is in northern France and is accessible by train as well as car.

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20 Beautiful Places to Visit in France — From Normandy to the French Riviera

The best places to visit in France range from iconic landmarks to charming villages.

Lindsay Cohn is a writer, editor, and avid traveler who has visited 45 countries across six continents — and counting. She contributes to Travel + Leisure, Hotels Above Par, InsideHook, Well+Good, The Zoe Report, and more.

Eduardo_oliveros/Getty Images

Many things entice travelers to visit France — food, wine, fashion, architecture, and natural beauty among them. There’s something wonderful to eat, drink, see, and do in every corner of this Western European nation. It’s hard not to fall in love with Paris . The glamorous beaches along the Côte d'Azur are legendary. Provence also packs a punch with fragrant lavender fields, the hilltop villages of the Luberon , and vineyards. Vines and grand chateaux mix in the Loire Valley . Truth be told, the number of dazzling places within the country is actually quite dizzying, but we’re more than happy to help point you in some of the most photogenic directions. Scroll on for 20 of the best places to visit in France.

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Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful small towns in the world , Gordes draws heaps of tourists who descend upon this idyllic Luberon village in the hopes of capturing the perfect shot of its cobbled lanes, time-worn churches, and 12th-century Sénanque Abbey framed by lavender fields.

Palace of Versailles

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Whether you’re a film buff, love history, or simply want to tick one of France’s most famous landmarks off your sightseeing list, the grandeur of Versailles never fails to impress. The palace is home to the Hall of Mirrors, the Royal Chapel, and many other opulent rooms. Outside are the magnificent gardens, fountains, and sprawling park.

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Camargue doesn’t look or feel like anywhere else in southern France. This wild region between the Mediterranean Sea and the two branches of the Rhône River delta brims with the untamed natural beauty of salt marshes, reed beds, free-roaming white horses, and hundreds of bird species — most notably, pink flamingos.

Eiffel Tower

Built for the 1889 World's Fair, the Eiffel Tower is an enduring symbol of Paris. It’s one thing to see the famous landmark in films, television shows, and photographs, but it’s quite another to get a close-up look at this incredible feat of ingenuity in real life. The twinkly lights at night only add to the romance of it all.

Île Sainte-Marguerite

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Located about half a mile offshore from tourist-laden Cannes, Île Sainte-Marguerite reflects a more low-key side of the French Riviera with lovely scenery at every turn. The largest of the Lérins Islands has beautiful rocky beaches, turquoise waters, and a eucalyptus forest, plus an underwater sculpture museum.

Châteaux of the Loire Valley

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Part of the historical and architectural fabric of the country, the châteaux of the Loire Valley are an enduring reminder of Renaissance resplendence. Impressive from both a design and landscaping perspective, these regal landmarks range from palaces with sprawling gardens (like Château de Chambord) to smaller castles.

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

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Tucked on the eastern side of a forested peninsula, the exclusive commune of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat has long captivated artists such as Henri Matisse, writers, and well-heeled holiday-goers with its spellbinding beauty. Expect exquisite villas hidden by lush vegetation, breathtaking beaches with clear waters for snorkeling, hiking trails, and a yacht-filled harbor.

Milena Pigdanowicz-Fidera/Getty Images

Situated just south of Colmar in the Alsace region of France, Eguisheim looks like a medieval village you’d see on the cover of a storybook with a concentric plan of narrow streets, half-timbered houses, bubbling fountains, centuries-old castles, and wine caves.

Louvre Museum

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No list of the best places to visit in France would be complete without mentioning the Louvre. The most patronized museum in the world is a historic landmark in its own right with an eye-catching exterior and rooms filled with priceless works of art including the "Mona Lisa" and the Venus de Milo.

Strasbourg Cathedral

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Strasbourg Cathedral is widely regarded as one the most outstanding examples of Rayonnant Gothic architecture (though, for accuracy, the remaining parts of the original structure are Romanesque). It’s a beautiful landmark with heaps of history and visual appeal that’s well worth visiting while in the Alsace region.

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Straddling the French-Italian border and extending into Switzerland, Mont Blanc (which translates to “White Mountain”) rises 15,771 feet, making it the highest mountain in the Alps and the second most prominent peak in Europe. People come from near and far to go skiing, ride the Aiguille du Midi cable car, and even attempt to climb to the summit.

Valensole Plateau Lavender Fields

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Lavender fields have come to define Provence. This purple-hued visual is splashed across the front of virtually every postcard in the region. Many of those photos were taken on the Valensole Plateau, which erupts in a fragrant and vibrant bloom each summer.

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The charming hilltop district of Montmartre in Paris’s 18th arrondissement feels more like a small village than a big city. Cobbled streets, sidewalk cafes, windmills, and performances from local musicians give it a quaint atmosphere. Its crown jewel, the iconic white-domed Sacré-Cœur commands attention.

Saint-Tropez

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Few places shine quite like Saint-Tropez. Celebrities, artists, and jet setters have been flocking to this cinematic holiday hotspot on the French Riveria since the 1960s. The glamorous beach clubs, mega yachts, and charming old fishing quarter keep the crowds thick every summer. 

Belle-Île-en-Mer

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The largest of the islands off the coast of Brittany in northwest France, the aptly named Belle-Île-en-Mer is a beautiful destination with uncrowded beaches, enchanting villages, and rugged cliffs. The jagged rock formation known as Les Aiguilles de Port Coton even inspired Monet to pick up his paintbrush.

Porquerolles

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While it’s impossible to pick a favorite spot along the French Riveria, there’s a lot to love about Porquerolles. The largest of the Îles d'Hyères offers peaceful beaches, calm waters, rolling vineyards, cycling paths through the countryside, old forts, and an off-the-beaten-path vibe.

Veuve Clicquot Champagne House

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For fans of bubbly, few things are as fabulous as a trip to the Champagne region of France. Founded in 1772, Veuve Clicquot tops the list of the most significant and celebrated producers. A visit to this world-famous house in Reims entails touring the historic cellars and, of course, sipping the finest sparkling wine.

Arc De Triomphe

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Everyone who visits France’s capital for the first time heads over to the Arc De Triomphe for that “I went to Paris" photo. It’s worth joining the masses in admiring this famous monument that stands tall at the western end of the Champs-Élysées.

Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc

Courtesy of Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc

Admittedly, an overnight stay at the luxurious Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc at the tip of Cap d’Antibes isn’t in the budget for most travelers. But that shouldn’t preclude you from visiting. Reserve a terrace table at the restaurant to savor Mediterranean cuisine alongside stunning views of the sea and the rock-framed infinity pool.

D-Day Landing Beaches

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Normandy is closely associated with WWII — specifically, the fateful day the Allied troops made landfall at the D-Day beaches, an operation that ultimately led to the liberation of France (and eventually Western Europe) from Nazi occupation. Today, travelers can visit the many museums and memorials along the 50-mile stretch of coastline.

6 Center Parcs in France: Picking the best holiday resort

• Post category: Travel to France
• Post author: Nassie Angadi

Ah, the family holiday! As much as we would like to trek off to Nepal with the kids, sometimes we just need an easy family holiday nearby. There are 6 Center Parcs in France, with some easier to get to, and some offering better value.

If you are coming from the U.K. and are familiar with the concept, you may have heard the secret: the Center Parcs in France are known to be a bit cheaper than the ones in the U.K. Combine that with a bit of French culture and sightseeing, and you have a winner!

Now Center Parcs sounds French, but it was actually founded by a Dutch company. The company today is owned by a multinational French company “Pierre et Vacances” and so has quite an international feel, with resorts all over the UK, Belgium, France, Netherlands, and Germany.

The service and layout is pretty standard across the resorts, but each resort has its own look and style. The cottages in each resort vary from cape cod to modern style wood and concrete structures laid out across the resort in a suburban neighborhood style.

By this I mean that since regular houses in France are usually built with stone, don’t expect the traditional French village look at these Center Parcs. These are clearly more modern structures, each with its own look and feel.

Most of the activities occur in a central area, so you do have to walk back and forth. There is usually a large indoor domed pool, an outdoor pool, indoor and outdoor playgrounds for the kids, spa, bowling, minigolf, a supermarket , restaurants, and a multitude of other activities.

Some of the activities such as the swimming pools and playgrounds are free. The rest of them like have additional fees (unlike a cruise ship) so you need to take that into account when budgeting for your holiday.

This guide will compare the 6 French resorts, look at nearby attractions, and which ones offer ease of access to make the most of your holiday. So let’s get to it shall we? Allons-y!

1. Le Lac d’Ailette

• Location: North Picardie
• Accessibility by car (without traffic): 2.5 hours drive from Calais, 2 hours drive from Paris
• Closest airports: Paris Charles de Gaulle airport (2-hour drive), Brussels Charleroi airport (3-hour drive)
• Surrounding attractions: about 45 minutes away from Reims and the Champagne region of France
• Age of the resort: Opened in 2007 (VIP Nouveau Design cottages recently renovated)

Lac d’Aillette bills itself as pied dans l’eau , meaning “feet in the water”. Along with a large lake, there are small little inlets around which the cottages are built. Depending on the cottage you pick, you can literally feed the ducks in the water from your balcony. (I recommend picking a VIP cottage with sauna, which will definitely have you with pied dans l’eau !)

The cottages are built in a New England Cape Cod-style, with wood frame walls with shingles or clapboards, the gabled roof, and a large central chimney. The resort itself is nice and calm, though the footpaths are a bit hilly, but you can hire a golf cart for €99/week.

This isn’t the most exciting resort with a ton of activities or attractions. There are the usual (swimming pools, playgrounds, bowling, yoga, spa, etc), but nothing overly extraordinary. If you are looking for a calm holiday en famille , this is it. With the chance to try different types of champagne (perhaps)!

See accommodation and reserve Lac d’Aillette .

2. Les Bois-Francs

• Location: Normandy
• Accessibility by car (without traffic): 4 hours drive from Calais, 2 hours drive from Paris
• Closest airports: Deauville Saint-Gatien Airport (1h40 minutes drive away)
• Surrounding attractions: 15 minutes from Château Verneuil-sur-Avre and town
• Age of the resort: Opened in 1988 (currently undergoing a renovation to expand the Indoor swimming pool which will be completed in 2022).

Les Bois Francs may be in Normandy but it is still about 3 hours away from major sights such as Saint-Malo , Mont Saint Michel and the D-Day beaches of Normandy .

This is the oldest of the Center Parcs in France and so has slowly been undergoing major renovations. Along with the swimming pools, some of the Pagoda cottages have also been recently renovated (in 2017). The cottages are laid out in a beautiful forest setting that is quite tranquil.

If you enjoy golf, this resort has a 9 hole golf course and is part of the Golfy network. There are also golf lessons available through the resort. It also has all the usual activities, along with tennis courts and a place to fish.

See accommodation and reserve Les Bois Francs .

3. Les Hauts de Bruyères

• Location: Loire Valley
• Accessibility by car (without traffic): 5 hours drive from Calais, 2 hours drive from Paris
• Closest airports: Bourges Airport (1-hour drive) and Tours Airport (1.5-hour drive)
• Surrounding attractions: surrounded by the Chateaux of the Loire Valley
• Age of the resort: Opened in 1993

Surrounded by the Chateaux of the Loire Valley, Les Hauts de Bruyères is set in a pine forest near the towns of Amboise , Tours and Orleans .

It is about a 40-minute drive away from Château de Chambord and 1h20 from Chateau de Chenonceau and Chateau d’Amboise .

Other castles in the area include Château de Chéverny , Château de Villandry , Château de Chaumont , and Château de Blois . There are guided excursions to the chateaux available for purchase at the concierge.

There are also plenty of other attractions such as paintball, archery, pétanque , indoor and outdoor tennis, a circus school, and all the usual swimming pools and playgrounds.

It has more activities than Lac d’Aillette and so in a nice compromise between those wanting calm, and those wanting a few more activities.

See accommodation and reserve Les Hauts de Bruyères .

4. Les Trois Forêts

• Location: Moselle
• Accessibility by car (without traffic): 5.5 hours drive from Calais, 4.5 hours drive from Paris
• Closest airports: Strasbourg airport, France (1h away) and Saarbrücken airport, Germany (1h15 away).
• Surrounding attractions: 10 minutes away from the Château de Turquestein and 20 minutes from Golf du Pays de Sarrebourg. 1-hour drive from Strasbourg and Alsace.
• Age of the resort: Opened in 2010 (Spa and other facilities were renovated in 2017-2018)

This is one of the newer resorts, within a couple of hours of both the German and Swiss borders, near Alsace. Les 3 Forêts is all about the forest with contemporary wood cottages, some of which have a special theme.

There are 3 themes that you can pick from:

• Adventure cottage
• Animals of the forest cottage
• Fairytale Kingdom cottage.

You can also just pick the VIP cottage with sauna, which is what I always recommend . There are plenty of activities including high wire adventure, paintball, and all the usual swimming pools and playgrounds.

The Alsace region is also popular for its different types of wine , with many a visitor traveling along its famous Wine Route.

See accommodation and reserve Les Trois Forêts .

5. Le Bois aux Daims

• Location: In Poitou-Charentes
• Accessibility by car (without traffic): 5.5 hours drive from Calais, 3.5 hours drive from Paris
• Closest airports: Poitiers (1 hour away), Angers Airport (1 hour away) and Nantes Airport (2 hours away).
• Surrounding attractions: 10 minutes drive away from Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers, 20 minutes away from Château de Ternay, and 1 hour away from Poitiers
• Age of the resort: Opened in 2015

If you have ever wanted to stay in a treehouse, this is your chance. There are only a couple of treehouses, but if you get lucky you can stay high up in the trees with a beautiful private terrasse overlooking the treetops.

The treehouses may look rustic, but they are fully equipped with dishwashers, wifi and everything in the regular cottages.

There are all the standard and VIP cottages as well, if you are scared of heights. Similar to Les Trois Forêts, these are also modern-style cottages with contemporary clean lines.

The terrain is flatter compared to Lac d’Aillette, which is great for small kids biking along. There are also plenty of activities like an animal sanctuary, high wire adventures, fun bikes, and the usual swimming pools and playgrounds.

See accommodation and reserve Le Bois aux Daims .

6. Villages Nature Paris

• Location: Suburbs of Paris
• Accessibility by car (without traffic): 3 hours drive from Calais, 0.5 hours drive from Paris.
• Nearby international airport: Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, Paris Orly airport
• By train: Eurostar, Thalys, and other high-speed trains arrive in Paris directly, from where you can take suburban trains. This Center Parc is accessible without a car. A paid shuttle can transport you between the train station, Disneyland and the Village.
• Surrounding attractions: 10-minute drive away from Disneyland Paris, 20-minute train ride away from Paris
• Age of the resort: Opened in 2017

☞ READ MORE: Paris with kids: Things to do that are not crazy

Center Parcs with Mickey and Minnie! Village Nature Paris has a partnership with Disneyland Paris , which lists it on its website as an official Disney village.

Because of the Disney connection, this resort is easily the most expensive of the Center Parcs in France. If you can add on tickets to Disney, it gets even more expensive. Certain tickets also get “Extra Magic Time”, where you get to go to Disney one hour before the park opens, so there is that.

Village Nature Paris has everything you would expect from Center Parcs, the indoor domed pools, the playgrounds, activities, etc. It also has an upgraded Action Factory , with climbing walls and other games for older children and adults.

See accommodation and reserve Village Nature Paris .

So there you go, are you inspired by where you want to stay? If you have never been to Center Parcs before, check out my top tips on visiting Center Parcs . Happy vacationing and à bientôt !

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Best places to visit in france.

France is home to some of the most lively cities, bucolic villages and renowned wine regions on the globe. U.S. News considered factors like variety of attractions, lodging, weather and culinary scenes to create this ranking of the best places to visit in France. Whether you're seeking an action-packed sightseeing adventure or a relaxing wine retreat, you'll find a fun French vacation here. To influence next year's ranking, vote below for your favorite destinations in France.

Mont Saint-Michel

Montpellier, french alps, chamonix-mont-blanc, aix-en-provence, loire valley.

As the world's best place to visit , it's no surprise that the electrifying City of Light tops this list. France's capital city is a year-round tourist destination with iconic attractions like the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower and incredible architecture (think: the dazzling Basilique du Sacré-Coeur). Not to mention, Paris offers unparalleled dining and shopping scenes and more museums than you could hope to visit in one trip. Keep in mind, Paris is often flooded with tourists and room rates can be pricey. If you're looking for a deal, travel in winter or early spring.

The capital of the Alsace region offers the perfect mix of French and German culture thanks to its location on the France-Germany border. While here, travelers should see Strasbourg's Gothic-style cathedral and stroll through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Petite France quarter with its half-timbered houses and postcard-worthy waterways. Plus, those with an interest in politics can tour several important European institutions during their visit, including the European Parliament and the Council of Europe. For an extra dose of charm, arrive in December to see one of Europe's oldest Christmas markets.

Rising above the sea like a castle in a fairy tale, Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy is one of France's most-visited sights. Legend says the archangel Michael, the island's namesake, repeatedly appeared to Bishop Aubert of Avranches in dreams, telling him to build a church on top of the island in A.D. 708. Since its completion, it has become an important pilgrimage site for Christians and European intellectuals. Visitors can tour the picturesque abbey and admire its incredible medieval architecture or wander its surrounding streets, which are lined with tiny shops and quaint cafes.

Dubbed La Ville Rose due to the prominence of distinctive clay bricks in its architecture, Toulouse is a feast for the eyes. Throughout this city, which is located in the South of France, you'll find marvels like the neoclassical Le Capitole on the main square, the stately Basilica of Saint-Sernin (an 11th-century UNESCO site) and the Hôtel d’Assézat, which houses a noteworthy art gallery. What's more, several canals with shady footpaths pass through the city, including the idyllic Canal du Midi. For some of the best views of Toulouse, take a cruise on the River Garonne, or just sunbathe on its banks.

Sunny Montpellier glows with a combination of old world charm and a trendy university lifestyle. This city in the south of France evokes Parisian appeal with Haussmann architecture and stylish promenades. And like Paris, adornment is everywhere in Montpellier, from fashionable boutiques to street art to France's oldest botanical garden. Plus, since Montpellier is located 7 miles from the coast of the Mediterranean, a beach break is close at hand. Once the sun sets, take part in the city's youthful nightlife scene, which includes everything from music halls to dance clubs.

It's easy to see why Colmar, located in the heart of Alsace's wine region, is considered one of France's most beautiful cities. Colorful houses that look as if they belong in a fairy tale line the Little Venice district, where you can take a boat tour through Colmar's canals or reach boutiques and eateries on foot. The setting is picturesque regardless of when you vacation here, but for even more charm, visit Colmar at night when lights illuminate the city during annual events like the Colmar International Festival, Alsace's wine fair and Colmar's Christmas market.

To see some of France's most spectacular art and architecture, head to Avignon. This city in southeastern France is full of stunning structures, including the 14th-century Palais des Papes, the largest Gothic palace in the world, and the arched bridge, Pont d'Avignon. A number of can't-miss museums are spread throughout Avignon as well, such as the Musée Angladon, which houses works by highly regarded artists like Edgar Degas, Pablo Picasso and Vincent Van Gogh. Visit in July to attend the Festival d'Avignon, one of the world's largest performing arts festivals.

If your ideal French vacation involves a little more nature and a little less city, head to the French Alps . Here, you'll find some of the best ski slopes in Europe, as well as beautiful scenery that rivals any work of art or architecture. In summer, the typically snow-covered mountains thaw just enough to create perfect conditions for hiking and biking. Enchanting villages sit at the base of the range, offering several places to unwind when you've had enough fun on the slopes or trails.

Despite its war-filled past, this region in northern France is also a place of great beauty and culture. Étretat's white cliffs are a great place to take in the area's natural scenery. Then, visit the region's capital city, Rouen, to admire works of art at the Musée des Beaux-Arts and stroll past the quaint half-timbered houses. Be sure to sample some of the city's culinary specialties to see why it is now a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Or, see some of the remnants of Normandy's heavy history at the D-Day Landing Beaches and The Bayeux Tapestry.

Glamorous Nice occupies a picturesque spot along the French Riviera. Beach bums and culture hounds alike will enjoy the city's pebbly shores, engaging museums, boutique shops and Baroque-style palaces. Be sure to stroll along the coastline's Promenade des Anglais and pick up some fresh flowers and produce at the vibrant Cours Saleya market, located in old town. You'll likely spend a pretty penny on lodging and beach access, but experiencing Nice is worth it. To save some coin, travel between mid-March and April or from September to October, the area's shoulder seasons.

Often called "France's Isle of Beauty," Corsica features diverse landscapes and a unique culture that make it seem like a miniature continent. The Mediterranean island's clear blue water and white sand beaches are ideal for sunbathing, snorkeling and kayaking, while its mountainous terrain and dense forests provide ample opportunities to hike trails like the highly regarded (albeit challenging) GR20. Those looking to take in some history can visit the Maison Bonaparte museum to see Napoleon's birthplace. What's more, Corsica offers a one-of-a-kind food scene that showcases various local delicacies, such as lonzu (dry-cured ham) and brocciu (cheese).

While it may not be as well known as big-name cities like Paris, Lyon competes with the best of them. Despite being the third-largest city in France, Lyon is much calmer and less touristy than other similarly sized destinations. The streets are filled with public art, including the city's famous trompe l'oeil murals, and there are museums that focus on everything from movies to history. Plus, it's surrounded by hundreds of wineries and home to 4,000-plus restaurants, several of which boast Michelin stars, making it especially appealing to oenophiles and foodies.

If you love to ski, chances are you'll enjoy shredding powder at Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe. In the bustling Chamonix (the main place to stay if you want to ski at Mont Blanc), you'll have easy access to the longest off-piste run in the world (Vallée Blanche) and rugged, challenging slopes. But this destination, which hosted the 1924 Winter Olympics, offers more than just top-notch skiing. Chamonix is also a great place to go hiking, mountain biking and whitewater rafting. For some family-friendly fun, visit the town's adventure park to zip down its Alpine coaster and various slides.

Quaint, charming Aix-en-Provence is a university city known for its tree-lined boulevards, cute cafes and lively markets. Life moves at a more leisurely pace here than in other French cities, meaning it's the perfect place for travelers to get lost in the scenic streets. Make sure to add Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur and Le Grand Marché – two of the city's top attractions – to your itinerary. You can also see where artist Paul Cézanne (an Aix-en-Provence native) painted some of his masterpieces at Atelier de Cezanne, or venture outside of the city to see the Provencal scenes that inspired him.

Vincent Van Gogh fans may recognize the streetscapes of Arles: This small city in Provence inspired some of the artist's best-known works with its bright colors and rustic feel. Art aficionados can walk in Van Gogh's footsteps and explore his favorite haunts on a walking tour through this romantic city or visit the Fondation Vincent Van Gogh Arles. Beyond this noteworthy connection, Arles is renowned for its Roman ruins, including a two-tiered amphitheater, the Alyscamps necropolis and the Constantine Baths. And as the gateway to the Camargue region, Arles is a great base for visitors looking to explore this marshy, flamingo-filled area.

Another popular wine region, Burgundy is home to rolling hills, superior cuisine and an array of vineyards. Those visiting Burgundy must spend time exploring the medieval villages, historical abbeys and museums that call this area home. Dijon, the region's history-rich capital, makes a great home base for touring the area. And, of course, you can't leave without trying the region's wine, which mainly uses the pinot noir and chardonnay grapes, and dining on some of its rich cuisine.

Northwestern France's Brittany region stands out from the rest of the country in more ways than one. Locals are proud and protective of their Celtic heritage, including their unique language, traditions and festivals. As a result, visitors will find many well-preserved historical sites throughout the area, including prehistoric megaliths and medieval towns like Saint-Malo, a popular port town with a 12th-century citadel. Brittany also features breathtaking coastlines with fantastic beaches that are known for their phenomenal waves for surfing, dive spots and dolphin-spotting opportunities. 

As the capital of France's Champagne region, Reims is a must-visit destination for both history buffs and those who love bubbly. The city offers many Champagne cellars where visitors can learn about how the popular wine is produced before tasting it. Additionally, Reims features breathtaking Gothic architecture at attractions like the Cathedral of Notre-Dame at Reims, where 25 French monarchs were crowned between 1223 and 1825, and the adjacent Palace of Tau, the former residence of France's archbishops. No visit would be complete without perusing the exhibits in one of Reims' museums, which cover a range of topics from war history to art and automobiles.

The gateway to the Loire Valley, Tours is perfectly situated for touring the region's wineries. But with Tours' historical elements and prime location along the Loire River, you may just want to stay in town. Place Plumereau, a medieval marketplace that remains one of the city's oldest squares, exudes irresistible charm with half-timbered houses, while churches like the Saint-Gatien Cathedral stun with their stately façades. Visitors will also have their pick of green spaces, from parks like Prébendes d’Oé Garden to riverside guinguettes (open-air cafes) at Tours sur Loire. What's more, several of the region's famed châteaux (including the Château de Villandry) sit just outside the city.

For a romantic escape, visit the Loire Valley in central France. Situated along the Loire River, the area is peppered with châteaux, bed-and-breakfast accommodations, farms and wineries renowned for their sauvignon blanc. The region itself is even a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its beauty and historical villages. Plan to spend some time in a few of the valley's laid-back cities and towns, such as Orléans and Saumur, and you can't miss the emblematic Château de Chambord.

This wine-producing hub woos travelers with its riverbank location and surrounding countryside. With nearly 300,000 acres of vineyards, Bordeaux offers ample choices for those looking to sip some of the best (typically bold red) wines in the world. In the city center, marvel at the Gothic-style Basilique Saint Michel, walk across the Pont de Pierre (a beautiful stone bridge), snap a photo of the iconic Place de la Bourse and enjoy the Jardin Public's pathways and flora.

Located on the French Riviera just 8 miles from Nice, the tiny hilltop village of Èze makes for an excellent daytrip. The best way to spend your time in this medieval town is meandering through its cobbled streets that look as though they've been pulled from a postcard. In doing so, you'll find picturesque views of the coast, as well as luxury hotels and shops from another era. Top sights include the Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption and Jardin Exotique d'Èze, as well as the walking path of Nietzsche, who was inspired to write here. Before leaving town, stop by the Fragonard Parfumeur factory for a fragrant tour.

Located 35 miles northeast of Montpellier, Nîmes delights history buffs with some of the world's best-preserved Roman treasures like its emblematic arena and La Maison Carrée, a temple dating back to 10 B.C. Museums throughout Nîmes also cover its past. But lest you get the wrong impression, Nîmes is anything but stuffy. The city embraces the joie de vivre of the South of France with countless festivals, from structured events like the concert lineups of the Festival de Nîmes to lively Ferias de Nîmes – multi-day celebrations that occur twice a year at Pentecost and in September, and center around bullfighting, dancing and music.

France's oldest and second-largest city has become an exciting, up-and-coming tourist destination. Marseille has a number of sights to see, including the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde and Château d'If, the ominous prison made famous by Alexandre Dumas' "The Count of Monte Cristo." When the weather is nice, the rocky cliffs and secluded beaches of the Calanques are excellent for swimming, boating and hiking. No trip to Marseille would be complete without a stop by the Mucem, a museum dedicated to Mediterranean civilization. Plus, its rooftop terrace makes the perfect vantage point to admire the city.

Famous for its annual film festival in May, Cannes is just as impressive (and much less congested) other times of the year. Cannes is another French Riviera hot spot that welcomes travelers looking for a little relaxation (think: sun-soaked beaches and meandering walks through the steep streets of Le Suquet, one of the city's oldest neighborhoods). Visitors can sightsee as they stroll along La Croisette, a 2-mile-long promenade, or sit down for an exquisite meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Feeling lucky? Stop by one of Cannes' casinos.

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10 fabulous Holiday Parks in France for your next getaway

Comfortable accommodation, plenty of space for the kids to play, resort-like amenities and all at an affordable price – sound too good to be true?

Thanks to Eurocamp, your next holiday in France can include all this and much more.

So, who or what is Eurocamp?

Eurocamp is a provider of high quality parks across Europe. They operate a large number of France campsites in particular.

Whether you’re looking for campsites in the South of France or would like to see a range of the best camping sites in France including the central and northern areas, this guide to ten of the best Eurocamp holiday parks in France will help. 

Eurocamp holidays offer family holidays that are a step up from regular camping. The experience offered is more like glamping, and there’s no need to bring your own kitchenware or linen.

The majority of the campsites listed here are smart holiday resorts, offering amenities such as kids’ clubs, evening entertainment and splash parks. 

While Eurocamp refer to their sites as ‘parcs’, we refer to them as holiday parks throughout this guide.

Read on to discover the best campsite in France for you and your family – whether you’d prefer a small quiet holiday park or a larger resort-style site.

[ This post may contain compensated links. Please see my  disclosure policy  for more information. ]

What's in this Article

Summary of Holiday Parks covered in this guide

10 fabulous holiday parks in france, la croix du vieux pont.

La Croix du Vieux is nestled in the peaceful Aisne Valley, just 90 minutes from both the French capital, Paris , and Disneyland Paris Resort. It makes an ideal lakeside base for those wishing to explore this area. 

This French campsite has some great facilities, including four swimming pools, bars, restaurants, a beauty salon and access to various sports and activities.

Location : Nearest town – Vic-sur-Aisne, 1 km away.

Getting there : Nearest airport – Paris Charles de Gaulle, 76km away. Nearest ferry port Calais, 241km away.

Number of pitches : 623.

On-site and local facilities: 5 kids clubs for age ranges 0 -17, dog friendly, covered swimming pools, waterslides, fishing, canoeing, football, tennis, karting, basketball, table tennis, windsurfing, volleyball, pedalos, mini golf, horse riding, cycle hire, wine tasting, spa, bars and restaurants.

Accommodation styles : caravans, lodges. Some units have air-conditioning. 

Opening dates : Early April to late October inclusive.

> Click here to check prices and book

Château Lez Eaux

Château Lez Eaux is among the best camping sites in France for families who want to explore northern France. It occupies an idyllic location in the grounds of a historic manor house with a small lake. 

This site on the Cherbourg peninsula offers some of the best camping in France, with indoor and outdoor waterslides. There is a beach just 4 km away, and Honfleur and Bayeux are within easy reach. 

Location : Nearest town – St Pair sur Mer, 3km away.

Getting there : Nearest airport – Dinard, 89km away. Nearest ferry port St Malo, 87km away.

Number of pitches : 229.

On-site and local facilities: dog friendly, covered swimming pools, waterslides, fishing, surfing, canoeing, football, tennis, table tennis, windsurfing, horse riding, cycle hire.

Accommodation styles : Classic and safari tents, caravans and lodges.

Opening dates : Early April to mid September inclusive.

> Click here to check prices and book now

La Pointe St-Gilles

In Brittany, north-western France you’ll find La Pointe St-Gilles. This is among the best camping sites for families, as it has kids’ clubs and is close to Bénodet’s sandy beach. 

This French resort has a seaside promenade packed with beach clubs, restaurants and pedalos. The family-run site has a pool complex, spa and jacuzzi. A tourist train can also take you from the park to town or the beach. 

This park is close to a river, and there is a golf course 3km away.

Location : Nearest town – Bénodet, 1km away.

Getting there : Nearest airport – Lorient, 67km away. Nearest ferry port Roscoff, 119km away.

Number of pitches : 450.

On-site and local facilities : 5 kids clubs for age ranges 0-17, dog friendly, covered swimming pools, waterslides, football, canoeing, tennis, surfing, basketball, table tennis, windsurfing, volleyball, scuba diving, golf course, horse riding, cycle hire, spa and gym.

Accommodation styles : Caravans, lodges. Some units have air-conditioning. 

Opening dates : Late May to early September inclusive.

Camping Le Capeyrou

If you want to go camping in the South of France, Le Capeyrou is a great option as this small site offers only safari tents. Positioned by the Dordogne River, this park allows visitors to experience luxury camping in the South of France. 

A cliff-top castle towers over the park, and it is close to the local eateries at the Auberge, just 50 metres away, as well as a supermarket. 

Guests at Le Capeyrou can enjoy balloon or boat trips, canoeing and exploring the charming village of Beynac-et-Cazenac.

Location : Nearest town – La Roque Gageac, 6km away.

Getting there : Nearest airport – Brive, 50km away. Nearest ferry port Bilbao, 535 km away.

Number of pitches : 132.

On-site and local facilities : outdoor swimming pools, canoeing, fishing, table tennis, volleyball and badminton.

Accommodation styles : Safari tents.

Opening dates : Late May to mid September inclusive.

Set in the picturesque Dordogne countryside is La Paradis, a campsite in the South of France within easy reach of the popular Lascaux Caves. 

This holiday park is set among 17 acres of woodland, and has two large pool complexes. The river flows nearby and the park has its own herb gardens for guests to pick fresh produce from. 

There is also a bar and restaurant surrounding a pretty courtyard.

Location : Nearest town – Montignac, 10km away.

Getting there : Nearest airport – Bergerac, 68km away. Nearest ferry port Bilbao, 519km away.

Number of pitches : 213. 

On-site and local facilities : Dog friendly, covered swimming pools, football, canoeing, tennis, basketball, table tennis, volleyball, badminton, cycle hire, spa, electric car charging, bar and restaurant. 

Accommodation styles :  Classic and safari tents, caravans.

Opening dates : Late May to late September inclusive.

Domaine de la Brèche

Among the scenic Loire countryside is Domaine de la Brèche, a friendly France camping option convenient for visiting the chateaux of the Loire as well as Saumur. 

This woodland site is one of the best family campsites in France, as it has kids’ clubs, a play area and waterslides, and is also close to a theme park. 

An old manor house dominates the grounds, and an on-site equestrian centre offers pony trekking. 

Location : Nearest town – Saumur, 6km away.

Getting there : Nearest airport – Angers, 55km away. Nearest ferry port Caen, 290km away.

Number of pitches : 235.

On-site and local facilities : Kids’ clubs for 5-12 years, play park, dog friendly, covered swimming pools, waterslides, football, canoeing, tennis, basketball, windsurfing, table tennis, volleyball, badminton, fishing, archery, karting, mini golf, horse riding, cycle hire, wine tasting, bar and restaurant. 

Accommodation styles :  Caravans and lodges. Some units have air-conditioning.

La Ravoire occupies a stunning setting by the French Alps in the Annecy region . This park is a top pick among campsites in the South of France for anyone who would also like to visit nearby Switzerland. 

Whether you prefer water sports or walking, this site is perfectly placed for enjoying all that Lake Annecy and the mountains, rivers and towns of the area have to offer. 

On site there is a snack bar and takeaway, two pools and a waterslide. Lake Annecy is under a kilometre away.

Location : Nearest town – Doussard, 5km away.

Getting there : Nearest airport – Chambery, 65km away. Nearest ferry port Le Havre, 764km away.

Number of pitches : 124.

On-site and local facilities : Covered swimming pools, waterslide, football, canoeing, basketball, windsurfing, table tennis, rafting, sailing, scuba diving, golf course, horse riding, snack bar, mountains and lake.

Saint Louis

Among the pine clad hills and valleys of the Côte d’Azur is the Saint Louis campsite in the South of France. 

Convenient for visiting Nice, Grasse , Cannes and other parts of the French Riviera, this is quite possibly the best French campsite for those who want to spend time swimming and surfing. Beaches are just 7km away, and on site there is a large splash park with tropical style lagoon and three waterslides. 

The park also offers kids’ clubs, sporting activities and evening entertainment. 

Location : Nearest town – Pégomas, 2km away.

Getting there : Nearest airport – Nice, 32km away. Nearest ferry port Bilbao, 982km away.

Number of pitches : 200.

On-site facilities : Kids’ clubs for 5-17 year olds, covered swimming pools, waterslides, canoeing, table tennis, golf course, bar and restaurant, coast and river.

Le Bois de Valmarie

Le Bois de Valmarie gives guests stunning views over the Bay of Argelès. This holiday park has a split level pool complex with slides and waterfalls, and offers stylish camping in the South of France, close to the border with Andorra. 

Le Bois de Valmarie is a sleek, elegant resort, and there is a bar and restaurant on site. Argelès Plage is just 2 kilometres from the park. 

The location is ideal for those planning to visit the town and region of Collioure , as well as the Catalonian settlement of Villefranche de Conflent.

Location : Nearest town – Argelès Plage, 2km away.

Getting there : Nearest airport – Perpignan, 36km away. Nearest ferry port Bilbao, 687km away.

Number of pitches : 190.

On-site and local facilities : Dog friendly, covered swimming pools, waterslides, canoeing, rafting, surfing, table tennis, windsurfing, scuba diving, sailing, golf course, cycle hire, horse riding, spa, bar and restaurant, coast, river and lake.

Domaine de Massereau

Domaine de Massereau enjoys a rather special location – this South of France camping site is set in the grounds of a French château where wine is made. It is also perfect for anyone wishing to explore Avignon or see the Pont du Gard near Nîmes. 

As well as enjoying wine tastings and tours, visitors can cycle through the woodland, use the indoor spa or spend time at the outdoor pool complex. 

Domaine de Massereau also has its very own gourmet restaurant.

Location : Nearest town -Sommieres, 2km away.

Getting there : Nearest airport – Nîmes, 39km away. Nearest ferry port Bilbao, 725km away.

Number of pitches : 202.

On-site and local facilities : Kids’ clubs for 5-12 years, dog friendly, covered swimming pools, waterslides, football, tennis, canoeing, badminton, volleyball, surfing, table tennis, windsurfing, scuba diving, sailing, mini golf, cycle hire, horse riding, electric car charging, spa, bar and restaurant, coast and river.

Accommodation styles :  Lodges and bungalows. Some units have air-conditioning.

Opening dates : Late May to early November inclusive.

Map of French holiday parks in this guide

Click on the image below to enlarge the map and zoom in.

Final Thoughts

The holiday parks mentioned above are just a small selection of campsites in France where you can enjoy wonderful facilities for the whole family in Eurocamp’s wide selection of accommodation.

Whether you prefer to holiday in France’s picturesque Dordogne region, would like to laze by the sea on the French Riviera or prefer to stay just 90 minutes from Paris, there’s a Eurocamp holiday park that’s perfect for you.

All images used in this article are courtesy of Eurocamp.

Carolyn's love affair with Europe started on her first visit over 30 years ago and it continues, just as strong, today. She visits Europe annually and enjoys writing about her discoveries and sharing her tips with fellow travellers.

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The Best Places to Visit in France

By Monica Mendal

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The best places to visit in France shouldn’t only be consigned to Paris and the French Riviera . Sure, there’s nothing quite like watching the Eiffel Tower twinkle at night or reveling in the glamour of summer on the Côte d’Azur, but there’s much more to France than the traditional tourist path. So, where to begin? From 10 major wine regions sweeping the country, to its variety of diverse coastlines stretching from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, to a vast mountain range that shares its borders with Switzerland and Italy, there’s plenty to explore in France year-round.

If you’re crunched for time, there are tons of day trips from Paris reachable by train if you want a change of scenery without venturing too far. Can’t get enough of French cuisine? Then how about visiting the gastronomic capital of France. (Spoiler alert: it isn’t Paris.) And if the French Riviera is out of your price range come high summer, consider exploring the country’s alternative coastlines—of which there are many.

Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to visit in France.

Take a Day Trip From Paris

The most popular day trip from Paris is a visit to King Louis XIV’s Palace of Versailles , a mere 45-minute train ride from the city center via the RER C metro line. The palatial estate is spread across over 2,000 acres, composed of the palace, gardens, park, Estate of Trianon, and stables. In 2021, French hotel company Airelles opened Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle in the heart of the palace grounds, with regal interiors inspired by Marie Antoinette’s Versailles estate, Petit Trianon. Here, guests can live out their own royal fantasies while benefiting from exclusive access and tailor-made experiences on the property. While Mont-Saint Michel follows Versailles as the third most visited monument in France (the first being the Eiffel Tower), there are plenty of other places to visit in Normandy as a day trip. A 50-minute train from Paris will land you in Giverny, the small village where Claude Monet famously lived and produced his illustrious water lily series. Travelers can visit his former home and gardens, which are open from late March to early November. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a seaside escape from Paris, you don’t have to travel all the way to the south of France. Normandy’s Côte Fleurie, often referred to as the Parisian Riviera, is a popular resort destination among Parisians—particularly Deauville and Trouville, which are a two-hour train ride from Paris.

Stay here: If you decide to turn your day trip into an overnight, Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle is the ultimate stay in Versailles, while Domaine de Primard , a bucolic stay situated in an 18th-century chateau, is located a mere 30 minutes from Claude Monet’s home.

Dine Your Way Through the Bouchons of Lyon

By Leah Faye Cooper

By Hannah Jackson

By Alice Newbold

Lyon is known as the undisputed gastronomic capital of France. Unsurprisingly, it was women who earned this title for the capital city of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, specifically the Mères Lyonnaises, or mothers of Lyon. Typically women of humble origins, they left their homes after the French Revolution in search of work, landing themselves in the homes of Lyon’s bourgeois families, where they used local, inexpensive ingredients to prepare simple and delicious meals; many believe it to be their impact that helped define and shape French cuisine as we know it today. When they were released from their jobs during the economic crisis of 1929, many of these women decided to open their own restaurants, known today as bouchons, referring to homey, casual eateries serving affordable and hearty fare. Today, Lyon is still littered with its historic bouchons —in fact, there are more restaurants per head than in any other in France. Try traditional Lyonnaise dishes like the quenelles at Cafe Comptoir Abel, chef Joseph Viola’s award-winning pâté en croûte at Daniel et Denise Créqui, the tête de veau at Café des Fédérations, and everything else at La Meunière, Brasserie Georges, and Chez Georges.

Stay here: Situated in a former convent, Villa Florentine is located in the heart of Old Lyon, a stone’s throw away from the best restaurants in the city. In the warmer months, take a dip in the rooftop pool featuring panoramic views of the city.

Ski the French Alps

France is blessed by such a surfeit of the world’s top ski resorts that it’s almost impossible to decide where to go. Les Trois Vallées is among the most popular ski regions in France, connecting multiple resorts through its interlinked valleys accessible using a single ski pass. Apart from skiing, the upper-crust love Courchevel for its abundance of five-star resorts (the most in France after Paris), magnum rosé-filled lobster lunches, and high-end luxury boutiques—some of which, like Moncler, are even located sur piste. If it’s refined subtly you’re going for in Les Trois Vallées, Meribel is the ideal option not only for its optimal location and famous slopes, like La Face, which was created for the 1992 Winter Olympics, but for its friendly-friendly atmosphere and bounty of ski-in ski-out chalets and hotels, including the beloved Hôtel Le Coucou , helmed by the same owners as Provence’s Crillon Le Brave and Paris’s buzzy new Le Grand Mazarin. Head to Chamonix at the base of Mont Blanc, often primed with fresh powder, to tick skiing the world’s longest ski run, the Vallée Blanche, off your bucket list. For a less advanced resort (or if it’s not the skiing alone that entices you), the nearby Megève will feed your appetite for a romantic sojourn in a charming alpine village with cobbled streets littered with high-end restaurants and chic stays. Val d’Isère is quickly becoming the French Alps’ latest hot spot with a flurry of buzzy openings, from Airelles Val d’Isère and the upcoming Experimental Chalet Val d’Isère signaling a new awakening.

Stay here: The Pierre Yovanovitch-designed stay Hôtel Le Coucou is a stylish ski-in ski-out hotel with excellent dining options, from a traditional Savoyard restaurant to its beloved Beefbar. Airelles Val d’Isère is another ski-in ski-out hotel, host to its own assortment of critically acclaimed dining establishments, from Loulou to Nobu Matsuhisa’s Matsuhisa. The historic Grand Hôtel Soleil d’Or , recently acquired by the hotel group behind Mallorca’s Cap Rocat and Christian Louboutin’s hotel in Melides, Portugal, is a romantic alpine retreat with just 18 rooms and three adjoining chalets and home to La Chocolaterie, Megève village’s beloved social hub.

Explore the Central and Northern Wine Regions

You can find wine production in nearly every corner of France, but it’s always worth visiting the regions located within close proximity to Paris—from Champagne and Alsace in the north, to Loire Valley and Burgundy in central France. In Champagne, Reims and Épernay would be the best base to explore the five regions. If you’re inclined to visit one of the big names, Ruinart in Reims offers the most organized experiences, from cellar tours to tastings to custom-designed brunch, lunch, or dinner experiences on-site. For a more intimate experience near Épernay, head to the family estate of Billecart-Salmon , where visitors are made to feel like they’re a part of the family with tastings held in the estate’s dining room. Ahead of the Olympics, Uber will also be introducing a new travel product in the champagne region, which will be announced next month. Much like its wines, the Loire Valley provides the most variety. With the Loire Valley’s vast wine regions spanning the Muscadet region on the western coast, all the way to the Sancerre region in the central north, there’s more to enjoy here than just wine. From charming medieval villages, to its lush ethereal gardens—the grounds of the Château de Villandry are among the most famous—to fairytale castles, like the iconic Château de Chambord, Loire Valley maintains the perfect balance for a well-rounded holiday in wine country. It’s also worth exploring Burgundy, with a jaunt in its capital city Dijon, known for its mustard, or explore the German and Swiss-bordered Alsace region, with visits to both its capital city of Strasbourg and the charming old town of Colmar.

Stay here : In the Loire Valley, you can’t go wrong with a pastoral stay at the iconic Les Sources de Cheverny or if you prefer something less traditional, check out Château de la Haute Borde , known for its seasonal artist residencies. For an immersive stay in Champagne, the beautiful 12-room Château de Sacy sits in a charming village in the heart of the vineyards.

Sip Your Way Through Bordeaux

While the lesser-known wine regions in the south of France, such as the Rhône Valley and the Languedoc, are certainly not to be missed by wine aficionados, your introduction to French wine should undoubtedly begin with Bordeaux. Spend a night or two in the city of Bordeaux itself before heading to the countryside, and take a stroll through the vibrant Chartrons neighborhood or enjoy dinner at Au Bistrot. The type of experience you’ll have in Bordeaux’s wine country is characterized by which side of the Dordogne River you’re on. The right bank, which you can read about here , is distinguished by its shorter distances, hilly terrain, and famous medieval villages, while the left bank is formed by the Médoc, land that stretches all the way from the city of Bordeaux to the coast. The Médoc is famous for its palatial wine estates—many of which are open by appointment for tours and tastings. These wine castles, as they’re appropriately monikered, not only produce some of the finest wines in France, but are destinations in themselves—from some of the oldest and most historic, like Chateau d’Arsac and Château Livran , to the women-owned Château Larrivaux , which has been run by women of the same family since 1580. Among the many reasons to visit the Médoc wine region is due, in part, to its proximity to the coast. After a week of wine tastings, spend a few days on the sandy beaches of Soulac-sur-Mer, a timeless seaside village whose simplicity and belle époque nostalgia lend it a feeling of laid-back glamour.

Stay here: On Bordeaux’s left bank, stay at Maison d’Estournel , a refined country house set on the vineyards of its adjoining wine estate Cos d’Estournel . On the right bank, Logis de la Cadène puts you right at the center of the iconic Saint-Émilion wine village, and its Michelin-starred restaurant is among the most popular in the region.

Take a Scenic Drive Through Provence

Plan some tastings ahead of your (ideally, late spring or early summer) visit to Provence at Château La Mascaronne or Château Gassier —after all, Provence is the land of rosé. When your rosé-tinted glasses have worn off, however, it’s time to hit the road, and there’s no better way to discover Provence’s surfeit of charming hilltop villages set against the backdrop of its sweeping fields of lavender, vines, and sunflower fields, than from a vintage car with the top down. Rent a car with Provence Classics , beginning your road trip in the Luberon, where you can pick up some local market produce and souvenirs from the hilltop village of Gordes, then drive past the lavender fields at Abbaye Notre-Dame de Senanque on your way to stroll through the red cliffside village of Roussillon. From there, begin your journey to Avignon, stopping through Provence’s antique capital, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, for some antique shopping at notable shops, like 50 Cinquante and Bernard Durand . Arriving at Avignon, visit the Palais des Papes and the Jardin des Domes or meander through the city’s labyrinth of cafés and shops, before following the Van Gogh route from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence to Arles. For a truly enchanting conclusion to your road trip, head 20 minutes south of Arles for a journey into the wilds: the Camargue, western Europe’s largest delta, featuring a wild landscape of lagoons, reeds, and salt marshes—a place where wild horses roam free and a colony of pink flamingos comes to nest in the warmer months. No, it’s not the rosé-tinted glasses you’re wearing—this place is real .

Stay here: The elegant La Bastide de Gordes will place you right in the center of the iconic hilltop village. You can alternatively opt for a stay at the charming La Bastide de Mourre nearby or in its sister property Domaine de Chalamon in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. For an ultra-luxurious and romantic retreat, book a room at Crillon le Brave , located a short distance from the best antique shops in the region. In June, the much-anticipated Les Bains Gardians will open in the heart of Camargue National Park.

Hike the Calanques

After exploring the countryside of Provence, it’s time to hit the seaside. With its influx of trending hotel and restaurant openings, it’s no secret that the weird and wild Marseille has become a hotbed for the creative class in recent years. But before stylish crowds descended on the vibrant port city, its wild limestone cliffside extending between Marseille and Cassis, known as the Calanques, had always been its natural draw. The Calanques National Park is a hiker’s paradise, with many of its trails ending at secret coves and white sand beaches that are only reachable by foot or sea, like Calanque of Port-Miou, Calanque of Port-Pin, and Calanque of En-Vau. If you prefer to explore the calanques by sea, book a public or private charter aboard Le Don du Vent for a day of sailing and swimming.

Stay here: Optimally situated on a rocky shore in the fishing village of Les Goudes, Tuba Club is the perfect place to stay given it’s located at the gateway to the Calanques National Park. Book a room at the 5-star Hôtel Les Roches Blanches in the neighboring Cassis if you’re looking for a more elegant stay outside of the frenetic city center of Marseille.

Oyster Tasting in the Bay of Arcachon

Head southwest for a week of oyster tastings on the Bay of Arcachon. Base yourself in the chic seaside village of Cap Ferret, the southern tip of the Lege-Cap-Ferret peninsula, known as the oyster capital of France. A scenic seaside town characterized by its quaint fisherman villages and oyster farms, Cap Ferret has long been a chic holiday hamlet and a best-kept secret among the French for its abundance of beautiful beaches and al fresco seafood restaurants. Flanked by the Atlantic beaches primed for surf and the quieter beaches on the bay, lined with oyster shacks and framed by the famed Dune Du Pilat, the tallest sand dune in Europe, Cap Ferret is a unique summer destination for travelers seeking a more laid back alternative to the French Riviera. Don’t forget to grab a bike and explore the many picturesque fishing villages located deeper in the peninsula, from Le Canon to l’Herbe, or book a boat day with Des Hommes et Des Mers to explore it all by sea.

Stay here: Last summer the oldest hotel on the peninsula dating back to the 1970s, Hôtel des Dunes re-opened as a cool surf lodge of sorts, with each of its 13 rooms designed in the spirit of Cap Ferret’s oyster shacks, and located just across the street from Cap Ferret’s best surf beach. If you prefer to stay in Arcachon, the Philippe Starck-designed La Co(o)rniche is a five-star stay in the upmarket Pyla-Sur-Mer neighborhood, boasting panoramic views of the Dune du Pilat from its lively restaurant bar.

Surf the French Basque

Begin your road trip in the French Basque Country’s gateway city, Bayonne, where you can scoop up some of the famous Bayonne cured ham and chocolate before making your way to the coast. It’s no secret to surf enthusiasts everywhere that France’s southwest is world-renowned for its epic surf breaks—so much so that it’s been nicknamed the “French California.” Many of the best surf beaches can be found in the French Basque’s beloved seaside towns, like Biarritz , which has also experienced an advent of new hotels and restaurants as of late, making it an ideal base for your Basque holiday. In Biarritz, you’ll find beginner beaches, like Côte des Basques or La Grande Plage, and Le Miramar for more advanced surfers. Another charming and lesser-known town nearby is Guethary, a tiny village with a surplus of great local restaurants and sceney sunset bars for post-surf fun. Among the best surf beaches in Guethary include the reef break of Parlementia, which shares its border with Bidart, another beloved surf town, and the more isolated beach of Alcyons. Intermediate surfers can also head to the neighboring town of Saint Jean de Luz to ride out one of the French Basque’s rare point breaks at Lafitenia beach.

Stay here: Regina Experimental Biarritz opened just last summer and is optimally located across the street from La Grande Plage.

Scenic Swims in Corsica

With its close proximity to Italy, located just 10 nautical miles from beautiful Sardinia, international travelers often overlook Corsica altogether when considering their options for a summer holiday in France. Their oversight leaves the island spared from crowds—save for the French families who return each summer to bask in their unspoiled paradise on the Med. From natural pools to secret coves to white sand beaches, Corsica is known for its pristine turquoise coastline. Tourists tend to flock to the southern part of the island, famous for its white sand beaches, like Palombaggia (the first tobacco-free beach on Corsica), Campomoro, Cupabia, and Roccapina, as well as its scenic bays, such as Cala di Conca and Fazzio. As southern Corsica is more built up with tourist stays, the northern beaches remain slightly more wild and untouched; among the best beaches in northern Corsica include Ostriconi, Lotu, Saleccia, and Bodri. But Corsica’s pristine swimming spots aren’t consigned to the island’s dazzling coastline—many of the island’s best swims can be found inland, in the natural pools concealed among the island’s many hiking trails and cultural sites, from les Piscines naturelles de Cavu to the Vallée du Fango and Ponte Vecchiu, and those fed by waterfalls like Polischellu and Aïtone.

Stay here: Nestled on the Cap Corse peninsula in the northeast corner of the island, Hôtel Misincu is a chic eco-luxury retreat on a 54-acre estate with a restaurant, spa, and pool. In the south, stay at the beloved family-run U Capu Biancu , a waterfront property overlooking the bay of Sant’ Amanza.

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