From the Gallo-Roman period up to the end of the Middle Ages, the Alyscamps ("Champs-Élysées") was one of the most prestigious necropolises in the West. Its heyday came when the necropolis was Christianised, with relics from St Trophimus an..

It’s just a short climb from Notre Dame de Ste Victoire Priory (1656) to the 17m Croix de Provence (on a 11m foundation). From here, at an altitude of 945m, there is a magnificent panorama over Provence’s mountains. To the south you see rise up the..

East of Aix-en-Provence lies Mt Sainte Victoire , which reaches a height of 1 011m at its peak, the Pic des Mouches. Its sheer face, creating a silhouette that is evocative of the entire region, is best seen from the Croix de Provence (945m). The ..

The must-see buildings in Les Baux include: the former town hall and its museum of "santons" (Christmas crib figures), and the Porcelet mansion which houses the Museum dedicated to Yves Brayer, who painted the pastoral scenes in the Péniten..

The famous Bayeux tapestry (it is in fact a piece of embroidery) is housed in a museum with two sections. In the first, this extraordinary 70m-long jewel of Romanesque art is displayed behind a glass panel, highlighting the rivalry between Harold a..

This 10 000ha forest on this private estate straddle the boundary between the Berry and Bourbonnais. Famed for its oak trees, it once supplied most of the French naval fleet, in accordance with Colbert’s wish to keep the best oaks for the Navy. Today..

A fine example of an autarkic Cistercian monastery, the well-restored abbey in its green isolated valley was consecrated in 1147 by Pope Eugene III in the presence of St Bernard, founder of the Order. The land, called Fontanetum , as it “floats on f..

Situated between Saint Brieuc and Dinard, Cap Fréhel is one of the most spectacular sights along the Emerald Coast. Its 70m-high sheer cliffs overlook the sea, as well as reefs, which are battered by the violent breakers below. The tone of its red, g..

This museum was designed by architect Jean Nouvel on the site of an elaborate Gallo-Roman house (4,000m 2 ). A model presents the layout of the city of Vesunna in the 2C with the house located near the church and double forum. The original house (1C)..

These verdant gardens laid out in the 18C have belonged to the same family for five generations. Thanks to the many evergreen species planted here, the gardens are an oasis of greenery throughout the year. Admire the paths lined with beautifully prun..

The Source de la Loue is one of the Jura's most beautiful natural sites. It is spectacular to see water spring from a vast grotto located at the foot of a 100 m-high cliff. Various experiments have shown that river Doubs water comes into contact with..

From the raised platform of the Lac de Chaillexon, the River Doubs tumbles to its natural level in a magnificent cascade. There is a boat service from Villers-le-Lac to the waterfall, which follows the river's meanders and passes through gorges. On a..

Situated on the Crussol mountainside, the ruins of the villette (small town) were a refuge for plain dwellers in times of trouble. Access to the castle dominating the Rhône from a height of 230m is along the side of the fortifications. It offers a re..

Valence is the starting point of a magnificent scenic route. The D 287 will first take you past the striking site of the Château de Crussol and then on to St-Romain-de-Lerps. Here, two observation points command a splendid panorama of the entire Rhôn..

Situated to the east of the marina and with the appearance of a giant crab, Océanopolis is a wonderful showcase for life in the world’s oceans. Several giant aquariums containing 10 000 animals and 1 000 different species provide a spectacular insigh..

Housed in the Palais Fesch, the construction of which started in 1827, this museum houses one of the largest collections of Italian paintings (Botticelli, Giovanni Bellini, Cosimo Tura, Titian etc) in France, as well as works from the French, Spani..

Magnificent «end of the world», Bonifacio has both a harbour and a upper town. The marina , a port constructed at the bottom of a 1,500 metre fjord, is a safe haven for boats, closed off by a narrow bottleneck and protected from high tides by a 60-m..

These astonishing granite sculptures formed by erosion overlook the Gulf of Porto , creating a chaotic landscape with an unusual and unique appearance. The deep blue of the sea and the often unreal light that bathes this coastline combine with the p..

Stop at the Pass of Bavella (1 218m) and admire the Aiguilles (needles) de Bavella, also known as the Cornes d'Asinao (horns of Asinao). The jagged peaks emerge from the forest, changing colour in a spectacular stark setting of laricio pine trees and..

The dense forest growing at an altitude of between 500 and 1 300m has been repeatedly damaged by fire, the worst of which was in 1960. Since becoming a nature reserve, it has been extensively replanted with maritime and laricio pines, cedars and fir ..