Top French Locations For A Cultural Break
You are totally spoilt for choice when choosing a cultural city break in France!
The country is home to some of the most wonderful cultural attractions imaginable, and around 80 million tourists visit France annually. For the tourist, France has everything you could ever wish for, and more!We have compiled a brief guide to the top city locations for a taste of Gallic culture, so please read on for more.
Paris
Being the capital city of France, and attracting millions of visitors each year, you will probably think Paris is a hard city to get around. Not true; it has a city centre that is easily navigated, and the whole of the capital is connected via an excellent public transport network called the Metro.
The City Of Lights is built on the River Seine and has been a tourist hot spot for generations people flock to see the wonderful ambiance, the stunning architecture, and the magnificent museums that are dotted around this wonderful city.
One way to sample the way of life in Paris is to stroll around the streets that are lined with caf bars and restaurants. The many sights of the city include the Eiffel Tower, The Louvr Museum and L'Arc de Triomphe. In total, the city has around 80 museums and 200 art galleries, plus outstanding architecture from all the main periods in a long, varied and sometimes violent Parisianhistory.
Some of the must-sees in Paris include Muse du Louvre, the Georges Pompidou Centre of Arts and Culture, Notre Dame Cathedral, Muse d'Orsay, Avenue des Champs-lyses, and Versailles Palace.
Strasbourg
This city has elements of both French and German culture, being situated on the border between the two countries. It is home to the European Parliament and is a perfect place to spend a cultural break.
Some of the main attractions in the city include the wonderful Gothic Cathedral, made out of sandstone and having a fine astronomical clock, and once was the tallest building in the world! Outside in the courtyard of the Cathedral is the place where the wonderful Christmas Market is.
La Petite France is the most alluring place of all in Strasbourg. You can sample the local delicacies along here, from gingerbread to sauerkraut! For some culture, check out Muse d'Art Moderne et Contemporain, where the entrance is on La Petite France. The Muse Alsacien features the history and local traditions of the area.
For some theatre productions and opera recitals, check out the famous Strasbourg National Theatre (Thtre National de Strasbourg) and L'Opra National du Rhin.
Lyon
Located in south eastern France, the city of Lyon is a wonderful mix of French culture, gastronomy and home to some distinct Lyon architecture. Lyon is city with UNESCO World Heritage Status and is a perfect place for that cultural break.
The old town is surrounded with architecture from both the Medieval and Renaissance eras. Some of the popular sights include La Croix-Rousse, La Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvire which is a cathedral containing some wonderful designs of stained glass. The 10th century Cathedral of St-Martin-d'Ainay, where you can savour the Romanesque Styled architecture, from Medieval times. The Opra Nouvel is a place where you can enjoy some fine productions. You must also check out the wonderful Saint-Jean Cathedral in Lyon.
A short drive out of Lyon lies the town of Annecy, located between Grenoble and Geneva, which is located on the shores of the lake of the same name. The town is best known for festival prductions, the most well known being the International Festival of Animated Films, held annually every June. Le Palais de l'Isle, once a jail, and now a history museum is a good place to learn about local culture. Muse Chteau d''Annecy is the local museum featuring arts and crafts from the locality of the Savoy Region.
Aix En Provence
The city of Aix En Provence is noted for its fabulous architecture in particular the Four Dolphins Fountain which dates from the 17th century. Take a trip down the wide avenue in the centre of Cours Mirabeau, which shows the dividing between the old and new towns. Along this avenue you will find the Deux Garcons, which is the most famous bar in Aix. This first opened its doors in 1792 and was a familiar watering hole for writers such as Zola and Hemingway, and Paul Czanne, the Impressionist painter.
Some worthwhile sights include the Cathedral of the Holy Saviour, which was built on a former Roman site, and has mix of all architecture styles from many eras. La Muse Granet features work by local artists and is an interesting place to check out.
Why not take a day trip to the largest port city in France, Marseilles from Aix en Provence, just 25 km away or the charming town of Arles, home of Roman ruins and once home to Vincent Van Gogh.
Le Havre
France's 2nd port city after Marseille, Le Havre's origins can be traced back to 1517, and is located on the edge of the Seine River. The city suffered greatly during the Second World War and was subsequently rebuilt over a 20 year period. Le Havre is vibrant, and has many attractions including the Oscar Niemeyer Arts Centre and the Malraux Fine Art Gallery, which is home to prossibly the best impressionist art collections in France after Paris.
A short drive from Le Havre will take you to Honfleur Harbour which is a 16th century fishing village, and home to some wonderful French artists from times past, including Claude Monet and Gustave Courbet.
Rouen
The capital of Normandy to the north west of France, and hosts one of the most important harbours in France, which sees the arrival of cruisers on a regular basis. It is a prominent town in commerce and industry, and has a wonderful historical past.
Both Joan of Arc and William The Conqueror died in Rouen. Joan of Arc was burned here in 1431 during the Hundred Years War. Not far from where she was cremated at the stake is the Church Jeanne d'Arc , which is home to some marvellous stained glass.
The Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral, which was famously painted by Monet, is a must visit attraction. La Muse des Beaux Arts features some local art and history. The city is well known for its attractive antique shops. The centre of Rouen is at La Rue Gros Horloge , and there are plenty of markets in the city every week to browse for a bargain!
Avignon
The city is located where the Durance and Rhne rivers meet, and is unversally known as the City of The Popes, and has UNESCO World Heritage Status.
The city has so many attractions for the visitors, from the famous ramparts to the wonderful Palace of The Popes. It is a place that is wonderful to explore as it is magnificently preserved. The months of July and August see the Famous Festival of Dance, Music and Theatre take place.
The Palace of The Popes is located near La Place du Palais, and is a must visit in Avignon. The Avignon Opera House hosts music, dance and theatre performances and is well worth checking out to see local and emerging talent.
To learn more about Avignon and its history make a stop at the Pont Saint Bnezet Museum, which is located in an old chapel near the bridge of Avignon.
Vienne
A must visit for historical interest it has over 40 ancient Rome relics, and 4 enthralling museums. Vienne is located on the banks of the Rhne River, and is located around 25km from Lyon.
Saint tienne
The city is located in the Massif Central to the east of the centre of France. It is set in picturebook countryside, with sparkling lakes, fertile green valleys and fields. The old parts of the town have some alluring sights, including the old quarter of Saint Jacques, and half timber built houses.
Saint tienne is home to the Muse d'Art Moderne which has one of the best collections of Modern Art that you will come across. To learn more about the history of the area, check out the Muse de la Mine, and find out from the exhibitions what it was like to work in a mine, and how the miners lived.
You should definitely check out Notre Dame Church which dates back to the 18th century.
Hope that you got some travel ideas for a cultural France holiday from our article!Do you agree with our choice of locations? Remember that the best way to get around France is to travel independently as you see fit by availing of a value for money car hire. To get the best value rates out there, visit our France car hire page.
Top French Locations For A Cultural Break
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