French holidays are a serious matter. The country’s 90 million annual visitors and 68 million residents – 80 percent of whom choose to vacation in their home country – share a common idea – France has long considered itself as a vacation hotspot. And why not? After all, France has not only perfected the ability to balance its affluence (found in luxurious palaces) with its fancy (the Disney-esque villages of Colmar and Riquewihr), but it has also crafted a culture that still makes pro-French people weak in the knees. It’s no surprise, then, to learn that the country’s cities remain one of its biggest draws. From the Roman streets of Arles, which exude Old World affluence, to the sizzling hedonism and glistening turquoise sea of the Mediterranean city of St. Tropez, it’s no wonder they’ve won first place in nearly every beauty pageant they’ve entered.
1
Paris
Paris is not only one of the most beautiful cities in France, but also one of the most beautiful cities in the world. A city that needs no introduction, full of whimsical Haussmann houses, cloud-piercing spires and bistro-lined boulevards, its charming neighborhoods have provided inspiration for the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Balzac. Yet it is the clichés that make Paris such a powerful city. Swap the Jardin des Tuileries for the cliffs, lakes and waterfalls of the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont (a natural alternative to the city’s countless manicured parks); the gilded chandeliers of Sacré-Cœur and the frescoed ceilings of the Palais Garnier; the tree-lined suburbs of Butte-aux-Cailles the hilltop suburbs of Montmartre, where colorful street art abounds.
2
Arles
Don’t just take our word for it about Arles, take UNESCO’s word for it. A World Heritage Site since 1981, it’s easy to see why the United Nations is so eager to preserve the beauty of this historic city. Centered on Roman ruins and medieval monuments that blend seamlessly with the modern city, this sun-drenched stepping stone to the Camargue has long been considered one of France’s most beautiful cities. In fact, Vincent Van Gogh dedicated nearly 200 paintings to this compact city. But what Arles lacks in size, it makes up for in beauty. Stroll through cobbled alleyways lined with colorful facades and sloping rooftops to Les Arènes, the city’s mostly intact Roman Colosseum, stop for lunch at the lively Place du Forum, and watch the city come to life at the world-famous Saturday market.
3
Saint-Tropez
Some cities are naturally charming, others have charm imposed upon them. St. Tropez falls into the latter category. It was an unassuming fishing village before Brigitte Bardot came to prominence, and since then the city has been full of hedonism, glamour and superyachts. While its dreamy Pampelonne and Tahiti Plage beaches often host the world’s rich and famous, it is the city’s ochre-colored alleyways leading to La Ponche that most evoke the city’s good old days. Lined with small stores, quaint cafes and old women in housecoats sweeping the front steps, it’s also the perfect place to see the city’s 18th-century baroque churches, watch the masts of gleaming superyachts swing in the distance and listen to the sound of clinking wine with glasses paired with French gossip.
4
Lyon
To be one of France’s most beautiful cities, you need a bunch of architectural gems (medieval and modern, if possible), a piece of culture, and plenty of food that can’t really be replicated anywhere else in the world. Lyon has it all. Conquering the confluence of the Rhone and Saône rivers, Lyon has no shortage of river views. Stroll along the river with a local historian who will take you from the city’s Presqu’île (think Lyon’s mini-Manhattan) to the cobblestone streets and alleyways (secret passages) of old Lyon. Treat yourself to a handful of marron glacé (chilled chestnuts) before setting your sights on the Fourvière Basilica at the top of the hill. With views stretching to Mont Blanc, the highest point in Europe, this is the ideal place to enjoy a cochonnaille de porc (cold meat) platter and Lyon salad dressing.
5
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is always ready to wrap things up. From the flower-filled parks and umbrella-filled cafes that dot the heart of the city’s charming World Heritage Site, to the cobblestone Rue Notre-Dame filled with bohemian boutiques and antique galleries, Bordeaux is the epitome of a mini Parisian paradise. While wine has made Bordeaux famous, its 18th-century riverside and fairy-tale architecture (like Grosse Cloche and the quaint restaurants on hidden side streets) make it one of the country’s most vibrant and striking cities.
6
Annecy
If a vacation to France conjures up images of the beauty in Beauty and the Beast bursting through the shutters and singing about her impoverished countryside life, Annecy is your place. Yet Annecy is by no means a poor provincial town. The jewel of the Haute-Savoie province, Annecy (which we know as a town, not a city) occupies a corner of the eponymous turquoise lake. With its alpine setting, canal tapestry and beautiful Vieille Ville (old town), full of apricot-colored bakeries, boutiques and restaurants, it’s no wonder the town has earned its reputation as the “Venice of the Alps”. Said to have the cleanest waters in Europe, take a dip in the lake, stroll the medieval streets and visit the castle that inspired Sleeping Beauty to sink your teeth into creamy Savoy cheese.
