France is the number one tourist destination worldwide, and it is not difficult to see why. Quite apart from the diversity of its national monuments – many but by no means all of which are to be found in the capital city of Paris – it offers culture, tradition, fascinating history, romance and charm as well as fantastic cooking and first-rate wines.

It is interesting to note, when you are visiting France, that the French are extraordinarily nonchalant about the beauties and treasures in their wonderful country, almost as if they took them for granted. They live, eat and sleep with them in a completely different way to the rest of the world. For that reason, it is often difficult to find information about the lesser-known gems of antiquity or beauty hidden away in the remoter regions of France. This list of the best things to do in France will shed light, not only on the attractions and monuments with which everyone is acquainted, but on other equally beautiful or significant attractions which are all but unknown.

1. Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe (Paris)

No visit to Paris would be complete without a walk along this most loved of Parisian avenues to the towering Arc de Triomphe at it`s West end. Felt by many to be a more significant landmark of Paris even than the famous Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe – commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 but not completed until 30 years later – commemorates those who died in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from WWI lies beneath its vault.

The Champs Elysées lies in the 8me arrondissement, north of the Seine. For the best quality entertainment, shopping and eating in Paris, it is hard to beat (don`t forget to replenish your wallet first!). From the railway station Gare du Nord, it is about 12 minutes by subway. The closest subway stop is “Charles-de-Gaulle-Étoile”.

2. Eiffel Tower (Paris)

At 324 metres tall, the Eiffel Tower (named after engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company constructed it in the years between 1887 and 1889) is the highest structure in Paris and one of the most immediately recognizable in the world. Much criticized at the time of its inception, today it is the most visited monument worldwide, drawing nearly 7 million visitors in 2015.

The tower consists of three levels, with 300 steps between the ground floor and the first level and a further 300 separating the first level from the second (there ARE steps from the second to the third, but most people prefer to take the elevator!). There are restaurants on the first two levels and an observation deck (at 276 metres – the highest in the EU) on the third. The nearest railway station is the Gare Montparnasse, line 6 (just over 20 minutes): the stop is “Champ de Mars”.

3. Palais des Papes (Avignon)

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, Avignon’s huge “Palace of the Popes” (15,000 square metres in area) is one of the largest and most significant examples of mediaeval Gothic architecture in Europe. Both a palace and a fortress, it housed six successive popes in the 14th century, while its huge library attracted students and clerics – and its chapel musicians and singers – from all over the world. Sadly, it fell into disuse towards the end of the 14th century on the decision of the papacy to return to Rome.

Most parts of this awe-inspiring building and its gardens – a legacy of the huge wealth of the papacy – are open to visitors. The great chapel and the 700 year old frescoes by Matteo Giovanetti are of particular interest. Avignon, located in the heart of Provence, is accessible by rail in 2 hours 38 minutes from Paris. A shuttle bus (10 minutes) transports visitors from the station to the city center.

Source: https://www.jenreviews.com/best-things-to-do-in-france/