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.

28. Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert (Montpellier)

One of the most beautiful villages in France, Saint-Guillaume-le-Désert or Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert (St. William of the Desert in English) is a perfectly preserved and almost unaltered mediaeval village hidden away in the narrow valley of the river Gellone at the heart of the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France.

With a population of under 300, nonetheless Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert enjoys a fair amount of tourism. 3 kilometres away, the incredible Clamouse caves are well worth a visit. The nearest city is Montpellier (44.2 km), which is exquisite in its own right. Public transport is poor: a car is recommended.

29. Marseille

Evidence suggests that humans have inhabited Marseille (or Marseilles, as it is also known) for almost 30,000 years. A major port at its height in 4 BC, it was the first settlement of the Greeks in France and was established as a city around 600 BC by the Phocaeans, making it France`s oldest city. Today, the former “Massalia” is a lively, bustling harbor town and the second largest French city after Paris, attracting over 4 million visitors a year.

For full benefits of your stay in Marseille, visit the old port, Le Panier (where the Greeks supposedly first lived) and the Château d’If, where the fictional Count of Monte Christo was imprisoned in the novel of the same name. Marseille has its own airport: the flight from Paris takes 1 hour 20 minutes.

30. Stade Roland Garros (Paris)

For tennis lovers of all ages, the Roland Garros Stadium in the 16th arrondissement is definitely worth a visit. Established in 1928 for the Davis Cup and named after WWI aviator Roland Garros (killed in combat in 1918), the Stade Roland Garros boasts twenty courts, 3 enormous stadiums and a complex of bars and restaurants. It hosts the French Open annually between late May and early June.

The Stade Roland Garros can be reached by metro from Chatelet in about 20 minutes, going direction Bolougne. The exit is “Port d’Accueil”, from which the Stadium is a five minute walk.

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