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.

67. Béarn (Pau)

Béarn is the name given to a traditional province at the base of the Pyrenees in southwestern France, which encompasses the country’s three French Basque regions and parts of Gascony. It is a region of lush green vegetation, clear rivers, sparkling waterfalls and largely untouched 12th and 13th century architecture. The view of the majestically towering Pyrenees is unparalleled from this vantage point.

The capital of the Béarn region, Pau, can be reached by train from Biarritz in around 2 hours 20 minutes. Pau is a good starting-point to explore the region; however, public transport is erratic so car rental is a must.

68. Musée de la Résistance (Besançon)

Besançon in the department of Doubs, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, is one of those little treasures the French like to hide. One of France’s oldest towns with strategic importance established by 1 BC, evidence suggests that the area has been occupied since the Bronze Age. Besançon has a whole range of attractions to the discerning tourist; its thought-provoking and instructive “Museum of the French Resistance” – located appropriately enough in the town’s citadel where 100 resistance fighters were executed during the occupation – is only one.

The nearest airport is Dole-Jura (63 km). Besançon is accessible by rail in just under 2 hours from Lyon, or just over 1 hour from Basel.

69. Borély Park Botanical Gardens (Marseille)

Joseph Borély, a merchant and shipowner, constructed the Borély Park in the 17th century. Today a racecourse and a long promenade separate the three gardens of the Park from the sea, while the castle Borély – refurbished and opened to the public in 2013 – now houses the contents of three of Marseille`s former museums.

An ideal playground for children, the Borély park also hosts a restaurant and a bar, and is a highly-favored spot to relax in Marseille. It is accessible in twenty minutes by bus from the railway station (exit “l`Artisan du Voyage”).

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