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.

43. Carcassonne (Toulouse)

The town of Carcassonne in the Aude district of Occitanie has been occupied since neolithic times and is most famous for its mediaeval fortress, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. For those who love mediaeval architecture, the old city with its castle and its ramparts will delight you. The region is also famous for its excellent wines, with wine-tasting a must.

The nearest airport is the Carcassonne Salvaza airport (6 km). Carcassonne is 94.1 km southeast of Toulouse (1 hour 11 minutes by road).

44. The Nietzsche Path (Nice)

The Nietzsche Path is the name given to the path rising from Eze-sur-Mer (15 minutes by bus from Nice) and Eze village (450 meters above sea level), which the German philosopher Nietzsche – who lived here in the 19th century – supposedly climbed daily while writing “Thus Spake Zarathustra”. The climb takes around an hour and the views are superb (no climbing experience necessary, but one should be fit and take plenty of water).

Eze-sur-Mer can be reached by bus or train from Nice in around 15 minutes.

45. Bayonne Cathedral

The building of Bayonne`s magnificent Catholic gothic “Cathédrale Sainte-Marie de Bayonne” began in the 13th century and continued until the 17th, with its spires not finished until the 19th. The cathedral’s site – formerly occupied by a Romanesque cathedral destroyed by fire – lies on the little-known “Camino de Santiago”, an ancient network of pilgrim routes, which has been travelled for centuries.

Bayonne, situated in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of the French Basque country, is only 30 km from the Spanish border: the bus to San Sebastian takes around 1 ½ hours. The closest airport is Biarritz (9 km).

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