13 Most-Visited Attractions In France Outside Paris

Are you looking for some of the most-visited attractions in France outside Paris?

One of the most popular cities in the world, Paris attracts over 33 million visitors every year. The French capital is a central hub for art, fashion, and architecture. People also come to this city to enjoy its gastronomy and experience its culture.

From famous attractions like the Louvre Museum and Eiffel Tower to simple pleasures like a picnic on the banks of the Seine River, Paris has something for everyone.

RELATED READ: Is Paris Expensive? What You Need To Know (2023)

Paris is also a shopper’s paradise. From the fabulous “Golden Triangle” of haute couture to the big department stores and trendy boutiques, there are plenty of places that shopaholics will love.

While there is no question just how popular the French capital is with tourists, not all France is Paris. There are many other famous attractions in France outside Paris that you should explore when in the country.

13 Most Visited Attractions In France Outside Paris

Let’s have a look at the famous attractions in France outside Paris in this list.

1. Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy

The Abbey of the Mont Saint-Michel was constructed on a granite rock from the 11th century to the 16th century CE. It is a beautiful Gothic-style Benedictine abbey on the island of Saint-Michel.

The island where the abbey is built on is not only a popular tourist attraction in France but also a renowned center of learning, attracting not only visitors from around the world but some of the greatest minds in Europe as well.

The Mont Saint-Michel is home to 44 residents (including the monks and nuns that reside in the abbey) who welcome about  three million visitors each year.

2. Palace and Park of Versailles, Île-de-France

A former royal residence famed for its lavish rooms, art collection, and splendid gardens, the Palace de Versailles welcomes around 15 million visitors annually, making it one of the most visited historic sites in the world and in France.

This famous palace was the principal residence of the French kings starting from the time of Louis XIV until Louis XVI’s. It has been furbished by several generations of architects and lanscape architects, sculptors, and decorators, providing Europe with a model of the perfect royal palace for over a century.

The Palace of Versailles, along with its park, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. It is deemed one of the most stellar achievements in French 17th century art.

Outside Paris, Château de Versailles is one of the most visited attractions in France.

3. Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Even if you don’t consider yourself a wine person, you should visit Bordeaux for its wine heritage. The city attracts around 6 million plus tourists per year making it one of the most visited major cities in France.

The city of Bordeaux is smaller and more manageable than Paris, ideal for walking around. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it is not only famous for its wine but for its historical monuments and stunning architecture as well.

Bordeaux houses nearly 8,000 wine chateaux that produce around 700 million wine bottles each year.

Situated between vineyards and the ocean, Bordeaux is the gateway to the South West and epitomizes the sweetness of life.

4. Honfleur, Normandy

Honfleur is a city in the French region of Normandy, located  on the estuary where the River Seine meets the English Channel.

Famous for its old port that served as an important trading port during the Middle Ages, the city also achieved fame for its main church that’s built with wood, as well as its connection with Impressionist painters, including Eugène Boudin, Gustave Courbet, and Claude Monet.

Honfleur’s old port, Vieux-Bassin, is lined with 16th- to 18th-century town houses that have been painted by these artists, most notably Claude Monet.

Honfleur has preserved its treasure trove of artistic and historic maritime heritage.

Today, some 3.5 million tourists from all over the world visit this city each year, making it one of the most visited cities in France outside Paris.

5. Loire Valley, Pays de la Loire and Centre-Val de Loire

Dubbed the Garden of France, the Loire Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s considered one of the most famous destinations in France.

At least 8 million tourists come to the Loire Valley every year to visit the cities of Orléans and Tours, the charming towns, the exquisite gardens and fairy-tale castles, and the rolling vineyards. Visitors who come here also sample the world-famous wines produced in the Valley. These wines range from vibrant sancerres to sparkling vouvrays.

The Loire Valley is situated in central France’s Loire River. Apart from the abundant produce and wine industry, it is also popular for its vibrant culture.

6. Deauville, Normandy

Normandy welcomes more than 5 million tourists per year; a chunk of which visit the region’s most chic and glamorous seaside resort – Deauville.

Located on the Côte Fleurie of Normandy just a couple of hours from Paris, Deauville has been a fashionable holiday destination since the 19th century.

This French commune is famous for its celebrity boardwalk, American Film Festival, posh casino and golf courses, horse races, and multi-colored parasols on its beautiful golden-sand beaches.

Deauville also offers a wide range of hotel services, luxury shopping, and cultural and athletic events all year round. This is especially good for a short day trip from the French capital.

7. Carcassonne, Occitanie

Carcassonne has been around for nearly 2,500 years. It is located 95 km southeast of Toulouse in the region of Occitanie.

La Cité, Carcassonne’s fortified city within its boundaries, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1997. This is one of the most impressive walled cities in France, surrounded by two massive walls and 53 towers which served to protect Carcassonne during medieval times.

Each period of Carcassonne’s history has left traces on La Cité’s ancient walls, offering guests a chance to enjoy a life-size history book!

A popular tourist city in the Occitanie region, Carcassonne is a famous French destination visited by nearly 3 million people every year.

8. Parc Asterix, Hauts-de-France

Just 40 minutes away from Paris, Parc Astérix  is a theme park based on the comic book series Asterix by Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny. The amusement park is situated in Plailly, in the northern French department of Oise.

The park, which has been around since 1989, offers numerous attractions and live shows for your enjoyment – more than 40 of them across the park, so there is something for everyone.

Next to Disneyland Paris, Parc Asterix is the second largest park of its kind in France and also among the most popular. It welcomes around 2.3 million visitors per year.

9. French Riviera, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

The French Riviera, or Côte d’Azur, is a thriving region with around 2 million inhabitants who welcome an average of between 4 and 5 million annual tourists. The busiest months are between April and September.

Situated along the southern French coast, separating Provence from the Mediterranean Sea, the French Riviera is a collection of seaside resort towns that are popular with tourists both locals and foreigners alike.

The most famous of these is St. Tropez, which used to be a military stronghold, fishing village, and artist colony, but is now a favorite playground for the rich and famous.

The French Riviera is renowned around the globe for its amazing scenery, fantastic climate, gorgeous beaches, medieval villages, boutique shopping, and laid-back lifestyle, as well as its proximity to Italy. The latter is reflected in the local dishes, which which makes the French Riviera an ideal destination for the whole family.

10. Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, or just Chamonix, is a resort area near where France, Switzerland, and Italy meet. It is on the base of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe at 15,774 feet.

Chamonix is renowned for skiing. In fact, it boasts one of the world’s most challenging skis and snowboard areas. It is also a popular destination for hiking, rock climbing, paragliding, golf, and tennis.

Over 2 million annual visitors come to Chamonix for its pristine natural environment and a wide range of sporting activities.

While Chamonix is not the most expensive resort in the Alps, it is definitely one of the top six luxury ski resorts in Europe.

11. Fontainebleau, Île-de-France

Fontainebleau is one of the most famous attractions outside Paris, known for the large and scenic forest of Fontainebleau which is a popular weekend getaway for many Parisians. It is about 37 miles southeast of the French capital.

Over 13 million people visit the Forest of Fontainebleau annually for its unusual landscape, which is the result of quartz settling on the ocean floor and eventually becoming the fine sand that blankets the forest ground today.

Fontainbleau is also renowned for the historic Château de Fontainebleau (Palace of Fontainebleau), which is visited by some 300,000 people annually.

The Palace of Fontainebleau is a medieval castle and subsequent palace that once belonged to the famous French kings and emperors – 34 kings and 2 emperors – from Louis VII to Napoleon III. The palace has over 1500 rooms and situated at the heart of 130 acres of parkland and gardens.

12. Étretat, Normandy

Étretat, a small delightful village on the north coast of France, is frequented by visitors for the striking rock formations carved out of its white limestone or chalk cliffs. These cliffs are collectively known as the Étretat Chalk Complex.

The most famous of these cliffs are the L’Aiguille – or the Needle which is a pillar that rises 70 meters up from the sea – and the natural arch called Porte d’Aval. 

The cliffs of Étrerat are so stunning that they inspire countless painters to visit the region and paint them. The cliffside Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Garde to the north also offers incredible views. You can enjoy Étretat beach more actively as well. Of course, swimming is a very popular activity in the area.

Every year, there are over one million visitors coming to this small coastal village to hike the winding paths that link the beach to the surrounding green hills and admire the famous natural landscape.

13. Dune of Pilat, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

60 km southwest of Bordeaux, in La Teste-de-Buch in the Arcachon Bay area, you will find the tallest sand dune in Europe. It’s called the Grande Dune du Pilat, or simply the Dune of Pilat. Its current location used to house temporary protohistoric camps for activities connected with sea salt mining.

Attracting more than two million tourists per year, the Dune of Pilat is one of the most famous French tourist destinations outside Paris.

Aside from its amazingly high sand dunes, this attraction also offers great views over the ocean and the forest that goes to the edge of the dune.

It takes about 1.5 hours to walk all the way along the dune, but the effort is worth it especially if you want to witness the best sunset in France. This unique destination is an absolute must-visit that you simply must take in!