Places in France, May 2010
I don’t give much attention in this blog to places in France, an oversight it is time to correct (francethisway being largely a travel site…). I’ve been sorting through the thousands of photos we have collected on out travels and each month, as long as I remember, I will post five picture of places in France that we found especially interesting or beautiful – hopefully if you are planning a visit it might give you a little bit of inspiration.
On the coast south-east of Marseille the ‘calanques de marseille‘ is a series of coves and cliffs best seen by boat trip from Cassis. Very beautiful, I’d go again tomorrow if I could get there!
I visited Fontenay Abbey in Burgundy last year and it was one of the highlights of my visit to the region. It’s a very lovely ensemble of buildings in a perfect setting and highly recommended.
The Gorges de l’Ardeche are one of the great scenic highlights of southern France. Next time I’ll take my bike and cycle along the rim-road, while the more enthusiastic visitor can also canoe through the canyon.
I usually head south in France when travelling while Mrs B likes the north, so La Rochelle, on the Atlantic Coast in central France, was good for both of us. There is a great deal to discover and explore in the town, and a very lively harbour front where you can sit in a restaurant or watch buskers all evening. I’ll be going back when time permits.
The Pope’s Palace in Avignon – I expected great things and I wasn’t disappointed. The interior is a bit austere, but with some lovely cloisters, and the exterior really is better than the photos. Outstanding. (The famous ‘pont d’avignon was much less interesting or impressive, I thought).
I just noticed I haven’t included a single village above, and it’s really the villages of France for which I have most affection. I’ll include a couple next time!
Meanwhile if you would like to suggest somewhere or send us a photo to be included of your own favourite places please do – send to francethisway@gmail.com
Great photos & a great idea. I have forgotton how many placed we have been in France Thanks for posting.
La Rochelle was the last French city to be freed at the end of WW2.
The U boat pens ( well worth a visit ) were the settings in some of the film Das Boot.
I’ll second Johnny Norfolk – great idea! I’d forgotton how many places in France I haven’t been to! So much still to explore…
I’m still sorting through them but there are just loads of places that when I see the photos I think ‘must go back there soon’. But then there are so many places that we haven’t visited yet as well…ah, choices, choices
Personally, I would highly recommend the following French cities :
- Biarritz
- Vichy
- Montpellier
And the most underrated one is … Vichy, which feels really unfair after you’ve seen the place.
Maybe it is for its history but the place is really beautiful for those who like 1900′s architecture.