Destinations

France is not one place. The Atlantic coast feels nothing like the Alps; Lyon eats differently from Marseille. These editorial pieces focus on regions and cities we think repay careful attention — not checkbox tourism, but enough context to plan well.

The Eiffel Tower seen from central Paris in spring

City

Paris

Neighborhoods, canals, and corners of the capital that sit outside the standard itinerary.

Ochre cliffs and village houses in Roussillon, Vaucluse

Region

Provence

Markets, hill villages, and the particular light of the south.

Mont-Saint-Michel abbey rising from the bay, Normandy

Region

Normandy

Coastal walks, cider country, and villages that predate the guidebooks.

Half-timbered houses along a canal in Colmar, Alsace

Region

Alsace

Wine route villages, Franco-German architecture, and Christmas market traditions.

Château de Chenonceau spanning the Cher river, Loire Valley

Region

Loire Valley

Renaissance châteaux, river cycling, and some of the country's finest goat cheeses.

Planning context: Understanding the Regions of France