10 Reasons That Make France an Appealing Country to Visit

A Parisian cafe. (2006) visit france

France is a huge pull for tourists, but why is that the case? There is a lot to love about France. The people are (usually) great, the country has a fascinating history, and there are lots to do from enjoying the food, visiting museums, and even going skiing. The weather is also pretty good in the south of the country where the Mediterranean coastline brings a lot of visitors.

No matter where you end up, you will find charm everywhere you go. You might be interested in checking out the best places to visit in France, here are 10 of the main reasons why you should visit France.

The Food

French food is world-renowned, and for good reason. There is no end to the things you can enjoy in the best French restaurants. But the best foods are the ones that everyone already knows about. There really is nothing better than the mother sauces, the French cheeses and the bread. You don’t have to eat frogs legs and snails to get a real taste for the nation’s cuisine. And then there are the pastries and sweet things. For example, you will find lots of shops in Paris that solely sell macarons. They taste fantastic, and no one makes them as well as the French do, so make sure you try some.

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Shopping on the rue Saint-Antoine by Tom Flemming

Paris

Paris is not only the best city in France but also one of the very best cities on the planet. It’s the kind of place that you can explore for days and weeks on end and still not see it all. If you ask many, they’ll say it’s greater than any of its big rivals such as New York, London or Rome. It has a life of its own, and it can be so immersive for visitors.

There is never any shortage of things to do when you’re in Paris. You can explore all the art and musical sites that are dotted around the city. Or you can simply stroll by the river and soak up the atmosphere of the city. The labyrinthine city streets of Paris are a real joy to explore if you’ve never done so before.

Photo source

Historic Villages

There are many historic villages in France that have remained virtually unchanged over the years. They seem to stand still as the world has changed around them. These are very appealing to people who want to get away from the general tourist traps found in the south of France. Many people fall in love with these places and buy holiday homes there. You should read the French chateau buyers guide if you’re interested in buying in a rural area. There are many of these quiet, quaint and laid back villages in France. They offer something completely different to what you find in the big cities.

Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert
Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is a small village located in a narrow valley close to the gorge of the Hérault River. Photo by Fougerouse Arnaud

Art

France has been home to some of the greatest artists in history over the years. And this is something that you can experience when you visit the country. France has some of the best galleries in the world. Many of them can be found in Paris. Most people would argue that the Louvre is the best gallery in the world, and it stands in the heart of Paris. It displays the best works of art and sculptures not just from France but from around Europe. It also has some of the best works of impressionism, the artistic movement that was born in France. There are also plenty of interesting modern galleries in Paris too if that’s more your sort of thing.

Louvre
Louvre by Guilherme Salgado

The Heritage Sites

If you love to visit sites that are of relevance to history, there are many places to enjoy in France. The country is home to some of the greatest churches and cathedrals in all of Europe. One of the best UNESCO World Heritage Sites in France is Mont Saint-Michel. It’s located in Normandy, in the north of the country and is one of the most recognisable landmarks in France. It has been around since the 8th century AD, and it was the seat of the monastery. Chartres Cathedral is another stunning example of French architecture. And no one knows who built or designed it, adding to its enigma. There is also the Cathedral of Notre Dame, which everyone should visit at least once.

Mont Saint-Michel Castle - HDR
Mont Saint-Michel Castle by Nicolas Raymond

Wine Regions

One of the great things that France is best known for is its wine. There are amazing wine regions in France, and you can visit them. The best wine regions are Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne. There are many guided tours that you can take, and these can be a lot of fun. Most of them incorporate wine-tasting sessions which are always enjoyable. There is no country on earth that is better at producing great wines than France. They are best at creating white sparkling wines.

The Winery
The vineyards of Alsace by Collin Key

Skiing

France has a very varied geography. One of the things that many people don’t realise is how great some of the mountain ranges are. This makes them fantastic for people who want to do some skiing while they travel. Many people head for Austria or Switzerland when they want to ski, but some of France’s best resorts are just as good as those in other countries. Chamonix is one of the very best ski resorts in France. It offers fantastic slopes, great ski chalets and great ski companies. Other great resorts can be found in Courchevel, Tignes, Val D’Isere, and Les Gets. So, consider all those options.

Skiing in Val D'Isere
Skiing in Val D’Isere

Transportation

One of the best things about France is the great public transportation on offer there. The country’s train system is particularly impressive. This means that anyone who wants to get around the country without hiring a car or driving can easily do so. There are lots of cheap deals on offer for people who are doing lots of traveling. And you are very rarely let down by the efficiency of the trains. They leave and arrive exactly when they are supposed to. This is a big benefit when you are trying to get from one place to another as quickly as possible, but not so great if you are usually late to things. There are sometimes strikes, but you won’t find a more modern or efficient train network in many other global locations.

Train Station in Bordeaux
Train Station in Bordeaux by skruk

Cafe Culture

France is known for its cafe culture, and it’s something you can only really experience in the country. Sure, everywhere has cafes. But they don’t have cafes that are as alive, authentic, and photogenic as the ones that line the streets of major French cities. You can spend all day sitting at a table in an outdoor cafe during summer. There is always someone willing to talk to you. It’s something that is closely associated with France, and it’s also one of those things that does not disappoint. There’s nothing better than watching the world go by as you sit back and relax in a great cafe. It’s worth spending at least a day taking it easy and doing this kind of thing. You won’t regret it.

Paris, France
Historic Cafe De Flore by drburtoni

Great Access to Other Countries

One of the great things about France is that it borders so many other European countries. It’s like the central hub of Europe. You can leave the country in so many different directions and experience something new. In total, there are eight nations that border France. To the southwest, there is Spain and Andorra. And to the east, you can enter Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Luxembourg. Last, but not least, there is Monaco to the south. So, going to France needn’t be just about seeing France. You can explore so much of Europe as well afterward. Many people start their travels in France before moving on to other countries and seeing another side of the continent.

Was that enough reasons to make you want to visit France? Have you been? What is your favourite thing about France?

15 thoughts on “10 Reasons That Make France an Appealing Country to Visit

  1. Such a nice post! While France has quite an average reputation, I acutually enjoyed every trip to the country to the utmost! I also fell in love with Paris (you can read about my experiences here: http://traveluxblog.com/paris/). Such a beautiful city! 🙂

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    1. Yes, France has a lot to offer. I’ve always been treated well there. I’ll check out your post, thanks for sharing!

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  2. Nice post. To pick two best destinations in France, what would you pick?

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    1. Hmm… I’m gonna have to say Paris and Val D’Isere. 🙂 How about you?

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      1. I am going to visit Paris this summer , I am pretty confused about the second city between Nice and Colmar. Its my first visit there 🙂

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      2. Well, you will enjoy either one you pick! 🙂

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  3. I loved our trip to France for sure. Pairs was just amazing during the day and at night too.Avenue des Champs-Elysees is one of my favourite place there 🙂

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    1. I have good and bad memories in that avenue 🙂 On my first trip I was very young and it was just my mom and I and I was so tired of walking all day and when we were in that avenue she said that it was just like 3 or 5 more blocks, but the blocks there are super long! haha

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      1. We have a similar story as well. 🙂 When we were there first time, I could see the end of the road. I insisted on walking thinking it is not far while hubby wanted to catch a train. When we started the walk, it never seemed to end as it was so long and we both were exhausted when we reached Arc de Triomphe. And it was in summer too.

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  4. France was the country that I visited when I traveled alone abroad for the first time. Exploring Paris on my own gave me a sense of freedom that I had never experienced before. Since then I have visited France many times and travelled round the world alone.

    Paris is also close to my heart because I fell in love with art at the Louvre (and later, Italy just nurtured this passion) and learnt to enjoy a coffee and croissant all by myself at a cafe.

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    1. That sounds really wonderful! The pleasure of just relaxing with a croissant (or a baguette) and a coffee is so nice. And I bet exploring the streets of Paris in your own company was amazing. 🙂 Thanks for sharing Aruna.

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  5. Okay now my vague desire to go to Paris is taking shape as I need go visit Paris! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

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    1. Thanks for visiting 🙂 I wouldn’t say Paris is overrated.

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  6. Hard to argue with anything you’ve written here. Great post about a great country.

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  7. Amazing blog with great information. Thanks, dear for sharing this amazing blog with us and keep it up and I will definitely visit these places with my friends.

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