Best 5 of the Most Beautiful Places in France

 Ever diverse and impossible to pin down, France of course means many things to many people. For some, it’s beaches and Mediterranean sun. For others, it’s the glossy ski slopes of the Alps. For others, it’s the otherworldly lavender fields of Provence. And for others yet, it’s all those rural châteaux – ironically complete with impeccably manicured ‘English’ gardens.

So what do all those visions of la vie à la française have in common? In their own way, they’re all bloody beautiful. And we each, inevitably, have our own absolute favourite. That’s probably why indefatigable travellers like us can’t stop going back: year after year, France is the most visited tourist destination on the planet. We crave a return to that one local boulangerie, that one blue run, that one coastal walk.

Even if you haven’t visited the country before, you’ll no doubt come away singing the praises of whatever random region you end up going to first. Planning a holiday right now? Browse our list of the 17 most beautiful places to visit in France in your lifetime and pick your next dream tricolore getaway.

1. Gorges du Verdon

Soaring some 700 metres into the air, the gravity-defying limestone flanks of the Verdon Gorge are striking enough. And then you catch sight of the water, which is a dazzling turquoise-green hue unlike anything else on earth. This gargantuan river canyon – said to be the world’s second tallest – draws hikers, swimmers and kayakers fed up with the bustle of the nearby French Riviera. Instead: a tranquil slice of the tropics in, er, rural Provence.

2. Volcans d’Auvergne

The puys of Auvergne are rounded hilltops formed by hardened magma from a chain of dormant volcanoes. The star attraction in the 395,000-hectare Auvergne Volcanoes regional nature park, the Chaîne des Puys, the Monts Dore, the Cézallier and the Monts du Cantal make a peculiar yet truly unique setting for hikes, cycle trips and hot-air balloon rides. Don’t miss the unearthly Pavin crater lake.

3. Côte de Granit Rose

Fancy a flavour of la vie en rose? South Brittany may have the Baie de Quiberon – the indisputable jewel in the region’s crown – but the north can lay claim to the subtler charms of the Côte de Granit Rose. This 10km-long stretch from from Perros-Guirec to Trébeurden is known as the ‘Pink Granite Coast’ for the huge blocks of pinkish Atlantic-polished rock that line its shores. Local must-dos include lunch in the former fishing village of Ploumanac’h, walking the Sentier des Douaniers route and seabird-spotting in the Sept-Îles nature reserve.

4. Désert des Agriates

Central Corsica may be dominated by hike-friendly mountains, but the beaches in the north are well worth a look-in too. One of the most beautiful is the Plage du Lotu, which you can access by pleasure boat from the commune of Saint-Florent. Alternatively, if you prefer a physical challenge, you could ramble through the steep, arid, barren wilderness of the Désert des Agriates – Europe’s only certified desert – which is fringed by a 40km-long coastal path.

5. Calanques marseillaises

Need an escape to the country after a fun but hectic marseillais city break? Make like a local and pop along to one of the surrounding coastline’s many gorgeous calanques (creeks) with charming names like Cassis, Sormiou and Sugiton. Sure, it may be a trek to get out there, but for an unusual, truly multisensory hit of unadulterated holiday bliss, the calanques’ beautifully blue (and typically warm) waters, the sweet smell of pine trees and the non-stop buzz of cicadas will almost certainly do the job.