12 Most Beautiful and Picturesque Places in France

“Do you Do you Do you Saint Tropez?” The iconic song by the French sex symbol of the 60s, Brigitte Bardot, will forever stay in your head. Saint-Tropez is part of the French Riviera but is one of the most iconic and loved places in all of Europe. It was THE place to be for the international jet set crowd of the 60s. When the movie Et Dieu…créa la femme (And God Created Woman) turned this tiny fishing village into the biggest celebrity playground. The nightlife is incredible and the port town is a gem. Look out for mega yachts parked in the marina, and enjoy people watching on the beach-front restaurants. You won’t be disappointed!

Are you looking for beautiful places in France with great castles? The Loire Valley is the paradise of French castles. You can rent a car or bikes and pedal in front of tons of beautiful estates formerly owned by the French aristocracy (some still own them!). This was the noble’s playing grounds. Everyone who was anyone had a château in this fertile area. Some of the most famous and most expansive castles and homes you must visit are: Château de Chambord, Château de Chenonceau, and Château d’Azay-le-rideau. This is an enormous Unesco World Heritage Site that you need to see. It’s easy to get here from Paris since it’s relatively close. There are amazing vineyards to visit to taste some of the best French wines.

Giverny is in Normandy, on the Seine river North of Paris. If you’ve ever seen one of the most acclaimed French painter Claude Monet, then you will recognize this green paradise. Claude Monet was born in Giverny and lived and worked there all his life. He was constantly inspired by nature. You can visit his home and gardens, the Fondation Claude Monet museum and the Musée des impressionnismes. It’s an easy train ride from Paris but you can also take a bus or rent a car if you prefer. You can see everything in one day (unless you feel inspired and start painting yourself!) so a full day should do.