Top 10 Tourist Attractions in France

10. Chartres Cathedral

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Chartres Cathedral is located in the medieval town of Chartres, about 50 miles from Paris. Not only is Chartres Cathedral one of the greatest achievements in the history of architecture, it is almost perfectly preserved in its original design and details. Since the 12th century the cathedral has been an important destination for travellers,  and remains so to this day, attracting large numbers of Christian pilgrims, as well as large numbers of secular tourists who come to admire the cathedral's architecture.

9. Dune of Pyla

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Located in the Landes of Gascony, at the entrance to the famous Arcachon Bay, and facing the tip of Cap Ferret in the department of Gironde, the Dune of Pilat (or Pyla) is the highest dune in Europe. And all around it, the charm of France's south-west and the Atlantic Ocean and the inlet of the bay on one side and a large pine forest on another.

8. Palais des Papes

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The Palais des Papes is a historical palace in Avignon, southern France, one of the largest and most important medieval Gothic buildings in Europe. The Palais des Papes (Pope’s Palace) was built when Pope Clement V abandoned Rome in 1309 and settled in Avignon. Palais des Papes is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

7. Chateau de Chambord

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The royal Château de Chambord at Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France, is one of the most recognizable châteaux in the world because of its very distinctive French Renaissance architecture which blends traditional French medieval forms with classical Renaissance structures. The Chateau de Chambord was built in 1519 with than 440 rooms by King François.

6. Gorge du Verdon

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The Verdon Gorge, in south-eastern France, is a river canyon that is often considered to be one of Europe's most beautiful. It is a 25 kilometer (15 miles) long canyon and rises a spectacular 700 meters (2,300 feet) from the Verdon river below. Named for its startling turquoise-green colour, is one of the Gorge du Verdon’s most beautiful features. The water sports here include rafting, kayaking, sailing and water skiing. Also, Visitors can drive around its rim, rent kayaks to travel on the river, or hike.

5. Mont Saint-Michel

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Mont Saint Michel is a small tidal island located just off the coast of Normandy, France. It is located approximately one kilometre (0.6 miles) off the country's northwestern coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches. The island is best known as the site of the spectacular and well-preserved Norman Benedictine Abbey of St Michel at the peak of the rocky island, surrounded by the winding streets and convoluted architecture of the medieval town.

4. Palace of Versailles

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The Palace of Versailles, or simply Versailles, is a royal château in Versailles in the Île-de-France region of France. Built in 1624 by Louis XIII, the Palace of Versailles remained the official residence of the Kings of France until October 1789 when the royal family was forced to return to Paris during the French Revolution. Versailles is therefore famous not only as a building, but as a symbol of the system of absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime.

3. St Tropez

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Saint-Tropez is a town in the French Riviera. Made famous by Brigitte Bardot, it has for long has been a hot destination for the rich and famous. Outside peak summer there are less celebrities to spot but you’ll also instantly appreciate what lured artists, writers and film makers to this picturesque village.

2. Chamonix

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Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, more commonly known simply as Chamonix, is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. Chamonix is a famous ski resort in the French Alps at the foot of Mont Blanc. It was the site of the first Winter Olympic games in 1924. Chamonix is one of the oldest ski resorts in France and is known as the "gateway to the European Cascades. The summer months Chamonix is a mecca for alpine mountaineers and mountain bikers.

1. Eiffel Tower

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Built in 1889 by Gustave Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower is a symbol of Paris and one of the top tourist attractions in France. The tower is the tallest structure in Paris and the most-visited paid monument in the world. The tower received its 250 millionth visitor in 2010 and 6.98 million people ascended it in 2011.