The Best French Cities
A�Traveling to France – The Best French Cities
It’s hard to say which French cities are the best because there are so many of them and they all have a rich history that dates back to ancient times. To truly experience France, it’s best to stay there at least a couple of weeks, but consider working there or studying there if you get the opportunity.
The City of Lights
Paris is of course France’s most famous city. There you can see the Champs d’Elysees, the Louvre with the Mona Lisa and the Eiffel Tower. There are of course thousands of other things to see in Paris and you would need years to see them all. Even the locals don’t know everything about their own city! But don’t let this daunt you, just let it encourage you to savor every moment you spend there.
Take in the beautiful streets, walk by the River Seine, visit as many museums as you can, eat gourmet French food every night in different restaurants, have lunch in street cafes with the best coffee and drinks in the world and stay in some of the best hotels that Europe has to offer.
Versailles
This ancient city used to be the most important city in France during the time of Louis XIV, the Sun King. The Palace of Versailles is also where the peace treaty which ended World War I was signed so the city has a rich history that dates back to ancient times as well as to modern times. There are many beautiful palaces and buildings to discover.
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital of the European Union and is directly located on the German-French border, straddling the Rhine River. It is a symbol of peace between the two countries who have historically fought over this territory where it is located. Strasbourg is an international and multicultural city, which takes from French, Belgian, German, Dutch and Italian traditions.
Montpellier
Montpellier is an ancient town of schools, colleges and universities. The medical school has existed since medieval times and the place is always filled with young students. There is a great shopping area in the downtown area and there are hundreds of street cafes, restaurants, bars and shops located in the city’s thoroughfares. The night life is of course exceptional as well, considering there are so many young people there.
Orleans
No trip to France would be complete without visiting Orleans, which is where New Orleans gets its name from. The city is also the birthplace of Joan of Arc, one of France’s greatest heroes. You can still see the 9th century cathedral standing where she took her vows and became a soldier for France. The city is an excellent base for further adventures to see all the beautiful cathedrals in the Loire Valley.
Lyons
This ancient city goes back to the time of the Romans and even before, when Gauls populated France. You can eat some of the best traditional French food in Lyons and the city straddles the Rhone and the Saone rivers.