travel
“It’s like witnessing a Renoir or Matisse painting coming to life”: readers’ favourite trips in France
From Normandy to Provence, our readers enjoy great art, architecture and outdoor activities in France. Tell us about a trip to Scotland – the best tip wins a £200 holiday voucher.
TL;DR
- Vichy offers art nouveau and belle époque architecture, a spa experience, and numerous boutique shops.
- Chanaz in Savoie is ideal for summer with canal and lake activities, colorful flowers, and old streets.
- The Champeaux Cliffs in Normandy provide a stunning view of Mont-Saint-Michel, admired by General Dwight Eisenhower.
- The Fernand Léger National Museum in Biot, Provence, showcases modernist works with beautiful grounds and nearby glass-blowing demonstrations.
- The Chemin de Stevenson (GR 70) in the Massif Central is a 140-mile footpath for walkers.
- Amboise on the Loire boasts three chateaux, including Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years.
- Cycling the Normandy coast offers opportunities to visit towns like Honfleur, Deauville, and enjoy various swimming pools.
- Arles in Provence hosts Les Rencontres d’Arles, a photography festival, and offers traces of Van Gogh's life.
- Clisson in Pays de la Loire features Italianate-style architecture and a Mediterranean feel.
- Corrèze in Nouvelle-Aquitaine is a peaceful rural department perfect for canoeing in its gorges.