Share the article
Last updated
According to the United Nations, France is again the most popular country In the world, returned to 99 percent of his pre-crisis levels of tourism, with more than 100 million visitors registered last year alone.
As a local I cannot say that I am surprised or too excited about it, if I am honest:
I live in Paris as standard, The world’s most visited capitaland compared to two or three years ago, it certainly feels a lot of Enziness:
You can hardly go for a walk in Montmartre without encountering anyone who distracts photos to notice, and if you are planning to browse the Louvre’s art collection or go on the Eiffel Tower, it is better to book in advance ,, ” The line outside the door goes around the block.
As much as I love my city and couldn’t imagine that I live somewhere else, I would not encourage friends to come and visit me in 2025, especially if those figures are expected to grow exponentially – but hey, it’s not like the Eiffel Tower is everything that France has in store.
You can still gap on delicious food, admire the architecture and practice SavoIR-VIVRE Skills in this 5 alternative, equally meager destinations… Without the hustle and bustle:
Provins
Ile-de-France
If you have 3 to 5 days in Paris, chances are that you are planning to take a day to explore Versailles or perhaps Disneyland for the nostalgic feeling and exciting adventures, so before tickets are booked and your plan in Stone has been completed, then let me introduce Provins first:
Located in the capital, this Many overlooked town dating from the Middle Ages Still has its walls intact, brick built houses that have survived the passage of time, albeit partially claimed by Ivy, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage.
Unlike walking and getting lost in the paved streets, it is something I love Provins is the food scene, from sweet stores where you can get the original 600-year-old macaron Recipe for the rustic CRêperie La Malouiniere–– Hands of the Best pancakes in the city!
Oh, and if you are planning to get the most out of your visit, get a Provins Pass: it only costs $ 18 and grants access to all paid attractions, including La Tour CésarA medieval tower that orders an idyllic panorama of the surrounding countryside and the underground tunnel system.
Rouen
Normandy
Rouen is only two hours north of Paris, in the heart of Normandy and is one of my favorite day trips from the capital for two reasons: it is deep historical –It is here Joan of Arc met her tragic fate On the Ring and the medieval center has been largely preserved.
Centered around a beautiful Gothic cathedral, with not two, but three rising towers, each of them unique in design, the historic center is a maze of alleys flanked with skewed, half-soiled 15th-century houses, and it contains a jewel or two:
The Gros-watchbow over the Hoofdstraat, is An astronomical clock that Rivals Prague has in beauty, at least in my book, and in the summer, the charming, runnel surrounded Eau de Robec Is a great place to visit for coffee or an aperitif in the early afternoon.
For something Real Unique, however, make sure you don’t miss it Place du Vieux-MarchéOr Old Market Square, where Joan was burned, and a modernist, stained ecclesiastical church that I always believed was the shape of a witches that now stand.
Honestur
Normandy
On the coast of Normandy, Honfleur is what I like to describe as Lovechild from Amsterdam and Copenhagen: it is a timeless historic port along the English canal, famous for its seafood and monet associations.
Indeed, it is An impressionist painting comes to lifeWith a photo-perfect harbor front consisting of gloomy-colored, lean buildings and a maze of rear streets flanked with shops and brasseries that serve Moules-Frites And other traditional seafood.
The harbor is undoubtedly the pride and joy of Honfleur, although you shouldn’t miss the beautiful Église Sainte Catherinethe oldest and largest Houtkerk in Francebuilt in the 1400S, or the channel on Vieux basinWhere some of the best restaurants are.
Do you just have time for it? The centrally located Bistro du Poort has menus Or lunch deals, starting from just $ 23.55 and usually includes a main course, a drink and a choice of starter or dessert. So you know, their camembert fondue is to die for.
Orange
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
We’re going to the deep French South for the next, and This is for my fellow Roman rich lovers: in case you didn’t know, this region is of France sown With remains of what is perhaps the largest period of Western civilization, and this includes the Orange.
A traditional ocher-colored city of Provence, it is a legendary municipality of many café gestures places (that is French for square) and old orientation points that never seem to be praised that they deserve, starting with the UNESCO secured Théâtre Antique d’Orange.
A theater from the first century in An impressive state of preservationIt remains festivals and live performances in the summer and on non-event days, does it welcome guests as an open-air museum for around $ 10-Herinnert how much it costs to access the Roman Colosseum again?
For other must-sees in orange, add the equally Roman triumphal arch, the ruin-stabbed Parc de la Colline Saint-Lope view of the theater, and an erratic Château de BeaucastelA winery centered around an age -old country house in the country surrounded by vineyards on your list.
Menton
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
My secret addition, because it is neither non-covered nor necessarily a hidden gem, functions here, simply because because There is no nicer city in FranceCitroengelato that is more wonderfully bitter or creamier, nor coastal views elsewhere that can match it:
It speaks out about the Franco-Italian border, and as you would expect from a border city, has the elements of both cultures, with trattory In abundance and rows of warm -colored facades, in contrast to your usual boulangeries Sale of fresh croissants and residents of the local population Provencal Accent.
Menton is typical French Riviera and has been many times over the years; I can confirm that it never loses his profession– – I continue to stumble even more reasons to love it, whether it is the views of the Jaune Townscape of surrounding hills or new swimming spots along the turquoise on the waterfront.
Before I go, I don’t have to add a trip to Menton is complete without hiking on the size of his Palm -littered Promenade, a Mango or Lemon Sorbet Van Tutti Frutti Glaciers Pass the lush Val Rameh gardens, all the way to Italy.
The walk to the border takes 45 minutes to complete, and at the end, You can reward yourself with dinner in the world class Mirazur restaurantRun by a Franco-Italian chef who knows for sure how to knead fresh pasta in shape.
And those views on Menton in the distance? Mamma Mia… C’est Juste la Huitième mesheile Du Monde!
✈️Become a member of our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where travelers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even find like -minded travel buddies!
Subscribe to our latest messages
Enter your e -mail address to subscribe to the latest Breeknieuws from Path, directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Traveloffpath.com
Opinions here are only the author, not those of a bank, credit card emitting, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been assessed, approved or otherwise approved by one of the entities that are included in the post.
