What comes to your mind when France is mentioned? Is it great food, romantic spots, the fashion center of the world, or even the Eiffel Tower? France has many interesting things. One of them is Paris. This city becomes the most popular tourist destination when we talk about France. Its popularity as a fashion center makes this city a center for world fashion. In addition, Paris is also known as the most romantic city. No wonder many are dating or honeymooning there. Besides Paris, the weather in France is also quite friendly and comfortable. In spring and autumn, the climate is cold but not too chilly. So the adaptation is easier compared to other European countries, such as Norway. Meanwhile, in summer, the weather is sunny and makes many people go out of the house to enjoy the warm sun.
France also has tourist
destinations that are no less interesting than Paris. One of the reasons why
France is the most populous tourist destination globally is none other than
because this country has many quality UNESCO world heritage sites and they are
still preserved today. France has historic buildings with amazing architectural
art, such as cathedrals, Arc de Triomphe, and more. Even some of these ancient
buildings are imitated by various countries because they look beautiful.
Top Tourist Destinations in France
As we have said above,
France has many tourist destinations and landmarks you can visit. Here are 12
destinations you should not miss when you are in France
1. 1. Eiffel Tower
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| Photo credit: Stanley Chen XI/ Getty Image |
1. 2. Versailles
Versailes is a former royal palace outside the city of France. it is located 16 kilometer southwest of France. With world-class architecture typical of France, the Palace of Versailles has also become one of France's most famous tourist attractions. The Palace of Versailles is further away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Versailes is in a suburb of Paris, offering views that are far different from what is usually seen in the city of Paris in general.
To reach this place, you can take the train and stop at the Versailles Rive Gauche stop; it takes about 10 minutes to walk to the right of the road until you finally see the Palace of Versailles on the left. Today, this opulence complex represent the rise and fall of French monarchy.
Verdon Gorge is a canyon/cliff with the most beautiful river in Europe, especially in spring. In spring, the river will display a turquoise color that comes from the rocks at the bottom of the river. To reach this place, the journey from the city center is quite far, as far as 25 km. It would be better to hire an uber or a private driver if you want to visit this place.
This place is located near and bordering Italy, in the area of Provence in France. The area which is a bit difficult to reach does not make this place empty of visitors. The tourists are attracted to this place because it is said that Verdon Gorge is the most beautiful natural place in France. Most tourists are attracted because the trekking area is very challenging, accompanied by a beautiful valley and river views.
In addition to using car and walking, tourists can also use bicycles to explore this area. Not a few tourists also come because they want to see and interact with animals, the most common of which are birds, because of the wildlife still preserved in France. If tourists also want to explore the connected river, they can also do this with kayaks that can be rented onsite.
4. Tuileries Garden
Tuileries Garden is located close to the Louvre Museum. It was founded by a woman named Catherine de Medici and was opened to the public in 1667. It became a recreational park for tourists and visitors after the French revolution. Parisians also often use this park to relax and enjoy the French air, especially in the afternoon.
This large park consists of several sections, most of which display works of art, most of them are sculptures. The parts of this park consist of:
- Jardin du Carrousel
- Terrasse
- Moat of Charles IV
- Grand Carre of the Tuileris
Ange-Jacques found and design Place de La Concorde. Place de la Concorde is one of France's most famous public places. This place is usually used as a meeting point for French people. At the time of the French revolution, this place was very commonly used as a mass execution place shown for the public. Tourists and visitors can see several fountains and statues, most of which are statues of kings who once reigned in France during the revolutionary era.
In the center of this place stands a famous monument from Egypt at the time of the Pharaohs. The Egyptian government gave this monument in ancient times. The Egyptian government gave two monuments. However, only one is in France, while the rest are still in Egypt due to the difficulty of moving it at that time as
a result of technological limitations. The height of this monument is 23 meters, with a weight of approximately 250
tons.
A few things to keep in mind is that the installation of this monument right in the middle of the garden. It signifies the special skills and equipment used at that time so that they were able to move a monument of this size and weight to France.
6. Orsay Museum
Compared to other museums in France, one of the characteristics of this museum is the presence of a large clock in the main room, which is still functioning properly. The museum was originally founded as a railway station in 1900 by Victor Laloux. The station was then closed operational in 1939, then designated as a historical monument until finally reopened to the public in 1986 as a museum.
The museum contains a wide variety of works of French art; from 1848 to 1914 which is diverse, there are paintings, sculptures, photographs, and so on. This museum is worth a visit because, unlike other museums, this museum is very thick with French characteristics, considering that the majority of the artists whose works are displayed and enshrined in this museum are native French.
7. Louvre
The Louvre is museum in Paris. It was used as a fortress during the reign of Phillip II, has changed its role into a museum displaying more than 380,000 pieces of art spread over an area of 60,000 square meters. Many tourists want to visit this place because, in addition to the art of architecture, which is very charming, this place is also a place worth visiting for history lovers. The collections displayed are diverse, both from ancient Egyptian, Greek, decorative collections, paintings, etc. The ancient Egyptian collection is the collection that fills this museum the most, which describes in full the life of the Egyptian people in Ancient Egypt, the Middle Kingdom of Egypt, the New Kingdom of Egypt, Coptic Art, and Rome. Usually, you won't be able to explore and see every piece of art there because there are many works of art on display. A Frenchman once said that it would take you 3-4 hours a day in three months to see all the existing works of art!
8. Jardin du Luxembourg
Jardin
du Luxembourg is located in Paris. Marie de Medici, wife of King Henry 1612,
established this place as a garden for the housing complex she had just founded.
This garden, with an area of 23
hectares, is now owned by the French government and contains a variety of
flowers, trees, fountains, and so on, which was developed in 1620. At the
center of this park is the attraction that tourists and visitors alike seek. It
is a very distinctive fountain located in the Jardin du Luxembourg with statues
of the queens who once reigned in Paris surrounding the fountain. This park
also has a playground for children, adults, and families who want to spend
time. Sometimes, there are also many musical performances brought by street musicians
to accompany spending time in this place. The park is also equipped with
restaurants, cafes, and drinking places as areas to relax. Be the right choice
to spend free time with friends or family while enjoying the French air with a
glass of wine. This place is open and can be visited from 7 am to 9 pm.
9. Disneyland Paris
Champ Elysees is
an avenue full of cinemas, cafes, and shops, most of which are luxury shops.
This road is one of the most famous roads in the world. France is one of the
countries well known as a fashion country, so it is not something strange or
not surprising that they have a special path for those who love fashion,
especially for visitors or tourists. This 2-kilometer-long street is lined with
luxury shops, separated by a park called Marigny Square.
Although it is
full of expensive brand shops and feels far from what tourists want to know
about France and its culture, you can still find yourself and French culture on
this street. Here is a selection of activities you can do on this trail:
- · Watching cabaret at Le Lido de Paris
You can watch a cabaret show online if you're curious, but this show
is a jazz show that describes life in Paris or France as a whole, from its
history to its life to date. You can buy tickets to watch online to avoid
getting in the queue.
- · You can visit the auction house called Art Crucial
Founded in 1975, this house is still active today as a place to
auction an item. The items being auctioned vary, from works of art to jewelry.
You can see the flow of auctions held here more than 100 times a year. It might
be difficult for you to get the schedule right, so you'll have to ask the
French if you want to see the process.
- ·
Visit the Grand Palais
The
Grand Palais is located across Champ Elysees street, and you can enjoy lunch or
dinner here, of course, in an expensive French restaurant. You can see the
monument to the Grand Palais, which hosts more than 40 events each year,
including showcasing blockbuster films from time immemorial and the seasonal
Chanel fashion show.
Besides being used as a place of
worship, this cathedral church is also one of the tourist attractions worth
visiting because the building has a French gothic aura. This church is located
east of Paris, next to the river Seine, an icon of the French state. It is not
only a place of worship and a place of tourism; the cathedral church of Notre
Dame is also the residence of the Archbishop of France. The cathedral is open
every day and the way to visit it, you can use the train that stops at ile de
la Cite. You can immediately walk from the underground station until you
finally get to Notre Dame.
12. Arc de Triomphe
Arc de Triomphe is a commemorative monument. Arc de Triomphe monument was
planned by Napoleon after his victory in a battle. The process of working on
this monument took approximately two years. The architect and initiator of the initial
design and architecture was Jean Chalgrin. He died in 1811 before the monument
was completed, which led to this work being carried on by Jean-Nicolas Huyot. It
took 30 years for the work to be completed.
This monument is
located at the western end of the Champ Elysees region, erected with Napoleon's
purpose to honour the services of soldiers who died in the battle of Austerlitz
he won. The reason tourists and visitors visit this place is because the
history of France is very thick with a very interesting story behind it. In
addition, the artwork plastered on the walls of the monument is also very worth
capturing if you bring a camera.
How has tourism changed over the years in France?
Fashion and art may be a timeless
attraction in France. The massive changes in tourism do not make the appeal of
art and fashion fade. However, over time there have been many changes that were
clearly aimed at adding to the appeal of France itself. The promotion is also
getting stronger. Not only from art and fashion, the culture promoted through
films or series has also helped tourism in France. The infrastructure is
constantly changing to make it easier for local and international tourists to
enjoy tourism. From year to year, the number of visitors is increasing but
decreasing drastically during the covid pandemic and increasing again in 2022.
What are some of the challenges facing tourism in France?
France has become a global
tourism sensation. Many people say that this country is the king of tourism.
But over time, there are many challenges that must be faced by France. The
reason is clear. Other countries are vying to promote their tourism. The
competition is quite massive. Alain Dupeyras, a tourism committee manager at
the OECD said there were at least 4 major challenges that must be faced. The
first is the dispersed governance. The relationship between departments still
looks less integrated so it is necessary to develop the tourism vision itself.
The second challenge is mobility. One of the most prominent mobility challenges
is the importance of improving systems to support visa issuance policies. In
addition, it is also necessary to strengthen transportation facilities both
nationally and internationally. The last challenge is innovation. Green
innovation is also very important to develop tourism in France.
What are some of the benefits of tourism in France?
Maybe you wonder why France is so
very interesting to visit. The beauty and uniqueness of the country may indeed
be naturally attractive. But we need to know that the Government is very
serious about developing tourism there. The reason is as simple as tourism in
France has great benefits. Tourism in France accounts for at least 7% - 8% of
GDP and provides jobs for millions of people. From there, the country's infrastructure
also became better developed. Including protecting the cultural heritage in
France.
Conclusion
France is one of the most favored destinations by tourists. This is an acceptable fact especially for art lovers and those who are interested in the architecture of a city. The list In addition, culinary must be in your top priority. Wine and French specialties are things you have to try when you are in France. It is so common when France has been global attraction. They have taken tourism seriously and it is supported by the heritage, culture and nature itself. So, if you need holidays, don’t hesitate to go to France.
Written by aTravelikes
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