In this article, I offer you selected pieces of our heritage, those that I have noted in my travel diaries, and then qualified as French wonders. From the North to the South, from the East to the West, we make you travel through the whole country to discover mythical places: Mont-Saint-Michel, Dune du Pilat, Millau viaduct… Embark on a unique journey through the Seven Wonders of France!
Our planet is full of dream destinations that make you want to travel to the four corners of the world, it is undeniable. France has magnificent and universally recognized resources. So let’s embark on a small overview of very different corners of France that are worth a visit during your next vacation. Our regions have talent, and it’s not just a slogan!
Aubert, bishop of Avranches, is said to have founded this sanctuary of international renown on Mont-Tombe in 708, after three successive apparitions of the archangel Saint Michael. Pearl of the West, masterpiece of ingenuity, architecture and audacity, Mont-Saint-Michel attracts more than three million pilgrims and tourists from all over the world every year. Overlooking the immensity of the bay, the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel with its famous statue located at 170 meters high is the highlight of the visit. Disputed by Normandy and Brittany for generations, the bay of Mont Saint Michel is part of the Unesco World Heritage since 1979. And as a bonus you can try to see a number of animals from the bay after walking the path at low tide: birds, fish, but also seals and dolphins!
Obviously it is impossible not to include in this list of the seven wonders of France the city of light. Capital of fashion, luxury, romance, gastronomy and so many other fields in the eyes of the whole world, Paris is a must-see tourist destination for a weekend, a week or an afternoon visit. Between a visit to the Basilica of Montmartre, a walk in the Tuileries, the discovery of the new exhibition in the Grand Palais or the ascent of the mythical Eiffel Tower after a discovery of the city from the river in a bateau-mouche, you will have experienced only a tenth, if not less, of all the richness that Paris has to offer!
Classified as a Grand Site National, the Dune du Pilat – or Pyla – is the star of the Arcachon basin (south west of France). The Dune du Pilat is one of those places in France that transport us to the other side of the world, in the enigmatic desert of a distant country. However, it is in New Aquitaine, just next to Arcachon and one hour from Bordeaux, that it awaits you! This great cord of white sand, caught between the Landes pine forest on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, is today the highest dune in Europe. The Dune is 107m high, and your legs will feel it! Its sand of an absolute fineness flows under your feet, so it is quite difficult to climb to the top! A staircase has been installed on the paid parking side to allow visitors to climb more serenely. The access is free. For those who arrive by the sea from the free parking lot, do not hesitate to climb a little further in order to avoid the influx of visitors who remain confined to the top of these famous stairs. The slope is more gentle than on the side of the paid parking. And if you are wondering what shoes to wear to go up to the Dune du Pilat, don’t hesitate to take your sneakers to be comfortable! Once in the sand, many people choose to continue barefoot. The sand being very fine, the sensation is particularly pleasant!
From Amboise to Blois, passing by the mythical castle of Chambord, the reputation of the Renaissance castles in the Loire Valley is well known. This magnificent diversity of historical monuments of the 22 castles present on this site justified its inscription on the list of the world heritage of the Unesco. Go from Tours to Angers to discover or rediscover the rich past of the region in all its splendor and architectural diversity in the heart of a green valley with an incomparable heritage.
A castle, flanked by a very large church, dominates the terraced houses. Gordes, in the Vaucluse, is the emblem of the Provencal perched village. It has charmed famous artists, whose cultural imprint is still alive.
We can see it from far, the village of Gordes. Its castle and its church stand out majestically in the sky of Provence, in the heart of the mounts of Vaucluse. On a rocky outcrop that serves as their pedestal. The houses below seem to be under the tutelary protection of these two key monuments. A superb picture, which gives an impression of strength and harmony. After having housed a museum dedicated to the Flemish artist Pol Mara (from 1997 to 2011), the castle now hosts major exhibitions. This year’s exhibition is dedicated to Vasarely, who lived in Gordes.
- Church and ramparts:
After having housed a museum dedicated to the Flemish artist Pol Mara (from 1997 to 2011), the castle now hosts major exhibitions. This year’s exhibition is dedicated to Vasarely, who lived in Gordes.
- Church and ramparts:
In the same defensive perspective, a church with buttresses was built in the 12th century, and later modified. The imposing silhouette of the Saint-Firmin church also represents a challenge for potential attackers. With a bell tower used as a watchtower to monitor the plain.
- Troglodyte life:
One of the particularities of Gordes is the presence of an important troglodyte life. Each house had under its foundations, troglodyte cellars dug in the rock on several levels. They were used as workshops by the craftsmen.
The cellars of the Saint-Firmin palace allow us to understand this astonishing aspect of the life of the inhabitants for centuries.
- An artistic vocation:
The pale stone houses, the superb calades (narrow paved streets), dominated by the castle and the church, represent a source of inspiration for many painters and photographers. The village owes its revival to André Lhote’s love affair with it, in 1938. The painter and writer encouraged many artists and intellectuals to come and discover Gordes. Among them, Marc Chagall, Jean Deyrolle, Willy Ronis. In the same line, Victor Vasarely created, in 1970, an educational museum dedicated to optical art, in the castle. Since then, the artistic vocation of Gordes has not wavered. With beautiful exhibitions, festivals, concerts… And the stay of artists charmed by the light and the unique atmosphere of the village.
Although known to all as the emblems of the Volvic brand, the majestic volcanoes of Auvergne are not just a commercial logo, but a very ancient and unique natural site in France that is just waiting to be visited. In the heart of the Massif Central, the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Nature Park covers about 400,000 hectares of remarkable flora and fauna where you can also find a unique know-how and culture. In addition to its national nature reserves with 4,000 km of rivers and lakes, the Auvergne also has 150 towns with unique characters and a gastronomy known for its exceptional cheeses. So between two visits to the Sancy, the Cantal or the famous Chaîne des Puys by land (hiking, skiing…) or by air, don’t forget to discover them to taste a good slice of local cheese!
This cable-stayed road viaduct, one of the highest in the world, is one of the most beautiful engineering structures of the early 21st century. Built in just three years, the Millau Viaduct links Clermont-Ferrand to Béziers on Highway 75. With its 206,000 tons of concrete and 36,000 tons of steel deck, five times more than the steel structure of the Eiffel Tower, this edifice overlooks the Tarn valley. Less spectacular than the gorges of the same name, the Tarn valley upstream from Albi unfolds a green and peaceful itinerary punctuated by villages overlooking the valley. If you are interested, look up at the story of the construction.
So let yourself be carried away by the rhythm of the beating heart of France and experience the “French touch” and its “je-ne-sais-quoi” in its most emblematic places by contacting us for a tailor-made proposal.
I hope you enjoyed this post on the Seven Wonders of France. For more post, when traveling through France, it is inevitable to come across some magnificent villages! There are so many that it is nearly impossible to list them all, but here is our listing of 10 most charming villages through France.
