Famous for its wines and cheeses, France is the world’s most popular tourist destination receiving 82 million foreign tourists annual. Visitors are attracted by historic cities, a beautiful countryside, the castles of the Loire Valley, and Brittany and Normandy. In addition, France offers an agreeable climate, some excellent beaches on the French Riviera, the Atlantic coast and the island of Corsica, wide possibilities for winter sports , most notably in the Alps and the Pyrenees, and a rich culture with food and wines that are among the most celebrated in the world. The top tourist attractions in France:

1. Eiffel Tower

A towering spire that has come to symbolize the City of Lights, the Eiffel Tower is a must-see attraction for any visitor to Paris. Nearly 200,000,000 people have toured the tower since it was completed in 1889. Surprisingly, the Eiffel Tower was never intended to be a permanent fixture. Architect Gustav Eiffel designed the tower as an exhibit for the 1889 World’s Fair. The Art Nouveau structure was a hit from the beginning, however, and its use as a radio transmitter during the early 1900s helped ensure its longevity.

With a height of 300 meters (984 feet) it was the tallest tower in the world until 1930, when the Chrysler Building in New York was completed. It remains the tallest structure in Paris today. The wrought-iron tower is painted a lighter color at the bottom and a darker shade on top to dramatize the tower’s height and give it the appearance of a uniform color. Tourists can ride the elevator to see incredible views of the city or dine in one of the two fine restaurants that are situated within the tower. Booking tickets in advance allows visitors to avoid long lines.

2.Saint Tropez

Located on the French Riviera, St Tropez is known for its famous and extremely wealthy summer guests. It has been dubbed the playground of the jetset, fashion models, and millionaires. Outside peak summer there are less celebrities to spot but you’ll also instantly appreciate what lured artists, writers and film makers to this picturesque village.

See also: Where to Stay in St Tropez

3.Chamonix

Chamonix is a famous ski resort in the French Alps at the foot of Mont Blanc. It was the site of the first Winter Olympic games in 1924. In winter world-class skiers and boarders push themselves to extremes on Europe’s most challenging slopes while in the summer months Chamonix is a mecca for alpine mountaineers and mountain bikers.

4.Palace of Versailles

As one of the most famous Chateaus in France, the Chateau Versailles draws more than 3 million visitors annually. This magnificent palace was first constructed in 1624 as a hunting lodge for King Louis XIII and then later expanded to become the residence of the French Royal Family. The palace’s many stunning features include the Hall of Mirrors, a corridor lined with seventeen mirrored arches. In the Queen’s bedchamber, visitors can view a hidden door through which Marie Antionette fled during the March on Versailles. With its seven salons and painted ceilings, the Grand Apartment of King Louis XVI is a sight to behold. A must-see is the palace’s 250-acre formal gardens, which are designed in a geometrical pattern of trees, flowers and pathways.

5.Mont Saint-Michel

Rising up from the midst of vast mud flats and some of Europe’s most powerful tidal waves is the rocky island of Mont Saint-Michel, located off France’s northwestern coast in Normandy. The tidal island is significant for its construction of medieval structures built as if stacked upon one another and crowned with the star attraction, the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel.

The awe-inspiring abbey was built by devoted monks in 708 AD after the Bishop of Avranches was allegedly visited by the Archangel Michael. Since then, Mont Saint Michel has served as an important pilgrimage point, strategic fortress and prison over the centuries.

The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway, which can be reached by buses from Rennes and Pontorson. During low tide, a muddy sandbar appears to provide access by foot, but tourists are strongly advised not walk across it because of the dangers presented by the powerful tides.

A visit to Mont Saint-Michel offers views of medieval walls, fortifications, a small village of less than 100 residents and narrow, winding streets lined with beautiful chapels, gardens, museums, shops and hotels. At the base of the old abbey is a wide selection of cafes and restaurants.

6.Gorge du Verdon

The Gorges du Verdon, large French canyon making the cut between two mountains, having on the one hand the Alps de Castellane and on the other the Alps of Digne. The Verdon River extends over a length of 175 km, constituting on a considerable distance, the border between the Var to the south and the High Alps to the north.

Place inhabited by the Gauls of Verguni in the pas, it is now a major tourist attraction in France especially for lovers of extreme sports: bungee jumping, mountain biking (bike) and Canoeing often practiced in Styx du Verdon, which is a mini canyon that refers to Greek mythology. The most beautiful canyon in Europe is a paradise for hikers that can reach Lake St. Croix along the rivers of Verdon.

The Gorges du Verdonis much visited for its beautiful scenery that this region offers. Indeed, this site particularly attractive to artists such as painters and photographers who can find there the inspiration for the expression of their art.

7.Chateau de Chambord

This second most visited château in France (after Versailles), is a masterpiece of the French Renaissance. Construction of the Chateau de Chambord started in 1519 by King François I so he could hunt in the nearby forests. The cold and massive 440 rooms of the Château made it unpopular as an actual residence and François I himself stayed here for less than 40 days in total.

8.Palais des Papes

One of the largest and most important Gothic buildings in the world, the Palais des Papes (Pope’s Palace) was built when Pope Clement V abandoned Rome in 1309 and settled in Avignon. The 3 meter (10 feet) thick walls, portcullises and watchtowers emphasize the castle-like look of the palace.

11.Pont du Gard

The Pont du Gard is the main section of a 50 km (30 miles) long aqueduct built during the first century AD in southern France. The Romans built the aqueduct to bring water from a spring in Uzes to the Roman colony of Nimes. Because the spring and Nimes were on opposite sides of the Gardon River, they constructed an aqueduct bridge to carry the water across the river to Nimes, where it was used for thermal baths, fountains, pools and running water for the houses.

Excavations suggest that construction of Pont du Gard took place between the years 40-60. Archaeologists believe that the aqueduct took approximately 15 years to build and required as many as 1000 laborers to complete the construction. The Pont du Gard required an estimated 50,400 tons of limestone, with some of the blocks weighing up to six tons. Builders cut the blocks so precisely that they fit together without the need for mortar in most sections. Numbers and inscriptions used by the builders are still visible on some of the stones.

The structure consists of three levels of arches standing 49 meters (160 feet) above the Gardon River. When it was completed, the aqueduct carried an estimated 200,000 cubic-meters of water to the city of Nimes each day. Archaeologists estimate that it continued to be used until the sixth century or perhaps longer. Lack of maintenance after the fourth century made it more difficult for water to flow freely, and eventually the flow stopped.

Although the Pont du Gard was no longer used as an aqueduct, it was and still is an important tourist attraction. The bridge has a long association with French monarchs such as King Charles IX of France, Louis XIV and even Napoleon III, who all wished to identify with this symbol of Roman power. It was also a stop for French journeymen masons, many who left their name on the bridge’s stonework. For centuries, lords and bishops used the Pont du Gard as a toll bridge in exchange for maintaining the structure.

In 1743, a road bridge was added next to the Pont du Gard, but in 1996 the bridge was closed to all but pedestrian traffic to ease congestion. In addition, a new visitor center, with virtual reconstructions, models, multimedia screens and realistic sounds, was built in order to give visitors a historical context for the bridge.

For those who enjoy cycling, many cycling routes in the area lead to the Pont du Gard. There are nearby parking areas to unload bikes if necessary. In addition, several hiking routes lead to the bridge, making it a destination for both bikers and hikers.

The Pont du Gard is an enjoyable site for everyone, especially those whose interests lie with art, history or science. With the bridge preserved as well as it is, a walk across it transports one back in time to the era when the Romans first created this artistic as well as technical masterpiece.