Rank
|
City
|
Stars |
Points of interest and attractions |
1
|
Paris
|
*****
|
Paris
is in a category of its own, and in any competition for "best cities in
France", it has to be top. There is just so much to see and do in
Paris; world class museums, monuments and other attractions. From the
Eiffel Tower to the Louvre or Disneyland, Paris has it all, and lying
at the hub of France's national and international communications
networks, it is by far the most accessible of French cities.
|
2
|
Nice
|
**** |
Located
on the French Riviera between rugged hills and the azure waters of the
Mediterranean, the city of Nice has a great deal to offer the visitor,
from its beaches and its renowned flower market, to its old
town,
its several art galleries
and its
old port. The long sweep of the Baie des Anges is a magnificent beach,
bordered by the Promenade des Anglais - named after the first tourists
who, in the late 18th century, began to transform a sleepy fishing port
into the Mediterranean's premier resort. The area round Nice is
breathtaking, and Nice
airport is well served by international carriers.
|
3
|
Strasbourg |
*** |
Today
seat of the European parliament, Strasbourg is one of the great
historic cities of Europe. The old city, with its magnificent gothic
cathedral, narrow streets, half-timbered houses and canals, is one of
the finest old city centres in France. Strasbourg is accessible by TGV
from Paris, and easily accessible from Germany and Benelux.
|
4
|
Lyon
|
*** |
Lyon
has an historic centre, between the rivers Saône and
Rhône. The Place
Bellecour is a fine urban piazza. To the west of the Rhone the old
quarter of Fourvière rises steeply up from the quais of the
Saône. The
urban ensemble, which is a UNESCO world heritage site, is
attractive and historic but not breathtaking. Lyon is great for a
weekend break, and the city has a good selection of museums, lots of
shops, and is particularly
famous for its many good restaurants, making it the gourmet capital of
France.
|
5
|
Toulouse |
*** |
The
"pink city" has an attractive and quite distinctive old centre with a
distinct Mediterranean flavour. Worth visiting are the magnificent St
Sernin basilica, the Jacobins church and cloisters, and the Place du
Capitole, a very fine city piazza. The Bemberg foundation is one of the
better provincial French art galleries. Beside the city centre is the
Canal
du Midi, the oldest canal in Europe and a UNESCO world heritage site.
Toulouse - home to Airbus - also has a popular aerospace museum and
aircraft museums. |
6
|
Marseille |
*** |
This
ancient Mediterranean port has a vibrant city centre, with its main
thoroughfare La Canebière. Worth seeing are the city's
cathedrals and
the medieval St. Laurent church. The old port area is very attractive,
and boat trips can be taken to the historic fortress on the Ile d'If,
lying in the middle of the bay. |
7
|
Bordeaux |
*** |
This
great old port city, on the banks of Gironde estuary in southwest
France, has a large old centre, much of it dating from the
17th
to 19th centuries with some fine monuments. and a good art gallery. The
18th century theatre is the finest theatre of its period in France. The
area round Bordeaux is famous for its vineyards. Cruise liners tie up
on the embankment right in the heart of the old city.
|
8
|
Lille
|
** |
The
old city centre of Lille is famous for its Flemish squares and
belfries. See also the 17th century Citadel, and the Lille art gallery,
reputed to be the second best in France after the Louvre. Lille also
boasts
a good modern art gallery, and there is another must-see gallery, La
Piscine, in the suburb of Roubaix. The Lille zoo is a popular place
with locals
and tourists alike.
|
9
|
Nantes
|
** |
The
old city centre has narrow pedestrian streets, with an almost Parisian
feel. The city's two main monuments are the St. Pierre cathedral and
the Chateau of the Dukes of Brittany. Boat trips can be taken up the
Erdre river, flanked by a succession of old mansion houses.
|
10
|
Toulon
|
* |
A
naval port city with an industrial heritage, Toulon has an attractive
old quarter near the old port; but it is the city's beautiful
Provençal
hinterland and the fine coast to the east and the west that are
generally more visited than the city itself.
|
