20 Photos of France – A Stunning Gallery

Wow, where do I start to choose photos to include in a photo feature post of France? With so many charming little villages, ancient walled towns, boat filled harbours, extravagant chateaux and beautiful rural regions throughout France captured on my camera, choosing just 20 to share in this post for you was challenging. 

20 Photos of France Just For You

If you are missing travelling to France, or just love a good daydream at any time, then this special post is just for you ... Enjoy visiting France along with these 20 photos!

Annecy

Annecy is the picture perfect town on the northern tip of Lake Annecy, in the Haute-Savoie department. It's been described as the "Pearl of French Alps" and is the French home town of Catherine Berry, fellow Australian and author of 'But You Are in France Madam' - read my book review post here.

Port of Marseille

Marseille is the second largest city in France and has the country's largest port. Marseille is in the Provence Alpes Côte d' Azur region and is famous for its soap. Savon de Marseille has been traditionally made in Marseille since the Middle Ages. Find out how they make these ancient soaps here Savon de Marseille - Marseille Traditional Soap.

Gigondas village, Provence

Gigondas is a pretty village nestled at the foot of Laces of Montmirail. Montmirail in the 19th century was famous for its thermal springs and mineral waters which were said to have purgative properties. Visitors visit Gigondas for the region's wine and spectacular hiking paths.

Avignon

Historic Avignon is in the Vaucluse department in the Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur region and is on the left bank of the river Rhône. The city is one of the few French cities that is still surrounded by its preserved ramparts. The Avignon et Provence official tourism website has lots of great information on the city.

Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy

Mont Saint-Michel and The Bay were the first two UNESCO sites ever listed in France in 1979. Climbing to the summit abbey and gazing out to the surrounding paddocks and moving tides is just one of the special experiences of visiting Mont Saint-Michel. The story of the famous La Mère Poulard who feed pilgrims making the journey to the abbey can be read here - Mont Saint-Michel and La Mère Poulard.

Saint Saveur cathedral in Aix-en-Provence, Provence

Saint Saveur Cathedral in Aix-en-Provence is a Roman Catholic church and national monument of France. It is built in a variety of design styles including Romanesque, Gothic and Neo Gothic and stand tall against the backdrop of the town. More information on the cathedral can be read here at Aix en Provence Tourism website.

Claude Monet House, Giverny

Claude Monet's country farmhouse, with its long plain pink walls surrounded by gardens, painters studio and greenhouse in the town of Giverny in Normandy, is full of colour. Bright, beautifully decorated and full of Monet's personal art the house was bequeathed by Michel Monet on his death in 1966. See photos of inside the house and studio of Claude Monet here.

Toulouse

Toulouse, capital of France’s southern Occitanie region is also known as the La Ville Rose (‘The Pink City’) due to the terra-cotta bricks used in so many of the buildings. The town also holds the famous annual Fête de la Violette, (Violet Féte). A main attraction is the Capitole covered with a carpet of the purple violet flowers.  Our post Toulouse - City of Violets shares all you want to know about the fete and has a recipe to crystallise violets.

Honfleur, Normandy

Honfleur is a picturesque town in Normandy in the northwestern region of France at the mouth of the Seine Estuary. With its pretty harbour and timber framed townhouses around the Vieux-Bassin (old port), some up to seven stories high, ancient churches and religious buildings, Honfleur is a very popular Norman town. Our post Honfleur - The 8 Best Things to See and Do is full of what I recommend to do from my many trips to this historic town.

Port of La Rochelle

La Rochelle is a port city in southwestern France, located on Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean). It is also the capital of the Charente-Maritime department and has the only deep water port on the French Atlantic Coast. This makes it very important for boat building and it's the sixth largest seaport in France.

Dinan, Brittany

Dinan is a walled town located in Brittany in northwestern France. The town walls were built in the 13th century and strengthened by Francis I, Duke of Brittany in the 15th century and renovated in the 17th century and are fabulous to take a walk around. The town is full of boutiques, half timbered buildings and cobbled streets. Read the Top 5 Things To Do In This Pretty Town. 

Roscoff

Built on a peninsula surrounded by the Channel, Roscoff has many decorated houses that one belonged to ship owners. It is one of the Petite Towns of Character and has a church in the flamboyant Gothic style, and much more. Visitors never fail to be charmed by this town, which is both a port and a seaside resort.

Sacre Coeur, Montmartre, Paris

The Roman Catholic basilica Sacré-Coeur in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, Montmartre, commands the strategic position at the top of the Montmartre Hill. It's interesting to note that the basilica is now the most visited church in France since the Great Fire of April 2019 of Notre-Dame de Paris which held that title. The office website for the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre has ticket, guides and opening hour information.

Claude Monet Garden at Giverny

The Close Normand garden and Water Garden were Claude Monet's inspiration for many of his paintings. These two gardens are part of his home and garden complex located in the village of Giverny, Normandy. Drawing visitors from across the globe the gardens are a vibrant display of colour throughout the year. See our post Claude Monet's Garden at Giverny, France for more amazing photos, history, and visitor info. 

Villefranche-sur-Mer

Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French Riviera is located between the bustling city of Nice and the uber-opulent Monaco. The 16th century working village is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. If you want to explore the village or go walking in the area  our post Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French Riviera has everything you'll want to know.

Uzès village, Gard 

Uzès is a small town and commune in the Gard department in southern France and holds a popular and thriving weekly weekend market. Uzès draws residents who love an artistic lifestyle and visitors who love the cobbled streets, stone buildings and large village square. Bestseller author, Keith van Sickle includes Uzès in his article on the most beautiful villages of Provence and nearby towns.

Martigues, Provence

Martigues is between the  Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Martigues (now the Etang de Berre), close to the Côte d'Azur and is also known as the "Provençale Venice". Because of its charming canals, docks and bridges its known as "The Venice of Provence".

The Old Mill of Vernon

The Old Mill (Le Vieux-Moulin, in French) in the commune of Vernon, in northern France, is a 16th century half timbered flour mill constructed on top of an ancient bridge that once spanned the Seine River. Originally the bridge had five mills that ground corn grown in the nearby Vexin Plateau. 

Saint Germain des Pres church, Paris

Dating back to 543, Saint Germain des Prés, the oldest church in Paris has recently undergone restoration. Located in the 6th arrondissement opposite beloved cafe Les Deux Magots and close to literary Café de Flore (see post Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots - Two Famous Paris Cafés) the church is a must see on any trip to Paris. I include a visit to Saint Germain des Pres church in our 7-day Paris tours. My guests even get to see the star that A French Collection sponsored in the restoration work of the cathedral. 

Read More Posts on France

Loved these stunning photos of France? Pin to read this post again