5 Places To Visit In The South Of France That Must Be In Your Bucket List
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Get to know about the best places to visit in the South of France that are worthy of being added to your bucket list of travels.
France is known for its beauty, history, architecture, culture and the artists that this land has borne. There are many beautiful places around France which are worth visiting. These astounding places have history, vision, culture and art imbibed in them time and time again. There are certain places where the celebrations happen annually while other places have diamonds of buried artforms.
Below are some of the best places to visit in the South of France, which must be on your travel bucket list.
Best Places To Visit In the South Of France – Bucket List
1. Saint-Tropez
A stylish and beautiful resort town, Saint-Tropez is one of the best places in the South of France. Below are the star attractions you must visit while in Saint-Tropez.
Vieux Port (Old Port)
The most fun and lively place in Saint-Tropez is the Vieux Port. It surrounds a marine area spread around 9 hectares, 2 pools and 734 moorings. This is the current face of the old port. So, you can expect a luxurious stay or a drive from the port. However, if you like to engage in conversations with the natives, you will find a world of old tales which comes from the 18th century from this port. The stories from the times when the same port was a trading dock for the Greeks.
Citadel of Saint-Tropez – Museum of Maritime History
If the stories at the dock interest you, the proof of the stories will be found here at the Museum of Maritime History. The museum which exhibits the artefacts, objects and works of the sailors from ancient times is enclosed by the lovely aged old castle kind structure. The past in the form of trading ships, horns and old manuscripts comes alive in these walls.
Annonciade Museum
The entire French territory is known because of its art, culture and artists. Saint-Tropez in the South of France has not been left untouched by it. Time and time again artists from various centuries have proved their talent and showed their perspective of life through various means on the canvas. The Annonciade Museum has a collection of all the art pieces preserved in its gallery. The paintings were made by exceptional artists like Andre Derain, Georges Braque, Georges Seurat and many more. Every corner of this museum will transport you to a different era represented in a different style of paintings.
Beaches
Because of its location, you will find an abundance of beaches in Saint-Tropez. The few best beaches visited by tourists from all around the world are Pampelonne beach, Tahiti Beach, Granier’s Beach etc. But these are the places where you will find the most crowded. There are less crowded beaches here which are private beaches where you can enjoy the peace and the quaintness of the place.
The Sentier du Littoral Coastal Path
Visitors who are always looking for an adventure on any land they set their foot on would not be sufficed by the tales and stories of the sailors who came to France. Hence a little trail for hiking or biking at Saint-Tropez is set. This trail is called The Sentier du Littoral Coastal Path. The trails start from the police station and range from one eye-catching view to another through beaches and capes. Finally, it ends at the foot of the stairs to give you a magical view of Cap-aux-Meules.
2. Avignon
Avignon is a historic city with enchanting landscapes, art museums and an upbeat center. It won’t take you long to fall in love with the vibe of Avignon. Below are some of the top things you must definitely look forward to while you are in Avignon.
Palais des Papes
One of the main attractions of France is on the land of Avignon and is known as Palais des Papes. The building was made in the 14th century but has always been modified by different architects who have worked on it from time to time. It has been modified under the orders of different popes who resided here. The inputs from the different styles of architecture finally made it one of the most notable buildings in all of France. The gothic structure of the building is grand. The collection inside and the proof of the emergence of France is also worth knowing.
Petit Palais Museum
Petit Palais Museum is a magnificent structure from the outside. Though the jaw-dropping build of its building is not enough to describe the mind-blowing collection of the museum inside. Every gallery, every room and every section speaks a different tale from a different century of France. It is most enlightening and yet brings serenity to the eyes.
Rocher des Doms
Rocher des Doms is also known as the cradle of Avignon. It is a heaven for the native people and a serene place for visitors a few steps away from the main Cathedral near the city. It has a promenade, a garden, swans in the lake and other things which will make your mood fresh and leave you with a countryside feeling.
St. Didier Church
Apart from the main catholic church, the St. Didier Church is another architectural marvel on the land of Avignon. It was built in the 14th century and is mostly known for its renaissance art. The tourists still visit it because of its Gothic style architecture and the working bell whose sounds fill in the musical aura of the city.
Avignon Festivals
Avignon hosts its annual festival with great pomp and show. The festival takes place in July and mostly lasts for over a week. During this festival, artists from various fields display their art and craft through various means. There are theatrical shows, parades, puppet shows, cosplays, shows at the art gallery etc. The firecrackers show at night is the charm of the festival.
3. Monaco
Known to be the world’s second smallest country, Monaco should definitely hold a place in your South of France bucket list. Incredible locations, stunning shoreline stretch, art museums and spectacular viewpoints give you many reasons to visit the country. Below you will find some of the most exotic places to visit in Monaco.
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is the main area of Monaco and constitutes the attraction of the city which is the royal Casino. Hence, this qualifies as the favourite place for tourists as well as millionaires. The nightlife in the area of Monte Carlo in the city of Monaco is unique. It is the centre for the French Riviera and has some luxurious hotels like Monte- Carlo Bay Hotel and Resorts.
Prince’s Palace of Monaco
After getting tired of the elite lifestyle of the Monte Carlo area, you would love to visit the residence of the monarch who converted the administrative area of Monaco into a thriving town. The residence is known as Prince’s Palace of Monaco and serves as a home to the current prince, Prince Albert II. Though it is an ongoing office for the royalty, tourists can have a visit into the palace. Thus, visitors can have a sneak peek into the lives and history of royalty.
Museum of Oceanography
The Museum of Oceanography is the museum of Marine Science in Monaco. The museum is built in a really old building and was established by Prince Albert I in his reign. It is surrounded by the ocean on one side and land on the other. The grand structure of the museum building is just a speck in its magnificence. Inside, the museum is a wonderful amalgamation of history, architecture, science and art. The museum recites a beautiful poem of how humans tried to understand what lies behind the surface of the water and embraced it.
Jardin Japonais
Monaco is a typical French state in the southern region of the country but what might surprise you is a Japanese garden in this region. Jardin Japonais is a municipal park. It is not only appreciated by the native people but tourists also want to forget themselves in the beauty of this park.
Situated next to the Grimaldi Forum Convention Centre, it has flowers of many colours and is filled with trees and shrubs of all sorts. But what makes this park different from any of the parks is the little water bodies designed in Japanese Feng Shui form. The little flow of water in different directions makes this place extremely meditative.
Formula One Monaco Grand Prix
The Monaco Grand Prix is an annual racing event in Monaco. It is a festival for all the formula one racers, the event organizers, big-wheeled cars and the racing enthusiasts who visit the event every year. It takes place during the last two weeks of May or sometimes extends to the first week of June. The racers, the cars and the mechanism get upgraded every year which eventually makes for an exciting racing event. Friendly races and sponsorship races are a love for billionaires in this arena. The track is quite long and extends to the remote parts of Monaco.
4. Cannes
Cannes is very well known for the film festival held that it hosts annually. There is a lot more to be explored in this glamorous town. Let’s find out the best things to look forward to in Cannes.
Le Suquet (Old Town)
Le Suquet or the old town is most likely to be the place where you can plan to stay while you visit the melancholic city of France called Cannes. This is the area from where the city emerged, hence the history of the city is here. It has the old castle called Chateau de la Castre which has been converted into a museum now. The castle has old artefacts and other objects collected from all over the Mediterranean. On the historic top hill, there is Notre Dame de l’Esperance church which is a magnificent place to be at.
Public and Private Beaches at Cannes
Due to its location, the beaches around Cannes are endless in numbers. And, therefore, they can be categorized among public and private beaches. Some public beaches where you can find various tourists and native families as well are Plage du Midi and Palm Beach which is also a landmark. On the other hand, some private beaches include Carlton Beach and Long beach. These are quiet beaches that can be reserved for those private and quaint moments.
Centre d’art La Malmaison
The festivity of the cinematic art form is not the only thing that Cannes celebrates. It also holds the record of celebrating canvas paintings at Centre d’art La Malmaison. If you are an art lover then this is going to be your favourite place. The abstract art at the gate is enough to pull you in inside the centre. The art centre exhibits the artforms from the artists who belonged to the 20th and 21st centuries. Hence, a splash of colours, mind-bending concepts and philosophical designs is the least that you can expect here.
Pyrotechnic Festival in July and August
The pyrotechnic festival at Cannes is a beautiful form of competition that happens in July and August and the dates are always settled before the festival is announced. The festival began in 1998 and since then the world’ greatest pyrotechnics participate in this competition. It is not that well-known among tourists but the beauty of it in the night sky speaks for itself. It is performed at the 400-meter seafront and is watched by over 200,000 people.
5. Nice
This charming coastal town is a must visit in the South of France. There are lots of attractions, activities and beaches in Nice that are all worthy of attention. Below you will find some unmissable ones;
Vieille Ville (Old Town)
The Nice old town is not as old as compared to other old towns from the cities mentioned in the list. It emerged in the 13th century when most of the people came from Colline du Chateau to live around the Franciscan monastery. This is the place where travelers and native people cannot be segregated by sight. The harmony is unmatchable. As this is the birth point of the city, it also serves as a trading centre for all the people. The main market is also here.
Castle Hill Park
Castle Hill Park is very different from neighbourhood parks. The waterfall in the park seems like it has come straight out of the fictional world. The park was once used as a military citadel but was destroyed later and now the remnants of the Castle has been left behind. Though it has a dense history, it is known as the most Instagrammable place in the world. The wall of the chateau, the greenery against the blue sky and the various shapes that the shrubs have taken here are picturesque.
Matisse Museum
The Matisse Museum is the place dedicated to the French painter Henri Matisse. He was a painter and a sculptor, but mostly he was known for his fluidity and impression of colours over the canvas. He was considered an artist who provided a new branch of impressionism. Inside the museum, you will find his creations and how he emerged as an artist and his late works throughout the years.
Museum of Contemporary Art
The Museum of Contemporary Art is another must-visit place in Nice. The building of the museum is beautiful and is built as per modern architecture. The two windowless towers have the arts from different artists, specifically Yves Klein, Dennis Oppenheim, Sacha Sosno, Andy Warhol and many more. The most notable part of the museum is the Observatory deck on the top of the building.
Take a walk at Promenade des Anglais
The promenade is known as an iconic place at Nice. It is a place where you would love to take a walk while the sea flows beside you. On one side of the promenade are houses lined towards the beach. On the other side, palm trees are lining the walking path and then a few meters away there is the sea. It would be lovely to watch a sunset or spend some twilight timings here.
So, there you go. We hope this post gave you a glimpse of the gorgeous Southern part of France. It is just the tip of the iceberg considering the number of destinations you can visit in the South of France. But these must certainly be at the top of your bucket list. Do you have a favorite destination in the South of France? Let us know in the comments below.