France is surrounded by mountains, seas and the ocean, in some regions eternal summer reigns, and in others even in summer there is a breeze blowing and it rains. Natural attractions are countries known and popular. Mountain peaks and volcanoes, waterfalls and grottoes, rocky coasts, beaches and nature reserves attract no less tourists than historical and cultural monuments. It’s impossible to see all the natural wonders of France, but these 10 are worth a visit for everyone.
Ocher quarry in Roussillon (Ocres de Roussillon) in Provence
In the south of France, in Provence, there is the Luberon valley, in the center of which lies the town of Roussillon with houses of red, yellow, pink and orange. It is surrounded on all sides by red cliffs that appeared in the 18th century, when there was the largest ocher canyon in Europe here. In the 20th century, the quarry turned into an ocher reserve (Sentier des Ocres), for which seemingly Martian landscapes were laid a 40-minute hiking route. We advise you to come to the canyon in the morning or at sunset, when ocher shines in hundreds of shades. You can get to the quarry by bus from Avignon or Aix en Provence, or by car on the A7, D900 or N100 roads.
Bay of Mont Saint Michel (Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel) in Normandy
The Bay of Mont Saint-Michel is considered the most beautiful in France, and the island lying in the middle of the bay with the medieval abbey of the same name is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Twice a day, the strongest tides in Europe occur in a flat bay in the bay. At low tide, tourists get to the island, inspect the abbey, and watch from its walls as the water at an enormous speed floods 15 kilometers of the bay. You can get to Mont Saint-Michel by car on the A11, A13 and A84 highways, or by train or bus, which run regularly from Paris and Rennes.
Chalk cliffs of Etretat (Falaises d’Étretat) in Normandy
200 kilometers of the Atlantic coast in the Normandy region in northern France is called the Alabaster Coast (Côté d’Albâtre) because of the white color of the coastal cliffs. The most beautiful rocky arches with cozy bays and huge rocks are located near the town of Etretat. In the 19th century, Etretat was a very popular place among impressionist artists, its rocks can be found in dozens of paintings by Claude Monet. Now on the most popular rocks and cliffs paved walkways with signs. The most convenient way to get to Etretat by bus from Le Havre or Paris. By car from Le Havre, you can take the D940, from Rouen - by the A151 and A29, and from Paris by the A14 and A29.
Dune du Pilat in Aquitaine
Dune Pyla, located in the Gulf of Arcachon in southwestern France, in Aquitaine, is considered the largest sand dune in Europe. Its height is 108 meters, its width is about 500 meters, and its length is more than 3 kilometers. On one side there is a pine forest surrounding the dune, and on the other side the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. At the foot of the Saws, in the waters of Arcachon Bay there are dozens of oyster farms, so in restaurants near the dunes there is an opportunity to try excellent oysters and seafood at low prices. Climb the ridge of the dunes can be on wooden stairs. The nearest big city is Bordeaux, from where buses and trains run to the dunes. The best time to visit the dunes is until 11 am, until the tourist buses arrive.
Verdon Gorge (Gorge du Verdon) in Provence
Verdon Gorge - the deepest in Europe. It is located in the Alpine foothills of the Provence region, about 50 kilometers from the Mediterranean coast. The Grand Verde canyon (Grand Canyon du Verdon) is the most beautiful part of the gorge, it lies between the villages of Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Its depth is almost 700 meters, its length is 19 kilometers, and the distance between the shores is 1500 meters. The turquoise color of the water of the Verdon River seems especially bright against the light stone of the rocks. There are D71, D90 and D23 roads along the Grand Canyon, as well as more than ten pedestrian routes of
varying difficulty and length. There is a bus from Nice, the nearest big city, to the Verdon Gorge.
Camargue Regional Park (Parc de Camargue) in Provence
Camargue is a natural park in the south of France, on the Mediterranean coast, near the city of Arles. In Camargue, a unique landscape: salt marshes, sea lagoons, reed marshes and sandy islands where pink flamingos live, black bulls and wild white horses that are not found anywhere else in Europe. Horses and bulls can be found throughout the park, but pink flamingos inhabit only the territory of the Pont de Gau ornithological park. In addition to flamingos, there are still 260 species of birds. Getting to the Camargue and getting around it is most convenient by car, but there are also several walking trails along the park. In the summer, a boat and a mini train from Saintes-Maries de la mer and buses from Arles and Montpellier go to the Camargue.
Volcanoes Park in Auvergne (Parc des Volcans d’Auvergne)
The volcanoes park in the Auvergne region, in the center of southern France, is the largest nature reserve in the country. The park contains 80 extinct volcanoes of various forms, the highest of which form the Chaîne des Puys mountain range: Puy-de-Dôme (1465 m), Puy de Sancy (1886 m) and Puy Mary (1783 m). The foot of these popular tourist volcanoes can be reached by car on the A72, A71 and A89 highways or by shuttle from Clermont-Ferrand station. Up to the empty craters of volcanoes, you can climb on foot or by horse. Cycling and hiking trails are laid between the main volcanoes and the reserve.
Calanques of Piana (Calanques de Piana) in Corsica
Calanques Piana are located in the Scandola National Park (Sacndola) in the Gulf of Porto on the island of Corsica, they are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Calanches are rock formations of pink granite, which, due to erosion, have assumed strange shapes. They form quiet coves and caves in the rocks and rise with sharp peaks to a height of more than 300 meters. On their slopes grow pine and chestnut forests, and their foot washes the Mediterranean Sea. There are two ways to see these rocks - go on a boat trip from Porto (Porto), which will pass through the most beautiful places, or follow one of the hiking routes that run from Porto (Porto) through Cargèse.
Glacier Mer de Glace in Chamonix, Alps
This glacier originates from the Mont Blanc mountain in the Western Alps, on the border of France and Italy, and smoothly descends into the Chamonix valley (Chamonix). The glacier is constantly moving, moving 90-120 meters in a year. Its length is 13 kilometers, the area is 40 square kilometers and it is the largest glacier in France. Already in the 19th century, tourists came to see it, and today everyone can explore the glacier not only from the height of the railway that passes over it, but also from the inside. Inside the glacier with a thickness of 200 meters, a long tunnel was made, consisting of dozens of aisles and caves with multi-colored illumination. Also near the glacier there is a museum of minerals, observation platforms and foot paths descending into the valley. The Montenvers station at the foot of the mountain can be reached by train, bus or car, but upward, only the old red train of 1908 leaves for the mouth of the glacier.
Grotto Aven Armand (Grotte de l’Aven Armand) in Occitania
The grotto Aven Armand is located on the limestone plateau of the Causse Méjan in the Occitania region of south-west France. The grotto is known for its largest stalagmites in the world - some of them are 15–20 meters high and 30 meters high. There are more than 400 stalagmites in Aven Arman. It is easy to see them - a special funicular draws visitors 50 meters inland through a tunnel into a brightly lit cave, whose dimensions shake - 110 meters long, 60 meters wide and 45 meters high. Every hour there are free guided tours around the grotto, and the main stalagmites are highlighted in different colors. You can get to the grotto by bus from the city of Rodez (Rodez), but the most convenient way is by car along the RN 586 road.
