Top 10 cultural places in France

Hello you! You've just arrived in France for your internship and you're wondering what to visit in your free time? Don't worry! 

As a big fan of culture and sightseeing, I'll give you the best places to spend a learning time while having fun!

                                          LET'S CULTIVATE TOGETHER! 

1. Paris - Opera Garnier 🎭

The Paris Opera is the French opera and ballet company by excellence.

The Opera has produced lyrical works sung by lyrical artists, and ballets, danced by the members of its ballet company, and accompanied by the musicians of its symphony orchestra. 

Its mission is to make culture accessible to the greatest number of people and to encourage the creation and performance of contemporary works. The Paris Opera also contributes to the professional training and development of singers and dancers

Price :  Visit 12 € / Show from 15€ to 190€

Visit schedule : 10am to 5pm 

Programme

TIPS: If you want to be very well placed during the show without paying a lot, go 30 min before the begining of the show to book your seat!!

2. Marseille - MUCEM

The Mucem is the first major national museum dedicated to the Mediterranean and a mecca for architecture and heritage. It is a cultural city open to the world.

One museum, two places to visit!

The J4 esplanade, a new building constructed on the former J4 port mole, contains the heart of the Mucem.

Fort Saint-Jean is a historical monument whose origins date back to the 12th century. Connected to the J4 by a high footbridge, thrown over the sea, it allows the visitor to enjoy spectacular views of the city.

Price : 11€

Visit schedule: 10am to 7pm (except tuesday)

Website

3. Paris - Louvre 🖼

The Louvre, the largest museum in the world, contains 380,000 works of art. It would be humanly impossible to see everything in one visit. 

Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is certainly one of the greatest attraction! 

Price : 17 €

Visit schedule: 9am to 6pm (except tuesday) 

Website 

4. Avignon - Palais des papes 

The Palace of the Popes of Avignon is the largest of the Gothic constructions of the Middle Ages.

In the 14th century, for essentially political reasons, nine popes resided in Avignon and made this city the symbol of the influence of the church on the Christian West.

The monument presents to the visitor more than twenty places, theaters of events with universal appeal.

The monument also offers the visitor regular cultural activities throughout the year.

Price: 17€ (bridge+palace+gardens) 

Visite schedule : 10am to 5pm

Website 

5. Lyon - Fête des lumières

The Festival of Lights is based on the religious celebration of December 8, the celebration of the Immaculate Conception (of the Virgin Mary).

During 4 evenings, artists from all horizons invest the Presqu'île and the Vieux Lyon with their installations to create a magical atmosphere in the streets and squares, to the delight of millions of French and foreign visitors.

When : Begining of december

Price: Free 

6. Paris - Château de Versailles

The Palace of Versailles, whose origins date back to the XVIIth century, has been successively a hunting lodge, a place of power and since the XIXth century, a museum. Composed of parks and gardens as well as the chateaux of Trianon, it covers 800 hectares.

Louis XIV had a real passion for Versailles and decided to extend it far beyond the limits that his father had set.

Price : 18€

Visit schedule : 9am to 5.30pm (except monday)

Website 

TIPS: During summer, I advise you to go to the "grandes eaux musicales".

7. Loire - Les châteaux de la Loire 🏰

Approximately fifty castles can open their doors to you during most of the year.

It is a legacy of the kings of France, who loved the Loire Valley.

Alongside the medieval fortresses and royal estates, numerous castles have flourished at the initiative of the great figures of the kingdom and the court aristocracy.

Built for defensive purposes in the Middle Ages, the castles of the Loire opened up to the outside world during the Renaissance, replacing their austere ramparts and drawbridges for an aesthetic inspired by Italian culture.

Among them, we can mention: Amboise, Chambord, Azay-le-Rideau, Chenonceau, Chinon, Le Clos Lucé, Langeais, Loches or Villandry.

Visit itinerary

8. Caen - Memorial 

Just a stone's throw from the D-Day landing beaches, the Caen Memorial is a must-see museum on the Battle of Normandy and the history of the 20th century. 

Discover a museum dedicated to the history of the 20th century: the Second World War, the Shoah, the D-Day Landings of June 1944 and the Battle of Normandy...

Price : 20€

Visit schedule: 9am to 7pm 

Website

9. Bordeaux - Cité du vin 🍷

Exhibition space on the theme of wine located in Bordeaux, its goal is to ensure the transmission, the development and the safeguarding of the cultural, universal and living heritage of wine. 

Indeed, Bordeaux is a world reference in wine because some of the wines produced are among the most famous and most expensive in the world.

Price : 20 €

Visit schedule: 10am to 7pm 

Website

TIPS : during your trip in Bordeaux, do not hesitate to visit the surrounding vineyards for a good tasting

10. Cannes - Film Festival 🎬

The red-carpet event was created by a French Minister of Education and Fine Arts. He wanted to establish an international cultural event in France.

This includes numerous actors and directors who come to showcase their newest releases. They also hope to compete for the prestigious Palme d’Or (Golden Palm) award. 

Info about the 75th edition 

Have you ever been to one of these beautiful places? 

Share with us your experience in the comments !!