Uncover a number of the most famous wines in the world, medieval structure, surf tradition, Roman ruins, and luxurious views. Then there are thriving foodie scenes, inventive heritage, and world-class museums – the southwestern nook of France does have a lot to supply!
For those who’re all about pure magnificence, there’s loads to see and do on this space, too. Whether or not it’s spending time on the attractive seashores of Biarritz, admiring views of the Pyrenees from a metropolis heart boulevard, or visiting the rolling vineyards of the best French wine areas.
Whether or not you’re traveling solo for the first time, visiting as a pair, taking the household alongside, or assembly up with a bunch in summer time, listed below are the most effective cities in southwest France to go to.
10 Greatest Southwest France Cities to Go to
Bordeaux
Greatest for high-quality wine
Positioned by the banks of the Garonne River, Bordeaux is on the epicenter of the wine area of the identical title. On this southwestern metropolis, high-quality wine and high-quality eating go hand in hand, and there are 9 Michelin-starred eating places. In addition to three extra within the close by cities of Bouliac, Lormont, and Martillac. I can attest – I definitely ate effectively in Bordeaux!
It’s not all concerning the metropolis’s wine and foodie pedigree. Bordeaux additionally provides some gorgeous structure, together with the Gothic cathedral and mansions relationship from the 1700s and 1800s. The Three Graces fountain additionally takes heart stage in Place de la Bourse.
Overlaying nearly 3,500 sq. meters, the Miroir d’Eau is the largest reflecting pool on the planet and sits in entrance of Place de la Bourse by the quayside. This space can also be lined with quite a few historic and listed buildings. Bear in mind that for those who go to in winter months like I did, the reflecting pool could also be ‘off’ for the season. Plan accordingly!
Different causes to go to Bordeaux embody the truth that it’s an enormous city UNESCO World Heritage website. It additionally provides pedestrianized streets good for strolling round – and the world is a hub for the manufacturing of French caviar, too.
If you wish to discover a hotel in Bordeaux, I can personally advocate the InterContinental Bordeaux – Le Grand Hôtel. It’s positioned extraordinarily centrally, proper throughout from the attractive Opera constructing, and with a tram line on both facet of it.
Saint-Émilion
Greatest for historical vineyards
Saint-Émilion is positioned within the Bordeaux wine region and is due to this fact certainly one of France’s premier wine locations. It makes a fantastic day journey from Bordeaux by prepare. Saint-Émilion additionally provides medieval structure, so you’ll be able to uncover historical websites whereas visiting world-class wineries.
What’s pretty about Saint-Émilion is the setting, amongst rolling vineyards. It makes a top-notch various to Bordeaux, significantly for those who want a extra peaceable setting over a metropolis. Saint-Émilion is likely one of the area’s most tasty villages and is postcard-worthy.
Wine-making heritage and native historical past are very a lot intertwined in Saint-Émilion, and the connection between man and grapevines right here dates again round 2,000 years. Its title even comes from an Eighth-century monk from Brittany, who began as a cave-dwelling hermit and ended up as an iconic non secular chief.
Toulouse
Greatest for pink structure
Generally known as the “Pink Metropolis,” La Ville Rose, Toulouse is a superb place to be. I just lately spent every week on this a part of southwestern France, and found that there are such a lot of fun things to see and do in Toulouse!
Taking a strolling tour is, for me, one of the best ways to see town’s fairly pink structure. Alternatively, I additionally loved admiring the structure from the rooftop terrace at Galleries Lafayette.
Or if discovering native delicacies is your factor, be sure you strive cassoulet, a meaty French stew with beans that originated domestically. As I came upon, brunch can also be an enormous factor in Toulouse, so that you’ll be in heaven for those who like to tuck right into a hearty meal performing as each breakfast and lunch! Simply be sure you ask for a chocolatine, fairly than a chocolate croissant, right here.
Toulouse was initially solely on my radar as a college city, as a result of I’ve cousins who attended faculty there. However based mostly on my expertise Toulouse is definitely worth visiting even for those who’re not a pupil! Plus, college cities in Europe really feel fairly completely different from faculty cities within the US.
Carcassonne
Greatest for medieval historical past
This was the most effective day journey I took from Toulouse. The hilltop city of Carcassonne within the Languedoc area is most well-known for its medieval heritage. It’s a fortified metropolis with a captivating previous city to discover, plus a really spectacular Gothic cathedral. Not stunning, then, that it’s listed by UNESCO because the Historic Fortified Metropolis of Carcassonne.
Town appears surreal, like one thing out of a fairytale. La Cité is filled with watchtowers, and a few of its double partitions date again to the Gallo-Roman period. Don’t miss Château Comtal when visiting the complicated, which dates again to the twelfth century.
Historical structure apart, compact Carcassonne is a pleasure to find on foot or by bike. The Medieval Camp is price stopping by, because it provides a free introduction to life in the course of the Center Ages. Wander to bustling Bastide Saint-Louis, on the heart of life right here, or stroll alongside the banks of Canal du Midi. Simply past town partitions, you may as well discover Cavayère Lake, a playground providing boats, water sports activities, picnic spots, and three seashores.
Whereas I loved it completely as a day journey, I’ve additionally heard it really helpful as a magical in a single day vacation spot. For those who resolve to sleep over, choose to remain inside the fortified partitions!
Biarritz
Greatest for browsing
Biarritz is a refined seaside city on the Basque coast, in southwestern France. It first grew to become well-liked in the course of the nineteenth century, amongst royalty from throughout Europe. Because it’s simply over 20 miles (or 35 kilometers) from the Spanish border, Biarritz is nice for those who’re desirous about combining two nations in your itinerary.
The elegant resort has now grown into some of the well-liked surf spots on the continent. It’s filled with surf colleges, and the lengthy stretches of sandy seashore present the proper playground for anybody from newbies to execs. As you may count on, it’s a fantastic place to be taught to surf – or to look at others whereas they trip the waves – particularly at Côte des Basques.
Different issues to do in Biarritz embody spending time at Grand Plage; visiting the high-quality aquarium, swimming at Port Vieux, seeing Neo-Medieval Villa Belza, discovering the attractive native church buildings, and eating out on French and Spanish specialties – together with tapas. Purchasing at boutiques, Galeries Lafayette, and designer shops can also be worthwhile.
Cross the footbridge to the rocky promontory of Rocher de la Vierge, for breathtaking panoramas over the Bay of Biscay. The Phare de Biarritz lighthouse additionally provides sweeping ocean views.
Collioure
Greatest for inventive heritage
The coastal French city of Collioure is one for the artwork followers. It’s often known as the “Metropolis of Painters,” and you’ll find Matisse work on the Trendy Artwork Museum there. This space is alleged to have impressed different big-name artists, too, together with André Derain.
Collioure also can go head-to-head with Carcassonne relating to medieval structure. Château Royal de Collioure occupies a commanding place and provides breathtaking coastal views. It dates from the 1200s and is a well-liked household attraction.
For those who’re into artwork, then the Collioure Artwork Path will take you on a visit by the artistic historical past of the world. A number of early Fauvist painters referred to as the world dwelling, and Spanish artists Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso additionally frolicked residing and dealing there. Matisse stays crucial domestically, as he painted numerous harbor views whereas residing in Collioure.
Montpellier
Greatest for riverside residing
Simply over six miles (or 10 kilometers) from the Mediterranean shoreline of southern France is Montpellier. In addition to the stunning unspoiled seashores of the world, town itself is effectively price a go to. Two of the primary sights listed below are Saint-Pierre Cathedral and Musée Fabre. Cathédrale Saint-Pierre dates again to the mid-1300s, whereas Musée Fabre options works by Outdated Masters from France and Europe.
One other place to not miss is the Antigone district, which was born within the Eighties. This connects metropolis squares, a shopping center, Nineteen Nineties workplace blocks, and the Lez River. Pubs and eating places might be discovered everywhere in the Antigone district, so it’s the perfect place to pattern Montpellier’s foodie scene.
Montpellier can also be on the coronary heart of a serious French wine-producing space, the Languedoc. So it’s not stunning that town hosts a few main worldwide wine gala’s, too!
Narbonne
Greatest for an underground labyrinth
Narbonne is likely one of the unsung heroes of the French Riviera. Whereas it lacks the glamor of different Côte d’Azur spots, it’s dwelling to some fascinating sights. These embody an unfinished cathedral, underground warehouses, and a few high-quality museums.
Although Cathédrale Saint-Simply et Saint-Pasteur dates again to the 1200s, it stays incomplete. As one of many tallest church buildings in France, the Gothic construction dominates town skyline.
As soon as, Narbonne was a Roman port, and The Horreum displays these days. It’s a subterranean complicated of previous warehouses. Or for an overdose of artwork and tradition, head to the Archbishop’s Palace, which homes numerous galleries and archeological museums.
In Roman occasions, Narbonne was famend for producing rosemary honey, a favourite Roman candy deal with. Julius Caesar additionally developed Narbonne’s port.
Nîmes
Greatest for Roman stays
Like Montpellier, Nîmes is extra centrally positioned than different cities in southwest France, however you can not miss this one! It’s recognized for having extra Roman stays than wherever outdoors Italy, which is a fairly daring declare. Nevertheless it’s one which Nîmes can simply reside as much as.
You solely have to see the astonishing Area of Nîmes to come across town’s wealthy Roman heritage. For a lot of, that is much more spectacular than the Colosseum in Rome, although it’s comparatively unknown by comparability.
And there’s extra, together with Maison Carrée, a limestone temple round 20 centuries previous, and the tri-level Pont du Gard aqueduct. A lot of the Roman stays in Nîmes are extremely well-preserved. That is why town is called the “French Rome”, or the “most Roman metropolis outdoors Italy.”
Pau
Greatest for Pyrenees panoramas
If mountains are extra your factor than structure or seashores, then put Pau on the prime of your record of locations to go to in southwestern France. On a cloudless day, the views of the Pyrenees from the Boulevard des Pyrénées, within the heart of town, are jaw-dropping. You may as well savor sweeping vistas over the encircling inexperienced countryside and the Gava de Oau River.
Pau additionally provides fantastic climate, which prior to now was stated to treatment widespread colds and different minor illnesses, even in winter. Pau can also be a historic royal metropolis and was as soon as dwelling to the Renaissance King Henri IV.
If you wish to discover all that southwest France has to supply, it’s exhausting to select a greater base than Pau. Nestled between the Pyrenees and the ocean, by the river, and enclosed by lush inexperienced countryside, it’s a very pretty place to be.
These southwest France cities supply a lot selection and allure, and it’s best to completely make an effort to discover the area!
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Nausheen Farishta is a blogger and writer who focuses on solo feminine journey on her weblog, Globe Gazers.
