Top Towns to Visit in France – The South

There are so many places to visit in France – where should you begin? At TravelerCar our mission is to give visitors a peek into French life – and there is no better way to discover a country than to visit places preferred by locals!

From medieval architectural to stunning natural views, here are Six Great Places to Visit in the South as recommended by French people.

The south of France is famed for many things – its warmth (of the temperature and the people!), its natural beauty, its history. To kick off our list, we bring you a place to visit in France that draws the admiration of French and foreigners alike.

 

1. MARSEILLE

Marseille is a melting pot – with immigrants making up a third of the population, the cuisine is filled with regional French and North African influences.

At the same time, its location on the Mediterranean sea and its bustling population (the second largest in France) make this city a big draw for French and foreign visitors alike.

Marseille has a reputation for being a gritty city, but that doesn’t stop it from drawing in tons of visitors – and gaining the title Capital of European Culture, 2013.

Be sure not to miss out on this great city – read our France travel tips for more safety advice.

 

 

2. LYON

Lyon – Though not quite fully in the south, this place has got history. It started out as a Roman colony in the first century BCE, and has been continuously settled since then. The town is a UNESCO world heritage site. Are you kidding me?? It’s also considered the capital of French cuisine. Whoa. These are some heavy credentials!

If that’s not enough for you, its Fête des Lumières (Festival of Lights) is not to be missed. Starting every 8th December and lasting four days, it is a religious holiday that brings in 4 million worldwide tourists – and it only happens in Lyon.

The sites, the food, the atmosphere – Lyon is sure to delight. Enjoy, travelers!

Read our Lyon travel recommendations here.

 

 

3. TOULOUSE

Located in southwest France, the natural beauty and the architecture here are jaw-dropping.

There are a large number of students in Toulouse and a great, historic downtown area, which give this city a unique buzz and atmosphere. Tolouse is also nicknamed Ville Rose or Pink City, since so many of the buildings are built with red brick.

To top it off – though France may not really be known for its alternative arts, here in Toulouse there is vibrant and thriving alternative arts scene.

 

 

4. MONTPELLIER

On the Mediterranean coast – Oh, that’s all you needed to hear? Well then.

Montpellier boasts a large pedestrian only downtown area. That’s right, cars are forbidden – making this a great place to meet people, spend time with your friends and family, etc. With a warm climate and beaches, this place is unbeatable! It’s also the unofficial capital of swing dancing in France, with the Lindy Hop and SwingJammerz festivals bringing in professional swing competitions, free lessons, and more every year. You can’t really get more unique than that.

 

5. AVIGNON

 

A palace for the pope? More UNESCO Heritage Sites? You’re putting everyone else to shame, France!

Parts of the city of Avignon are still walled-in by medieval Ramparts dating back to the 13th century. The city is jam-packed with historic sites, including the Papal Palace or Palais des Papes which housed seven popes. As far as current arts and culture are concerned, Avignon hosts the great Festival d’Avignon theatrical festival every summer. The town is nothing short of beautiful and we recommend it for a nice relaxing getaway.

 

And finally, rounding out our list of great southern cities to visit in France is the beautiful…

 

 

6. CANNES

 

So you’ve heard of the Cannes Film Festival, but this city is special in its own right. Cannes (prounounced kahn) is in the fabulous Côte d’Azur region,

replete with shopping, luxury, boats, and beaches.

There are grand villas to take in, great nightlife – in short, Cannes is a warm, paradisical escape.

 

 

 

 

 

Ready to discover all six of these French favorites? Click here to learn more about renting a local’s car with TravelerCar.

Happy Travels!

Sasha at TravelerCar

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Want to rent a local’s car with TravelerCar? As we work on translating our search engine to English, contact us directly here. We will get back to you ASAP!

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 About the author:

Sasha is an American transplant living and studying French in Paris. She writes about culture and travel in France and Europe for TravelerCar, never losing sight of her adventurer’s perspective. She’s sharpening her French, trying to live like a local, and doing tons of exploring on the way. She’s just to keep the French food binges to a minimum. It’s a challenge.