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Top Cultural City Breaks in France
Your guide to the best cities in France to visit for a cultural themed short break or holiday. French cities are hotbeds of lively cultural activity and we’ve chosen the most exceptional for our guide to top culture break destinations.
These cities offer something for everyone, from the huge performing arts festival in Avignon, along with fringe and street performers, to the Cezanne trail at Aix-en-Provence. Majestic opera, classical music and swinging jazz; modern dance and traditional ballet; world class theatre; awe-inspiring art and stunning sculpture.
Cultural City Break Destinations:
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Aix en Provence (Bouches-du-Rhône)
Aix en Provence is a city in southern France, some 30 km north of Marseille. It is a stunning city steeped in history. As well as being a spa town it is a haven for lovers of impressionist landscapes and fields of lavender.
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Annecy (Haute-Savoie)
Sitting on the northern shore of the lake of Annecy with a picturesque backdrop of mountains, the town is probably best known for hosting festivals, especially the International Festival of Animated Films each June.
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Avignon (Vaucluse)
Located at the confluence of the Rhône and Durance rivers, Avignon is well known for its ramparts, its famous Pont Saint-Bénezet and the Palais des Papes. It is known as the City of the Popes. Avignon is a UNESCO world heritage site and home to the largest gothic palace in Europe.
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Le Havre (Seine-Maritime)
City of Art and History. France’s second port, Le Havre was founded in 1517 by Renaissance king Francois 1st. It is located on the edge of the Seine River, on the channel, 200kms from Paris.
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Montpellier (Hérault)
Montpellier is the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon région, as well as the préfecture (administrative capital) of the Hérault département. Montpellier is an ideal place to discover a lively city and some of the world's most prestigious heritage sites.
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Paris (Paris)
Paris is the capital of France and one of the world’s great cities with endless amount of things to do. Despite the massive size of the city, Paris is also an easily navigable destination as the city centre itself is relatively compact and all areas of Paris are connected by a highly efficient public transport system.
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Rouen (Seine-Maritime)
Rouen is the historical capital city of Normandy, in north-western France on the River Seine, and currently the capital of the Haute-Normandie région. Rouen is renowned for its medieval cobbled streets and antique shops.
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St Etienne (Loire - Rhone Alps)
Saint-Étienne in the Massif Central, is a city in the central eastern part of France, 60 km southwest of Lyon. It is the capital of the département of the Loire in the Rhone Alps which is not to be confused with the Loire Valley.
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Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin)
Strasbourg has flavors of both France and Germany, and sits right on the border of the two countries. The home of the European Parliament, this surprisingly cosmopolitan destination hosts France's oldest Christmas market and features a stunning cathedral.
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Vienne (Isère)
Located on the banks of the Rhone in east central France, Vienne benefits from lush countryside.
