Home > Top Historic City Breaks in France
Top Historic City Breaks in France
Your guide to the top historic cities in France for a short holiday or weekend break. Discover centuries of French history, and even pre-history, in the places where it happened – the country’s oldest and most beautiful cities.
Discover Orleans, with its tradition of learning, reveals the remarkable story of Joan of Arc. Carcassonne invites you to relive a succession of cultures, going back to the Romans. Amiens is a poignant base to discover the events of two world wars while Avignon tells of the church’s power through its massive Palace of the Popes.
Historic City Break Destinations:
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Amiens (Somme)
Amiens is located in North of France. It is the capital city of the Somme département. It is considered the Picarde capital of France.
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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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Brest (Finistère)
Brest is one of France's historic ports, located on the western tip of Brittany, the city is still an important port and naval base
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Carcassonne (Aude)
Carcassonne is situated in the Languedoc region of France, in the south of the country, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On a clear day, there are views of the Pyrenees. Visiting the medieval fortified town of Carcassonne - the Cité - is like stepping back in time.
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La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime)
La Rochelle is a seaport town located in the South West France on the Atlantic coast, between Nantes and Bordeaux. It is the capital of Charente Maritime, as well as being a major port and sailing centre.
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Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle)
The medieval town of Nancy is approximately 3 hours by train from Paris and is famous for its triumphal arch built to honour Louis XV. Nancy combines beautiful classical 18th century architecture, the narrow streets of the medieval city and the modern university city with a buzzing nightlife.
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Orleans (Loiret)
Orléans is situated in the heart of France, on the north of the Loire, it is just over 100km from Paris.
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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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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.
