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Updated 6 September 2024 by Leyla Alyanak — Parisian by birth, Lyonnaise by adoption, historian by passion
We all know and love France's major attractions, but behind all these popular places lie an amazing number of lesser-known destinations. Often, these are much-loved here in France, but virtually unknown to international visitors. Here are some of those places. A few may be familiar, but others will, I hope, be new to you.
If you're visiting France, especially for the first time, there's every chance you'll begin with Paris. If you have more time, you'll probably head off to Provence... and maybe tuck in a Loire château or two.
And so you will have covered... about 5% of my country.
This page is dedicated to the other 95%, a few of which you may know, and many which will be discoveries for you.
I'm starting with departments, simply because, living in France, it's easier to use existing administrative divisions.
As I said, you'll know some of these... but not all!
If you like the unusual, here are a few places that might resonate because of their location, architecture, history or culture: