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Today a small market town, it was once home of the French royal court. The town of Amboise is also only about 11 miles (18 km) away from the historic Château de Chenonceau, situated on the Cher River near the small village of Chenonceaux. The city is famous for the Clos Lucé manor house where Leonardo da Vinci lived (and ultimately died) at the invitation of King Francis I of France, whose Château d'Amboise, which dominates the town, is located just 500 metres away. The narrow streets contain some good examples of timbered housing.
Angers is the historical capital of Anjou and was for centuries an important stronghold in northwestern France. The old medieval centre is still dominated by the massive château of the Plantagenêts, home of the Apocalypse Tapestry, the biggest medieval tapestry ensemble in the World. Angers is also both at the edge of the Val de Loire, a World Heritage Site, and the Loire-Anjou-Touraine regional natural park.
Important town of Savoy region and once the capital of the county of Geneva, it resides on picturesque shores of Lake Annecy. It is full of nice architecture, ranging from gothic to baroque to modern. The Rue Royale street, with its numerous shops, gardens and the fountain of Saint Jean is the heart of the commercial and political activities of the town.
Bayonne's location close to the border, but also within the Basque Country straddling both France and Spain, gave it an often privileged position in commerce. The river Nive divides Bayonne into Grand Bayonne and Petit Bayonne, with five bridges between the two, both quarters still backed by Vauban's walls. The houses lining the Nive are examples of Basque architecture, with half-timbering and shutters in the national colours of red and green.
Beaune is one of the key wine centres in France and the annual wine auction of the Hospices de Beaune is the primary wine auction in France. The town is surrounded by some of the world's most famous wine villages, while the facilities and cellars of many producers, large and small, are situated in Beaune itself. With a rich historical and architectural heritage, Beaune is considered the "Capital of Burgundy wines".
Bergerac offers some of the finest wines in the Bordeaux region. The drainage is excellent as a result of its proximity to the Dordogne River. The town has an important tourist industry and features a tobacco museum, in which, like in all the other museums, no smoking is allowed. The town contains two statues of Cyrano de Bergerac, subject of a famous play of the same name by Edmond Rostand, though the actual Cyrano never lived in Bergerac.
Béziers is one of oldest towns in France and a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network. In Medieval times, town was a Languedoc stronghold of Cathars - believers whom the Catholic Church condemned as heretics and thus offended with a crusade in 1209. There are several bridges across the river Orb, one of which is used for Canal du Midi. Every August, Béziers hosts the famous Feria de Béziers, a five-day event centred on bullfighting and attracting a million visitors.
Blois is built on a pair of steep hills, winding and steep pathways run through the city, culminating in long staircases at various points. To the south of the city, the Forêt de Russy is a reminder of the thick woods that once covered the area. The town stands on the river Loire, so unsurprisingly, it sports a magnificent old bridge as well as Renaissance castle. It also has a unique museum dedicated to magic.
The town is situated along the Alsatian Wine Route and considers itself to be the "capital of Alsatian wine" (capitale des vins d'Alsace). The city is renowned for its well preserved old town, its numerous architectural landmarks and its museums, among which is the Unterlinden Museum. It is a perfect starting base for exploration of surrounding villages and wineries.
The town is considered the world's capital of perfume. Grasse's particular microclimate encouraged the flower farming industry, and the countryside around the town is filled with scent of lavender, myrtle, jasmine, rose, orange blossom and wild mimosa. Thematic Fête du Jasmin or La Jasminade, at the beginning of August is an annual festival with fireworks, folk music groups and street performers.
The town is renowned for its Roman architecture. Its Roman theatre, the Théâtre antique d'Orange, is described as the most impressive still existing in Europe. The fine Triumphal Arch of Orange, theatre and surroundings were listed in 1981 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. At Roman times, Orange was a capital of northern Provence and was regarded as "Miniature Rome".
Saint-Malo was in the past notorious for piracy; today it is a major tourist destination, with many ancient, attractive buildings. The population of Saint-Malo quadruples during the summer, when vacationers head up to the beaches of Brittany. But besides the sun and the sea, there are so many things to see - walled old town, magnificent cathedral, great aquarium, as well as few national parks in the surroundings.