Monuments of France stay with you long after the trip: a cathedral spire at the end of a narrow lane, a castle above a slow river, a Roman arch in a working town square. They range from world-famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe to centuries-old castles, cathedrals and Roman ruins. For a first trip, Paris is the obvious starting point, but places such as the Loire Valley, Normandy, Alsace, and the south of France are just as important for exploring the country's heritage.
The famous monuments of France include royal residences, medieval fortifications, Gothic churches and ancient structures that have shaped the country’s history. You can visit the Palace of Versailles and the grand châteaux of the Loire Valley, walk through the fortified streets of Mont-Saint-Michel and Carcassonne, or see Roman landmarks such as the Pont du Gard and Arènes de Nîmes. Many of these sites are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are among the most visited attractions in their respective regions.
Planning your itinerary around these landmarks also makes it easier to decide which parts of France to include in your trip. This guide brings together 25 of the country’s major monuments, covering where they are located and what makes each one worth seeing.
It can also help when comparing Europe tour packages and choosing an itinerary that gives you time for France’s most important monuments alongside its cities, landscapes, and local experiences. From the Eiffel Tower to Mont-Saint-Michel, here are the monuments of France worth planning a trip around. Learn what each one is, where it sits, and why it makes the list:
1. Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower in Paris is the most visited paid monument in the world and the defining symbol among Paris monuments. Gustave Eiffel built it for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, and it rises 330 metres above the Champ de Mars. Three levels are open to visitors, and a lift carries you all the way to the summit. The Tour Eiffel, France's signature landmark, forms part of the UNESCO-listed banks of the Seine, and the views are at their best around dusk. Location: Av. Gustave Eiffel, 75007 Paris, France
Timings: 9 AM - 12 AM
Major highlights: 330-metre iron landmark, Three observation levels, Eiffel Tower summit, Seine and Paris skyline views
Top experiences: Take the lift to the summit, Climb the stairs to the second floor, Watch the tower illuminate after sunset, Dine at the Eiffel Tower
2. Arc of Triumph France
Napoleon commissioned the Arc de Triomphe in 1806 to honour his armies, though it was only completed in 1836. This Arc of Triumph France stands at Place Charles de Gaulle, where twelve avenues meet, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies beneath it with its eternal flame. Napoleon's own resting place, the Paris Napoleon Tomb, is elsewhere, at Les Invalides. If you climb the 284 steps of the Arc of Triumph France, you get a clear view down the Champs-Élysées. Location: Pl. Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France
Timings: 10 AM - 11 PM
Major highlights: Monumental Napoleonic arch, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Eternal Flame, Champs-Élysées location
Top experiences: Climb to the rooftop, See the 12 radiating avenues, View Paris from above, Visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
3. The Louvre
The Louvre Museum is the world's largest and most visited art museum, housed in a former royal palace on the Seine's right bank. It holds the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and I.M. Pei's glass pyramid marks the main entrance. As part of the UNESCO-listed banks of the Seine, it ranks among the most important monuments in France. Book a timed ticket ahead if you want to skip the long queues. Location: 75001 Paris, France
Timings: 9 AM - 6 PM
Major highlights: Louvre Pyramid, Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace, Former royal palace
Top experiences: Explore the Egyptian antiquities, See Renaissance masterpieces, Walk through the historic palace, Photograph the Louvre Pyramid
4. Notre-Dame
Notre-Dame de Paris is a landmark of French Gothic architecture on the Île de la Cité, begun in 1163 and completed around 1345. It reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire that destroyed its spire and roof, and the rose windows, flying buttresses and twin west towers remain its defining features. Work around the cathedral is still ongoing, so it's worth checking current visitor arrangements before you travel. Entry is free with a timed reservation. Location: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France
Timings: 7:50 AM - 7 PM (Monday - Wednesday and Friday), 7:50 AM - 10 PM (Thursday) and 8:15 AM - 7:30 PM (Saturday - Sunday)
Major highlights: Gothic architecture, Rose windows, Sculpted portals, Île de la Cité setting
Top experiences: Explore the restored interior, Admire the stained glass, See the Gothic façade, Walk around Île de la Cité
5. Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is where Louis XIV turned a hunting lodge into the seat of French royal power, and it stayed that way from 1682 until the Revolution. The Hall of Mirrors, the State Apartments and the formal gardens define it, alongside the Grand Trianon and the Queen's Hamlet. It lies about 20 km southwest of the capital and is reachable by RER. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, it easily fills most of a day. Location: Place d'Armes, 78000 Versailles, France
Timings: 9 AM - 5:30 PM
Major highlights: Hall of Mirrors, Royal Chapel, State Apartments, Grand Trianon, Formal gardens
Top experiences: Walk through Hall of Mirrors, Explore the palace gardens, Visit the Trianon estate, Explore Queen’s Hamlet, Attend seasonal garden shows
6. Mont-Saint-Michel
Mont-Saint-Michel is a medieval Benedictine abbey that crowns a rocky tidal island off the Normandy coast. The Gothic abbey church sits at the summit, wrapped by a village and ramparts below, and the tides here are among the fastest in Europe, cutting the island off at high water. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 and ranks among the most striking famous monuments of France. A shuttle covers the causeway, and you should check tide times before setting out.
Location: Normandy, France (near the border of Brittany)
Timings: Varies
Major highlights: Medieval island village, Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, Fortified walls, Tidal bay
Top experiences: Visit the abbey, Walk the medieval streets. Explore the ramparts, Watch the changing tides, Enjoy bay views
7. Reims Cathedral
Reims Cathedral is the Gothic cathedral where French kings were crowned for centuries. Its west front carries thousands of sculptures, including the famous "Smiling Angel", and it now holds stained glass designed by Marc Chagall. It was damaged in WWI and has since been restored, and today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Champagne region, making it one of the best places to visit in Reims on honeymoon. Often named among the 7 famous monuments of France, it is free to enter, and tower climbs run in season. Location: Pl. du Cardinal Luçon, 51100 Reims, France
Timings: 8 AM - 7:15 PM
Major highlights: Gothic architecture, Historic coronation church, Sculpted western façade, Smiling Angel, Medieval stained glass
Top experiences: Admire the cathedral façade, See the Smiling Angel, Explore the stained glass, Visit the Palace of Tau, Combine with Saint-Rémi Basilica
8. Château de Chambord
Château de Chambord is the largest of the Loire Valley châteaux, built from 1519 as a hunting retreat for François I. Its double-helix staircase, often linked to Leonardo da Vinci, is the centrepiece, set beneath a turreted roofline within a vast walled estate. How far da Vinci was actually involved is still debated. As part of the UNESCO-listed Loire Valley landscape, it stands among the finest famous landmarks in France for Renaissance architecture.
Location: 41250 Chambord, France
Timings: 9 AM - 6 PM
Major highlights: Renaissance château, Double-helix staircase, Elaborate roofline, Vast surrounding estate
Top experiences: Climb the double-helix staircase, Explore the rooftop terraces. Walk through the formal gardens, Cycle around the estate, See the château from the surrounding grounds
9. Château de Chenonceau
Château de Chenonceau spans the River Cher on a series of graceful arches, which earned it the name "Château des Dames" after the women who shaped it. Both Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de' Medici left their mark on its gardens and gallery, and you can explore the furnished rooms, tapestries and formal grounds. It is the most visited château in France after Versailles and one of the best places to visit in Loire Valley on honeymoon. Location: 37150 Chenonceaux, France
Timings: 9 AM - 7 PM
Major highlights: Château spanning the River Cher, Renaissance architecture, River gallery, Formal gardens, Historic interiors
Top experiences: Walk through the river gallery, Explore Diane de Poitiers’ garden, Visit Catherine de’ Medici’s rooms, Explore the château interiors, Walk along the River Cher
10. Palais des Papes
The Palais des Papes in Avignon is the largest Gothic palace in Europe, built through the 14th century when seven popes ruled from here rather than Rome. Its fortress walls enclose ceremonial halls, chapels and papal apartments, and a guided tablet route takes you through the main chambers. It forms part of Avignon's UNESCO-listed historic centre and is one of the most significant historical monuments in France from the era of the medieval Church.
Location: Pl. du Palais, 84000 Avignon, France
Timings: 9 AM - 7 PM
Major highlights: Medieval Gothic palace, Papal residence, Grand ceremonial halls, Gothic courtyards, Historic frescoes
Top experiences: Explore the papal apartments, Visit the Grand Tinel, See the medieval chapels, Walk through the courtyards, Explore Avignon’s historic centre
11. Pont d'Avignon
The Pont d'Avignon, properly the Pont Saint-Bénézet, is the half-collapsed medieval bridge made famous by the song "Sur le pont d'Avignon." Built from the 12th century onward, it once crossed the Rhône with 22 arches, but only four survive after repeated floods, and the Saint-Nicolas Chapel still sits on the bridge itself. It is included in Avignon's UNESCO World Heritage listing alongside the Palais des Papes, and makes it one of the best places to visit in France. Location: Bd du Rhône, 84000 Avignon, France
Timings: 9 AM - 7 PM
Major highlights: Medieval bridge, Four surviving arches, Rhône River setting, Saint-Nicolas Chapel
Top experiences: Walk along the surviving bridge, Visit Saint-Nicolas Chapel, See the Rhône from the bridge, Photograph Palais des Papes from the river
12. Cité de Carcassonne
The Cité de Carcassonne is a double-walled medieval fortress town in the south, with 52 towers and ramparts that run for roughly three kilometres. Inside you'll find the Château Comtal, the Porte Narbonnaise and the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, much of it restored by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century. Visiting this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the best things to do in Carcassonne on honeymoon because it is one of the best-preserved important monuments in France. Location: 1 Rue Viollet le Duc, 11000 Carcassonne, France
Timings: 10 AM - 6:30 PM
Major highlights: Medieval fortified city, Château Comtal, Historic city walls, Porte Narbonnaise, Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus
Top experiences: Walk the medieval ramparts, Explore Château Comtal, Enter through Porte Narbonnaise, Wander through the fortified old town, Visit the basilica
13. Strasbourg Cathedral
Strasbourg Cathedral is a pink-sandstone Gothic masterpiece in Alsace, and its single spire climbs to 142 metres. The astronomical clock performs its figures each day, while the sculpted west façade and stained glass draw steady crowds, and the building blends French and German influence across its long construction from 1176 to 1439. It sits within Strasbourg's UNESCO-listed historic centre and counts among the most impressive famous landmarks in France in the east. The viewing platform is a 332-step climb.
Location: Pl. de la Cathédrale, 67000 Strasbourg, France
Timings: 8:30 AM - 11:15 AM and 12:45 PM - 5:45 PM
Major highlights: 142-metre Gothic spire, Astronomical clock, Medieval stained glass, Sculpted façade, Grande-Île setting
Top experiences: See the astronomical clock, Admire the stained glass, Climb to the viewing platform, Explore Strasbourg’s historic centre, Walk around Grande-Île
14. Notre-Dame de la Garde
Notre-Dame de la Garde is a Romano-Byzantine basilica on the highest point of Marseille, crowned by a gilded statue of the Virgin that locals call "la Bonne Mère". Built in the 1850s, it looks out over the old port and the Mediterranean, and sailors have long treated it as their protector. The views matter as much as the building itself, and it is one of Marseille's defining historical monuments in France. Entry is free.
Location: Domaine Notre Dame de la Garde, Rue Fort du Sanctuaire, 13006 Marseille, France
Timings: 7 AM - 6 PM
Major highlights: Gilded Virgin Mary statue, Romanesque-Byzantine architecture, Interior mosaics, Hilltop location, Marseille and Mediterranean views
Top experiences: Visit the basilica, See the gilded statue, Admire the mosaics, Enjoy panoramic city views, Watch the sunset over Marseille
15. Pont du Gard
The Pont du Gard is a three-tiered Roman aqueduct bridge near Nîmes, built in the 1st century AD to carry water across the Gardon River. Its honey-coloured arches reach almost 49 metres and show the engineering of Roman Gaul at its best. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985 and remains one of Europe's best-preserved Roman works, ranking among the most important monuments in France. A museum and a river beach sit alongside it.
Location: 30210 Vers-Pont-du-Gard, France
Timings: 8 AM - 12 AM
Major highlights: Ancient Roman aqueduct, Three levels of arches, 49-metre-high structure, Gardon River setting, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Top experiences: Walk around the aqueduct, Photograph the arches, Explore the museum. Walk along the river. Discover the surrounding landscape
16. Grande Arche de la Défense
The Grande Arche de la Défense is a hollow cube of marble and glass in the business district west of the capital, completed in 1989. It sits on the same historic axis as the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre, lining all three up along a single sightline. Among the modern Paris monuments, its rooftop opens onto wide views across the skyline and offers a sharp contrast to the older architecture of the city centre.
Location: 1 Parv. de la Défense, 92800 Puteaux, France
Timings: 10 AM - 7 PM
Major highlights: Contemporary architectural landmark, 110-metre-high structure, La Défense skyline, Historic Paris axis
Top experiences: Visit the rooftop, See Paris from La Défense, Photograph the monumental architecture, Look towards the Arc de Triomphe, Explore La Défense district
17. Palais du Luxembourg
The Palais du Luxembourg houses the French Senate and anchors the Jardin du Luxembourg, one of the capital's most-loved parks. Marie de'Medici commissioned it in the 1610s and modelled it on Florence's Pitti Palace, and it stands a short walk from the Panthéon in Paris, the mausoleum that holds Voltaire, Rousseau and Marie Curie. The palace itself opens on select days, while the gardens, fountains and orchard are free every day—a quiet pick on the Left Bank.
Location: 15 Rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris, France
Timings: 10:30 AM - 7 PM
Major highlights: 17th-century palace, French Senate, Luxembourg Gardens, Medici Fountain, Left Bank location
Top experiences: Walk through Luxembourg Gardens, See the Medici Fountain, Admire the palace exterior, Explore the surrounding sculptures. Relax in the gardens
18. Sainte-Chapelle
Sainte-Chapelle is a royal Gothic chapel on the Île de la Cité, built by Louis IX in the 1240s to house relics of Christ's Passion. Its upper level is walled almost entirely in stained glass, with 15 windows that tell more than a thousand biblical scenes. Conservation work is ongoing, so it's worth checking current arrangements first. As a famous monument in Paris, it pairs naturally with a Notre-Dame visit, and timed tickets are advised.
Location: 10 Bd du Palais, 75001 Paris, France
Timings: 9 AM - 7 PM
Major highlights: Rayonnant Gothic architecture, Fifteen stained-glass windows, Medieval biblical scenes, Royal chapel, Île de la Cité location
Top experiences: Admire the stained-glass windows, See the changing colours inside. Explore the upper chapel, visit the lower chapel, photograph the Gothic interiors
19. Musée d'Orsay
Musée d'Orsay occupies the former Gare d'Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle. It holds the finest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art anywhere, with Monet, Van Gogh, Degas, Renoir and Cézanne all represented, and the great glass station clock frames city views on the upper floor. Part of the UNESCO-listed banks of the Seine, it sits a short walk from the Panthéon in Paris. Book timed entry in advance.
Location: Esplanade Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, 75007 Paris, France
Timings: 9:30 AM - 6 PM
Major highlights: Former railway station, Impressionist collection, Post-Impressionist masterpieces, Giant historic clock, Seine-side location
Top experiences: See works by Monet and Renoir, Explore Van Gogh’s paintings, Visit the giant clock, admire the former station hall, explore 19th-century French art
20. Saint-Malo Ramparts
The Saint-Malo Ramparts wrap the walled corsair city on Brittany's north coast, built and expanded between the 12th and 18th centuries and rebuilt after WWII bombings. The two-kilometre walk along the top gives you views over the Channel, the offshore forts and the tidal beaches, with steps leading down into the old town. The city grew out of a long seafaring and privateer history, and the walls are free to walk nd — bestyear-round—best of all at high tide.
Location: 6-2 Rue Guillaume le Gouverneur, 35400 Saint-Malo, France
Timings: 24*7
Major highlights: Historic fortified walls, Medieval towers, City gates, English Channel views, Walled old town
Top experiences: Walk the ramparts, watch the coastline from above, explore the old town, see the harbour and offshore islands, walk through the historic gates
21. Palais de Chaillot
The Palais de Chaillot sits on the Trocadéro hill directly facing the Tour Eiffel, France's most photographed sight, and it gives you the classic head-on view across the Seine. Built for the 1937 International Exhibition, its two curved wings house museums of architecture, maritime history and mankind. The terrace between them is free and open at all hours, which makes it the go-to spot for Eiffel Tower photos, whether by day or after dark.
Location: 1 Pl. du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75016 Paris, France
Timings: 24*7
Major highlights: Trocadéro location, 1937 architectural complex, Eiffel Tower views, Seine views, Museum complex
Top experiences: Photograph the Eiffel Tower, Walk the Trocadéro terraces, Explore the museums, walk through Trocadéro Gardens, enjoy sunset views over Paris
22. Château de Fontainebleau
Château de Fontainebleau is a royal residence 55 km southeast of the capital, lived in by French rulers from François I right through to Napoleon III. Napoleon signed his abdication on its horseshoe staircase in 1814, and his remains later returned to the Paris Napoleon Tomb at Les Invalides. The palace blends Renaissance and classical styles, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, and sits within a forest that is popular for hiking and climbing.
Location: 77300 Fontainebleau, France
Timings: 9:30 AM - 5 PM
Major highlights: Former royal residence, Renaissance architecture, François I Gallery, Napoleon’s Throne Room, Horseshoe staircase
Top experiences: Explore the royal apartments, See the François I Gallery, Visit Napoleon’s rooms, Photograph the horseshoe staircase, Walk through the palace gardens
23. Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg
Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg is a restored medieval castle perched high above the Alsace plain in the Vosges, near Sélestat. It is medieval in origin, but its present look owes much to the restoration by Kaiser Wilhelm II in the early 1900s. The keep, drawbridge, armory, and furnished interiors are all open, and the hilltop position commands sweeping views over the vineyards and plain below. One of Alsace's most visited sites, it is a strong pick beyond the better-known famous monuments of France.
Location: D159, 67600 Orschwiller, France
Timings: 9 AM - 6 PM (Tuesday - Sunday) and 10:30 AM - 6 PM (Monday)
Major highlights: Medieval hilltop fortress, Vosges Mountain setting, Defensive towers, Historic furnished rooms, Alsace views
Top experiences: Explore the castle interiors, walk along the defensive walls, climb the towers, enjoy views over the Alsatian plain, combine with an Alsace road trip
24. Chartres Cathedral
Chartres Cathedral, an hour southwest of Paris, is one of the best-preserved Gothic cathedrals anywhere, built largely in the 13th century. Its stained-glass windows still carry their original medieval colour, including the celebrated "Chartres blue," and the nave labyrinth survives intact beneath two mismatched spires. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, is counted among the 7 famous monuments of France, and stands as one of the great historical monuments in France outside Paris.
Location: 16 Cloître Notre Dame, 28000 Chartres, France
Timings: 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Major highlights: French Gothic architecture, Medieval stained glass, Royal Portal, Cathedral labyrinth, Twin towers
Top experiences: Admire the stained-glass windows, Walk the cathedral labyrinth, Explore the sculpted portals, Visit the crypt, Walk through historic ChartresX
25. Arènes de Nîmes
The Arènes de Nîmes is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world, built around the end of the 1st century AD. Two tiers of arches ring the oval structure, which still hosts concerts, bullfights and a Roman festival each spring. It is worth noting that the arena itself is not UNESCO-listed — the nearby Maison Carrée was inscribed separately in 2023. A self-guided audio tour takes you through the arena, the tiers and the underground passages.
Location: Bd des Arènes, 30000 Nîmes, France
Timings: 9:30 AM - 5 PM
Major highlights: Roman amphitheatre, Ancient arena, Tiered seating, Monumental Roman architecture, Central Nîmes location
Top experiences: Walk through the Roman arena, Explore the galleries and seating, Learn about ancient spectacles, Attend a scheduled event, Combine with Maison Carrée and other Roman sites