France is located in the western part of Europe and is filled with centuries-old port cities, calm villages, beautiful beaches, and mountains. Paris, the capital of France, is famous worldwide for its delicious and elegant cuisines, great landmark structures like the Eiffel Tower, and world-class museums like the Louvre Museum. Every part of France is worth visiting in any season. Here are the top things to do or places to visit on your trip to the wonderful country of France.

1. Louvre Museum

The Louvre Museum is a landmark of Paris and one of the largest museums in the world. This historic monument is located on the bank of the Seine and contains almost 35,000 objects from the prehistoric period to the 21st century, spread across 60,000 square meters. The museum’s collection includes antiques from Egypt, sculptures, and paintings from ancient Greek and Roman eras. The world-renowned painting Mona Lisa is also housed in the Louvre Museum and is one of its main attractions.

2. Arc de Triomphe

While in France, a visit to the world-renowned Arc de Triomphe is a must. This famous arc can be seen in movies, magazines, and calendars and is consistently featured in local commercials. It is located in the middle of the Place Charles de Gaulle at the west side of the Champs-Elysées. Designed in 1806 by Jean Chalgrin, it depicts young, nude French warriors fighting with armor-clad bearded Germans.

3. Notre Dame Cathedral

Also known as the Notre-Dame de Paris, the Notre-Dame Cathedral is a spectacular Catholic cathedral in Paris, France. It means “Our Lady of Paris” in English and is unanimously considered the best example of French Gothic architecture. It is also one of the biggest and most famous church buildings in the world. The Notre Dame Cathedral was severely damaged during the French Revolution, and most of its religious paintings were destroyed or damaged. Restoration projects began in 1845 and again in 1991. This is a must-visit place for people interested in French history or the history of Christianity.

4. Mont Saint Michel Abbey

This site, part of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, is located on the island and inside the city of Mont-Saint-Michel in the department of Manche in Lower Normandy. The abbey has been protected as a historic monument of France. The Mont Saint Michel Abbey is one of the most visited historic sites in France, with an estimated 1.3 million visitors annually, making it one of the country’s most famous tourist attractions.

5. Grotte de Lascaux & Lascaux II

The Lascaux Caves, located in the southwestern region of France, were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1979. These caves hold some of the oldest prehistoric Paleolithic art, estimated to be 17,300 years old. The cave was closed for public visitation in 1963 due to increased levels of carbon dioxide, humidity, and heat, which started to contaminate the paintings. In 1983, Lascaux II, a replica of the Lascaux caves, was opened, depicting the Great Hall of Bulls just 200 meters away from the original site.

6. Catacombs of Paris

The underground resting place of more than six million people, the Catacombs of Paris are ossuaries located in a tiny part of the old Mines of Paris network. The ossuaries were founded due to overcrowded cemeteries and cave-ins prevalent in 1774. The catacombs became a small-scale tourist attraction in the early nineteenth century, and the general public was granted regular access in 1874. They can be accessed from Place Denfert-Rochereau and are managed by Paris Musees as part of the 14 city of Paris museums.

7. Palace of Versailles

The construction of the Palace of Versailles was started by French King Louis XIII in 1632 and was initially intended to be a hunting lodge made of stone and brick. Today, every part of the Versailles palace, including the spectacular Hall of Mirrors, the gilded rooms of royalty, and other bedazzling rooms, is a masterpiece in its own regard. The Palace is also famous for its highly maintained lush green and beautiful garden, which looks like something from a fairytale, reflecting a great monarchy. All these factors have made the Palace of Versailles one of the top tourist attractions in France.

8. The Moulin Rouge Show

The Moulin Rouge is the world-renowned birthplace of the famous dance genre, the can-can dance, and it started the trend of cabarets across Europe. The Moulin Rouge show features beautiful can-can dancers and world-famous showgirls. This show is arguably the best not only in Paris but in all of Europe.

9. Eiffel Tower

Located on the Champ de Mars in Paris, the Eiffel Tower is an iconic wrought iron structure designed by Gustave Eiffel and built by his company. Probably the most recognizable monument in France worldwide, the Eiffel Tower was built in 1889, and its design faced criticism from some of France’s prominent architects. The tower stands at 324 meters (1,063 ft) tall, and during its construction, it became the tallest man-made structure in the world, surpassing the Washington Monument. There are three levels for visitors: the first two offer restaurants, and the third level provides the highest viewing point in the entire European Union.

10. Route des vins d’Alsace

Known as the Alsace Wine Route in English, the Route des vins d’Alsace has contributed to the success of Alsace wines. This route is internationally famous for its easy path, scenic beauty, and direct connection to the wine growers. It is a little over 106 miles (170 kilometers) from north to south of France. The road passes through hills covered with vines, and at every corner, you can find caves used as wine cellars. According to a 2006 survey, a total of 15,298 hectares were used for growing wines, and approximately 111.3 million liters of wine were produced.