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The best cities in France

June 17, 2022

Picturesque Poitiers is a city near your child-friendly holiday park. During your visit, you can experience a lot in the old city centre, which is full of old buildings and squares, shops and restaurants. While you are in this city visit the Bapistère Saint-Jean. This church is unique as it is the oldest in the whole of France. Also visit Notre-Dame la Grande, which is known for its unusual Romanesque architecture. Next to this church is a large covered market hall, where many local products and souvenirs can be bought. The imposing town hall can be seen from afar in Poitiers and therefore cannot be skipped. Take a look (for free) in the ballroom, for example. Want to discover the city's history? Then visit Musée Sainte-Croix.

La Rochelle is a port city on the Atlantic Ocean, near Les Forges Villas. Since La Rochelle is located on the waterfront, you cannot miss a visit to the old port. Stroll along the quays and take an occasional break on one of the many terraces. Don't forget to check out La Rochelle's medieval towers. There is also plenty to do in the old town. Here you will stroll past grand villas, the town hall, Henri II's house, the Palais de Justice and through the Les Halles de La Rochelle. Although the St-Louis Cathedral looks less beautiful from the outside, the inside is definitely worth a visit for its beautiful stained-glass windows and paintings. After a day of soaking up culture, unwind on one of La Rochelle's many beaches.

Cities from Domaine Castellane

Castellane itself is worth a visit. Visit the Notre-Dame du Roc chapel that stands atop the cliff in Castellane. The walk takes about half an hour and gives you the best views over Castellane. The medieval village still has old streets that you can enjoy wandering through. During your walk, you will pass the ramparts, pentagonal tower and the Clockwork Gate. Castellane is also rich in lovely shops and restaurants, such as on Place Marcel Sauvaire. Besides Castellane, we recommend the following towns near Domaine Castellane:

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is not called one of the most beautiful villages in France for nothing. This picturesque town in Provence is definitely worth a visit. The village has an old chapel on top of the hill. If you want to visit the Notre-Dame-de-Beauvoir chapel remember to wear sturdy shoes as it is quite a climb up. You do get a beautiful view in return. The village is famous for its pottery so the pottery museum is a must. The village is also ideal for a stroll through the narrow alleys and pretty squares. While you are there, you can also pick up delicious local produce here. The village is located on the Gorges du Verdon gorge, making it good to combine with a boat trip to the gorge and the reservoir.

A little further than Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is Cannes, known for the film festival of the same name. Cannes is close to Nice on the Côte d'Azur. The oldest part of Cannes: Le Suquet is the medieval part of town. Here you can spend hours wandering around the picturesque streets. Stroll past the 16th-century Notre-Dame de l'Esperenance and visit Place de la Castre, the old medieval castle in the middle of town. You can also enjoy a stroll along the Boulevard de la Croisette that runs along the coast. There are two marinas along the promenade where you can feast your eyes, as there are many luxury yachts. After all the walking you can relax on one of the terraces along the promenade. Cannes is also the ideal place for shopping, from local markets to designer shops, Cannes near Castellane has it all.

Towns around Parc Madeleine and Vallandry

Our parks Vallandry and Parc Madeleine are located in the middle of the French Alps in the Le Grand Domaine ski area. Most guests therefore come for winter sports. As guests do not easily think of a cultural trip from these locations, we are here to help. First, you can have fun in the villages of our resorts. Vallandry is a cosy mountain village with nice restaurants, bars and shops. Visit the Peisey-Nancroix Museum and discover the history of the valley or check out the watercolour exhibition. Parc Madeleine is located in the mountain village of Saint Francois Longchamp. During your stay at Parc Madeleine, pay a visit to the Eglise Saint Théodule church. We understand that you may not want to stay only in the villages themselves, so we recommend the following towns:

Chambery is a city with a rich history in the French Alps. The city used to be located at the crossroads of an important trade route and therefore has a rich cultural past. This is especially evident in the old town centre, where you will find, among other things, an old castle that is free to enter. The most famous landmark of this city is the elephant fountain; La Fontaine des Éléphants. During your visit to Chambery, also visit the Cathedral Saint Francois de Sales where paintings by Sevesi and Vicario, among others, hang. There are also several museums to visit in this city, such as a nature museum and a museum on the history of the area. It is therefore highly recommended to take a stroll through the old medieval city centre during your holiday in the French Alps.

A little further away from our holiday parks in France, lies at the foot of the French Alps; Grenoble. During your visit, take a beautiful walk through the old city centre. You will pass several medieval buildings, an indoor market and several street-art artworks. When in Grenoble, don't skip Grenoble's Bastille. Located at the top of Mount Rachias, this ancient fortress has fantastic views over the city. Did you know that on a clear day, you can even see Mont Blanc? You can reach the fortress in two ways, you can take a walk of +- 45 minutes or take the famous cable car. Museum lovers can visit Musée de Grenoble, Musée Dauphinois or Le Magasin. There is an interesting museum for everyone in Grenoble.

Enjoy your holidays in France with Villa Parcs

Already getting excited about all these beautiful cities? Then book a holiday in France with Villa Parcs and visit the cities from our parks. At Villa Parcs we have several accommodation options, so you can stay in a chalet, villa or flat. You can stay at Villa Parcs with up to 10 people. During your holiday, you can visit more than just cities, our parks are also ideal for winter sports enthusiasts, outdoor enthusiasts and families. When should you book a holiday at Villa Parcs in France?