#Collaborative post
Source: unsplash.com – Bruno Abatti
It’s impossible to express the tremendous diversity of France’s Northern Regions. Yet, Northern France is still relatively obscure among foreign tourists. However, it’s impossible to not fall in love with this region of the nation if you travel to France.
This is because it has a diverse and rich historical legacy and a variety of natural surroundings, unmatched by any other area in France. So, whether you want to spend your vacation exploring, road travelling, or simply resting by the shore, North France is a fantastic place.
Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine
The fortified city of Saint-Malo has experienced a lot of historical events throughout the years, including notable pirates in the Middle Ages and Gauls in the first century. The village in Brittany is so well-known that it has appeared in innumerable literature, paintings, and films throughout the years.
Jacques Cartier, a man who claimed contemporary Quebec for what became France, was born in the walled city. Today, you may go on a self-guided tour of Breton city, wandering the ramparts, exploring antique structures, and taking in the historical ambience.
Versailles Palace & Gardens (Yvelines, Ile-de-France)
Palace of Versailles, or Yvelines, Ile-de-France and the gardens that surround the area are another must-see in Northern France. Versailles is, without a doubt, among the most renowned day tours from Paris. The Palace, home to three French Kings dated back from 1682 to 1789, is a gem of French Baroque style architecture and the centrepiece of royal authority.
Spare some time while visiting Versailles to wander the exquisite gardens, including grooves, fountains, and the Grand Canal. Versailles Gardens is André Le Notre’s masterpiece, one of France’s highest forms of French-style landscapes. As you wander around, take a lot of photos with your phone as keepsakes, so you can admire the beauty again and again without having to be physically there.
Lille
Source: unsplash.com – Alexis Mette
Lille was not really a part of France until a blockade accompanied by Louis XIV in 1667, just on the Belgian borders. However, it had previously been solidly Flemish and part of the Dukedom of Burgundy. The design of the magnificent Vieux-Lille, particularly at Grand’Place and Place Rihour, reflects this Belgian heritage.
When you visit, witness the Vieille Bourse with its Flemish mannerist architecture, as well as the neo-Flemish tower that houses the Voix du Nord newspaper from the 16th-century. Another Belgian feature will lure you as you walk through cobblestone streets: the wonderful fragrance of waffles. In winter weather, nothing surpasses carbonnade flamande, their renowned beef stew, which is also Flemish.
Le Havre
Once you get to Le Havre, you will find that it is far more than simply a port town, with plenty of places to explore and many things to do. Make a point of visiting the contemporary art museum, the gorgeous Le Havre Cathedral, and the magnificent Les Jardins Suspendus.
However, make sure to bring your comfy shoes and explore the nearby Côte d’Albâtre coastline. It’s one of France’s most beautiful coasts and among the most significant spots to visit in the north. The gentle sea breeze may make it a little chilly at times; however, the sun shines brightly here! So, make sure to bring sunscreen with you during the trip, or sunburn is due if you don’t.
Bayeux, Calvados
Bayeux is among the finest sites to see in Northern France. However, it is sometimes overshadowed by the Bayeux Tapestry, a renowned wall with the same name. The Tapestry makes up 50 scenes woven on linen panels. It is displayed in a unique glass case in a purpose-built gallery and functioned as a visual book for predominantly illiterate people to describe the battle’s happenings. The Tapestry was produced in 1077 and has miraculously lasted for over a thousand years. UNESCO has also certified it as the “memory of the world.”
Bayeux, 30 kilometres northwest of Caen, was built during the Gallo-Roman era. It is home to many museums, making it an excellent French trip for history buffs. The majestic Cathedral of Notre Dame, which originates from the 11th century, dominates the city’s picturesque centre. This Gothic-style church has two massive spires and an underground vault with 15th-century murals that have been preserved.
Mont Saint-Michel
Source: unsplash.com – Bas van Breukelen
This Benedictine monastery, standing on top of a rugged island right off the coast of Normandy, has by far the most magnificent position of any monastery in France. It appears like a better location for a fortification than a worship sanctuary. Yet, Mont Saint-Michel has acted as both over the years. English forces often besieged it during the Hundred Years’ War, but it has never been seized.
Around the monastery, a little mediaeval town developed up and had become one of Europe‘s most prominent crusade destinations. It has long been recognised as among France’s most notable sites, included on UNESCO World Heritage List back in 1979.
La Roche-Guyon
La Roche-Guyon is a charming ancient town at the bottom of a château constructed into a cliff back in the 1100s. This is to oversee the river passage on a curve in the Seine. It’s accessible to the general public, and you can see the inventiveness at work, with a keep linked to the bottom stronghold by rock passageways.
Monet’s residence is just several minutes away in Giverny, precisely as the legendary artist left it. Even if you’re not a fan of Monet’s work, you will recognise most of those images in the gardens he painted several times.