The document recommends 5 cities in France to visit besides Paris to avoid crowds: Strasbourg, located on the German border, has a unique blend of German and French history along with lovely canals and Strasbourg Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Arles inspired several of Van Gogh's paintings and is worth visiting for fans of his work. Dijon has a 14th century Palais de Ducs that was once home to the Duke of Burgundy. Lille is a stop on the Eurostar from London or Paris and offers bookstores and one of France's biggest art museums. Toulouse features the Basilica de St. Sernin

1. Five Cities to Visit
in France
ADAM QUIRK

2. Introduction
Ah, Paris – très beau, non? Beyond the big glitzy tourist
attractions such as the Louvre, Notre Dame, Champs Elysees,
and Eiffel Tower, there’s a city with a rich cultural history
that’s second to none. Moliere, Edouard Manet, Ernest
Hemingway, Edith Piaf, Colette, Jean-Paul Satre, F. Scott and
Zelda Fitzgerald, James Baldwin, François Truffaut, and
Brigitte Bardot – they all called the City of Lights home,
making it an incredibly attractive place to visit.

3. Unfortunately, you’re not the only one to
think so, as Paris has long been one of the
most visited cities on Earth. If you’re eager
to visit France and want to skip the crowds,
visit these hidden gems instead.

4. Strasbourg
To be fair, Strasbourg isn’t really a “hidden gem” –
Europeans know how special it is, which is why one
of the seats of the European Union’s Parliament is
there. Right on the border with Germany, it
features a unique blend of German and French
history, lovely canals, and the famed Strasbourg
Cathedral is an architectural sister of Paris’ Notre
Dame, with a similar Roman Gothic style. The
Cathedral and surrounding area is a UNESCO
World Heritage site.

5. Arles
If you’re a fan of Vincent van Gogh
and have already seen his paintings in
the Louvre, you’ll want to take a trip
to Arles. Van Gogh loved the area,
and it inspired several of his
paintings.

6. Dijon
If you’re interested in
history, Dijon used to be the seat
of power for the Duke of
Burgundy. Palais de Ducs, built in
the 14th century, is a must see.

7. Lille
If you’re traveling from London to
Paris or vice versa by Eurostar,
you’re in luck – Lille is a stop
along the way. Once there, you’ll
be able to enjoy everything from
lovely second-hand bookstores to
the Palais des Beaux Artes de Lille,
one of France’s biggest art
museums.

8. Toulouse
Looking for another UNESCO World
Heritage site? Try the Basilica de St.
Sernin, the largest surviving Romanesque
structure in Europe. Toulouse is also home
to some of France’s most intriguing
culinary delicacies, so come with an open
mind and empty stomach.

9. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME
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