France Nature: 8 Parks and Natural Wonders
map viewFrance's nature and gardens are as varied as its regions, and this page gathers six favourites. On the Normandy coast, the white cliffs and arches of Étretat drop straight into the Channel. Near Arcachon Bay, the Dune of Pilat is the tallest sand dune in Europe, and in the Dordogne, the Marqueyssac Gardens are famous for their hand-clipped boxwood. In Paris, the Luxembourg Gardens and the Tuileries are classic places for a walk, and ZooParc de Beauval in the Loire Valley is one of the most popular zoos in France. May to September is the best time to go.
Beauval Zoo, France
One of Europe’s largest zoos, near the Loire châteaux: giant pandas, the Equatorial Dome, a cable car and 10,000 animals; tickets from €39 online.
Etretat cliffs, Normandy, France
White chalk cliffs with the Porte d’Aval arch and the 51 m Aiguille on the Normandy coast; free access, clifftop paths and pebble beach.
Marqueyssac Gardens, France
Clifftop gardens above the Dordogne with 150,000 hand-trimmed boxwoods, over 6 km of paths and a famous belvedere; open all year, adults €12.90.
Dune of Pilat / Arcachon Bay, Bordeaux, France
Europe’s highest sand dune, about 100 m high and 2.9 km long, between the Bay of Arcachon and the Landes forest; free entry, car park €5–11.
Plage Notre-Dame, Porquerolles, France
A beautiful white-sand beach on the island of Porquerolles, France, once named the best beach in Europe.
Plage de l’Almanarre, Hyères, France
A long wild beach near Hyères, France, and one of the top spots in France for kitesurfing and windsurfing.
Luxembourg Palace and Gardens, Paris
The Senate’s 17th-century palace and its 23-hectare gardens with the Grand Bassin, the Medici Fountain and about a hundred statues; free entry.
Jardin des Tuileries Garden, Paris
Beautiful park with sculptures and fountains in Paris, located between the Louvre, the Seine River, and Place de la Concorde.
Nature spots in France on the map
Numbers match the ranking above. Click a pin to open the place.
Best time to visit parks & nature spots in France
When sightseeing is most pleasant: comfortable 18–26 °C daytime temperatures and more dry days. Averaged over the places on this page.
ERA5 climate data 2015–2024 (Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), averaged for the places on this page.
More to explore
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