UNESCO Heritage of France: Top 17 Sites
map viewFrance has one of the longest UNESCO lists in the world, and this page gathers the sites we have visited. In and around Paris, you can see the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre-Dame on the banks of the Seine, and the royal palaces of Versailles and Fontainebleau. In the Loire Valley, Chambord and Chenonceau are among the best-known châteaux. Further south, the Pont du Gard is a Roman aqueduct bridge, Avignon has the Palais des Papes, Albi its red-brick episcopal city and Carcassonne its walled citadel. Mont-Saint-Michel and Vauban's Citadel of Besançon complete the list. May–June and September–October are the most pleasant months.
Mont-Saint-Michel, France
A tidal island crowned by a medieval abbey on the border of Normandy and Brittany, reached by a footbridge and free shuttles; the village is free, the abbey costs €13–16.
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Gustave Eiffel’s 330-metre wrought-iron tower on the Champ de Mars, built for the 1889 World’s Fair and now the symbol of Paris.
Château de Chambord, France
The largest château of the Loire Valley, built for Francis I from 1519, with its famous double-helix staircase, a skyline of turrets and Europe’s largest walled forest park.
Palace of Versailles, France
The former royal palace of Louis XIV about 20 km southwest of Paris, with the Hall of Mirrors and Le Nôtre's gardens; closed Mondays, tickets €22–35.
Louvre Palace Museum, Paris, France
The Louvre Palace Museum, located in the heart of Paris, is one of the most famous museums in the world.
Palais des Papes, Avignon, France
The vast Gothic palace of the 14th-century popes in Avignon, a UNESCO site; open daily, tickets €16 or €19.50 with the Pont d'Avignon.
Pont du Gard, France
Three-tier Roman aqueduct bridge over the Gardon, 48 m high and UNESCO-listed; free access on foot, €9 parking per car, museum €8.
Albi episcopal city, France
Red-brick episcopal city on the Tarn, UNESCO-listed since 2010, with Sainte-Cécile Cathedral and the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum; old town free to visit.
Palace of Fontainebleau, France
Home of French rulers for seven centuries, from Francis I’s Renaissance gallery to Napoleon’s farewell staircase; UNESCO site with free gardens near Paris.
Notre Dame de Paris, France
Paris’s Gothic cathedral on the Île de la Cité, reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire; entry is free.
Cité de Carcassonne castle, France
A walled medieval city above the River Aude with 3 km of double walls and 52 towers, restored by Viollet-le-Duc; the streets are free, the Château Comtal and ramparts need a ticket.
Château de Chenonceau castle, France
The “Ladies’ Château” of the Loire Valley, with its Renaissance gallery spanning the River Cher on arches and the gardens of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de’ Medici, open every day of the year.
Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, Paris
Triumphal arch in central Paris, located between the Louvre and the Tuileries Garden. Built by order of Napoleon
Orangerie Museum, Paris
Orangerie Museum is a small but famous museum in Paris, known for its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collections.
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.
The Seine River / Boat trip
The Seine is the river symbol of Paris. A boat trip is a great way to explore the city.
Citadel of Besançon, France
Vauban fortress on a rock above the Doubs loop in Besançon, UNESCO-listed, with three museums and a zoo; adult ticket €13.50 (Apr–Oct).
UNESCO sites in France on the map
Numbers match the ranking above. Click a pin to open the place.
Best time to visit UNESCO sites 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.
Tickets: what it costs to visit UNESCO sites in France
Adult entrance prices, cheapest first. What the ticket includes and what you can see for free.
| Place | Region | Adult ticket | Ticket includes | Free without a ticket | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pont du Gard | Occitania | €8 | Museum, cinema and exhibition spaces | — | Monument free on foot; parking €9 per car; under-18s free |
| Citadel of Besançon | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté | €9.50–13.50 | Citadel, three museums and zoo | — | €13.50 Apr–Oct, €9.50 low season; ages 4–7 €5.80, under 4 free |
| Orangerie Museum | Paris | €12.50 | Museum with Monet's Water Lilies | — | Free under 18 and EU residents 18–25; combined ticket with the Musée d'Orsay €20 |
| Mont-Saint-Michel | Normandy | €13–16 | Abbey | Village, ramparts and footbridge | €13 low season, €16 high season; free under 18 and for EU residents aged 18–25 |
| Cité de Carcassonne castle | Occitania | €13–19 | Château Comtal and ramparts | Streets and squares of the Cité | €19 April–September, €13 October–March; free under 18 and for EU residents aged 18–25 |
| Eiffel Tower | Paris | €14.80–36.70 | 2nd floor by stairs to summit by lift | — | |
| The Seine River | Paris | from €15–20 | One-hour sightseeing cruise on the Seine | Walks along the riverbanks and bridges | Batobus hop-on hop-off day pass about €21 |
| Palais des Papes | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | €16 | Palace with Histopad tablet guide | Under 10 | €19.50 combined with the Pont d’Avignon; €10 for ages 10–17 |
| Notre Dame de Paris | Paris | €16 | Towers (book online) | Cathedral | |
| Palace of Fontainebleau | Paris | €17 | Palace | Gardens and park | Closed on Tuesdays |
| Château de Chenonceau castle | Centre-Val de Loire | €19–24 | Château and gardens | — | €19 with a guide leaflet, €24 with an audio guide; children under 7 free |
| Château de Chambord | Centre-Val de Loire | €21–31 | Château and French gardens | — | €21 for EEA residents, €31 for other visitors; free under 18 and for EEA residents under 26 |
| Palace of Versailles | Paris | €22–35 | Palace, Trianon estate and gardens | Gardens (except fountain show days) | €22 low / €32 high season for EEA residents, €25 / €35 for others; free under 18 and for EU residents under 26 |
| Louvre Palace Museum | Paris | €22 | Museum | — | |
| Albi episcopal city | Occitania | Free | — | Old town | Cathedral nave free; Grand Chœur and treasury €6; Toulouse-Lautrec Museum about €10 |
| Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel | Paris | Free | — | Arch and Carrousel square | |
| Jardin des Tuileries Garden | Paris | Free | — | Garden |
Prices checked: 10.2026. Always check the official website before you go.
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