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Historical sites in France i
History & culture · France

Historical sites in France

Ancient cities, ruins and archaeological sites — where history is still visible on the ground.

60 places Best months: June–September

France has 60 historical sites on our list, mostly in Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region, and Brittany Region. Best months: June–September.

History

Historical sites in France

Best monthsJune–SeptemberMonths with the most pleasant weather for being outdoors (go score of nearby towns).
Maison Carrée i
1

Maison Carrée

Ancient Roman temple in Nîmes, southern France

0.2 km from Nîmes
Carnac stones i
2

Carnac stones

Stone rows in Carnac, France

1 km from Carnac
Alesia i
3

Alesia

Antique Gallo-Roman town

3 km from Venarey-les-Laumes
Bibracte i

Bibracte

Oppidum

20 km from Autun
Amphitheater of Nîmes i

Amphitheater of Nîmes

Roman amphitheatre in Nîmes, France

0.2 km from Nîmes
Arles Amphitheatre i

Arles Amphitheatre

Roman amphitheatre in Arles, France

0.1 km from Arles
Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments i

Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments

UNESCO World Heritage Site in Arles, France

0.1 km from Arles
Barnenez i

Barnenez

Archaeological site in Plouezoc'h, France

10 km from Morlaix
Quentovic i

Quentovic

Archaeological site in France

7.6 km from Étaples
The Alyscamps i

The Alyscamps

Gallo-Roman necropolis in Arles (Bouches-du-Rhône, France)

0.8 km from Arles
Glanum i

Glanum

Archaeological site

1.6 km from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Avaricum i

Avaricum

Oppidum in ancient Gaul, near what is now the city of Bourges

0.3 km from Bourges
amphitheater of Lyon i

amphitheater of Lyon

Roman amphitheatre in France

2.7 km from Lyon
Filitosa i

Filitosa

Archaeological site

22 km from Ajaccio
Vix grave i

Vix grave

Archaeological tomb at Vix in Côte-d'Or (France)

5.4 km from Châtillon-sur-Seine
Terra Amata i

Terra Amata

Prehistoric archaeological site in Nice, France

2 km from Nice
La Ferrassie i

La Ferrassie

Cave in France

3.8 km from Le Bugue
menhir d'Er Grah i

menhir d'Er Grah

Large broken menhir in Locmariaquer, France

17 km from Vannes
Gallo-Roman theatre at Arles i

Gallo-Roman theatre at Arles

Gallo-Roman theatre in Arles, France

0.1 km from Arles
Grotte du Mas-d'Azil i

Grotte du Mas-d'Azil

Cave in France

21 km from Pamiers
Arago cave i

Arago cave

Cave in France

20 km from Perpignan 350 m
temple of Diana i

temple of Diana

Temple in Nîmes, France

0.8 km from Nîmes
Temple of Augustus and Livia i

Temple of Augustus and Livia

Roman temple located in Vienne (Isère), in France

0.1 km from Vienne
Argentoratum i

Argentoratum

Ancient name of the city of Strasbourg in France

0.4 km from Strasbourg
Roman-Gaul Baths of Entrammes i

Roman-Gaul Baths of Entrammes

Gallo-Roman thermal baths in Entrammes, France

9 km from Laval
Oppidum d'Ensérune i

Oppidum d'Ensérune

Human settlement in France

9.1 km from Béziers
Roquepertuse i

Roquepertuse

Human settlement

14 km from Aix-en-Provence
Château de Gisors i

Château de Gisors

Castle in France

0.4 km from Gisors
La Quina i

La Quina

Archaeological site

19 km from Angoulême
Thermes de Cluny i

Thermes de Cluny

Gallo-Roman thermal baths in Paris' 5th arrondissement

0.5 km from Paris
Nemausus i

Nemausus

Ancient Roman city replaced by Nîmes

0.3 km from Nîmes
Vallée des Merveilles i

Vallée des Merveilles

Archaeological site in France

13 km from Tende
Barbegal aqueduct and mills i

Barbegal aqueduct and mills

Archaeological site in Fontvieille (France)

7.8 km from Arles
Combe-Capelle i

Combe-Capelle

Archaeological site

6.7 km from Beaumont-du-Périgord
Uxellodunum i

Uxellodunum

Human settlement in France

0.6 km from Vayrac

Itius Portus

Perhaps Boulogne or Wissant, France

15 km from Mantes-la-Jolie
Menhir de Champ-Dolent i

Menhir de Champ-Dolent

Menhir in Dol-de-Bretagne, France

1.8 km from Dol-de-Bretagne
Aqueduct of the Gier i

Aqueduct of the Gier

Ancient Roman aqueduct

7.5 km from Lyon
odeon of Lyon i

odeon of Lyon

Small ancient Roman theatre in Lyon, France

2.4 km from Lyon
Table des Marchands i

Table des Marchands

Dolmen in Locmariaquer, France

17 km from Vannes
Saint-Michel tumulus i

Saint-Michel tumulus

Tumulus in Carnac, France

0.6 km from Carnac
Grotte du Lazaret i

Grotte du Lazaret

Prehistoric cave in France

2.7 km from Nice
Lattara i

Lattara

Archaeological site in France

5.6 km from Montpellier
Lugdunum Convenarum i

Lugdunum Convenarum

Roman city in France

6.1 km from Montréjeau
Cenabum i

Cenabum

Human settlement in France

0.4 km from Orléans
Pech Maho i

Pech Maho

Iron age oppidum in southern France

2.7 km from Sigean
Durocortorum i

Durocortorum

Oppidum of the Remi, and capital of Gallia Belgica during the Roman Era whose remains are in Reims, France

0.1 km from Reims
Isturitz and Oxocelhaya caves i

Isturitz and Oxocelhaya caves

Cave system in Lower Navarre, French Basque Country, France

8.7 km from Hasparren
Rinaghju i

Rinaghju

Archaeological site in Sartène, France

11 km from Sartène
Cucuruzzu i

Cucuruzzu

Archaeological site

4.6 km from Zonza
Stantari i

Stantari

Archaeological site in Sartène, France

11 km from Sartène
Ruscino i

Ruscino

First city of Perpignan in ancient times

4.3 km from Perpignan
Roc de Marsal i

Roc de Marsal

Prehistoric cave in France

4.7 km from Le Bugue
Mont Lassois i

Mont Lassois

Mountain in France

6.1 km from Châtillon-sur-Seine 290 m
Olbia de Provence i

Olbia de Provence

Archaeological site in Hyères (Var), France

4.4 km from Hyères
Samarobriva i

Samarobriva

Archaeological site in France

0.9 km from Amiens
Argentomagus i

Argentomagus

Human settlement in France

1.2 km from Argenton-sur-Creuse
Burdigala i

Burdigala

Latin name of Bordeaux, France

0.4 km from Bordeaux
Pincevent i

Pincevent

Archaeological site in La Grande-Paroisse, France

4.5 km from Montereau-Fault-Yonne
Village des Bories i

Village des Bories

Village in France

10 km from L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

On the map

Hotels

Where to stay

The towns closest to the most places on this list.

Arles Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region · 5 places
Hotels Weather
Nîmes Occitanie · 4 places
Hotels Weather
Lyon Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · 3 places
Hotels Weather
Carnac Brittany Region · 2 places
Hotels Weather
Châtillon-sur-Seine Bourgogne-Franche-Comté · 2 places
Hotels Weather
Nice Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region · 2 places
Hotels Weather
Le Bugue New Aquitaine · 2 places
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Vannes Brittany Region · 2 places
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More ways to travel in France

Paragliding 1,585 Castles 647 Skiing 345 Museums 247 Diving 210 Surfing 178 World Heritage 151 Lighthouses 126 Caves 119 Island holidays 110 Golf 92 Beaches 89 Cathedrals 82 Zoos & aquariums 68

Historical sites in other countries

Italy 584Greece 572Türkiye 444Egypt 390United Kingdom 320Spain 204Israel 171Mexico 145China 129United States 124Peru 114Germany 112
Historical sites of the world

Frequently asked questions

How many historical sites are there in France?

Atlas of Seasons lists 60 notable historical sites in France.

What are the best historical sites in France?

The best-known are Maison Carrée, Carnac stones, and Alesia.

When is the best time for history in France?

June–September.

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