The top 9 cities for a culture and heritage city break

• Amiens, the destination for all culture lovers
• Angers, the perfect destination for a car-free city break
• Avignon, cultural heartland
• Besançon, a city with 2000 years of history
• Mulhouse, city of art and history
• Nancy, capital of Art Nouveau and jewel of Art Deco
• Reims, a history etched in stone
• Rennes, a city of “art and history”
• Strasbourg, a family destination
• What's a city break?

Amiens has plenty to impress and win over culture and history lovers. The city boasts several UNESCO World Heritage sites: Notre-Dame d'Amiens cathedral, the Way of St James in France and the superb Belfry. Amiens is also home to the Maison de Jules Verne, as well as the Cirque Jules Verne. The Musée de Picardie will also satisfy culture buffs. For outdoor enthusiasts, the Cimetière de la Madeleine, with its hilly, wooded landscape and poetic atmosphere, is sure to win you over. Whatever the weather, you'll love Amiens for a springtime getaway!

Angers and its gentle way of life welcome you with open arms. The city is packed with unique sites and monuments. Start with a visit to Château d'Angers, a jewel from medieval times that is home to the Apocalypse Tapestry, a monumental work inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. Continue your tour of the city with a visit to the historic city center, the Galerie David d'Angers and the Musée Jean Lurçat. Stroll along Cale de la Savatte, with its breathtaking view of the Château, or enjoy a bike ride along the banks of the Loire in the heart of the Loire Valley, also a UNESCO World Heritage site. In Angers, a city on a human scale, many sites are also accessible on foot, by streetcar or by bike.

Europe's theater capital and former city of popes, Avignon is sure to seduce you with its wealth of monuments, cultural sites and landscapes. These include of course the Palais des Papes, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the famous Pont d'Avignon. The city is also undergoing a transformation this year, with Avignon Terre de Culture 2025, a program offering exhibitions, artistic performances, meetings and installations throughout Avignon. And for fans of the great outdoors, the city offers walks along the Barthelasse island and bike rides through the vineyards. To find out more, visit the Avignon Tourism website!

The former capital of the Sequani Gallic tribe (BC), Besançon is an ancient city with a prodigious cultural heritage. Visit ancient Gallo-Roman ruins such as the Porte Noire, a vestige of a bygone era. Discover unique monuments and sites such as the Saint-Jean cathedral, and the Musée des Beaux-Arts et d'Archéologie, one of the richest in France. Besançon has also been awarded two distinctions by UNESCO: World Heritage status for the Vauban fortifications, a true architectural masterpiece worth visiting, and Intangible Cultural Heritage status for its watchmaking expertise.

A major city in the development of printed cotton in France, Mulhouse quickly became renowned for its textile industry in the 18th century. Visit the Musée de l'Impression sur Étoffes to immerse yourself in the golden age of Mulhouse textiles and discover the city's finest creations. You can also take a detour to the Musée National de l'Automobile - Collection Schlumpf, home to over 450 classic vehicles. If you prefer to stroll outside and enjoy the mild spring weather, you can admire the Hôtel de Ville, a masterpiece of the Rhenish Renaissance, or pass by the Temple Saint-Étienne, France's tallest Protestant building, bound to impress with its 14th-century stained glass windows.

This year, Nancy celebrates 100 years since the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts! At the time, Nancy was one of no more than ten French cities and regions represented at the exhibition, confirming its key role in this field. Today, the city boasts some 1,300 Art Deco style buildings, making Nancy one of the French cities with a remarkable interwar heritage. During your city break, explore this dual decorative and architectural heritage by visiting the Musée de l'École de Nancy, emblem of the Art Nouveau movement, or the Daum collection at the Musée des Beaux-Arts.

With 2,000 years of history, Reims has made its mark since Antiquity. Today, the Porte de Mars, the largest Roman triumphal arch, and the Cryptoporticus remain from this era. Other highlights include the Notre-Dame de Reims cathedral and the former Saint-Remi Abbey, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Reims also has a more modern history, with the Musée de la Reddition (museum of the surrender).* It was in this city that Germany signed the instrument of surrender. In addition to its history, Reims is a forward-looking city, animated by numerous festivals and artistic spaces such as the Flâneries musicales. *Please note: the museum is closing for 1 year of works on May 10, 2025

Rennes is the city in Brittany with the most timber-framed houses: 370. Typical, picturesque architecture that's well worth a visit for a springtime city break. Rennes also has emblematic monuments and buildings such as its medieval ramparts. But the city also boasts a rich cultural program throughout the year. This summer, for example, you can discover an exhibition of the Pinault Collection, the world's largest collection of contemporary art, in the magnificent Couvent des Jacobins. But Rennes is also the 2nd greenest city in France, with 17% of the city's surface area made up of green spaces.

Strasbourg is an ideal destination for families. Its pedestrian-friendly historic center, rich history and host of activities for young and old are sure to please everyone! Whether you choose to admire the cathedral's astronomical clock or its gargoyles, or the wide pedestrian streets of the city center and their stores, it makes for an enjoyable family visit. Don't forget to visit La Petite France, a magnificent district full of surprises for those that like to explore. Here you can see a lock and a swing bridge, still in operation and still fascinating young and old alike. Finally, you can observe the sky and travel through the universe at the Jardin des Sciences’ Planetarium. The perfect way to create memories for the whole family!

A city break is a short stay, usually lasting a few days, in a major French or European city. It's a break from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, a change of scenery and a stopover in a big city that offers an abundance of activities. And in our case, we're going to suggest destinations steeped in history and culture.