Top 10 out-of-the-ordinary places in France

1. Postman Cheval's Ideal Palace
2. Museum of the Junkyard Poet
3. Vallon du Villaret
4. Machines of the Isle of Nantes
5. Maison Picassiette
6. Robert Tatin Museum
7. Tchier de Borée
8. Provençal Colorado
9. Temple of One Thousand Buddhas
10. The chapel at Le Puy-en-Velay

Here we are in the Drôme region, north of Valence. At the end of the 19th century, Ferdinand Cheval, a local postman, came across a stone while making his rounds. When he saw its unusual shape, he had an idea: to build an extravagant monument, stone by stone, being led by his imagination. Take a stroll and you'll discover sculptures, statues and architectural forms inspired by styles from all over the world, thanks to the postcards our postman used to deliver.

Head for Brittany and Morbihan, 30 minutes from Vannes, to discover an incredible world of acrobats, tightrope walkers, unusual sculptures, musical fountains, totem poles, and more. This open-air museum is particularly fun and interactive. Bring the installations to life by blowing, pedalling, turning a crank or pressing a button. It's magical!

>> Your train tickets for Vannes, 30 minutes from the Museum of the Junkyard Poet

Located in Lozère, in the heart of the Cévennes, this nature park will take you deep into the forest! Follow the 2 km trail where art, nature, and games come together. In the Vallon du Villaret park, the structures invite you to use your five senses by playing with water, nets on treetop adventure courses, slides, fun and musical installations... In 3 to 5 hours on site, more than 100 creations await you for a great time, with or without children!

The Machines of the Isle of Nantes site has become one of the city's symbols. Admire its large elephant, which walks, spits water, and can carry up to 50 people on its platform; the carousel of marine worlds, an extraordinary merry-go-round; and of course the Galerie des Machines, which presents a whole bestiary of creations by the company, La Machine, each crazier than the last. 

>> Your train tickets to Nantes

Not far from Chartres, Raymond Isidore used to pick up things on his walks, just like Postman Cheval. For him, it wasn’t pebbles, but pieces of glass and earthenware that he used to cover his house with mosaics. First the facade, then the interior, including walls and furniture! So it's off to Chartres to visit the Maison Picassiette, a strange house that’s fully decorated from top to bottom!

>> Your train tickets for Chartres

Primitive art is back in the spotlight at the museum created by Robert Tatin. Originally, the artist surrounded and covered his property with painted, reinforced-concrete sculptures. Over time, these few sculptures multiplied and a whole universe was born. His travels, history, and the world's major religions inspired him to create totem poles, his “giants”, the Country House, and all the installations.

>> Your train tickets to Laval, 25 minutes from the Robert Tatin Museum

In the Ardèche, a rather unusual installation has been created: a contemporary megalithic creation inspired by Land Art and created by two sculptors, Fabienne Versé and Serge Boyer, in 2008, composed of upright stones engraved with symbols that may or may not be recognisable, depending on the inscriptions. Everyone can read what they want into this huge calendar, symbolising an allegory of the universe. It’s a sort of labyrinth where the past and the future merge. Intriguing!

>> Your train tickets for Le Puy en Velay, 45 minutes from the Ere du Tchier de Borée

Head for the Vaucluse, to discover a landscape worthy of the great American West. Provençal Colorado, or Ocres de Rustrel, is a 30-hectare semi-natural site of former ochre quarries. Today, it's the ideal place for a walk and to get a change of scenery! There are two great routes, the "Sahara" lasting 40 minutes, and the "Belvederes" lasting 1 hour, 45 minutes.

In Burgundy, in the south of the Morvan, lies one of France's most important centres for Buddhist study and meditation. The colourful Temple of One Thousand Buddhas is a sight to behold. Featuring numerous Buddha statues of different sizes, paintings, murals, and architecture inspired by the first Tibetan temple, everything transports us into an atmosphere of travel and meditation.

>> Your train tickets for Le Creusot, 40 minutes from the Temple of One Thousand Buddhas

In Auvergne, north of the town of Le Puy-en-Velay, you'll be overwhelmed by the sight of this magnificent and surprising chapel, more than a thousand years old, perched on a unique site - an ancient volcanic plug! Climb the impressive 268 steps to admire a unique panoramic view of the region. 

>> Your train tickets for Le Puy-en-Velay