Breathtaking landscapes of beauty, this is what characterizes the Grands Sites de France in the first place.

Created in 2000, this label is awarded by the State according to very demanding criteria. It crowns the efforts made by local authorities to enhance their heritage.

Their approach is voluntary. It consists in preserving landscapes and what is there, while favoring their visit – by validating “Getaway without a car” offered on site. According to the principles of sustainable development, the reception of the public is controlled, the services and local products offered are selected for their quality.

The Grands Sites de France correspond to places of great renown, popular with visitors and committed to a quality approach.

The process to get the label is quite long, which guarantees its seriousness. To date, 17 sites have it, while 24 other members of this elite club are in the process of obtaining it.

In all, 41 exceptional landscapes are to be discovered across France, in the best conditions. This file presents the Great Sites of France according to the regions where they are located.

The Great Sites: North of France

From Cap Blanc-Nez to the cliffs of Étretat, here are the Grands Sites or those in the process of being certified in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie region.

Les Deux Caps, Blanc-Nez and Gris-Nez (Pas-de-Calais)

Near Calais, the bay of Wissant is guarded by two capes, Cap Blanc-Nez (134 m high) and Cap Gris-Nez (45 m).

The first owes its name to the chalk of which it is made, the second to the sandstone which dominates its geological composition. Between these two majestic cliffs, we discover over 23 km a succession of remarkable landscapes: sculptures in rock made by erosion, a wild coastline (dunes, beaches, rivers flowing into the sea) where plants and protected animals (birds, seals, insects, etc.), villages with diverse architecture (villas, etc.), rural valleys, sites where the wind of history blows, etc.

The armies of Julius Caesar, Napoleon or Hitler here eyed the nearby English coasts, beyond the waters of the North Sea. Only the first has succeeded. Leisure: kitesurfing, kayaking, horse riding, golf, mountain biking, hiking.

Baie de Somme (Somme)

The estuary formed by the Somme river by flowing into the English Channel is one of the most important natural sites in France.

Very protected, the beaches, dunes, marshes, cliffs or meadows of the Bay of Somme are as many reception points, both for wild birds and for civilized humans. There are countless walks through this vast reserve, whether on foot, by bicycle, by canoe or other boat.

Bringing a good camera with each of your visits is a great idea because the variety of views, as well as the changes in light depending on the weather, time and time of year, allow you to capture unique moments.

With a total of 75 km of coastline, the Somme Bay is also dotted with villages, ports, villas, chapels, etc.

Dunes of Flanders (North)

From Dunkirk (North) to the Belgian border, they extend over fifteen kilometers. It is in these landscapes mixing waves of the North Sea, beaches and dunes that took place Operation Dynamo in 1940 during which the Allied soldiers were evacuated. If you want to treat yourself to a weekend in Zuydcoote.

Cliffs of Étretat – Côte d’Albâtre (Seine-Maritime)

Continuing south of the Somme Bay, along the coast of the English Channel, one reaches Haute-Normandie, one of the first attractions of which is the Côte d’Albâtre. Its most amazing cliffs are found in Étretat: the Porte d’Aval, the Aiguille and the Manneporte.

The Great Sites: West of France

Pointe du Raz, Marais Poitevin. Discover the Great Sites or places in the process of being certified along the Atlantic coast.

Pointe du Raz in Cap Sizun (Finistère)

Here is the end of the world! Do not panic, you fear nothing, apart from being blown away by this site which is located the most west of the mainland French territory.

The Cap Sizun stretches by splitting the waters of the Atlantic Ocean to the Pointe du Raz, a dramatic granite outcrop. But this star should not prevent you from admiring the other attractions of the coast which starts from the Pointe du Millier in the north, to the Anse du Loch, in the south.

Trails (hiking, mountain biking, horse) allow you to discover wild nature on the side of Trépassés bay (beach, dunes) or high Pointe du Van, which is decorated with a secluded chapel. Omnipresent, the moors invite you to venture inland.

Marais Poitevin (Deux-Sèvres, Vendée, Charente-Maritime)

Straddling three departments, the Marais poitevin is a vast natural area which is subdivided into several distinct entities.

There are the “littoral environments”, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, the “internal limestone islets” which are ancient islands, as well as three types of marshes: “desiccated”, which the floods do not reach, “intermediate “, Partially flooded, and finally the” wet “(32,200 hectares). These are the latter who are labeled Grand Site de France.

Subjected to the effects of floods and rains, they offer landscapes of waterways surrounded by meadows and tree plantations that make it a labyrinth in which we appreciate to “get lost” on board suitable boats. Nicknamed “Green Venice “, this part of the Poitevin Marsh is truly enchanting.

Cap d’Erquy – Cap Fréhel (Côtes d’Armor)

Between these two wonders of the Breton coast overlooking the English Channel, you have pink sandstone cliffs, heaths, heather, beaches, as well as lighthouses, ports or the cinegene fort La Latte (Les Vikings)

Dunes of Gâvres Quiberon (Morbihan)

With its 35 km in length, it is the largest dune massif in Brittany. This preserved natural area is rich in varied fauna and flora. It is bordered by endless beaches between the Quiberon peninsula and Lorient.

Charente Estuary – Rochefort Arsenal (Charente-Maritime)

The Charente takes on the air of a great river when it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Before that, this river offers marsh landscapes where birds abound, as well as the view of an arsenal built under Louis XIV and various fortifications.

Dune du Pilat (Gironde)

South of the Poitevin Marsh and the Charente estuary, past Royan and Bordeaux, you reach Arcachon and the sand mountain of the Pilat dune. It is the highest dune in Europe (100 to 115 m, depending on the year). It is climbed on the ocean side on a gentle slope, or on a steep slope on the side of the Landes de Gascogne forest.

The Great Sites: Center of France

Bibracte, Solutré, Puy-de-Dôme. Burgundy and Auvergne, two regions well-endowed with Grands Sites de France.

Bibracte – Mont Beuvray (Saône-et-Loire)

Both flagship of the Morvan massif and major historic site, Mont Beuvray (821 m) offers a magnificent forest landscape, a clear summit from which one has panoramic views of the region and an archaeological park. This is made up of vestiges of Bibracte, an oppidum fortified by the Gauls in the 1 st BC.

It was there that Vercingétorix was appointed leader of the coalition which opposed the Roman forces of Julius Caesar, who, after his victory, settled here to finish writing his Commentaries on the Gallic War. On site, a museum tells all about it and presents the work of archaeologists.

Solutré – Pouilly – Vergisson (Saône-et-Loire)

Two kilometers apart, the rocks of Solutré (492 m) and Vergisson (485 m), located in Saône-et-Loire , are singular limestone cliffs which rise above harmonious landscapes made up of villages, forests, hedgerows and vines: this is the Pouilly-Fuissé, Saint-Véran and Mâcon-Villages wine region.

The ascent of Solutré’s spur (which the late François Mitterrand appreciated) is an unmissable trip. We appreciate a specific flora and fauna and we think here of the prehistoric past of this site evoked by a museum.

Puy de Dôme (Puy-de-Dôme)

Located at 1,465 m, the most famous of the Auvergne volcanoes, which gave its name to the department, offers incomparable panoramic views of the region. In addition to facilities for welcoming visitors, there are the remains of a Gallo-Roman temple dedicated to Mercury, a weather observatory and a telecommunications pylon. It is a popular spot for paragliding enthusiasts.

Puy Mary – Cantal Volcano (Cantal)

The Cantal massif has a diameter of 70 km and covers an area of 2,700 km²! It is in fact a single stratovolcano bristling with various peaks, including the Puy Mary (1,783 m). At the top of the latter, a 360 ° panorama reveals the star pattern formed by seven valleys.

The reliefs through which we walk offer changing landscapes: meadows, old farms, burons (buildings dedicated to the production of cheeses in summer), villages, wooded or rocky mountain slopes where chamois, bighorn sheep and marmots evolve. To do: hiking, mountain biking, paragliding, climbing, fishing, winter sports.

Vézelay (Yonne)

Other famous height of Burgundy, the hill of Vézelay is topped by the Basilica Sainte-Madeleine (11 es) and a small town that has retained its old houses. Around, charming villages, rivers, woods, meadows tastefully come together.

Rocamadour (Lot)

Neighboring southwest of Cantal is the Lot, one of whose pearls is Rocamadour. Clinging to a cliff, this magnificent little city includes many ancient religious buildings, a castle built on the edge of a slope of some 150 m. It is located in an area where causses, valleys, gorges, woods, rivers, charming villages.

Vézère Valley (Lot, Dordogne)

Not far from Rocamadour, another sublime site awaits you. The Vézère valley is that of the Cro-Magnon man. You will find ornate prehistoric caves, the replica of Lascaux, superb villages, gastronomy to die for, landscapes dominated by small cliffs that cross the Vézère.

The Great Sites: Ardèche, Alps and East

The spectacular Aven d’Orgnac has been labeled Grand Site de France since 2004. Other remarkable places are in the process of being certified in the region.

Aven d’Orgnac (Ardèche)

The Orgnac is dug deep into the rock of the limestone plateau of the Gorges of the Ardeche. It consists of three large underground rooms decorated with stalagtites, stalagmites and other concretions whose shapes are spectacular. Here, one has the impression of seeing palm trees, there a pile of plates or draperies. Nature knows how to be full of fantasy.

On the surface, hiking trails allow you to discover garrigue landscapes and woods. Still on site, a City of Prehistory takes you back in time by evoking the life of the first men of the region, from the Paleolithic to Gallic Antiquity. Speleology activities offered.

Ardèche Gorges (Ardèche)

We are dazzled by the scenery offered by the meanders of the Ardèche river. We follow its course from below or from the plateaus which overhang it, notably through holm oak woods. His masterpiece: the Pont d’Arc, an imposing natural stone arch. To do: hiking, canoeing, climbing, caving.

Sixt Fer à Cheval Circus (Haute-Savoie)

Further on, this time to the east, a grand spectacle awaits you in the heart of the Alps: at the end of the Giffre valley rise 5 km of high horseshoe-shaped cliffs, which are dominated by mountains. In fine weather, around thirty waterfalls spring from these walls.

Clarée valley and narrow valley (Hautes-Alpes)

Near Briançon and advancing in Italy as regards the narrow one, these two valleys give you to admire the quintessence of all the beauties that the Alps can offer summer and winter. Meadows, forests, villages, rivers, streams, snow-capped peaks, including Mount Thabor (3,178 m).

Ballon d’Alsace (Haut-Rhin, Haute-Saône, Vosges and Territoire de Belfort)

With its summit rounded by glaciations, the Alsace balloon peaks at 1,247 m above sea level, at the junction of four departments and facing a breathtaking panorama: plain of Alsace, Black Forest, Mont Blanc. It is located in the Ballons des Vosges Regional Natural Park.

The Great Sites: South of France

From the Gard Camargue to the Canigou massif, several places are labeled Grands Sites de France, mainly in Languedoc-Roussillon.

Sainte-Victoire (Bouches-du-Rhône)

The Sainte-Victoire, which rises not far from Aix-en-Provence, was made famous by the paintings of Paul Cézanne. 18 km long and 5 km wide, this massif seems to form a rocky barrier, the highest peak of which is Pic des Mouches (1,011 m). Its layout allows it to offer a typically Alpine north face and a strictly Mediterranean south face.

To see: bories, vestiges of Roman aqueducts, opiddums, chapels or the Croix de Provence (18 m) planted at an altitude of 946 m. The installation of the 19th century is located above a priory of 17th. Activities: hiking, mountain biking, climbing, paragliding.

Camargue gardoise (Gard)

The waters of the Mediterranean border those of the Rhône in the Gard Camargue: this vast site is covered with a multitude of lagoons and ponds which are home to a number of birds – including the famous pink flamingo -, fish and other aquatic animals.

There are also wet meadows where many wild plants grow, as well as dune beds and beaches bordering the Gulf of Lion, or even salt flats. Here and there, we see bulls and horses grazing in semi-freedom.

This exceptional territory, also called Petite Camargue and where the city of Aigues-Mortes rises, can be discovered in many ways.

Pont du Gard (Gard)

A masterpiece of ancient architecture, this Roman aqueduct dates from the 1 st century. Admirably preserved, the Pont du Gard draws crowds. You can swim on the spot in the Gardon and discover an extremely rich nature through the garrigue or the surrounding holm oak forests, or even visit a museum dedicated to the monument and the history of the place.

Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert – Hérault Gorges and Cirque de Navacelles (Hérault)

Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is a sublime village topped by high cliffs. We stroll through alleys admiring the architecture of its houses, as well as that of the Romanesque abbey of Gellone. Nearby is the Devil’s Bridge (11th s) and a beach where you can go canoeing.

We are here in the Hérault gorges, a river with remarkable vegetation and fauna. Rare species abound there. All around, according to the hills, there are vineyards, olive groves, castles, dolmens and menhirs.

Nestled in gorges that cross the Causses, the Cirque de Navacelles (Hérault) is an ancient meander of the Vis, whose water flows here in a cascade 8 m high. It has given up its place on the site to meadows in the center of which the Rocher de la Vierge appears as an island.

Canigó Massif (Pyrénées-Orientales)

Emblem of French Catalonia, this massif also called Canigou – the peak which bears this name rises to 2,784 m – presents landscapes of great variety because it is divided into two parts, Mediterranean and “alpine”. The roads and paths that cross it offer many viewpoints of breath-taking beauty.

Massif des Ocres (Vaucluse)

Near the Luberon, it stretches for 25 km between Saint-Pantaléon and Viens. It is famous for its ochres whose soils are rich. Their colors are varied: red, yellow, purple. The visit of the wooded site of Roussillon is inevitable.

Gorges du Verdon (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence)

Descending from the Alps, the Verdon runs through a most breathtaking canyon. In some places, the walls of the Verdon gorges rise up to 700 m. The views are constantly striking. The Verdon is a popular spot for white water sports enthusiasts.

Giens peninsula – Salins d’Hyères (Var)

Connected to the city of Hyères by a double tombolo, the Giens peninsula offers an idyllic Mediterranean landscape. Refuge for many birds, salt flats line the tombolos. Other salt flats are found east of Hyères.

Gardon Gorges (Gard)

Rough and magnificent, these gorges are made up of limestone rocks through which the Gardon waters thread their way. Its banks are bordered by willows, alders, poplars or scrubland and holm oak forests.

Tarn, Jonte and Causses gorges (Lozère, Aveyron)

West of the Ardèche Gorges are the Cévennes, a splendid region where the Tarn and Jonte rivers cross the Causses. Their white waters run between cliffs.

Grand Site Salagou and Cirque de Mourèze (Hérault)

Near Clermont-l’Hérault and Lodéve, the Grand Site Salagou – Cirque de Mourèze shows exceptional landscapes where the rock takes on colors of red (ruffe) and black (basalt rock), to which a beautiful variety is added. greens (fields, vines, olive groves, etc.) and the blue of an artificial lake (sports, nautical and outdoor activities). As a bonus, you are entitled to the spectacle offered by the Cirque de Mourèze, which is bristling with dolomitic rocks with surprising shapes.

City of Minerva, Cesse and Brian gorges (Hérault)

Old and beautiful city standing on a rocky outcrop, Minerve was a Cathar high place. Around, you have other old villages, causses covered with scrubland, canyon-shaped gorges where the Cesse and Brian rivers flow, as well as the great vineyards of the Minervois.

Canal du Midi, from Malpas to Fonséranes (Hérault)

The Canal du Midi is an emblematic structure from the 17th century, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the portion in the process of being certified, three major works: the Malpas tunnel, the nine locks of Fonseranes and the canal bridge over the Orb. We are between the foothills of the Massif Central and the Mediterranean coast, in a landscape of hills and vineyards.

City of Carcassonne (Aude)

Should we present this majestic fortified city built overhanging the Aude? Carcassonne retains many elements of its architectural history, which dates back to Antiquity, but it is especially marked by its medieval aspect.

Anse de Paulilles (Pyrenees-Orientales)

It is because a dynamite factory was built there that this paradisiac site escaped great urban misfortunes. Located at the foot of the mountains in Port-Vendres, this small bay has beaches nestled between rocky coves and surrounded of vegetation where various pines and oaks grow.

Montségur (Ariège)

Nestled at the top of a pog (“rocky peak” in Occitan) at 1207 m above sea level, as if floating between heaven and earth, the ruins of Montségur bear witness to the influence of Catharism in the Middle Ages in Occitania. From 1232, Montségur was the seat of the Heretic Church and the capital of Catharism.

The Great Sites: Corsica

Three sites are located on the Isle of Beauty, two of which are classified and one in the process of being certified. Overview of these high places of Corsica.

Sanguinaires Islands – Pointe de la Parata

The Sanguinaires Islands are a slaughter for those who devote an unbridled love to the wilderness. Fauna and flora are very rich on this archipelago located in the Gulf of Ajaccio (Corse-du-Sud). Only traces of human presence: a Genoese tower, a lighthouse and an ancient lazaretto.

Several walking routes allow you to do all or part of the tour of the Parata, by the sea or through undergrowth. There is also a climbing site here.

Conca d’Orú, Patrimonio vineyard – Gulf of Saint-Florent

Located on the west coast of Haute-Corse, the Conca d’Oro valley offers superb landscapes between villages built on the heights, in the heart of a group of vineyards. The six successive hills of Mont Sant’Angelo have three “passes” with views of the sea and the Gulf of Saint-Florent. The vineyard and its buildings reflect the art of viticulture and the Corsican winegrower culture present since Antiquity.

Restonica Valley

Rightly appreciated, the coast of Corsica attracts many visitors. But this is not a reason to neglect the interior of the island.

In Haute-Corse, between the citadel city of Corte and the heights of the Rotondu massif, the Restonica valley stretches over 20 km. We go up this river to its source, Lake Melo (1,700 m). Waterfalls, maritime pines and larici pines, alders, sheepfolds. Corsica is mountainous here in the most beautiful way.