11. Cannes
Cannes is world famous for its annual International Film Festival in May, but it’s one of the most beautiful cities in France at any time of year. Promenade along La Boulevard de Croisette while checking out the glitzy hotels and and mega-yachts twinkling in the Mediterranean. Stop in an (overpriced) cafe and watch the beautiful people go by. There’s more to the city than all this glamor, however. Enjoy the Vieux Port along harbor and the old quarter, Le Suquet. The covered market of Marché Forville is a paradise for gourmands and curio shoppers. There are many lovely towns along the sun-drenched French Riviera, but count the Côte d’Azur’s Cannes among the most beautiful cities in France.
12. Annency
Annency, in the Northern French Alps, is a feast for the eyes and palate. Known as the Venice of Savoie, this medieval town is set around the impossibly turquoise Lac d’Aannecy and surrounded by scenic saw-toothed mountains. The Vieille Ville (old town) charms with its warren of lanes, passages and arcaded shops. The turreted chateau, floral-flanked houses and pastel buildings give the town a fairytale quality. Don’t miss the picturesque Palais de L’isle in the midst of the Thiou canal.