La Côte d'Azur est magnifique en été
The French Riviera is magnificent in summer
Usage
Talk about France's famous Riviera and its seasonal appeal
Grammar Note
"Côte d'Azur" means "Azure Coast". Use en + season: en été (summer), en hiver (winter)
Aéroport Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Usage
Main international airport about 25 km northeast of Paris at Roissy. RER line B reaches central Paris in about 35 minutes
Aéroport Paris-Orly
Paris Orly Airport (ORY)
Usage
Airport about 13 km south of Paris, handling mostly domestic, European and North African flights. Métro line 14 runs directly there
Aéroport Paris-Beauvais
Paris Beauvais Airport (BVA)
Usage
Low-cost carrier airport about 85 km north of Paris. The shuttle bus into the city takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, so allow extra time
Aéroport Nice-Côte d'Azur
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE)
Usage
France's third-busiest airport, on the coast about 7 km west of central Nice. Gateway to Monaco and Cannes
Aéroport Lyon-Saint-Exupéry
Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS)
Usage
About 25 km east of Lyon. The Rhônexpress tram reaches the city in about 30 minutes. Has its own TGV station
Aéroport Marseille-Provence
Marseille Provence Airport (MRS)
Usage
Airport at Marignane about 25 km northwest of Marseille. Gateway to Provence and Aix-en-Provence
Aéroport de Toulouse-Blagnac
Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS)
Usage
About 7 km northwest of central Toulouse, next to the Airbus headquarters. Main airport for southwestern France
Gare du Nord
Usage
Station in the 10th arrondissement, the busiest in Europe. Departure point for Eurostar to London and high-speed trains to Brussels and Amsterdam
Gare de Lyon
Usage
Station in the 12th arrondissement, serving TGV trains to Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Switzerland and Italy. Recognizable by its clock tower
Gare Montparnasse
Usage
Station in the 15th arrondissement, the departure point for TGV trains to Bordeaux, Toulouse, Rennes and Nantes in the west and southwest
Gare Saint-Lazare
Usage
Station in the 8th arrondissement serving Normandy (Rouen, Le Havre, Deauville) and Paris suburban lines
Gare de l'Est
Usage
Station in the 10th arrondissement, serving TGV trains east to Strasbourg, Reims and Nancy plus international trains to Germany and Luxembourg
Gare d'Austerlitz
Usage
Station on the Left Bank in the 13th arrondissement, serving conventional lines to Orléans, Limoges and Toulouse plus overnight trains
Châtelet – Les Halles
Usage
One of the world's largest underground stations, in the 1st arrondissement. RER A, B and D meet five métro lines here. Allow 10+ minutes for transfers — the corridors are long
Charles de Gaulle – Étoile
Usage
Station directly beneath the Arc de Triomphe, where métro lines 1, 2 and 6 meet RER A. West end of the Champs-Élysées. Not to be confused with the CDG airport station
Nation
Usage
Major interchange on the border of the 11th and 12th arrondissements in eastern Paris, where four métro lines (1, 2, 6 and 9) meet RER A. Faces Place de la Nation
République
Usage
Interchange where five métro lines meet, on the border of the 3rd, 10th and 11th arrondissements. Starting point for the northern Marais and its café district
Bastille
Usage
Station under Place de la Bastille where métro lines 1, 5 and 8 connect. Nearest stop for the Opéra Bastille and the surrounding nightlife district
Opéra
Usage
Station in front of the Opéra Garnier in the 9th arrondissement. Métro lines 3, 7 and 8 plus RER A (Auber). Centre of the department-store shopping district
Concorde
Usage
Station beneath Place de la Concorde, connecting métro lines 1, 8 and 12. Nearest stop for the Tuileries garden and the east end of the Champs-Élysées
Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame
Usage
Station on the Left Bank across the river from Notre-Dame, linking RER B and C with métro line 4. Starting point for walks through the Latin Quarter
Montparnasse – Bienvenüe
Usage
Métro station connected directly to Gare Montparnasse, served by lines 4, 6, 12 and 13. The transfer point before boarding a TGV
Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre
Usage
Nearest station to the Louvre, on métro lines 1 and 7. Gives underground access to the museum via the Carrousel du Louvre
Hôtel de Ville
Usage
Station in front of Paris City Hall, on métro lines 1 and 11. Walking distance to the Marais and the Île de la Cité
Trocadéro
Usage
Station in the 16th arrondissement by the Palais de Chaillot, on métro lines 6 and 9. Nearest stop for the terrace with the head-on view of the Eiffel Tower
Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel
Usage
RER C station a few minutes' walk from the foot of the Eiffel Tower, facing the Champ de Mars lawn that stretches south of it
Bir-Hakeim
Usage
Elevated métro line 6 station at the foot of the Bir-Hakeim bridge, southwest of the Eiffel Tower. A popular spot for photographing the tower
Odéon
Usage
Left Bank station in the 6th arrondissement on métro lines 4 and 10, at the centre of the Saint-Germain area with its old cinemas and bookshops
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Usage
Métro line 4 station in the 6th arrondissement, by the oldest church in Paris and the district's historic literary cafés
Pigalle
Usage
Station on métro lines 2 and 12 between the 9th and 18th arrondissements. South entrance to the Montmartre hill, a short walk from the Moulin Rouge
George V
Usage
Métro line 1 station midway along the Champs-Élysées, closest to the stretch of luxury boutiques and flagship stores
La Défense
Usage
Station in the business district west of Paris where métro line 1, RER A and trams meet. Marked by the Grande Arche
Denfert-Rochereau
Usage
Station in the 14th arrondissement on métro lines 4 and 6 plus RER B. Terminus of the Orlybus to Orly airport and entrance to the Catacombs
Invalides
Usage
Station in front of Les Invalides in the 7th arrondissement, on métro lines 8 and 13 plus RER C. Walking distance to the Rodin and Orsay museums
Porte de Versailles
Usage
Station at the southern edge of the 15th arrondissement on métro line 12 and the tram, serving Paris's largest exhibition centre. Not the Palace of Versailles
Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy
Usage
Station at the entrance to Disneyland Paris, about 40 minutes from central Paris on RER A. Also served by TGV and Eurostar
Gare de Lyon-Part-Dieu
Lyon Part-Dieu station
Usage
Lyon's main TGV station, in the eastern part of the city. Most trains from Paris stop here; change to métro lines B and A for the old town
Gare de Lyon-Perrache
Lyon Perrache station
Usage
Station at the southern tip of the Lyon peninsula, closer to the old town and shopping streets, with the intercity coach terminal attached. Check which Lyon station your ticket says
Gare de Marseille-Saint-Charles
Marseille Saint-Charles station
Usage
Marseille's main station, about 3 hours 15 minutes from Paris by TGV. Walk down the grand staircase out front and it is about 15 minutes to the Old Port
Gare de Bordeaux-Saint-Jean
Bordeaux Saint-Jean station
Usage
Bordeaux's main station, about 2 hours from Paris Montparnasse by TGV. Tram line C reaches the city centre in about 10 minutes
Gare de Lille-Europe
Lille Europe station
Usage
Lille's high-speed station, used by Eurostar to London and trains to Brussels. About a 5-minute walk from the other station, Lille Flandres
Gare de Lille-Flandres
Lille Flandres station
Usage
Lille's older station, closer to the old town. Serves TGV trains from Paris Nord and regional lines. About 10 minutes on foot from the historic centre
Gare de Nice-Ville
Nice-Ville station
Usage
Nice's main station and the hub for the coastal railway to Cannes, Monaco and Menton. About 15 minutes on foot to the Promenade des Anglais
Gare de Toulouse-Matabiau
Toulouse Matabiau station
Usage
Toulouse's main station, beside the Canal du Midi. Two métro stops on line A to Place du Capitole in the centre
Gare de Montpellier-Saint-Roch
Montpellier Saint-Roch station
Usage
Central Montpellier station, about 5 minutes' walk from the old town and Place de la Comédie. Do not confuse it with the out-of-town TGV station, Sud de France
Gare de Nantes
Nantes station
Usage
Main station in Nantes, about 2 hours from Paris Montparnasse by TGV. About 10 minutes on foot to the Château des ducs de Bretagne
Gare de Rennes
Rennes station
Usage
Gateway station for Brittany, about 1 hour 30 minutes from Paris by TGV. Connection point for buses to Mont-Saint-Michel
Gare de Strasbourg
Strasbourg station
Usage
Station known for its glass dome, about 1 hour 50 minutes from Paris Est by TGV. About 15 minutes on foot to the Grande Île old town
Gare d'Avignon TGV
Avignon TGV station
Usage
High-speed station outside Avignon, about 5 minutes by shuttle train from the city-centre station Avignon Centre. Starting point for touring Provence
Paris
Usage
Capital of France, laid out along the Seine in 20 arrondissements spiralling out from the centre. Population about 2.1 million
Marseille
Usage
France's second-largest city and biggest port, on the Mediterranean. Known for its Old Port, bouillabaisse and ferries to Corsica and North Africa
Toulouse
Usage
Main city of southwestern France, nicknamed "la Ville Rose" for its pink brick buildings. Centre of the French aerospace industry
Nice
Usage
Main city of the French Riviera, known for the seafront Promenade des Anglais, its old town and the February carnival
Nantes
Usage
City in western France near the mouth of the Loire, known for the Château des ducs de Bretagne and the giant mechanical animals of Les Machines de l'île
Montpellier
Usage
University city in the south near the Mediterranean, home to a medical school dating from the Middle Ages. Centred on the Écusson old town and Place de la Comédie
Lille
Usage
Main city of northern France near the Belgian border, with a Flemish-style brick old town and a huge flea market each September
Rennes
Usage
Capital of Brittany, with a half-timbered old town and a large student population. A base for reaching Saint-Malo and Mont-Saint-Michel
Reims
Usage
Main city of the Champagne region, about 45 minutes from Paris. Known for the cathedral where French kings were crowned and for champagne cellar tours
Aix-en-Provence
Usage
Town about 30 km north of Marseille, known for its fountains, the tree-lined Cours Mirabeau and its links to the painter Cézanne
Avignon
Usage
Walled city on the Rhône in Provence that housed the papacy in the 14th century. Known for its theatre festival each July
Annecy
Usage
Alpine lakeside town in Savoie, eastern France, known for its canal-lined old town and the exceptionally clear Lake Annecy
Colmar
Usage
Small Alsatian town known for its half-timbered houses, the canal district called Petite Venise, and its December Christmas market
Carcassonne
Usage
Fortified town in southern France whose double-walled medieval citadel is a World Heritage Site. About an hour by train from Toulouse
Cannes
Usage
Riviera resort city known for its film festival in May and the seafront Boulevard de la Croisette. About 30 minutes by train from Nice
Biarritz
Usage
Atlantic resort in the Basque Country near the Spanish border. An upmarket spa town since the 19th century and one of Europe's main surfing spots
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Usage
Alpine mountain resort at the foot of Mont Blanc and site of the first Winter Olympics. Known for the cable car to the Aiguille du Midi viewpoint
Saint-Malo
Usage
Walled port town on Brittany's north coast, known for some of Europe's largest tidal ranges. Ferries leave here for the Channel Islands
Rouen
Usage
Main city of Normandy, where Joan of Arc was executed. Home to the cathedral Monet painted and a half-timbered old town. About 1 hour 20 minutes by train from Paris
la Normandie
Normandy
Usage
Coastal region northwest of Paris. Site of the D-Day landing beaches and Mont-Saint-Michel, and the home of cider and Camembert cheese
la Provence
Provence
Usage
Region in the southeast running inland from the Mediterranean, known for lavender fields, olives, Roman ruins and hilltop villages
l'Alsace
Alsace
Usage
Region along the German border on the west bank of the Rhine, with German-influenced architecture, white wines and its own cuisine such as choucroute
la Bourgogne
Burgundy
Usage
Inland region southeast of Paris and one of the world's great wine areas. Dijon is its main city, with vineyards spreading around Beaune
la Champagne
Champagne
Usage
Region east of Paris and the only place champagne may be produced. Reims and Épernay are the main bases for visiting
le Val de Loire
Loire Valley
Usage
World Heritage area southwest of Paris where châteaux line the Loire river. Tours and Blois are the usual bases for castle visits
la Corse
Corsica
Usage
French island in the Mediterranean whose main city, Ajaccio, was Napoleon's birthplace. Known for mountain and coastal hiking
la tour Eiffel
Eiffel Tower
Usage
330 m iron tower on the Left Bank in the 7th arrondissement, built for the 1889 World's Fair. Nearest stops are Bir-Hakeim (métro) and Champ de Mars (RER C)
Notre-Dame de Paris
Usage
Gothic cathedral on the Île de la Cité in the middle of the Seine, reopened after restoration following the 2019 fire. Nearest stops: Cité and Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame
l'Arc de triomphe
Arc de Triomphe
Usage
Arch at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle where twelve avenues converge. There is a rooftop viewing terrace; reach it only via the underpass
l'avenue des Champs-Élysées
Avenue des Champs-Élysées
Usage
Two-kilometre avenue running from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, lined with boutiques, cinemas and cafés. Route of the 14 July military parade
la basilique du Sacré-Cœur
Sacré-Cœur Basilica
Usage
White basilica crowning the hill of Montmartre with a panoramic view over Paris. Nearest stops are Anvers and Abbesses; a funicular runs up the hill
le musée d'Orsay
Musée d'Orsay
Usage
Museum on the Left Bank in a converted railway station, holding a major Impressionist collection. Across the river from the Louvre; closed Mondays
le Centre Pompidou
Centre Pompidou
Usage
Modern and contemporary art museum and library in the 4th arrondissement, famous for its exposed pipework façade. Nearest stops: Rambuteau and Hôtel de Ville. Closed for major renovation since late September 2025 (reopening planned around 2030)
la Sainte-Chapelle
Sainte-Chapelle
Usage
13th-century chapel inside the law-court complex on the Île de la Cité, known for its floor-to-ceiling stained glass. Expect a queue at the security check
le Panthéon
Panthéon
Usage
Mausoleum on the hill of the Latin Quarter where notable French figures including Voltaire and the Curies are buried
le jardin du Luxembourg
Luxembourg Gardens
Usage
Park in the 6th arrondissement beside the Senate building, known for its green chairs and the toy sailboats on its basin. Gates close at dusk
le jardin des Tuileries
Tuileries Garden
Usage
Garden linking the Louvre with Place de la Concorde. The Musée de l'Orangerie stands at its western end; a fairground appears here in summer
la place de la Concorde
Place de la Concorde
Usage
The largest square in Paris, with an obelisk from Luxor at its centre. It was the site of executions during the Revolution
l'île de la Cité
Île de la Cité
Usage
Island in the Seine where Paris began, home to Notre-Dame, the Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie
le Quartier latin
Latin Quarter
Usage
Student district on the Left Bank centred on the 5th arrondissement, around the Sorbonne, with bookshops, small cinemas and cheaper restaurants
le Marais
Le Marais
Usage
Historic district spanning the 3rd and 4th arrondissements, with museums in former aristocratic mansions, the Jewish quarter, boutiques and cafés. Many shops open on Sundays
le cimetière du Père-Lachaise
Père-Lachaise Cemetery
Usage
Vast cemetery in the 20th arrondissement holding the graves of Chopin, Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison. Pick up a map at the entrance
les Catacombes de Paris
Catacombs of Paris
Usage
Underground ossuary in the 14th arrondissement where the bones of some six million people are stacked in old quarry tunnels. Entrance is by Denfert-Rochereau; book ahead
l'Opéra Garnier
Palais Garnier
Usage
19th-century opera house in the 9th arrondissement, known for its grand staircase and Chagall ceiling. Open for interior visits outside performance hours
la Seine
the Seine
Usage
River flowing east to west through Paris, dividing the city into the Right Bank and Left Bank. Many sightseeing boats operate on it
Disneyland Paris
Usage
Theme park at Marne-la-Vallée about 32 km east of Paris, directly at the RER A station Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy, roughly 40 minutes from the centre
le palais des Papes
Palais des Papes
Usage
One of Europe's largest Gothic palaces, in the old town of Avignon, where the popes lived in the 14th century. A World Heritage Site
le pont du Gard
Pont du Gard
Usage
Three-tiered Roman aqueduct bridge near Nîmes in the south of France, a World Heritage Site reachable by bus from Avignon or Nîmes
le mont Blanc
Mont Blanc
Usage
At 4,808 m the highest peak in western Europe, on the French-Italian border. Chamonix is the base on the French side
les Calanques
the Calanques
Usage
Chain of limestone inlets between Marseille and Cassis, protected as a national park. Many can only be reached on foot or by boat
Étretat
Usage
Seaside town in Normandy known for its white chalk cliffs and natural arches, painted by Monet and other artists
les plages du Débarquement
the D-Day Landing Beaches
Usage
Normandy coastline where the Allies landed in June 1944. Five beaches including Omaha have memorials and cemeteries. Caen and Bayeux are the usual bases
le château de Chenonceau
Château de Chenonceau
Usage
Loire Valley château known for the arched gallery spanning the river Cher. Nicknamed the "Ladies' Château" after the women who ran it
Bruxelles
Brussels
Usage
Capital of Belgium and seat of the EU. Officially bilingual, so signs appear in both French and Dutch. About 1 hour 25 minutes from Paris by high-speed train
Gare de Bruxelles-Midi
Brussels-Midi station
Usage
Brussels's main station for international high-speed trains to Paris and London. Signs also show the Dutch name, Brussel-Zuid
Genève
Geneva
Usage
Main city of French-speaking Switzerland, on Lake Geneva and home to the UN's European headquarters. Many buses leave here for Chamonix
Gare de Genève-Cornavin
Geneva Cornavin station
Usage
Geneva's main railway station, serving Swiss domestic trains and the TGV to Paris. About 10 minutes on foot to the lakefront
Monaco
Usage
Independent French-speaking state surrounded by the French Riviera, known for its casino and Formula 1 Grand Prix. About 25 minutes by train from Nice
Montréal
Usage
Largest city in Québec, Canada. French-speaking, with French given priority on signs. Known for its old town and extensive underground city
Québec
Québec City
Usage
Capital of the province of Québec and the only walled city in North America, a World Heritage Site. Say "Ville de Québec" to distinguish it from the province
le musée du Louvre
Louvre Museum
Usage
One of the world's largest museums, in the former royal palace in the 1st arrondissement. The glass pyramid is the entrance; closed on Tuesdays, nearest métro Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre
le château de Versailles
Palace of Versailles
Usage
Louis XIV's palace southwest of Paris, a World Heritage Site known for the Hall of Mirrors and its gardens; take RER C to Versailles Château Rive Gauche, closed Mondays
le château de Chambord
Château de Chambord
Usage
The largest Renaissance château in the Loire Valley, known for its double-helix staircase and roofscape of towers; a UNESCO site reached from Blois by car or shuttle bus
le Mont-Saint-Michel
Mont-Saint-Michel
Usage
Abbey and village on a rocky islet off Normandy, a World Heritage Site; from the car park you take a free shuttle or walk, across a bay with a huge tidal range
Montmartre
Usage
Hilltop quarter in the 18th arrondissement with the Sacré-Cœur basilica and Place du Tertre; steep and full of steps, though the funicular accepts métro tickets
Lyon
Usage
France's second metropolitan area, at the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône; the old town of Vieux Lyon is UNESCO-listed and the city is known for its cooking
Bordeaux
Usage
Wine capital on the Garonne in southwestern France; its 18th-century townscape is UNESCO-listed and Paris is about two hours away by high-speed train
Strasbourg
Usage
Main city of Alsace on the German border, with a UNESCO-listed cathedral and Grande Île old town; seat of the European Parliament
la Bretagne
Brittany
Usage
Peninsular region in northwestern France with a surviving Celtic culture, based on Rennes and Saint-Malo and known for galettes, crêpes and cider
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