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All France

The Atlas Obscura Guide To France

635 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in France

Updated November 23, 2023

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Cities

Top Cities
Paris
Traboule de Lyon
Lyon
Château d'If
Marseille
Strasbourg Astronomical Clock
Strasbourg
Saint Ouen
More of the carvings.
Saint Malo
All Cities
  1. Aix En Provence
  2. Amiens
  3. Angles Sur L'anglin
  4. Angoulême
  5. Arles
  6. Aubagne
  7. Auvers Sur Oise
  8. Bailleau Armenonville
  9. Bayeux
  10. Blois
  11. Bordeaux
  12. Boulogne Billancourt
  13. Chamonix
  14. Chartres
  15. Colmar
  16. Cricqueville En Bessin
  17. Douai
  18. Fleury Devant Douaumont
  19. Fréjus
  20. Grenoble
  21. Honfleur
  22. Lille
  23. Lyon
  24. Marseille
  25. Montpellier
  26. Nantes
  27. Nice
  28. Paris
  29. Reims
  30. Rennes Le Château
  31. Rouen
  32. Saint Bernard
  33. Saint Denis
  34. Sainte Geneviève Des Bois
  35. Sainte Mère église
  36. Saint Germain En Laye
  37. Saint Jean Cap Ferrat
  38. Saint Malo
  39. Saint Ouen
  40. Strasbourg
  41. Théoule Sur Mer
  42. Villefranche Sur Mer
Attractions
Food & Drink
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Lists

Unusual Attractions in France

Catacombes des Paris Autumn 2018

Paris, France

Catacombes de Paris

The vast, legendary catacombs hold secrets much stranger than stacked bones.

Paris, France

Père Lachaise Cemetery

France's most famous cemetery, with some of its most curious tombs.
The oval reading room at the Bibliothèque nationale.

Paris, France

Bibliothèque nationale de France (National Library of France)

This massive library holds what was once largest book collection in the world.

Paris, France

Petite Ceinture

Abandoned railway line circling the city of Paris.
59 Rivoli in 2005.

Paris, France

59 Rivoli

Notorious artist squat renovated into legal studios.
Shakespeare And Company bookshop situated at 37 rue de la Bûcherie, in the 5th arrondissement.

Paris, France

Shakespeare and Company

This iconic Parisian bookstore doubles as the "Tumbleweed Hotel" for traveling writers.

Paris, France

Montmartre Cemetery

A horde of stray cats rule in this secluded Parisian cemetery under a bridge.

Paris, France

House of Nicolas Flamel

The oldest stone house in Paris was built by its most famous alchemist.
See All 635 Things To Do in France

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in France

Paris, France

Au Roi de la Bière

Once a 19th-century brasserie, this McDonald's exterior celebrates Alsatian design and the "King of Beer."

Chevilly-Larue, France

Rungis International Market

Walk through spectacular aisles of hanging meat and wagon wheel–sized cheese at the world's largest wholesale food market.

Paris, France

Roger La Grenouille

This frog-themed restaurant was frequented by Picasso, Saint-Exupéry, and more.
Potatoes on the tomb.

Paris, France

Grave of Antoine-Augustin Parmentier

The tomb of history's greatest potato promoter is surrounded by tubers.
See all 10 Places to Eat in France
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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore France

Sacred Spaces 65
Art 65
Architectural Oddities 62
Churches 49
Museums And Collections 46
Military 44
Ruins 38
Statues 36
History 35
Collections 35
Homes 34
Outsider Architecture 28
Places To Stay 12
Unique Restaurants & Bars 7

France Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. Avatar image for serflac
    serflac
    28
  2. Avatar image for Laetitia Barbier
    Laetitia Barbier
    26
  3. Avatar image for Monsieur Mictlan
    Monsieur Mictlan
    21
  4. Avatar image for Christine Williamson
    Christine Williamson
    16
  5. Avatar image for Annetta Black
    Annetta Black
    15

Places Edited

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    Martin
    79
  2. Avatar image for Rachel
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    65
  3. Avatar image for philoursmars
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    59
  4. Avatar image for Monsieur Mictlan
    Monsieur Mictlan
    40
  5. Avatar image for SEANETTA
    SEANETTA
    37

Places Visited

  1. K
    katieblatherwick
    157
  2. Avatar image for Cactam
    Cactam
    156
  3. C
    catherinedarley
    155
  4. M
    marcut
    153
  5. Avatar image for Traveling Maven
    Traveling Maven
    150

Recent France Activity

  • H

    harbinethan

    wants to go to Gustave Eiffel's Secret Apartment

  • H

    harbinethan

    wants to go to Musée de Cluny

  • H

    harbinethan

    wants to go to Parc Monceau

  • H

    harbinethan

    has been to La Promenade Plantée

  • H

    harbinethan

    wants to go to Deyrolle Taxidermy

Stories About France

All Illustrations by Molly Magnell

The Extremely Enchanting, Totally Perplexing, Possibly Never-Ending Quest for the Golden Owl

For 30 years, this labyrinthine treasure hunt has had thousands of players cracking codes and digging up the French countryside. After a sudden death and bitter disputes, will the prize ever be found?
by Phil Hoad
September 18, 2023
All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: Sing Along

by Alex Bellos
August 7, 2023
A vintage nougat-selling truck from Chabert & Guillot.

How Summer Road-Trippers Put a Southern French Sweet on the Map

Montélimar nougat rose to fame thanks to vacationers' traffic jams.
by Emily Monaco
August 3, 2023
Nearly 40 feet tall, the Dragon of Calais enchants tourists and locals alike—but it takes an entourage to keep it in fire-spitting shape.

How to Maintain Your Dragon

A massive, winged beast prowls Calais—thanks to a dedicated team of operators and "veterinarians."
by Claire Naylor
July 13, 2023
This ancient dodecahedron found in Avenches, Switzerland, once the Roman city of Aventicum.

The Mysterious Dodecahedrons of the Roman Empire

The first of many of these puzzling objects was unearthed almost three centuries ago, and we still don't know what they were for.
by Frank Jacobs, Big Think
May 12, 2023
The Saint-Bélec slab in full.

Europe’s Oldest Map Shows Tiny Bronze Age Kingdom

Discovered in 1900, the Saint-Bélec slab languished unrecognized in a castle basement for over a century.
by Frank Jacobs, Big Think
March 17, 2023
La Confrérie du Brie de Meaux are very proud of their local cheese.

The Passion (and Fantastical Fashion) of France's Food Brotherhoods

Brie-shaped hats and colorful robes help culinary confréries promote regional specialties.
by ANNA MINDESS
January 3, 2023

The Brewer Updating an Ancient French Beer for Modern Drinkers

Thomas Deck's cervoise-inspired brew is herbal and delicious.
by Emily Monaco
December 12, 2022

Lists Featuring France

Gustave Eiffel's Secret Apartment
Exterior of the museum.
Diving suit by the Carmagnolle brothers from 1882

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near the Eiffel Tower for Curious Travelers

11

Including Gustave Eiffel's Secret Apartment , Musée du quai Branly (Quai Branly Museum), and Jules Lavirotte's 29 Avenue Rapp

Madaba Mosaic Map
The gallery of maps, showing the ceiling
Great Polish Map of Scotland

13 Marvelous Maps That Go Way Beyond Paper

Charting the world's most intriguing out-of-the-box cartography.

13

Including Madaba Mosaic Map, Gallery of Maps - Galleria delle Carte Geografiche, and Mapparium Globe

(Flickr/andreakw)
The bathroom
Some of the decorations include broken crockery that have been priced back together

11 Homes Transformed Into Amazing Mosaics

If you own your property, why not bedazzle it?

11

Including Wyckoff Street Mosaic, La Maison Picassiette, and House of Mirrors

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