The Atlas Obscura Guide To France

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

Updated November 23, 2023

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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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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

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wants to go to Gustave Eiffel's Secret Apartment
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wants to go to Musée de Cluny
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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?

September 18, 2023

All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: Sing Along

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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?

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

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