Beyond Paris: A guide to the rest of France

By Ed Biado

France is so much more than the glitz, glamour, and romance of Paris. Today?s list takes us beyond the Parisian grounds to explore the rest of the country. The places below are the 10 next popular tourist destinations after the French capital; most of which have retained their brownstone appeal, which, in a way, makes them more ?French?-ly romantic than Paris. Here they are:

1. Nice?The fifth largest city in France, Nice (the capital of the Riviera) is for those who aren?t thrifty. Luxurious dining venues, the Promenade des Anglais along the shore and the Colline du Chateau are some of the island?s attractions.

2. Toulouse?A metropolitan city in provincial France, Toulouse is home to the breathtaking Canal du Midi and other historic landmarks. It?s perfect for family vacations, romantic getaways, and adventure trips.

3. Lyon?Although not a main tourist hotspot as it is more a business center, Lyon scores points with visitors because of it has more restaurants per block than any other place on Earth. Aside from that, the city boasts musical and artistic presentations and festivities.

4. Rennes?The Rennes Historic Centre is filled with buildings bearing classical architecture dating back to the 14th century. At the same time, there?s the Cit? Judiciare, a modern building with futuristic elements. Rennes is a cultural city that hosts a number of festivals and is home to four museums.

5. St. Tropez?Well-known for the highly acclaimed Hotel Byblos, St. Tropez is rich with history and has its Old World charms to prove it. Its main economic source is tourism and is accessible by boat, train or bus.

6. Chamonix?A popular winter sports resort in eastern France, Chamonix played host to the Winter Olympics in 1924. The steep and unpredictable mountains around it attract extreme sports enthusiasts like ice climbers, extreme skiers, alpine mountaineers, and hard-core mountain bikers. If you?re not into that, the magnificent view should be enough to lure you in.

7. Cannes?Walking the streets in Cannes is an entire cultural experience in itself. And even without the film industry-related sensations that Cannes is all about, it still is a beautiful French town with sceneries and equally beautiful neighboring islands that are only a boat ride away.

8. Bordeaux?The ?city of art and history,? Bordeaux is a Unesco heritage site that has a lot of preserved medieval architecture. It also has more than 100,000 hectares of vineyards that produce 700 million bottles of wine yearly.

9. Aix-en-Provence?Sometimes called the city of a thousand fountains, Aix-en-Provence is another city that looks like a set from an epic movie. One of its main attractions is the Festival d?Aix-en-Provence, an opera festival that has been running since 1948.

10. Marseille?A favorite location for many French and Hollywood films, Marseille has been more familiarly seen on The French Connection, Count of Monte Cristo and The Bourne Identity. It is also famous for its food, art, music, and nightlife.