10 Landmarks to Checkout in France using Eurail
by travelguy | November 7, 2011 | In France | No Comments
France is the world’s most visited country, and any visitor will easily be able to see why. Though other countries may have a larger population, or a larger land mass, France packs cosmopolitan cities, charming towns, historical ruins, world class museums, and fabulous food and wine all within its borders. One of the best travel tips for seeing France is to buy a Eurail pass. These ten landmarks are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to places to see in France by using Eurail.

1. Eiffel Tower
Paris, the City of Light and the capital and largest city in France is by no means cheap to visit. However, visitors don’t have to make extra money in order to afford to see one of the world’s most iconic structures, the Eiffel Tower. A Eurail pass will give travelers the savings and the flexibility they need to see all of France, including Paris. Even better, the Eiffel Tower is just one of the many wonderful landmarks to see while in Paris.
2. D-Day Beaches
Take the Eurail to Caen, a fun university town that’s home to the Caen Memorial, which provides an excellent overview of what happened before, during, and after D-Day. Caen is also the perfect place to explore the surrounding D-Day beaches.
3. Historic Old Town Lyon
The city of Lyon, with a metropolitan area second only to Paris, has an historic town center that has landed it on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Best of all, the rest of the city is the perfect place to explore on foot or bike, with a variety of charming shops, cafes, and restaurants.
4. Ancient Roman City of Cemenelum
For anyone interested in Roman ruins, Cemenelum is a must-see. Even better, the best way to get to these ruins is to take Eurail to Nice, France’s fifth-largest city on the beautiful Mediterranean. There’s plenty to see and do in this glitzy party city, and the nearby Roman ruins are just an added bonus.
5. City of Marseille
Marseille is a landmark in and of itself. As the oldest city in France, the city was founded by the Greeks back in 600 B.C., and has a variety of historic places of interest.
6. Roman Theatre and Ampitheatre
Arles is well-known as the place where Van Gogh had some of his most productive periods as an artist, but before Van Gogh was charmed by the city’s winding streets and brightly colored houses, the Romans had built a 12,000 seat theatre and a 20,000 seat ampitheatre. This theatre and ampitheatre are very well-preserved, and are a must-see for Roman architecture buffs.
7. City of Bordeaux
Bordeaux’s city center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its excellent and well-preserved historic architecture. The city is also home to a large university population and is known for its fantastic restaurants and wines, making it a great place to stop off on a Eurail adventure.
8. Palais des Papes
Located in Avignon, the Palais des Papes is a beautiful medieval fortress and papal palace. The city of Avignon is none too shabby itself. It’s a gorgeous university town with a famous bridge, the Pont d’Avignon.
9. Chateau de Amboise
Amboise is a delightfully charming town best known for its chateau, a former royal castle. After visiting the chateau, the town is a great place to relax and get a taste of small-town France.
10. Rouen Cathedral
The Rouen Cathedral is, not surprisingly, located in the city of Rouen in northern France. The cathedral was built in the 4th century and is an eclectic mix of architectural styles, due to damage and remodeling done over the years. The cathedral is famous for being painted by Claude Monet. Rouen is also where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. Today, a field of wildflowers stands in the place where she was martyred.