6 Must-have Experiences in France

1. Eating in a crêperie in Brittany. These restaurants specialize in savory pancakes, and each cook makes them a little differently. Try La Capitainerie in Quiberon.

2. Hiking in the Pyrenees. Though not as famous as the Alps, they’re worth the trip.

3. Getting lost in Lyon’s renaissance district. Walk narrow streets and explore passageways inside five-century-old buildings.

4. Visiting Marseille’s MuCEM. An amazing permanent exhibit at this architecturally breathtaking new museum will give you a deep understanding of Mediterranean cultures.

5. Learning about the life of the monks in the Chartreuse mountains. Chartreuse is the name of a massif, a monastery, and an aromatic herb-based spirit. Learn about all three—and be sure to sample the spirit—in a charming part of the Alps.

6. Seeing a pageant at the massive Murol castle. Falconry, jousting, and demonstrations of using peasant tools from the Middle Ages add up to pageantry at its best.