40 Trip-Inspiring Images of France

"Riding on the Métro in Paris."

"The village of Bonnieux, part of my journey to Provence."

"A perfect snapshot of the clouds whirling around the peaks of the Chamonix-Mont Blanc mountain range in the French Alps."

"In the summer in the south of France, driving near Castres, you can find fields of sunflowers everywhere you look."

"Mont Saint Michel began as a Benedictine monastery and the village subsequently grew around it. There are terrific cafés for crepes, and loads of souvenier shops. If you visit on a Sunday, the abbey is free! Take a whole day for this area, there is so much to see!"

"Umbrellas on the beach in Nice, France."

"Color in Paris."

"Annecy is one of the most picturesque towns I have ever seen. I loved this mini castle surrounded by the water."

"Pont du Gard, near Nîmes."

"On Friday, September 12, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI was in Paris, and the run-up to that was incredible. I happened upon these three nuns sitting inside the Peace Monument, looking out over the Champ de Mars toward the Eiffel Tower and enjoying a lull in their afternoon."

"A Paris Métro sign."

"Moulin Rouge."

"An early Saturday morning, Lyon."

"Sainte-Cirq-Lapoppie, France. Once deemed the most Beautiful Village in France."

"A view of beautiful Sacré-Coeur in Paris."

"Base of the Eiffel Tower."

"Viva la Louvre."

"I.M. Pei's restructured pyramid entrance to the Louvre is a vast improvement over the way it used to be. That said, a good tip is to buy the museum pass at another museum and enter at the Richelieu entrance to avoid lines."

"Early morning roses in a Nice marketplace."

"The high price of freedom—Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial."

"Early morning at the Eiffel Tower."

"Lavender fields, seen on my journey to Provence."

"Reflection of Sainte-Chapelle."

"St. Etienne du Mont's spiral staircases."

"Doorbell signs in Montmartre Art District, Paris."

"A lovely setting in the village of Chenonceaux, in the Loire Valley of southern France. Picture taken with my Nikon D70s during a tour of the valley with our son, who was teaching English in a university in Orleans."

"April in Paris, Notre Dame."

"I spotted this old Renault in front of my hotel in the 7th district during a visit to Paris in March 2009. For a moment, it seemed as if I were in a 1950s movie."

"One of our favorite things to do in Paris is wander the back alleys around Sacré-Coeur basilica during sunset and imagine that we are walking in the footsteps of van Gogh, who resided in the neighborhood."

"The City of Light lives up to its name."

"The red roofs of Old Town, Nice."

"I took this picture in the Paris Metro: It looks like the model is doing all she can to attract the gentleman's attention, but he is oblivious to her flirtations."

"An artist in Montmartre."

"Villefranche-sur-Mer, France."

"I was walking through the local markets in Paris on a sunny morning, and the smells of the fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and meats filled the air."

"Paris in March."

"Delicious "poulet roti" and other roasted delights at Le Marche in St. Tropez, France."

"Another fabulous view of this port [Villefranche] in the Cote d'Azur near Nice. The weather, water, and French food were amazing. This was taken in September of 2008."

"Morning; overlooking Nice from a hill near the old town, facing west toward the Mediterranean."