1. The gardens of Giverny (Normandy)
The gardens at Giverny are beautiful in any season, including autumn / Photo chosen by monsieur de France: depositphotos
In autumn, Claude Monet's gardens at Giverny are transformed into avery colorful tableau.The water lily pond reflects the golden October sky, while the maples and weeping willows blaze red and orange. The clos normand, which unfolds in front of the artist's house, still welcomes late bloomerslike dahlias, contrasting with the falling leaves. The mood becomes melancholy and poetic, reminiscent of the famous Impressionist canvases created by the great painter behind the gardens of Giverny. To stroll these alleys during this period is to plunge into the intimacy of a painter who saw nature as an eternal muse. A little bonus: it's also the ideal time to enjoy the calm restored after the summer crowds.
Autumn color at Giverny / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: packshot by depositphotos
Address: 84 rue Claude Monet, 27620 Giverny.
Early autumn is also the time for dalhias, always spectacular / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: depositphotos
2. Parc du Château de Versailles (Île-de-France)
The Palace of Versailles easily takes on those colors there in autumn / Photo chosen by monsieur de France: depositphotos
Versailles shines in all seasons, but, along with spring, autumn is the time to visit the park, this landscaped masterpiece signed by Le Nôtre. In autumn, the tree lines, bosquets and parterres are decked out in gold and red. The grand vistas towards the Grand Canal gain in majesty with the low-angled light of October. Walks through the alleys then become veritable immersions in a living painting. This is the ideal season to appreciate Versailles without the summer crowds, in a more contemplative mood. The château's stones take on a flamboyant hue in the evening, and you really have to push on to the Petit Trianon to admire the Queen's hamlet in its golden autumn colors. It's incredibly romantic. Melancholy too... To find out all about Versailles click here.
Statues and colors in the park of Versailles / Photo chosen by monsieur de France: depositphotos
Address: Place d'Armes, 78000 Versailles.
Le hameau de la Reine is sumptuous in autumn, we even wonder if we'll run into Marie Antoinette so mysterious does it become / Photo chosen by monsieur de France: packshot via depositphotos
3. Lac des Corbeaux - Vosges (Eastern France)
The Lac des Corbeaux has nothing to do with the birds called crows. It takes its name from "courbeaux" which means: curves / Photo chosen by monsieur de France: Depositphotos
Perched at an altitude of 900 meters near La Bresse in the Vosges region of Lorraine, Lac des Corbeaux is an enchanting place in autumn. Its dark waters reflect the surrounding forests, which then turn orange, red and yellow. The trails around the lake are easy to access and allow you to contemplate Vosges nature in all its splendor. At this time of year, the air is crisp, sometimes misty in the morning, offering enchanting atmospheres. Walkers find here a true haven of peace, far from the hustle and bustle. In autumn, the Vosges mountains are reminiscent of certain Canadian landscapes, making them a popular destination for hiking and photography enthusiasts. See also ; Lishpach on the same commune, the gazon du Faing, not far away and just an hour away: the
Address: Route du Lac des Corbeaux, 88250 La Bresse.
Les Vosges are adorned with mystery come autumn/ Photo chosen by monsieur de France : Utopia_88 via depositphotos
4. Quatre Lacs - Jura (Burgundy-Franche-Comté)
Le belvédère des 4 lacs / Photo chosen by monsieur de France: By JGS25 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=130292325
Le belvédère des Quatre Lacs, in the Jura, offers one of the most beautiful autumn panoramas in France. From this high point, you can discover Lac d'Ilay, Grand Maclu, Petit Maclu and Narlay, surrounded by shimmering forests. The hiking loop allows you to approach each lake and enjoy the golden reflections on the calm water. Autumn accentuates the wild beauty of this site: morning mists, luminous contrasts, the silence of the woods. It's an ideal getaway for those seeking to immerse themselves in unspoilt nature.
Address: Belvédère des 4 Lacs, 39150 La Chaux-du-Dombief.
5. Lake Annecy - Haute-Savoie
Lake Annecy is beautiful in all seasons, but autumn makes it very romantic. / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France:oliverdelahaye depositphotos
Nicknamed "the blue lake", Lake Annecy takes on even more striking hues in autumn.The surrounding forest-covered mountains are ablaze with color and reflected in its limpid waters. The banks, particularly on the Talloires side, offer pleasant strolls in a peaceful atmosphere. The old town of Annecy, with its canals and colorful houses, completes the visit. Autumn is the ideal season to avoid the summer crowds while enjoying a romantic, luminous landscape.
Address: Office de Tourisme, 1 rue Jean Jaurès, 74000 Annecy.
The shores of Annecy's lake and canals are quieter in autumn, and the weather is often mild. Make the most of it! Photo chosen by monsieur de France: depositphotos
6. Beaujolais (Rhône), Burgundy and Champagne vineyards
Vines are very colorful in autumn/ Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: Depositphotos.
In autumn,the hills of Beaujolais, near Lyon become an ocean of gold and red. This is often harvest time.The contrast between the rows of flamboyant vines and the sometimes misty sky creates landscapes worthy of postcards. It's also the perfect time to discover the conviviality of the cellars and taste the first new wines. Autumn sublimates the vineyards of Burgundy and Champagne. Rows of vines turn gold, copper and purple, transforming the hillsides into a flamboyant patchwork. In Beaune, capital of Burgundy wines, or in Épernay in Champagne,the scenery is magnificent. Between strolls through the vineyards and tastings in the cellars, autumn is the perfect season to combine cultural discovery with pleasure for the senses.
Address : Hameau Duboeuf, 796 route de la Gare, 71570 Romanèche-Thorins / Epernay 51 000 / Auxerre 89 000
Autumn is also mushroom season, and you'll find them at markets and restaurants / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France : -Rita-👩🍳 und 📷 mit ❤ de Pixabay
7. Périgord (New Aquitaine)
The Périgord is beautiful all the time! But it's true that in autumn, this wooded region takes on absolutely sublime colors / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: depositphoto
The Dordogne valley is splendid in autumn. The castles of Beynac and Castelnaud, and the cliffs of La Roque-Gageac, are set against a backdrop of blazing trees. The reflections of the river accentuate the beauty of the seasonal colors. Sarlat-la-Canéda, a medieval gem, can be discovered in a quieter atmosphere, punctuated by autumn markets. You'll find just as many good products as ever. It's a destination where heritage, gastronomy and landscapes combine to perfection. All you need to know about Périgord noir is here.
Address : la Roque Gageac 24250 Sarlat-la-Canéda.
8. Château de Chambord - Loir-et-Cher (Centre-Val de Loire)
Chambord takes on magical hues under the autumn evening sun/ Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: depositphotos
Chambord castle is already a marvel, but in autumn it becomes enchanting. The stone turns golden in the evening, royal in fact! His immense forest park of 5000 hectares is ablaze with shimmering colors. Morning mists add a mysterious aura around the Renaissance towers. Wildlife is particularly active, especially deer during the bellowing season. The noise is then impressive (late September). This is both a cultural and natural visit, where royal heritage blends into an autumnal setting. Not far away, Azay le rideau is superb too. Find out more about the Loire castles here.
Address: Château, 41250 Chambord.
Vineyards take on gorgeous colors too in the Loire Valley around Chambord / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: depositphotos
9. Chamonix - Lac Blanc and the Chéserys lakes
The white lake quickly finds its white colors as it is so high, especially in mid-autumn / Photo chosen by monsieur de France: depositphotos
Accessible from the Flégère cable car, Lac Blanc is one of the jewels of the Alps. In autumn, the surrounding larch trees turn yellow and reflect in the icy water. The view of Mont Blanc is breathtaking,especially in the season's softer light. Hikers particularly appreciate this period: the trails are less crowded and the landscapes more contrasting than ever. The Lacs des Chéserys are also a must-see.
Address: Téléphérique de la Flégère, 74400 Chamonix.
The Cheserys lakes/ Photo chosen by Monsieur de France : AndrewMayovsky via depositphotos
10. Château de Chantilly (Hauts-de-France)
The golden light of October is magnificent on the facades of Chantilly / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France : Nicknick_ko via depositphotos
In autumn, the Château de Chantilly takes on a romantic atmosphere. The shadow of the Grandes Écuries stands out even more against the late-season landscape.The vast gardens designed by Le Nôtre take on flamboyant hues, and the water mirrors turn dark. The walk around the Grand Canal is particularly pleasant with the tree-lined alleys in gold and copper foliage. After savoring the red and gold tones of autumn, enter the Musée Condé, which unveils one of the finest collections of ancient paintings after the Louvre.
Address: 17 rue Connétable, 60500 Chantilly.
Take advantage of autumn to go to the park, it becomes mysterious / Photo chosen by monsieur de France: Image by Radosław Szymański de Pixaba
And of course: Paris!
Montmartre in autumn/ Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: -GarryKillian_ via depositphotos
It's impossible not to love Paris in autumn.It's even the time when the capital is at its most romantic. It's much richer in trees than it first appears and, as a result, "les feuilles mortes se ramasse à la pelle" (dead leaves are picked up by the shovelful), as Jacques Prévert wrote for Yves Montand. Pass by les Tuileries, of course, but also le bois de Boulogne, the green lung of Paris, which takes on extraordinary hues.The outskirts of Notre Dameand especially Montmartreare worth a real detour. Parisian autumn is truly magical.
