Autumn is the perfect season for long walks outdoors. We can still enjoy mild temperatures and beautiful sunny days, and what a joy it is to admire the leaves of the trees decked out in their most beautiful colors, on the branches or forming a carpet on the ground that you could contemplate for hours. Everywhere in France, there's a place close to home that autumn always manages to sublimate in its own way. A vineyard, a park, a garden, the shores of a lake, a historic monument or a national park, here are 10 of the most beautiful places to visit in France during an autumn getaway.
1- The vineyards of Burgundy
Autumn gives the vineyards of Burgundy a golden glow, offering a patchwork of colors that are pleasant to contemplate on a hike. In the distance, you can also catch a glimpse of the warm light over the meadows and hills. While the smell of the fresh grape harvest still permeates the atmosphere, many winegrowers open their doors and offer tastings, much to the delight of wine tourism enthusiasts. Whether on foot, by bike or in a hot-air balloon over the vineyards of the Côte de Beaune, there are many ways to marvel at these fascinating landscapes.
2- Parc de la Tête d'Or, Lyon
The Parc de la Tête d'Or is a superb and imposing English garden, a veritable green lung for the inhabitants of the capital of the Gauls. Whether for cycling, walking or jogging, it's best to visit when the park is in its most beautiful autumn colors. Luckily, on milder days, you can also relax with a book at the foot of a tree, or share a meal on the lawns. With its exceptional plant life, there's no better time to take in the sights, before strolling along the water's edge or heading off to the zoo.
3- Lake Annecy
While the weather is often still mild in the area, a stroll along the shores of LakeAnnecy in autumn looks like a lost paradise. You can see the surrounding woods in shades of red, yellow, orange and green, and the sun's rays give the lake a magical glow. What's more, it's the perfect time for an intimate stroll, with fewer crowds between the water activities of summer and the mountain sports of winter. After mushroom-picking in the woods and strolling along the shores of the lake at sunset, what could be more pleasant than to return to Annecy's old town to enjoy a fine meal?
4- Loire castles
If the châteaux of the Loire are majestic in all seasons, they are perhaps even more so when the parks and gardens display their most beautiful autumn colors. Combine the pleasures of stone with those of nature - that's what a trip to some of France's finest châteaux has in store. Chambord and its impressive estate spring to mind. But Cheverny, Chenonceau and Villandry, with their magnificent formal gardens, are also places where monuments are sublimated by autumnal colors. Architecture, culture, nature, the Loire châteaux have it all.
Wondering which Loire châteaux to visit? Discover our selection of the 15 most beautiful!
5- The Ardennes
There's something memorable about a stay in the Ardennes in autumn. It's a time for long walks in the forest, in search of mushrooms and the scents of the season. Whether you're reaching the heights of a citadel or a ridge, you'll always take considerable time to contemplate the shimmering colors that mingle with the morning mist escaping from the bed of the Meuse. We then set off to discover Mont d'Haurs, a privileged spot to enjoy the nature reserve, between dry grasslands, forests and moors. The colors of autumn are also perfect for a moment around the exceptional Lac des Vieilles Forges, which, with its thick forest adorned in gold and orange, resembles the great Canadian lakes.
6- Auvergne and its volcanoes
The volcanoes of the Auvergne are one of those places in France where hiking offers fabulous views! And in the mild autumn weather, it's great to take to the trails to reach the summits and enjoy breathtaking panoramas. Cycling on the roads of the Sancy, mountain biking or horse-riding on the Cantal mountains, sporting activities take on a whole new dimension when they take place in the heart of the Parc naturel régional des Volcans d'Auvergne. On foot, you'll pass through warmly-colored forests, before regaining your strength as the cooler weather sets in over a dish cooked with mushrooms and chestnuts.
7- The 4 Lakes region, Jura
Another place reminiscent of the great lakes of North America, the 4 Lakes region offers breathtaking scenery in autumn. Panoramas that undoubtedly rival Canada's great outdoors. Four crystal-clear lakes lie to the north of the Haut-Jura National Park: Grand Maclu, Petit, Narlay and Ilay. Bordered by thick forests of fir and hardwood trees, you'll enjoy spending hours contemplating the wide ochre expanses that contrast with the blue of the lakes. Take the hiking trails that lead to the Pic de l'Aigle or the Belvédère des 4 Lacs in autumn, and recharge your batteries in a natural setting that is preserved and exceptional in more ways than one.
8- Mercantour National Park
One of France's most popular national parks, the Parc national du Mercantour is magnificent in all seasons, but also has that extra something in autumn. Not least because, on a hike close to nature, you'll come across larch trees, the only conifer to lose its needles in autumn. This is the only conifer to lose its needles in autumn, when it dons a superb golden mantle, and the camera is a must, as the spectacle is simply sublime! It's also too good an opportunity not to take the time to visit Lac d'Allos, where the surrounding peaks are starting to receive their first snowfall.
9- Paris parks and gardens
Who says city dwellers can't appreciate the beauty of autumn? In the city, too, a multitude of places can enchant lovers of the time of year when trees turn from green to ochre. In Paris, the orange hues around the Fontaine de Médicis and the leaves on the chairs in the Jardin du Luxembourg provide an enchanting and soothing backdrop. In the Parc Montsouris, the colors surrounding the lake where ducks, birds and swans come to rest never disappoint walkers. And let's not forget the Tuileries Gardens, with their lawns and statue-lined paths, which only autumn can make even more beautiful
10- The Canal du Midi
When autumn sets in on the Canal du Midi, it's hard not to want to go and enjoy it again and again. Whether you're in Toulouse, or in the other parts of France where Riquet's work passes through, the spectacle is just as striking. The leaves of the plane trees turn yellow, orange and red, and what could be more beautiful than to observe their reflection in the waters of the canal? While the Canal du Midi is a summertime delight for river cruise enthusiasts, autumn is also a season for contemplation and cycling, all in a unique setting.
