Most people who visit France have perhaps a week or two with which to explore the country. The reality is that you couldn’t see all that you wanted to see in a lifetime and that is, generally speaking, a good problem to have for a nation.

My personal hunt for the most beautiful city in France started where most people start - in Paris. I have a profound respect for the city, and in particular its authors and artists of time’s past, but it just isn’t my city, and I’m okay with that. r

That first visit to Paris was all the way back in 2010, and since then I’ve been back to Paris a multitude of times, and it’s always a handful of pros and cons for me, but, in the end, more pros.

I’ve also had the pleasure of exploring other parts of the country as well, and once I left Paris, I was just immediately sold on what a treasure trove of travel France really is.

I’ve spend many happy days with Bri in the likes of Toulouse, Carcassonne, Avignon, Lyon, Nice, and just generally on the Côte d'Azur. Quite frankly, it’s almost harder to find places in France that aren’t beautiful, seeing as every city seems to have their own unique history and sense of pride.

And yet, there are some that stand a little taller than the rest, and to tackle the enormous challenge of discerning which cities are indeed the most beautiful cities in France, I’ve turned to my travel writing colleagues.

Here are the Best Cities in France to Visit, According to My Travel Writing Pals