The Atlas Obscura Guide To France

681 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in France

Updated October 22, 2024

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Unusual Attractions in France

Catacombes des Paris Autumn 2018

Paris, France

Catacombes de Paris

The vast, legendary catacombs hold secrets much stranger than stacked bones.

Paris, France

Père Lachaise Cemetery

France's most famous cemetery, with some of its most curious tombs.

The oval reading room at the Bibliothèque nationale.

Paris, France

Bibliothèque nationale de France (National Library of France)

This massive library holds what was once the largest book collection in the world.

Paris, France

Petite Ceinture

Abandoned railway line circling the city of Paris.

59 Rivoli in 2005.

Paris, France

59 Rivoli

Notorious artist squat renovated into legal studios.

Shakespeare And Company bookshop situated at 37 rue de la Bûcherie, in the 5th arrondissement.

Paris, France

Shakespeare and Company

This iconic Parisian bookstore doubles as the "Tumbleweed Hotel" for traveling writers.

Paris, France

Montmartre Cemetery

A horde of stray cats rule in this secluded Parisian cemetery under a bridge.

Paris, France

House of Nicolas Flamel

The oldest stone house in Paris was built by its most famous alchemist.

See All 681 Things To Do in France

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in France

Paris, France

Au Roi de la Bière

Once a 19th-century brasserie, this McDonald's exterior celebrates Alsatian design and the "King of Beer."

Paris, France

Roger La Grenouille

This frog-themed restaurant was frequented by Picasso, Saint-Exupéry, and more.

Chevilly-Larue, France

Rungis International Market

Walk through spectacular aisles of hanging meat and wagon wheel–sized cheese at the world's largest wholesale food market.

Potatoes on the tomb.

Paris, France

Grave of Antoine-Augustin Parmentier

The tomb of history's greatest potato promoter is surrounded by tubers.

See all 35 Places to Eat in France

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Architecture 100

Art 66

Sacred Spaces 65

Architectural Oddities 64

Museums 62

Churches 50

Military 44

Statues 41

History 39

Ruins 38

Collections 35

Homes 34

Places To Stay 12

Unique Restaurants & Bars 7

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Recent France Activity

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has been to The Heart of Voltaire
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has been to Lasco Project at Palais de Tokyo
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has been to Rue du Chat-qui-Pêche
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has been to Louis XIV's Globes
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has been to Phallic Balconies of Place d'Albertas

Stories About France

Swaths of toxic land the size of Paris still cover much of France.

You Can Still Die From World War I Dangers in France's Red Zones

The Great War never ended in some old battlegrounds.

by Frank Jacobs

"Allow me to address to you / With my deepest tenderness / This beautiful fish, fresh and discreet / To which I have confided my secret," says this April Fish card in French.

Why April Fools Day in France Involves Fish Pranks

It's a long and fishy history.

by Amelia Parenteau

Véronique and Anaëlle Fontanel hold their Hello Kitty set of fèves.

The Weird, Wonderful World of Collecting French Cake Figurines

Porcelain or plastic, Harry Potter or copulating couple, fèves come in all shapes and sizes.

by Emily Monaco

December 8, 2023

There’s a gruesome twist to these St. Nicholas Day celebrations.

Beware the Christmas Cannibal of France

How a whip-wielding butcher became St. Nick's sidekick.

by Anna Richards

December 6, 2023

All Illustrations by Molly Magnell

The Extremely Enchanting, Totally Perplexing, Possibly Never-Ending Quest for the Golden Owl

For 30 years, this labyrinthine treasure hunt has had thousands of players cracking codes and digging up the French countryside. After a sudden death and bitter disputes, will the prize ever be found?

October 4, 2024

All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: Sing Along

A vintage nougat-selling truck from Chabert & Guillot.

How Summer Road-Trippers Put a Southern French Sweet on the Map

Montélimar nougat rose to fame thanks to vacationers' traffic jams.

by Emily Monaco

Nearly 40 feet tall, the Dragon of Calais enchants tourists and locals alike—but it takes an entourage to keep it in fire-spitting shape.

How to Maintain Your Dragon

A massive, winged beast prowls Calais—thanks to a dedicated team of operators and "veterinarians."

by Claire Naylor

Lists Featuring France

Gustave Eiffel's Secret Apartment

Exterior of the museum.

Diving suit by the Carmagnolle brothers from 1882

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near the Eiffel Tower for Curious Travelers

Including Gustave Eiffel's Secret Apartment , Musée du quai Branly (Quai Branly Museum), and Jules Lavirotte's 29 Avenue Rapp

Madaba Mosaic Map

The gallery of maps, showing the ceiling

Great Polish Map of Scotland

13 Marvelous Maps That Go Way Beyond Paper

Charting the world's most intriguing out-of-the-box cartography.

Including Madaba Mosaic Map, Gallery of Maps - Galleria delle Carte Geografiche, and Mapparium Globe

(Flickr/andreakw)

The bathroom

Some of the decorations include broken crockery that have been priced back together

11 Homes Transformed Into Amazing Mosaics

If you own your property, why not bedazzle it?

Including Wyckoff Street Mosaic, La Maison Picassiette, and House of Mirrors

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