Two places in France are on Time magazine’s 100 ‘most beautiful' list
This year’s list focuses on visitor experience, including hotels, and less-common destinations
The spots were both touted as excellent places to stay, with luxury accommodation
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France is one of the world’s most visited countries, filled with a seemingly endless stream of tourist hotspots.
However, only two French places have made it onto Time Magazine's traditional 'top 100 places to visit' list for its 2024 version.
This year the list is divided into a collection of the best hotels or destinations to stay at and of beautiful areas or general sites to visit that are perhaps less well-known to non-seasoned travellers.
Previous years saw the inclusion of more traditional tourist hotspots, or even entire cities, however the magazine said in 2024 it “solicited nominations of places—including hotels, cruises, restaurants, attractions, museums, parks, and more… from contributors, as well as through an application process.”
It did this with “with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences,” perhaps explaining why the list omits some of the more usual tourist attractions across the globe.
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Which French entries were included?
Le Grand Mazarin hotel in Paris is the first of France’s entries, followed by the Maison Rabelais in Amboise.
Both focus on the experience of visitors staying at the luxury accommodation provided.
In particular, the colourful interiors of Le Grand Mazarin, as well as its 61 ‘uniquely-shaped’ room were highlighted, and at the Maison Rabelais, the recently refurbished Saint Hubert chapel.
The Maison Rabelais is also the final resting place of Leonardo da Vinci, who died in Amboise after working for the French royal family there.
In 2023, Dijon was included in the list for its food halls and proximity to the Burgundy wine country, as well as Tuamotu archipelago in French Polynesia.
You can find the full list of sites here on Time’s website.
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