Best things to do in South of France

This famous street travels along Nice's waterfront. Promenade des Anglais is a broad pathway stretching miles next to a wide beach. The promenade is popular for walking, biking, skateboarding, and in-line skating. Sit on a bench along the path, in one of the blue chairs (chaises bleues), or in a cabana. The promenade hosts numerous events, such as street plays and art competitions.

Old Town has a rustic and medieval feel with its historic buildings lining a meshwork of small roads. Stroll, shop, eat in one of the little restaurants, or just mingle with the locals.

Climb up the hill for a beautiful view of the bay from Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, located at the highest natural point in Marseille. This Catholic basilica, showing Roman architectural influences, is the town's most prominent landmark. The church was built by the architect Henri-Jacques Espérandieu on a 149 m (490 ft) limestone outcrop on the south side of the old port. Seek out the great bell and silver statues of religious figures within the basilica.

Marineland receives over a million visitors a year. See performances by trained sea creatures, including trained orcas, otters, and seals.

If your idea of a great day with the family includes heart-pounding rides, jaw-dropping 3D flicks, and 4D effects that fly you over oceans and take you surfing on titanic waves, then Futuroscope is your perfect destination. Blast off into outer space or take flight with birds of the natural world and find out exactly why this theme park is the second most-visited attraction in France. Since the park updates its attractions every year, there's always something new to see and do. Your kids will love dancing with robots, pedaling a propeller-driven machine inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, and discovering the fascinating ecology of dinosaurs of the deep sea--projected on a 3,000 sq-m (9,700 sq-ft), hemispherical screen.

Enjoy beautiful sweeping city views from Colline du Chateau overlook. Take the more than 100 steps up, and on a clear day, you can see the Alps as well as the town's beautiful parks.

Palais des Papes is the biggest Gothic palace in all of Europe, with 15,000 sq m (50,000 sq ft) of floor space. This was the residence of the sovereign pontiffs in the 14th century, and is today one of UNESCO's world heritage sites. Visit the chapels, cloister, ceremonial halls, and the Pope's private apartments, decorated with priceless frescoes. The Musée de l'Oeuvre within the palace describes the development and history of the building.

Cité de Carcassonne, a fully restored, fortified French town dates back more than 2,000 years. This site is widely considered one of the best examples of a well-preserved medieval city with heavy fortifications. A classic fortress on a high peak features architectural influences from the Romans, fifth-century Visigoths, and later occupants. You can explore two rings of fortified walls with battlements, conical towers, bridges, stone streets, and medieval buildings. A famous Gothic cathedral with carved stone columns and stained glass windows crowns the city.

Place Massena features broad pathways, contrasting colors, and notable surrounding buildings. From here, the old city is within easy reach, as are the sea and the main shopping thoroughfares. The square has seven resin statues representing the seven continents, created by Jaume Plensa, a Spanish artist who specialized in monumental art.

Musée Marc Chagall, founded in 1973, houses some of the best works of Marc Chagall. Chagall himself guided the architecture of the museum. Note the mosaic arching over a pond, and the blue stained glass that adorns the walls of the concert hall. View a famous series of 17 religious paintings, which Chagall offered to the French state in 1966. The museum hosts exhibitions on world religion, as per Chagall's wishes.

Follow your taste buds through the culinary landscape of Nice on a guided food tour. Walking around the city, you'll work up an appetite--easily satiated with morsels of French-Italian flavors common to Provence. Home of classics like Nicoise salad, the city is packed with food vendors and sit-down eateries serving mouthwatering specialties. Tours generally last about four hours, with food samples and wine included in the price.

Cathedrale Saint-Nicolas a Nice houses some of the greatest Tsarist art in France. The cathedral's construction was funded by Tsar Nicholas II, and devout Russian courtiers once visited regularly. Ownership of the structure was disputed for about half a decade, and was finally settled in favor of the Russian government.

Trek along the rustic Mediterranean scenery at Massif de l'Esterel, a protected mountain range spanning the French Riviera. The sight of these craggy porphyry cliffs fringed by dark vegetation and rising above an azure sea has inspired many writers and painters. Rugged terrain with deep ravines and old cork oak forests provide shelter to red deer, foxes, and wild boars. A national forest extends for 130 sq km (50 sq mi), crisscrossed with hiking and mountain biking trails featuring maritime and stone pines and strawberry trees. Enjoy the sound of cicadas and inhale the scents of rosemary, thyme, and lavender.

The Romans first settled Lérins Islands, a group of four Mediterranean islands which now belong to the commune of Cannes. Tiny, forested Île Sainte-Marguerite housed the fortress where the Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned for 11 years. His cell can be seen in the Museum of the Sea, which also houses archaeological discoveries from shipwrecks off the coast of the island. Guided tours in English are available. The other three islands are Île Saint-Honorat, Îlot Saint-Ferréol, and Îlot de la Tradelière, the last two of which are uninhabited. Île Saint-Honorat is now inhabited and run by monks, who pray and make wine in their leisure time. You can visit the 11th-century monastery ruins.

Entirely dedicated to the brilliant work of Pablo Picasso, Musee Picasso is housed in the Hôtel Salé in Paris. The collection holds more than 3,000 examples of Picasso’s work in all styles, including ceramics, sculptures in wood and metal, drawings, and paintings. You'll also see Picasso's personal collection of works by other artists, including Cézanne, Degas, Rousseau, Seurat, de Chirico, Matisse, and some of his African inspirations. Peruse news clippings and photographs that chronicle the artist's defining moments.