Aigue Mortes: This medieval walled city was once a seaport where Crusaders left for Jerusalem. The buildings are all old, and mostly devoted to tourist gift shops, but it still has a Church used by Crusaders and what looks like the original lighthouse.

Amboise:This beautiful little city in the Loire Valley has a spectacular chateau – actually a castle – and another Renaissance chateau called Clos Luce in which Leonardo da Vinci lived.  Clos Luce contains working models of many of his inventions.

Amiens: The Cathedral is certainly one of the most beautiful. Inside are many plaques sponsored by the survivors of the Battle of the Somme in World War I and dedicated to their fallen comrades. Amiens was in the center of the Somme battle area.

Arles: This city has lots of Roman ruins--an arena, a theater, baths, part of a forum, and a great museum devoted to the archeological evidence. It also has a large medieval wall surrounding a great many ancient buildings still in use, and a walk with marked stops on the way that show the places that Vincent Van Gogh painted before he entered a mental hospital which also is here.

Avignon: From 1305 to 1378, this was the acknowledged home of the Papacy. In 1378, the Pope returned to Rome. The French Cardinals disapproved of this move, and twice elected their own Popes, who stayed in Avignon until 1403. The Palace itself is huge, ornate, and suitably elegant for Princes of the Church.  The town still has half of a very old bridge that once crossed the Rhone River. It was made famous in the song "Sur le pont d'Avignon".

Les Baux: Built by the Romans (with their fortifications still visible) high up in the mountains, this town is full of medieval buildings and tiny, ancient streets not suitable for modern vehicles. Once voted "The Most Beautiful Village in France"!

Bayeux: The city of William the Conqueror, it houses the eleventh century "Bayeux Tapestry" which is really an enormously long embroidered (literally and figuratively) telling of the story of the conquering of Britain, according to the victors. There also is a magnificent Cathedral started by William's brother, Bishop Odo here.

Bertangles: There is a chateau here in this small town. During World War I, the town was the command center of the Austrian Army. It is also where the life and flying career of Baron von Richthoven, the World War I German air ace known as the Red Baron, ended when he was shot down by a British or Australian pilot flying a Sopwith Camel.