A Rugby Lover’s Guide to the Best of France

Saint-Denis (Paris)

The opening game and Final will take place at the Stade de France, the nation’s largest stadium, in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis.

The city of love has no end to its list of incredible attractions, the only challenge will be fitting them all into your trip! From art galleries including the Louvre, to the gothic Notre Dame cathedral, the city is bursting at the seams with rich culture and history.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a trip to Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower but if you have time, we recommend venturing outside of Paris to the Palace of Versailles where you’ll find incredible art, architecture and royal history.

Saint-Étienne

The base city for the Wallabies, and host to two of the Aussie team’s matches, Saint-Étienne is located about an hour's drive from Lyon. Having transformed itself into a creative arts hub, the city has earned itself the UNESCO City of Design label. Everywhere you go, you’ll find quirky, vibrant and modern architecture, with many former industrial sites now used as art spaces. One example of this is the Cité du Design, with the former weapon factory now home to several design exhibitions.

Villeneuve-d'Ascq (Lille)

Located in the north of France, this suburb of Lille will hold one of the host nation’s matches against Uruguay. Lille’s heritage is evident through its 17th-century buildings, cobblestone streets, and intimate courtyards. With a bustling gastronomic scene and dozens of microbreweries to explore, you won’t want to miss the highly-recommended Le Capsule. Other attractions include the old stock exchange building (La Vieille Bourse), the Grand Place, and the Town Hall Belfry.

Toulouse

Also known as La Ville Rose (the pink city) due to the terracotta bricks used in many of its buildings, Toulouse features a vibrant music scene within a stunning old town. Fascinatingly, the city is home to Europe’s largest space centre. Top attractions in Toulouse include the Place du Capitole, the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, and by night, the stunning Garonne River.

Nice

One of France’s most gorgeous cities, Nice is situated on the Côte d'Azur (the French Riviera). The colourful and lively city has plentiful options for drinking, dining and shopping, but if lounging by the beach is more your thing, the pebbly shores of Nice are perfect for just that. Visit the Promenade des Anglais, Opera Beach or Villefranche-sur-Mer for sapphire-blue waters and glorious Mediterranean sunshine.

Marseille

France’s second biggest city features grand metropolitan allure with pockets of natural Mediterranean beauty and mouthwatering food options. For the city’s best architecture, we recommend exploring the Roman Ruins at the Museum of the Roman Docks near the Old Port, or venturing outside the city to the Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct, the Théâtre d’Orange Roman amphitheatre in Orange and the Roman Arena in Arles.

For dinner, you can indulge in bouillabaisse and an aperitif at one of the many waterfront restaurants and enjoy the sunset against the mountainous backdrop. Alternatively, you can watch the sunset from the top of the Notre Dame de la Garde Cathedral, boasting panoramic views of the entire city.