Well, hello to you, my reader chums! I've never had the chance to properly explore France before, apart from Paris, however, I headed on a French road trip to attend one of my best friend's wedding in the south and along the way, my partner and other best friend got to experience and visit a couple of cities which we absolutely loved.

If you're driving from the Eurotunnel to southern France, here are the best 3 French cities to visit on a road trip.

Rouen 

Rouen is a fairytale-like city in northwestern France, capital of Normandy and about 2-2.5 hours from the Eurotunnel. I adored this city in every way. I didn't know what to expect when I added it to the driving itinerary, however, it exceeded expectations.

Rouen featured many gorgeous buildings, which reminded me of Beauty and the Beast. I felt like I was living my favourite Disney film out in real life. The city was bustling with quaint cafes, restaurants, bakeries and gorgeous sights. I was only there for a few hours, but having a mooch was enough to enjoy the essence of the city. I visited the Rouen Cathedral, the famous clock tower and roamed along the various cobbled paths. 

Poitiers 

Poitiers was the opposite of Rouen in terms of that bustling energy. The charm of Poitiers was how quiet and serene it was, yet the beauty shone through in every way. Poitiers is a city on the River Clain in western France, and I absolutely loved its wholesome energy. The architecture and cobbled streets made me gasp at every turn, as it was just so beautiful. There's no other way to explain it than peaceful, grand and dreamy.

The main centre of Poitiers gave me that completely holiday feel as everyone dined outside, eating their dinners, drinking wine late into the night. The shops were a mixture between quaint and independent, classic French supermarkets, and must-visit cafes and restaurants, too. It's not a huge place, but there are gorgeous sights, such as cathedrals and chapels.

Tours 

Tours is the capital of the Loire Valley and a university city with a unique charm. I was obsessed with this city as the buildings were enough to draw me in with their different colours and Gothic facade. Tours is quite a big place and the striking architecture is enough to keep you busy for a few hours, especially with the cathedral Saint-Gatien.

Tours had a town feel for a city because, despite the bustling nature, the charm of its sights and cute shops gave a wholesome and community appeal. I loved roaming around it and could have happily explored more if we had the time!

I hope you enjoyed this post. Have you visited these places?

Thank you for reading <3