The 20 largest cities in France

The 41st largest country in the world, France has 64.5 million inhabitants in 36,681 municipalities. What are the 20 largest cities in France?

41 ème The largest country in the world with an area of 672 051 km2 including metropolitan France, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane, La Réunion, Mayotte, Nouvelle-Calédonie, French Polynesia, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Wallis-et-Futuna, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy and the French Southern and Antarctica (TA)

France has 64.5 million inhabitants in its territory in 36,681 municipalities, 101 departments and 26 regions. Here is the ranking of the 20 largest cities in France!

1. Paris

Paris is no longer a city to present. Capital of France, City of Light, seat of the most beautiful avenue in the world, the most beautiful city on the planet, the superlatives related to the main city of Île-de-France are almost intractable. It is also the largest city in France with a population of around 2.2 million inhabitants.

As far as the city itself is concerned, its places of interest are no longer to be listed. Especially the Louvre Museum , Eiffel Tower or even the Pantheon and the Elysée, the Champs Élysée and the Seine.

2. Marseille

Marseille is the second largest city in France with a total population encrypted to 862 211 inhabitants. Second third metropolis of the country and second Olympian city of the Hexagon, its football club OM (Olympique de Marseille) is also one of the most prestigious clubs in our country. He is also the only one in France who won the Champions League a few decades ago in his previous form.

Among its places of interest include Parc National des Calanques , the Canebière, the Château d’If , La Major Cathedral or Borély Park as the main places of interest.

3. Lyon

Lyon is a city renowned for its culture, but also for its quality of life. Let’s not forget the Olympique Lyonnais, which is one of France’s most prestigious football clubs. The city of Lyon is the third largest in France with a population estimated at 515,695 inhabitants.

The city has the Museum of Cinema and Miniature, the Cathedral of Notre Dame des Fourvière, the Wall of Canuts and the Museum of Confluences as places of interest...

4. Toulouse

Toulouse is another French cultural centre, which ranks fourth with a population estimated at 475,438 inhabitants. The city of Toulouse has the Capitole of Toulouse, the Place du Capitole, the Cité de l’espace or the Musée des Augustins, the botanical garden or the Aéronautical Museum as the main places of interest.

5. Nice

If there is a city where one must spend at least once in his life his summer vacation is Nice. In the absolute there are 342 637 inhabitants. Its places of interest are especially its beaches.

However, the Colline du Château, the Palais de Lascaris, the Parc Phœnix, Place Massena and the unmissable Promenade des Anglais are also places to visit at a cost.

6. Nantes

If there is a city to visit at any price in the Pays de la Loire, it is well Nantes. A cultural and technological centre in France, it houses 306,694 inhabitants and dozens of places of interest.

The most relevant are the Jules Verne Museum, the Cathedral of Nantes, the Machines of the Island of Nantes, the Monument of the Abolition of Slavery and the Tour of Brittany.

7. Montpellier

The second city of the Occitanie region, Montpellier is part of France's most imposing historical landmarks. There are now 281 613 inhabitants and an incalculable number of places of interest.

Among them the Promenade du Peyrou, Place de la Comédie, Zoological Museum and the Cathedral of Montpellier. Visiting this city is definitely adopting it.

8. Strasbourg

Situated in the eighth place of the 20 largest cities in France, Strasbourg is home to 279,284 inhabitants. The Notre Dame Cathedral of Strasbourg, the Parc de l’Orangerie, the Vaisseau and Petite France are among the places of interest in Strasbourg.

9. Bordeaux

The Ninth city of France, Bordeaux, located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, is now one of the most attractive cities in France. Bordeaux is one of the cities to visit in France, after Paris. Renowned for its wine industry that transcends land and sea borders, the city of Bordeaux has 252,040 inhabitants, which justifies its ninth place in this classification.

Among its places of interest are the Place de la Bourse, the Cathedral of Bordeaux, the mythical and famous Place des Quinconques or the Pont de pierre. Without forgetting the Jacques Chaban-Delmas Bridge which attracts thousands of curious travelers every year.

10. Lille

Lille is one of the largest cities in North France. Located in the Hauts-de-France region, it houses 232,440 inhabitants and has many places of interest. Including for example the Grande Place, the Northern Furet Bookshop, the Lillois Fusilles, the Monument to the Maréchal Foch or Old Town.

11. Rennes

Rennes is located in Brittany and is one of the historic cities of France. Today, inhabited by 216,268 people, she points to the eleventh place of France’s most populous cities. The Parc du Thabor, the Champs Libres, the Parc des Gayeulles and the Cathedral of Rennes are among its places of interest.

12. Reims

City of the Grand Est region, Reims is home to 183 113 inhabitants and thus points to the twelfth place of this ranking on the 20 largest cities in France. Among its places of interest are the Cathedral of Reims, the Palace of the Tau, the Basilica of Saint-Remi, the Museum-Hotel Le Vergeur and Fort de la Pompelle, not to mention the Place Royale which scintillates with a thousand lights.

13. Saint-Étienne

Saint-Étienne is located in the heart of France, another city with a history of history. The city is therefore an important crossroads for who would like to join Lyon, Toulouse or any other metropolis of the area. Saint-Étienne has 171 924 inhabitants.

Among the places of interest worth the visit are the Natural Regional Park Pilat, Saint-Pierre or the Museum of Mine.

14. Le Havre

The main coastal square in northern France, Le Havre is located in the Normandy region. With 170,352 inhabitants, it houses a multitude of places of interest. Including the Oscar Niemeyer Library, the Abbey of Graville, Place Général de Gaulle or the Pain de Sucre.

15. Toulon

The city of Toulon is full of history. Located in the south of France, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, it houses mythical places and historical sites such as the Mémorial du Débarquement et de la Libération de la Provence, la Porte d’Italie or la Place Puget.

There are also beaches that host tens of thousands of tourists each year. Toulon currently has 169,634 inhabitants.

16. Grenoble

Renowned for its rapids and architectural heritage, Grenoble is the site of several places of interest. Including the Regional Natural Park of Vercors or the Archaeological Museum.

A European scientific centre, the capital of the Alps, renowned for its ski resorts but above all one of the oldest cities in France, Grenoble points to the sixteenth place of our ranking with an estimated population of 158,180.

17. Dijon

Another city in the past full of history, Dijon is located in the heart of France. The city is therefore an important crossroads for who would like to join Lyon, Toulouse or any other metropolis of the area. Dijon has 155,090 inhabitants.

18. Angers

Angers is part of the long list of French cities with a rich historical heritage. This includes one of the most beautiful and luxurious Hôtel de Ville de l’Hexagone, which manages a population of more than 151,229 inhabitants.

19. Nimes

Nîmes is probably the most emblematic city of the ancient past of France. The main places of interest of the city recall the Roman domination of this part of France which has left many traces as: Arenas of Nimes , passing through the Maison Carrée, not forgetting the Jardin De La Fontaine. The town of Nîmes is now home to 151,001 inhabitants.

20. Villeurbanne

Commune bordering Lyon, the city counted in 2016 149,019 inhabitants. Today it is the most populous suburban town of France!