The official list of France’s most-visited national monuments for 2024 has been unveiled, showcasing some iconic landmarks and their impressive visitor numbers.
According to the Centre des Monuments Nationaux (CMN), the top two spots are held by the famed Arc de Triomphe, located in Paris, and the breathtaking Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, perched on the edge of Normandy. Released on January 6, 2025, the figures reveal significant insights about tourism trends across the nation.
Over 11 million people visited national monuments across France last year, maintaining figures similar to those from 2023. The top five monuments included:
- The Arc de Triomphe, Paris: 1.75 million visitors
- Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, Normandy: 1,480,031 visitors
- Sainte-Chapelle, Paris: 1,234,676 visitors
- The Panthéon, Paris: 922,426 visitors
- Château de Carcassonne, Occitanie: 643,882 visitors
Despite garnering the second position, Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey experienced a decline in visitor numbers, dropping from 1.52 million visitors recorded the previous year. CMN noted, “Despite reaching second place, Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey actually saw a fall in visitor numbers last year, compared to the 1.52 million seen in 2023.” The sharp rise witnessed during the 2023 millennium celebration, which attracted 23% more visitors than usual, contributed to this notable decrease.
While Mont-Saint-Michel faced declining figures, other national monuments enjoyed substantial increases. The CMN pointed out several national treasures such as:
- Château d'Angers (Pays de la Loire): 318,206 visitors, up 11% year-on-year.
- Basilica Cathedral of Saint Denis (Ile-de-France): 147,718 visitors, up 9%.
- Château d'If (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur): 116,299 visitors, up 9%.
- Château de Rambouillet (Ile-de-France): 79,139 visitors, up 28%.
- Villa Kérylos (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur): 61,708 visitors, up 18%.
- Château de Carrouges (Normandy): 33,551 visitors, up 20%.
The CMN also addressed the impact of the 2024 Olympic Games on visitor statistics. Although access restrictions and temporary closures hampered some Parisian monuments’ visitor numbers during the Olympic events, Paris's overall tourist appeal has seen revitalization. The institute remarked, “Paris’ tourist profile still increased during the Games. This gave the destination a new lease of life and enabled a sharp rise in visitor numbers to resume rapidly after the summer.”
This dynamic situation reveals not only the resilience of these historic sites but also highlights Paris's enduring allure as one of the world’s most frequented tourist destinations. The rich history and cultural significance of these monuments continue to draw millions, shaping France's identity and heritage.
With places like the Arc de Triomphe and Mont-Saint-Michel leading the charge, the future looks promising for French national monuments. The challenge lies not only in maintaining these visitor numbers but also ensuring these historic sites endure for generations to explore and appreciate.