Four Great Little Towns in France to Visit
France has always been one of my favorite countries to visit. I have been there three times, and each time I go I end up finding a new favorite village or town. The amount of cool little towns to get lost in are endless, and narrowing this list down to four was not easy. These aren’t necessarily the four BEST towns, but they are definitely four worth visiting if you get the chance. Getting to France seems to get easier every time I go to Europe as well. Whether it’s taking advantage of the cheap airfares from the budget airlines, or taking a train from Germany, or even by boat! One of the best ways to travel to France from UK is via the cross channel ferry. There are a lot of operators to choose from, but ferry operator Brittany Ferries has the widest choice of departures (Portsmouth, Plymouth or Poole) and they travel to Cherbourg, St Malo, Caen, Le Havre or Roscoff.
Here are four great little towns to try and visit next time you are in France:
1. Etretat
Étretat is located in Normandy, but not the part of Normandy that most people think of (i.e. WWII battlefields of Normandy). Instead it’s located in Upper Normandy and overlooks the English Channel. The town is very small but has a one of the most beautiful ways you can spend a morning in France: Hike at sunrise to the church of Notre Dame de la Garde and enjoy the views of the amazing beachside cliffs. You won’t regret it!
2. Saint Cado
Saint Cado is one of those towns you say you’ve never heard of until you see a photo of it and say “Oh yeah! I’ve seen that in a post card!” The scenic village is actually a former sardine port, and it is only connected to the mainland by one small stone bridge. The village is strikingly beautiful, full of former oyster farmer cottages, and even a chapel that dates back to the 12th-century. The town can be seen in less than half of a day, so it’s worth making to trip if you are in Northwest France.
3. Simiane-la-Rotonde
Located at the extreme south-western end of the Alpes de Haute Provence, close to the border with Vaucluse is the picturesque village of Simiane-la-Rotunde. According to the locals, Simiane is the place where Alpine and Mediterranean influences meet. The village is built on a hill overlooking lush lavender fields. What isn’t to like about that thought! The town even features a castle, and there are tours given to educate yourself on the history of the lavender industry. The town actually features the largest cooperative for the production of lavender in all of France!
4. Tournon-d’Agenais
Another town built atop of a hill, Tournon-d’Agenais is a medieval town overlooking the valley of the Boudouysso. One of the best parts of being in Tournon is that it is the country of pies. Fresh, warm, delicious pies! In fact, every August, there is actually a festival just for pies. If you had to pick one month to visit, I would pick August! The town also features a really cool lunar clock that is not to be missed either!
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