6 Quintessential French Towns Travelers Recommend for a Longer Stay
Choosing the perfect French town for a relaxed stay isn’t easy. France is full of beautiful places, and each region feels different.
Travelers who’ve stayed in these towns say the hardest part isn’t finding a beautiful place, but choosing between so many good options!
If you’re looking for a town that feels truly French – old, beautiful, walkable, and full of food and wine – travelers who’ve spent time on the ground have strong opinions about where to go.
Here are the towns they recommend most.
1. Colmar (Alsace)
Colmar comes up again and again as the kind of small town people dream about. Travelers who compare it to Strasbourg say Colmar is smaller, quieter, and has a magical feel that’s hard to match.
Its colorful timber-framed houses, winding canals, and storybook streets make it feel like something straight out of a fairytale. Some even say Colmar looks like it inspired the towns in Beauty and the Beast and Howl’s Moving Castle.
A fantastic cocktail of French food, wine culture, and German-influenced architecture. Colmar also has a strong photography appeal, with every street corner looking like a postcard.
2. Annecy (Haute-Savoie)
Annecy is another favorite that travelers say checks every box. Nestled between the mountains and a crystal-clear lake, it feels peaceful but not at all isolated.
The old town is packed with canals, cafés, and vibrant market streets. Travelers who stay there rave about biking around the lake, taking day trips to Chamonix, and hiking into the surrounding hills.
In the summer, while weekends are lively, it never feels overwhelmingly crowded like bigger cities.
One drawback some mention is that it can get pricey. There’s also the rare late frost in early June. But overall, Annecy gets called magical, welcoming, and picture-perfect over and over again.
3. Beaune (Burgundy)
Beaune gets described as unbelievably French. A medieval walled town in the heart of Burgundy’s wine country, surrounded by vineyards and dotted with historic architecture.
Travelers love Beaune’s slower pace, bustling market days, and easy access to the surrounding wine villages.
It’s small enough to feel intimate but large enough to have great restaurants, cafés, and services.
Many travelers who choose Beaune for a base say they end up falling in love with the rhythm of the town:cmorning markets, leisurely lunches, afternoon wine tastings, and evening strolls through ancient streets.
4. Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and Other Small Villages in Provence
When it comes to Provence, seasoned travelers recommend skipping the bigger towns like Aix and Avignon in favor of smaller villages.
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence comes up often for its peaceful charm and connection to Van Gogh, who painted some of his most famous works nearby. It’s surrounded by olive groves, lavender fields, and Roman ruins.
From Saint-Rémy, you can easily take weekend trips to Les Baux-de-Provence, the Luberon hill towns, or the Mediterranean coast.
Uzès is another strong pick, a little less known but beloved for its stone streets, markets, and relaxed atmosphere.
Travelers who spend time in these villages say they offer the classic French experience without the crowds or commercial feel of larger cities.
5. Loire Valley (Amboise, Chinon, Tours)
Instead of focusing on one town, many travelers suggest basing yourself in the Loire Valley and exploring from there.
Amboise and Chinon get special praise for being beautiful, livable, and packed with historic character.
Tours is more practical for transport connections but feels a little less quaint compared to the smaller towns.
Travelers who stay in this region love biking between vineyards and castles, finding markets in each village, and soaking up the slower countryside lifestyle.
The Loire Valley is also praised for being one of the best places in France for easy cycling, with bike-friendly trains and dedicated routes following the river.
6. Sarlat-la-Canéda (Dordogne)
For an alliance of medieval beauty, countryside charm, and incredible food, travelers say Sarlat-la-Canéda in the Dordogne region is a near-perfect choice.
The old town is a labyrinth of golden stone buildings and narrow streets, surrounded by rivers, cliffs, and deep forests.
From Sarlat, you can easily visit famous villages like Beynac and Domme, paddle down the Dordogne River, or tour the area’s many castles.
The food scene is also amazing, with local markets overflowing with cheeses, truffles, and foie gras.
Travelers who stay here say it feels deeply French and wonderfully removed from the rush of modern life.