France is, quite simply, a beautiful country. From the symmetrical grandeur of the Haussmann era buildings in Paris, to the run-down stone farm buildings in the countryside, and everything in between. There are some beautiful cities in France that have my heart, not to mention the delightful towns and villages too. Here are some of my favourites, in no particular order, with photos as proof of their beauty!
My favourite beautiful cities & towns in France
Paris
Ok, so I said there was no order to this list, but I couldn’t not put Paris first. She is my queen and my heart. My soul-city. I have written about Paris so often, from my beginner’s guide, to my favourite cafés, hidden gems, and even a dog-friendly guide to Paris. I have been captivated by the architecture, the food, and by the romance and myth of the history of Paris since I first visited in 1999.
In Paris, I feel an invisible string pulling at my heart, never wanting me to leave – it is magnetic!
Verteuil-sur-Charente
Verteuil is located on the Charente River near Ruffec in South West France. This delightful fairytale town sits in the shadow of the Chateau de Verteuil and is famous for its brioche! It is particularly convivial on a sunny summer’s day when you can sit near the river, feed the swans, and partake in a glass of wine or two. I recommend the Moulin de Verteuil, where flour for the brioche is still made!
Lyon
Often seen to be in competition with Paris, Lyon is a different beast altogether. Sitting on the confluence of two rivers, Lyon is definitely the city for foodies. The famous Bouchons serve up meaty treats for the more adventurous types. For something more traditional, the Salade Lyonnaise is a real treat.
Did you know that the fountain pictured below was designed by the same man who created the Statue of Liberty in New York? Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi designed this statue before he was famous, but it was only realised years later. A weekend in Lyon is a must.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is definitely an underrated city in France. With just as much grandeur and history as Lyon, the location is perhaps why it is overlooked. Sitting on the Atlantic coast of France, half way down the country, Bordeaux is a gem of the South West. And guess what? It also is home to a wine museum! Now, if that isn’t a winning combination, I don’t know what is.
On your visit to to Bordeaux, I recommend a steak dinner at L’Entrecôte – pick your wine and tuck into the only item on the menu!
Visiting France by motorhome? The Gap Decaders have great advice on Motorhome Holidays in France!
Montmorillon
Most people don’t know where Montmorillon is. But I think it really is a place more people should know about. Montmorillon is the City of Writing and Book Trades, famous for its calligraphy, paper, and book shops. It is also where macarons were invented – they even have a Macaron Museum!
Montmorillon sits on the Gartempe River and has the most gorgeous photogenic old bridge (pictured below), as well as a picturesque old town and main square. Montmorillon sits about 50kms east of Poitiers in South West France.
Sarlat-la-Canéda
Sarlat is a recent discovery of mine. This gorgeous medieval town in the Dordogne is beautifully preserved and is a treat to visit. Known for its foie gras, walnuts and duck dishes, Sarlat is an indulgent place on every level.
The old walled town of Sarlat-la-Canéda hosts incredible markets and plenty of events in its main square. It gets very busy in summer, as much of the Dordogne Valley are also does, so I would recommend an off season visit. Be prepared for lots of rich dinners, some delicious walnut wine, and delightful little shops.
Sète
Sète very nearly didn’t make my list, but then I remembered this photo of the reflections on the canals. The Venice of France, Sète sits out on a spit of land right on the Mediterranean Sea. Canals criss-cross this beautiful town and make it a perfect spot for boating and people-watching.
Being in the South of France means that the weather is glorious and boating is a common pastime. Nearby is the popular beach of Marseillan Plage, and the funky city of Montpellier. Time your visit for the Saint Louis’ Festival, where the inhabitants of Sète put on a water-jousting show!
Nice
Stick to the old town and port in Nice, and ignore the rest. I don’t have time for the new town in Nice, but the old town is just gorgeous. The Old Town has a vibe very much like the Latin Quarter in Paris, and it has the advantage of being right next to the beach.
You can go from the markets and shops of the old town, via the gelato shop, and then to hanging out at the beach within minutes. It is a slice of heaven, especially when a glass of dry Provençal Rosé wine is added to the equation. Check out my guide to 24 Hours in Nice.
Brantôme
The tranquil town of Brantôme is part of the French pilgrimage route. Offering rich history and astounding beauty, Brantôme is perfect for a day trip if you are visiting the Dordogne area. Kayak down the river, have lunch overlooking the Abbey, and learn more about the grottos.
Beautiful Cities & Towns in France
There are so many more beautiful cities in France than those I have mentioned here, but these are some of my highlights. It seems like everywhere I turn I find a new and more stunning French city or town, and I have more than half the country still to discover. In the coming year I look forward to discovering the joys of Toulouse, Carcassonne, Niort, Colmar and Strasbourg amongst others. Have you been to France? What were your favourite cities and towns?
Read more about more of my adventures exploring France:
Visiting Beaune in Burgundy, and the Fête de la Musique festival.
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All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + iPhone.
France has so many beautiful places. I’d never heard of Montmorillon, but as an avid writer and lover of pen & paper i’m now really keen to go there and see more.
I’m Glad Sarlat has made your list – it’s stunning isn’t it? As for Lyons if I stayed there too long I’d end up barrel shaped. I like Avignon too and Chambery. oh, and Reims in the Champagne region…So much to explore. I haven’t been to Sete or Nice, so definately something to look forward to.
Ah, france is one of the two favorite countries in europe (the other one being italy). I haven’t seen all the cities on your list and there are some that look quite intriguing. Like Sète, or Sarlat-la-Canéda. I’d love to visit some of those markets someday.
I have only been to paris. I would love to go back to france and see other cities. So much beauty.
France is a country you’re not gonna run out of positive adjectives to describe! while paris where the majority spend all their time, i would like to go there for a day or two only then see other less touristy like Sète, bordeaux and nice 🙂
Lots of places to add to my list here. I’ve only been to Paris and Lille properly and enjoyed both. I did a school coach trip to Spain too but I have no recollection of where we stopped along the way, mostly service stations i think so there’s still a lot of the country for me to explore. i’d recommend lille if you’ve never been
Thanks for the tip! I’ve never visited Lille, so will put that on my ever-growing list!
I have so many more places to visit in france. 😉 My favorite (so far) has been the brittany region and nice. paris may be in the works for 2019.
I certainly share your love of Paris. So glad to return now and not have to do the typical tourist visits. Verteuil does look like a fairytale town. If the brioche is that good here, I would not be tempted to feed it to the swans. But then Montmorillon also looks like such a great spot to visit. Lyon is on my travel wish list. This foodie city is calling to me. But I smiled when I saw Sarlat on your list. A good friend of mine spent several weeks there and teased me with pics on a regular basis. It is definitely time to return to France.
Come visit!
I do love France, although I haven’t travelled around for a while! Paris is gorgeous of course, but the charm of smaller villages is hard to beat. I loved Sete, although I haven’t heard of Montmorillon I’ve added it to my list!
Sarlat-la-Canéda looks like my kind of place, really want to try the walnut wine. I haven’t heard of Verteuil-sur-Charente and will add it (and brioche) to my France list
This is quite a unique list. I learnt a few new names to visit in France. In fact, have added Sarlat La Canada to my list. I have always wanted to do Bordeaux and Lyon and am glad to see that on the list