20 of the most beautiful towns in France
Gordes, Vaucluse, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. Image credit: Instagram.com/pierrebaptistefl
Paris is one of the most beautiful cities on earth, hands down, no question. But beyond the capital, in the historic little towns that dot France’s incredibly diverse landscape, there are many enchanting villages to win your small-town heart.
Annecy, Haute-Savoie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Image credit: Instagram.com/lac_annecy_tourisme
Annecy (pictured above and below) is one of them. Known as the ‘Pearl of the French Alps’, this charming lakeside village has three canals and one river coursing through its old town, which dates back to medieval times. One of the most-flowered places in France, in spring the streets burst into bloom and traffic patiently waits while mother ducks escort their fuzzy ducklings across the main road to the lake – which is a remarkable shade of alpine aquamarine.
Annecy, Haute-Savoie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Image credit: Instagram.com/anamartafialho
Annecy’s neighbour, Chamonix (pictured below), is also worth a visit. The location of the world’s first Winter Olympics in 1924, it’s one of the oldest ski resorts in France, surrounded by peaks so high they will literally take your breath away – catch the cable car up to the Aiguille du Midi, almost four kilometres above sea level, and try taking the stairs to the lookout in the low-oxygen air. You’ll need more rests that you would at sea level, but the view on a clear day is astonishing.
Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Image credit: Instagram.com/daria_cranberry
Further south near the French Riviera lie the towns of Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie – between them the Verdon River has cut a spectacular seven hundred-metre canyon through the limestone cliffs (pictured below). A popular spot for kayaking and rock climbing, the water of the river is a striking turquoise which how it got its name – vert is French for green.
Verdon Gorge, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Image credit: Instagram.com/sennarelax
Scroll down to see more of the most enchanting small towns in France.
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Le Mont-Saint-Michel, Manche, Normandy
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Ribeauvillé, Haut-Rhin, Grand Est
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Turenne, Corrèze, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
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Étretat, Seine-Maritime, Normandy.
Image credit: Instagram.com/aleksi_ora
Èze, Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Image credit: Instagram.com/ig_occitania
Gordes, Vaucluse, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Image credit: Instagram.com/onesteptotheworld
Roussillon, Vaucluse, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Image credit: Instagram.com/tros1990
Goult, Vaucluse, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Image credit: Instagram.com/dagniee
Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Image credit: Instagram.com/julianontheroute
Valensole, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Image credit: Instagram.com/topcolmarphoto
Colmar, Haut-Rhin, Grand Est
Image credit: Instagram.com/filipjidon
Kaysersberg, Haut-Rhin, Alsace
Image credit: Instagram.com/alaingueranger
Autoire, Lot
Image credit: Instagram.com/canonfrance
Rocamadour, Lot
Image credit: Instagram.com/bourgognefranchecomte_tourisme
Vézelay, Yonne, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Image credit: Instagram.com/alaingueranger
Carcassonne, Aude, Occitanie
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