20 Beautiful Villages to Visit in the French Countryside

Which part of France has the best countryside?

There isn't one single "best" French countryside region — it depends on the landscapes and experiences you're looking for. Provence is known for hilltop stone villages, lavender fields, and olive groves; Burgundy and Champagne for vineyards and wine villages; Brittany for dramatic coastline and historic granite villages; Normandy for green countryside, half-timbered architecture, and coastal towns and villages; and the Dordogne and Loire Valley for river landscapes, castles and historic villages.

If beautiful villages are your priority, the 20 places below are some of our favorites around France.

And if our post inspires you to want to see these wonderful places with your own eyes, you may like to browse our French countryside self-drive tours.

Provins, Île-de-France

Best for medieval history and an easy countryside stop from Paris.

Just 60 miles southeast of Paris, Provins gives visitors a remarkably well-preserved glimpse of medieval France. Its fortified gates, ramparts, underground passages and historic upper town reflect the importance of Provins as a medieval trading center, now recognized through its UNESCO World Heritage status.

Walk through the cobbled streets of the upper town before visiting the Tour César, a 12th-century keep with views over the surrounding countryside, and the Saint-Quiriace Collegiate Church. You can also explore Les Souterrains de Provins, a network of underground passages that date back centuries and have been used for various purposes throughout the town's history.

Provins also hosts an annual medieval festival in June, when the town's trading-fair history comes back to life.

France Just For You Tip: If you enjoy history, Provins is an easy way to include a French village experience in a self-drive itinerary without traveling too far from Paris.

Ville-Dommange, Champagne

Best for vineyard walks and Champagne tasting close to Reims.

Ville-Dommange is a small village surrounded by vineyards just outside Reims. From Saint-Lié Church, which overlooks the surrounding vines, you get a good sense of the landscape that defines this part of Champagne.

You can park at the southern end of the village and take a walk through the vineyards. The route can be as short or as long as you like, and it's relatively easy to find your way between the plots without following a formal walking trail. Please remember that the vines and grapes are private property and shouldn't be touched.

We also like Champagne Florent Bergeronneau-Marion, a small independent family Champagne house where visitors can taste a wide range of Champagnes, including Pinot Meunier-based wines, vintages and Blanc de Blancs.

France Just For You Tip: Ville-Dommange is a good place to combine a relaxed vineyard walk with a tasting if you'd like to tour the Champagne region of France. We can incorporate stops like this into an itinerary according to your interests.

Vézelay, Burgundy

Best for Romanesque architecture, pilgrimage history and exploring the Burgundy countryside.

Vézelay is a hilltop village with a long religious and pilgrimage history. Its basilica is known for its Romanesque architecture, and for centuries the village has been associated with pilgrims traveling towards Santiago de Compostela. You may still encounter groups of pilgrims — including groups of scouts — passing through today.

Beyond its religious heritage, Vézelay is surrounded by vineyards and rolling French countryside. If you're interested in wine, it's worth allowing enough time to explore the countryside around the village and include a tasting at one of the local wineries.

France Just For You Tip: We recommend combining Vézelay with a winery visit rather than treating it simply as a quick sightseeing stop. If we're planning your trip, we'll suggest wineries that work well with your route and preferences.

Giverny, Normandy

Best for Monet fans, garden lovers and anyone interested in Impressionist art.

Giverny is best known as the home of Claude Monet. The artist's pink house and gardens became the inspiration for many of his most famous paintings, particularly the water lilies. The Japanese garden, pond and green bridge will be immediately recognizable to anyone familiar with his work.

Although Monet's major original works are held in museums elsewhere, visiting Claude Monet's house and gardens at Giverny gives useful context to the landscapes and colors that inspired him.

The gardens change throughout the growing season as different plants come into flower. May through August tend to be the busiest months.

France Just For You Tip: Visiting earlier or later in the day can help you avoid the busiest periods. For travelers on our self-guided tours of Normandy who particularly enjoy gardens or Impressionist art, we can include Giverny in the itinerary and arrange the appropriate tickets.

Locronan, Brittany

Best for preserved Breton architecture and a leisurely village walk.

In Finistère, Locronan is known for its granite Renaissance houses, slate roofs and remarkably well-preserved historic center. The village has been recognized as a Petite Cité de Caractère, reflecting the architectural and historic character that has been preserved here.

A good place to start exploring is Place de l'Église, surrounded by old stone buildings and centered around the church and historic well.

From the square, you can wander through the smaller streets around the village. Rue des Charrettes and Rue du Four form a useful loop, while the narrow Venelle Toul Prichen is another pleasant route to explore on foot.

France Just For You Tip: The tourist office has a suggested walking route, but if you're booking a driving tour of Brittany with us, we'll also share our favorite places to stop and walking routes in and around Locronan.

Rochefort-en-Terre, Brittany

Best for flower-filled streets, artists' studios and a relaxed taste of inland Brittany.

Rochefort-en-Terre, in Brittany's Morbihan department, is a small historic village known for its stone houses, château, cobbled streets and abundant floral displays.

It has been included among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (France's Most Beautiful Villages), while its flowers are another important part of the village's identity.

As you explore, you'll find artists' studios, antique shops and small independent businesses. It's also a good place to stop for a traditional Breton crêpe and browse for locally made souvenirs.

France Just For You Tip: Allow yourself time to wander rather than arriving with a long sightseeing checklist. Rochefort-en-Terre works particularly well as a slower stop during a tour of Brittany.

Montrésor, Loire Valley

Best for a peaceful riverside walk, château views and a quieter side of the Loire Valley.

Montrésor sits on the Indrois River, with its château and Renaissance houses rising above the water. One of the nicest ways to experience the village is simply to follow the riverside path, where you'll pass small bridges and get views back towards the château.

The village also hosts cultural events and exhibitions throughout the year. In July and August, Les Nuits Solaires de Montrésor bring evening events and illuminations to the village.

France Just For You Tip: Montrésor is a good choice if you'd like to balance the Loire Valley's famous châteaux with smaller villages and quieter stops. Browse our sample Loire Valley tours to see how we combine different experiences in the region.

Riquewihr, Alsace

Best for half-timbered architecture, Alsace wine and Christmas atmosphere.

Surrounded by vineyards in Alsace, Riquewihr is one of the region's best-known wine villages. Its colorful half-timbered houses and compact historic center make it particularly enjoyable to explore on foot.

The Dolder Tower, dating from the 13th century, marks one of the village's most recognizable entrances. Other historic buildings include the Thieves' Tower and Winegrower's House, both of which offer further insight into Riquewihr's history and architecture.

The village is also known for Riesling and other Alsace wines, making it an easy place to combine sightseeing with wine tasting.

In winter, Riquewihr hosts a traditional Christmas market.

France Just For You Tip: Riquewihr is very popular, so we recommend thinking about timing as well as what you want to see there. We can include it in any of our Alsace tours and build the rest of the day around the village.

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Pyrenees

Best for Basque culture, Pyrenees views and Camino de Santiago history.

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port lies in the French Basque Country at the foot of the Pyrenees. Its traditional white-and-red Basque houses, historic streets and mountain setting give the village a character very different from rural communities elsewhere in France.

Rue de la Citadelle leads through the historic center towards Notre-Dame-du-Bout-du-Pont. For broader views over the village and surrounding Pyrenees, you can climb towards the Citadel of Mendiguren, although the route is steep.

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is also one of the best-known French starting points for the Camino de Santiago, so you'll often see pilgrims preparing to cross the Pyrenees.

France Just For You Tip: Don't feel that you have to tackle the steepest walk to enjoy the village — there are easier routes too. We particularly recommend Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to travelers taking one of our Basque Country tours who are interested in local culture, history or walking.

Gordes, Provence

Best for classic Provence scenery, local markets and historic stone architecture.

Built from pale local stone above the Luberon Valley, Gordes is one of Provence's best-known hilltop villages. Its narrow streets contain galleries, shops and cafés, with views opening out across the surrounding countryside.

On Tuesday mornings, the village hosts its weekly market, where you'll find food, regional produce and crafts.

Nearby, the Village des Bories contains traditional dry-stone buildings constructed without mortar and offers an interesting look at the region's rural architectural heritage.

Also close to Gordes is the Abbaye de Sénanque, a 12th-century Cistercian abbey surrounded by lavender fields.

France Just For You Tip: Gordes works particularly well as part of a full day exploring the Luberon rather than as an isolated stop. We regularly include it for travelers booking one of our Provence tours.

Ploumanac’h, Brittany

Best for coastal walks, pink granite scenery and fresh seafood.

On Brittany's northern coast, Ploumanac'h is known for the enormous pink-granite boulders that line the shore. Wind and water have shaped the rocks into unusual formations, creating a coastline quite unlike the landscapes elsewhere in France.

The natural harbor and pink-granite lighthouse add to the scenery, while coastal paths make this an excellent place for walking.

Waterfront restaurants are also a good place to try seafood, oysters or Breton fish soup.

France Just For You Tip: If you enjoy walking, tell us — we'll recommend our favorite routes around Ploumanac'h. You can also browse our top Brittany self guided tours to see how the coast can fit into a wider Brittany itinerary.

Ainhoa, Basque Country

Best for Basque architecture, local food and a quieter village experience.

Ainhoa is a small village in the French Basque Country, recognizable by its traditional white houses with colorful timber details. Walking along the main street gives you a particularly good view of the symmetry and distinctive architecture of these Basque homes.

The village's character goes beyond its architecture. Local festivals continue to celebrate Basque traditions, while restaurants and markets offer opportunities to try regional specialties including gâteau basque and pintxos.

France Just For You Tip: Ainhoa is an excellent choice if you'd like to experience Basque culture away from the larger coastal towns. We can incorporate it into a tour of the Basque Country along with other villages, scenic drives and local food experiences.

Flavigny, Burgundy

Best for medieval streets, local traditions and the famous scent of aniseed candy.

One of the first things you may notice in Flavigny is the scent of anise. Aniseed candies have been produced in the village for centuries, and they make an easy local souvenir to take home.

The narrow streets lead past old stone buildings towards the abbey, while small shops sell crafts, food and other local products.

Flavigny offers a quieter introduction to rural Burgundy than some of the region's better-known wine towns, while still giving visitors a strong sense of local history and tradition.

France Just For You Tip: Pick up a box of the village's famous aniseed candies before you leave. If Flavigny appeals to you, we're happy to include a stop in any of our tours of Burgundy France.

Conques, Aveyron

Best for medieval architecture, pilgrimage history and a scenic stop when crossing southwest France.

Conques lies in Aveyron and can work particularly well as a stop when traveling from Dordogne towards Carcassonne and the south west of France.

The village has a long history as a Christian pilgrimage destination, centered around its abbey. Its narrow streets are lined with traditional stone and half-timbered houses, giving visitors a clear sense of the village's medieval heritage.

France Just For You Tip: Conques is especially useful as a meaningful stop between regions rather than somewhere you necessarily need to build an entire day around. If your route passes through Aveyron, it's well worth considering.

Beuvron-en-Auge, Normandy

Best for half-timbered Normandy architecture, cider country and an easy lunch stop.

In the Pays d'Auge, Beuvron-en-Auge is surrounded by the green French countryside associated with Normandy's dairy and cider-producing traditions. Its historic center is lined with half-timbered houses, shops and flower displays.

It's an easy village to explore on foot and works particularly well as a place to stop for lunch or a snack during a driving day.

Local specialties include cider, Camembert and traditional crêpes and galettes.

France Just For You Tip: We like La Colomb'Auge Crêperie on Place Michel Vermughen for a lunch stop. Beuvron-en-Auge fits naturally into many of our self guided tours of Normandy.

Villefranche-sur-Mer, French Riviera

Best for a quieter Riviera evening, harbor views and an easy escape from Nice.

The French Riviera is often associated with large resorts and glamorous coastal cities, but Villefranche-sur-Mer has retained much of its village character. Its harbor, old town and waterfront location make it a pleasant contrast to nearby Nice.

It's close enough to Nice to visit for a few hours or an evening. Wander through the streets of the old town, browse the independent shops and stay for dinner by the water.

You can also visit the Chapelle Saint-Pierre, decorated by Jean Cocteau, one of Villefranche-sur-Mer's most distinctive cultural sites.

France Just For You Tip: We particularly like Villefranche-sur-Mer as an evening stop when you want a change of pace from Nice. It's easy to incorporate into a self drive tour of the French Riviera.

Beynac-et-Cazenac, Dordogne

Best for medieval history, Dordogne River views and a half-day of exploring on foot or by canoe.

If you want to experience the French countryside in the Dordogne, allow at least half a day for Beynac-et-Cazenac.

The medieval Château de Beynac dominates the village from its position high above the river. From the château, you can look across the Dordogne Valley and surrounding countryside.

Below, honey-colored stone houses, cobbled streets and narrow lanes lead towards the Dordogne River.

Another way to see Beynac is from the water. A canoe trip along the river gives you views of the village, château and limestone cliffs from below. Afterwards, you might stop for a meal and try regional specialties such as duck confit or walnut-based products.

France Just For You Tip: If you enjoy combining history with outdoor activities, Beynac is particularly rewarding. We can include a visit in your Dordogne self drive tour and help it fit naturally with the rest of your route.

Castelnou, Languedoc-Roussillon

Best for medieval architecture, Pyrenees views and a quieter stop in southern France.

Castelnou is a small medieval village of stone houses and terracotta roofs, surrounded by hills, vineyards and views towards the Pyrenees.

The Château de Castelnou dominates the village and reflects its medieval history. From higher points around the château and village, you can look across the surrounding countryside towards the mountains.

Local markets and regional produce are another way to experience this part of southern France, with olives, herbs, bread, local wines and crafts typical of the wider area.

France Just For You Tip: Castelnou is a good place to slow down for a walk rather than trying to tick off a long list of attractions. Consider it if you're driving through southern France and want to add a smaller historic village to your route.

Montsoreau, Loire Valley

Best for a riverside stroll, château architecture and combining art with village life.

Montsoreau lies where the Loire and Vienne rivers meet and is recognized as one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.

The Château de Montsoreau is built from the pale tuffeau stone that is characteristic of this part of the Loire Valley. It also houses a Museum of Contemporary Art and has literary connections with Alexandre Dumas' La Dame de Monsoreau.

On the first Sunday of the month, the Montsoreau antique market is traditionally held along the river. The village itself is compact and pleasant to explore on foot.

France Just For You Tip: Montsoreau is particularly interesting if you'd like your Loire Valley trip to include more than the major châteaux. You can include it in any of our Loire Valley driving itineraries.

Gourdon, Provence

Best for dramatic mountain scenery, photo stops and outdoor activities near the Gorge du Loup.

Gourdon is a small hilltop village above the Gorge du Loup, a dramatic river gorge in Provence, known for its rocky scenery, waterfalls and outdoor activities. The road from Tourrettes-sur-Loup towards Gourdon has excellent views across the surrounding landscape, so it's worth allowing time for stops along the way rather than treating the drive simply as a way of getting from A to B.

In the village you'll find small boutiques, perfume shops and planted courtyards to explore.

For something more active, canyoning is available in the Gorge du Loup, with options for different experience levels.

France Just For You Tip: The drive is part of the experience here, so don't rush it. If outdoor activities appeal to you, tell us when we're planning your trip so we can consider experiences that suit your confidence and activity level when you're visiting Provence.

If you want to visit France but want to avoid the rigidity of an organized group tour, a self-drive tour of France is a wonderful option. We’ll plan your itinerary (based on your preferences), book your premium B&B and boutique hotel accommodation across France, and arrange your car hire. We’ll also be available 24/7 in case you need advice on your trip or in case of emergency. 

Browse our self-drive France tour packages to see some of our sample itineraries. Any of these can be customized to suit your preferences. Or complete and send us your trip-planning form below!