What to Expect on a French Village Tour
Every trip we plan includes time in French villages — but for some travelers, the villages are the main event. If you're someone who would rather spend an afternoon wandering a medieval square than visiting a major tourist attraction, this type of tour is for you.
Your personal France guidebook and our MyFrance app will point you to the villages we think are worth stopping in, including ones that don't appear in most guidebooks. We'll tell you which day the market is on, where to find the best bakery or café, and whether there's a walk or viewpoint nearby that's worth the detour. Some of these are classified among the "Most Beautiful Villages of France" — others are simply places we love that we think you will too.
The driving between villages is part of the pleasure. We route you along back roads that pass through open countryside, along rivers, and through smaller hamlets where you might be the only visitor that day. You won't be rushing from one place to the next — your tailored itinerary will give you time and flexibility to stop when something catches your eye.
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(© Cicero - CC BY-SA 3.0)
Markets, Food, and Local Life
One of the things our travelers enjoy most about visiting French towns and villages is the markets. Almost every town in France has a weekly market, and in some regions you could visit a different one every day of the week. We'll make sure your itinerary lines up with the best ones along your route.
French markets aren't just about food — though the food is reason enough. You'll find local cheeses, charcuterie, fresh bread, fruit, honey, and wine alongside handmade crafts, antiques, and seasonal produce like lavender and olive oil. They're also where you'll see everyday French life up close — locals catching up over coffee, vendors who've been selling at the same stall for decades, and the kind of relaxed morning atmosphere that's hard to find in a city.
We also plan your stays so that meeting locals is part of the experience, not something left to chance. The B&Bs we book are run by French hosts who speak English and genuinely enjoy getting to know their guests. Many of our travelers say that the conversations they had with their hosts — over a home-cooked dinner or breakfast in the garden — were among the highlights of their trip.
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Stroll around quaint century-old villages, explore some traditional farmers' markets or relax on the outside terrace of a typical café, frequented by locals.
Villages Worth Visiting Across France
The character of French villages changes dramatically from one region to the next — which is part of what makes a self-drive tour such a good way to experience them. Here are some of the regions our travelers are drawn to most.
In Provence, hilltop villages like Gordes, Roussillon, and Ménerbes sit above lavender fields and olive groves, with weekly markets selling local produce, crafts, and the region's famous rosé.
In Normandy, the villages have a completely different feel — half-timbered houses, apple orchards, and the Cider Route, where you can stop to taste Calvados and fresh cider straight from the producer.
Alsace is unlike anywhere else in France, with its colorful half-timbered houses, wine route villages like Riquewihr and Eguisheim, and a culture shaped by both French and German heritage.
Further south, the Dordogne is full of medieval villages built from golden stone, many of them perched above rivers or tucked into cliff faces — Beynac, La Roque-Gageac, and Domme are favorites.
In Brittany, the villages are granite and slate, surrounded by rugged coastline, and the culture and traditions feel distinctly different from the rest of France.
And in the Basque Country, you'll find a style of architecture and cuisine that's entirely its own — red-and-white villages, pintxos, and mountain scenery just a short drive from the coast.
France also has an official list of "Most Beautiful Villages of France" — over 150 villages that meet strict criteria for heritage, character, and charm. Many of them feature in our itineraries, and we're happy to build a trip around them if that appeals to you.
See our 'Tour de France' itinerary
Let's Plan Your Trip
Tell us which regions interest you and what kind of experience you're looking for — whether that's market towns, medieval villages, coastal hamlets, or a mix of everything — and we'll put together an itinerary built around the French towns and villages we think you'll love most.
